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[Duncan_X10]

Greetings All!
This is Duncan from the X10 Marketing team, and I've got a few questions for you: the X10 Community. First and foremost, what do you all think of our current deals? We've been trying out a variety of packages and I wanted to get everyones opinion on the 4-Cam, 6-Cam, etc deals.
This isn't a survey, so feel to comment on as many or as few of these as you'd like too.

A few questions:
First, are the kits interesting and do they fit your needs as a X10 Customer? If not, what can we do to improve them?

Secondly, if you were a new customer, would these deals be enticing? What would really put them over the edge in terms of you “having to have it” and are they complete and useful with out being overwhelming?

And Third, What is your dream kit? We have the ability to create kits and packages out of any current products, so go nuts. I can't promise any of these deals will ever see the light of day, but it will provide us with useful feedback.

Keep in mind, I'd like to get feedback on the deals and kits relating to what is included in the packages and your opinion on what would make these kits better/more useful to you.  The design and formatting of our E-mails and the website always come up whenever we ask for comments or feedback. I want you all to know that the content and design is always evolving and changing, and it is a constant debate within X10. Some of us love it, some of us hate it, but at the end of the day none of us in this department have final say on what can change.
If your comment on the website or e-mail is in relation to the deal, then I would love to hear it. For example, if you like our new text and product image based graphics, that provides us with usable information. Saying something like “I don't like your website”  doesn't contribute to our conversation and doesn't provide us with any relevant data to make changes. I hope you all understand that it is a constant balancing act, and we try to walk the line.   

One of the ways that we're trying to accomplish these goals is by opening up the channels of communications between the marketing/web/e-mail team and you our customers. If you haven't done it already, please follow us on Twitter (x10dealnews) to get access to the latest deals and announcements. We are also in the process of creating a special e-mail alias that will funnel all our twitter feedback directly to the people who will benefit the most from your comments.

Thank you all for your time, and I can't wait to hear from you!

Duncan

[Jsnlong]

How about adding the Icon Rf to some packages example......

For new people.....
1 ActiveHome Professional Computer Interface and USB Cable (CM15A)
3 Lamp Module
3 Appliance Module
2 Wall Switch Module (ws467)
1 ActiveHome Professional Software
1 Smart Macro Software Module for ActiveHome Pro
1 iWatchOut Software Module for ActiveHome Pro
1 myHouse Online Software Module for ActiveHome Pro
1 ActiveHome Pro - Home Security Solution
1 Icon RF

For not new people
3 Lamp Module
3 Appliance Module
3 Wall Switch Module (ws467)
1 Icon RF


And I know you said not to but I wouldn't feel good if I didn't mention... 

The web site is childish and disrespectful.. We always here about the "email team" or the "web team" or the "marketing team".... might be better if you was just the " X10 team" either way the web site and email are way over board 


 
 



 

[raster69273]

Since it seems the majority of all X10 performance problems are related to powerline noise and/or phase coupling issues, I would like to see a package with a phase coupler and two or three 5 amp filters. Maybe a more elaborate one would have a phase coupler/repeater and a variety of plug-in filters.

[beelocks]

Most of the deals have stuff in them that is of no use and goes into the 'spares' box.

How about a 'pick your own' deal. Pick any N items, pay for the most expensive and get the other N-1 at no additional cost (N being a variable number selected by X10, but 5 sounds good). This would allow me to pick just the stuff I need without stocking up on boxes of spares.

Any new customer looking at the deals on the X10 website would probably appreciate it if you included a free subscription to Playboy - purely for the articles on X10, of course 

My dream kit would include all the stuff I need and none of the stuff I don't need. So I guess my 'dream' kit is the one mentioned above.

I honestly don't look at the deals very often because I have a wife and son who get a bit disturbed if I look at the website for too long. Maybe if there were fewer deals (to relieve some of the confusion) on an uncluttered page, I might look a bit more often and buy a bit more often. There are always so many deals running that I can never work out which deal is the best value for me and I usually walk away and buy a single item on Ebay.

Hope this helps with your research.

[HA Dave]

One of the ways that we're trying to accomplish these goals is by opening up the channels of communications between the marketing/web/e-mail team and you our customers.

Duncan_X10... I just got an email offer/deal from X10... and it was totally void of half-naked eyecandy. THANK YOU! Thank you for listening... and thank you for showing respect and consideration to your customers.

[astrothug]

Duncan_X10 I'm a new user of the x10 products, I have bought some camera's and alarm system, that I use  the home automation. I'm very happy with the products I have gotten. I also really like the deals that are going on right now, I find everything useful. there are a lot of items I want to buy.

I think the home automation system can use some improvements, the software is a bit buggy. It would be nice to see some more new software add on packages.  and some new hardware packages. I would like to see room occupation maybe a blue tooth add on.

Camera deals are great, I would like to see the wired cams advertised a bit more.

I think x10 could make a  video doorbell.

I also agree with the above posters, about the website, it needs to change, I like woman but not like that, but who doesn't like dinosaurs.

Thanks for asking

David w

[Knightrider]

I'll refrain from lambasting the web site this time out.

Duncan,
You want to know my ideas on marketing?  How about routes other than the standard web based approach?  Ever hear of TV or radio? Trust me, both are still alive.  You'd be amazed at the number of people who still aren't aware of this great technology.  Then there are others who've been totally alienated in the past with the great "pop under" fiasco of a decade ago.

Why not start with a 3 month focus on the good old products of project "X 10" that BSR started with.  Simply switching lights and appliances is what got me hooked.  Granted, you have precious little time left as most of the core lighting products are useless with the CFL's which the government will be forcing upon us.
Sounds like another department (hardware development?) really needs to get on the ball with that problem.

Guys like me enjoy listening to AM radio (locally 700 WLW and the home improvement shows on 55 WKRC).  You need to tell the people listening that there's been a technology since 1978 (or 1975) that will allow you to control all this.  Make it simple so that anyone can do it.  Seniors will love the security of being able to turn on the porch lights without having to get up and cross the room.

You need to promote your installers, and make sure that the are also reputable, liscensed, and insured electricians.  While you're at it, make sure that they've passed the training programs at x10pro.com.
Try including a watts line number to find an installer/dealer in your area. 

Hit up some of the home improvement shows on TV while you're at it.

After the initial  3 month blitz, start selling the software, then the cams, then the remotes.  Take baby steps and educate the masses.  As it stands now, newbies to the x10 technology have to go to your website and hunt you out.  You need to go to them instead. 

I used x10 for years without the computer interface.  Make it clear that people can still do the same.

Package deals are great, but sending them out in the subscription based newsletter is like preaching to a choir.  You want to hit the majority of the aging baby boomers?  Try a full page ad in the Sunday paper, and while your at it, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE  Don't alienate this potential market by using trashy women to hawk the product.  Make the product look sleek, easy and intelligent, not like something that Herb Tarlek would try to sell at a used car lot.

[Duncan_X10]

Hey Guys!
  Great comments, and keep them coming. I've been passing along all the info I get to my boss and the guys who come up with the deals.
Quick answer for Beeloks:

How about a 'pick your own' deal. Pick any N items, pay for the most expensive and get the other N-1 at no additional cost (N being a variable number selected by X10, but 5 sounds good). This would allow me to pick just the stuff I need without stocking up on boxes of spares.

I'll check with our IT guys, but I'm not sure our system can work that way. Right now, we custom build all our sku's for specific packages by hand using custom software. I haven't seen the ability to self-generate sku's which is what your idea would need it to be able to do. I will defiantly run it by them though, and maybe its something they could work on.
A lot of the time, we have great kits buried in the site. For example, one of the kits that I love and use at home is the RCA Expansion Kit http://www.x10.com/products/rca_modules_ba2.htm. We have thousands of available packages, and a lot of the time, its just a matter of finding them. One trick you can use is a Custom Google search. in the Google search box, type "site: www.x10.com". This will tell Google to only search our site, and you can type in specific items that you are looking for!

Dave-X10, thanks for the kind words! It's always great to hear when we can make our customers happy!
Duncan

[trol1374]

  I would like to see maybe a simple package that contains the RR501, couple light switches, stick a switch, and maybe a socket rocket and top in a palm remote.   Maybe this way its a get it going system that can easily be expanded on.
   Is the x10 pro stuff handled by your team?  If so, would like to see some pro switches and items on sale.

[dahur]

I've been waiting for day when I can control my blinds(wand) economically,  with X10.
I think there would be a large market for this. I know you can get the control for the stringed blinds.
We need one for the wand.

[hawk1]

I'm with some of the other users here.  Some kind of troubleshooting package.  Phase coupler with some noise filters that don't cost a arm and a leg.

People like your product if it works.  A lot of times your product works but their house doesn't.  So they automatically assume that it is your product not their house.  So in turn they don't buy anymore of your product and instead of getting positive word of mouth they give negative word of mouth.  And trust me that can kill a business in no time at all.

Even if you expressed that the user might need these items to make their system work, it is still less expensive than any other home automation system!

I also think you need a complete package like:
cm15 with all software
4 cameras
4 lamp modules
4 appliance modules
4 switch modules
4 socket rockets
2 universal module
2 keychain remotes
2 credit card remotes
2 palmpads
1 phase coupler
4 noise filters
1 inexpensive x10 test meter

Now that sounds like a package!   

[Dan Lawrence]

I'd like updates to AHP on a regular schedule.  Right now, the current version that is not buggy is 2.228, which is from 5/9/2008.  There is a 3.236 on http://software.x10.com/pub/applications/activehome/  but that one is a buggy release.

[ultradianguy]

Hi - I agree about the inexpensive signal tester - that would be a very useful item. More deals with SS13A stick on switches, and more variety in the kind of stick on switches, for situations when you don't have the option of replacing existing switches.

In terms of packages on the web site, I agree about the frustration of finding the package you're looking for, and I often find that I see one I like, but then the next time, I can't figure out how to find it again - there are some things that only appear if you look at things in the right order, put something in your cart, etc. 

I wish there were a more systematic way of searching for packages.  Perhaps a filtering mechanism like so many online merchants have:  you could have 3 or 4 drop downs where you pick a particular type of item, and the list gets filtered to packages that contain those items.  So I could find every package that contains stick on switches and lamp modules, for instance.   In general, it's just very hard to find things on the website.

I also wish there were more helpful information on the products, rather than all the silly propaganda. For instance, I was considering getting some cameras recently, but I gave up because I couldn't figure out how the various products differed, which ones I needed, etc.  Smarthome has a lot of comparison charts on their website - that compare features of similar products like switches, for example.  I wish x10 had comparison charts showing specs of cameras, or sensors, or switches, or remotes.... educational material would increase my purchases a lot more than the women  And by the way, as a result of the women on the website, I use the website a lot less than I might otherwise, because I don't risk looking at it in places where other people might happen to look and think I'm browsing porno! There are plenty of places on the internet to look at porn if that's what someone wants - no need to mix it in with switches! 

Thanks for asking!
Michael

[crowntown]

I think the scratch and dent deals are pretty good.  One thing I'd like to see is a a couple products under $5 (one remote?) that I could add to get free shipping.  The way it is now I can buy 2 items and be only 1 cent from free shipping.  I'm sure that was thought out but it'd be nice anyway.

"The previous content of this post is inappropriate and completely off topic and has been removed" 

[crowntown]

We have thousands of available packages, and a lot of the time, its just a matter of finding them.

I've noticed.  A site map would be really nice.