SSI serves security installing contractors providing systems and services; surveillance, access control, biometrics, fire alarm and home control/automation. Coverage in commercial and residential product applications, designs, techniques, operations.
Issue link: https://securitysales.epubxp.com/i/85538
Julian Fine, owner of Fine Innovations, generated some interesting responses to the provocative question he posed on SSI's Linkedin page: "Why are the big security companies so against letting customers monitor their alarms with SMS/text messages direct from the alarm rather than the control room? It cuts down false alarms. Are Self-Monitored Systems a www.securitysales.com/freeinfo/20212 Good Thing for the Industry? Simple, it is part safety and part fi nancial. Most companies don't want the liability of a homeowner responding to their own alarm and potentially walking into a deadly situation. On the fi nancial side, most security companies lose money on the installation. So the RMR is not only used to cover the monitoring, but to help recoup the cost of the install and generate most of their profi ts (think razors and razorblades). We have seen where some DIY residential companies take up to two years to break even for a "free home alarm system." And homeowners won't pay $40 per month to get a text alert; more like $40 per year. So a move like that not only guts the profi tability of the industry but creates increased liability. Gregg Groenemann, CEO N2O Systems Inc. Houston a better way to manage PoE! NetWayM Managed Midspans UÊ*ÀÛ`iÃÊÌiÊ«ÀiVÃiÊ«ÜiÀÊÞÕÀÊ* Ê`iÛViÃÊii` UÊ*Õ}>`«>ÞÊÞiÌÊi>ÃÞÊVÕÃÌâ>Li UÊ ÌiÀiÌÊViVÌÛÌÞÊv>VÌ>ÌiÃÊi>ÃÞÊ>VViÃÃÊvÀ ÊÊÊ«À}À>}Ê>`ÊÃÌ>ÌÕÃÊÌÀ} UÊ ÊnäÓ°Î>vÊ* ®Ê>`Ê UÊ-Õ««ÀÌÃÊ* Ê£Ó6 Ê *ÊV>iÀ>à UÊ Û>>LiÊÊnÊ>`Ê£ÈÊ«ÀÌÊVv}ÕÀ>Ìà ÊnäÓ°Î>ÌÊ* ³®ÊV«>Ì More than just power.™ info@altronix.com altronix.com 1.888.258.7669 MADE IN THE U.S.A. LIFETIME WARRANTY After years of the large companies' actions and advertising, making people believe that alarm systems are cheap and monitoring is expensive, the chickens are coming home to roost. More and more people are installing local audible alarms and as a result of either slow or no response they are opting out of monitoring them. They will monitor if they want response for fi re and personal emergencies but not at $40 per month. Monitoring is not that expensive and people understand that a lot of their monitoring money is going for advertising and promotion of the alarm company, and not for their security. If the industry had to put 80%-85% of monthly premiums toward security for its customers, like in health care, the rates would be in the $18-$25 range. Forty percent of my business is burglar alarms without monitoring and I make 30% to 40% margin on all installations. The future is in charging for the system and the monitoring commensurate with their associated costs. Russ VanDevanter, Owner REV Associates LLC Seattle www.securitysales.com/freeinfo/20245 6 / SECURITYSALES.COM / OCTOBER 2012 "