Kim, You wrote "Why not help them out as long as you can make money doing it?"
All the dealers on this list are doing exactly that. And most of the time they don't even make money doing it! I installed my own system at home and I am very happy with it,but I was on a sabbatical... I spent many hours pulling the wire and programming the system, but I enjoyed it. This mailing list was a life safer. I also tried to help a small business start-up... what a mistake! Never ever will I do that. If I ever call for help, I'd expect the dealer to charge me his full regular rate, and charge me for the time needed to understand the mess I made (my install is "kind-of" clean). JL -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Kim Knapp Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2001 12:34 PM To: KXT Subject: RE: KX-T: making lemon-aide Here is input from a buyer. My background is: I have installed three systems, one in our vacation home in FL and two here in the Vail valley where I am building my new home. I enjoy installing my own system and, by the time I am done, I know more about how my home PBX system works than any of my friends and neighbors. I am also installing my own Lutron system thanks to the local Lutron dealer. I would say that if you are approached by a buyer of a Panasonic system that wants you to install his system, then you should charge him your normal rate PLUS your normal markup for the system, so that he ends up spending the same amount as he would if he bought the equipment from you. And I would tell him up front that you will charge him a rental fee for any loaner equipment if he (or you) have to send any equipment in for repair). If you are approached by someone who already has an installed system, I believe that you should charge him your normal rate and include all the hours you will need to bring yourself up to date on his(her) system, including cleaning up a messy install. I appreciate the ability to buy my own system and install it myself, but I understand that the local dealer can't help me get it running or trouble shoot it without me paying for his time. By the way, ONE of the reasons I like to install my own system, as I stated above, is so that I fully understand how the system works in my home. How many of you have visited a home and have the owner say "don't touch that lighting keypad, because I am not sure what it does." I have - many times. And all these systems were installed by local dealers who have trained the owner. When I get done, not only will my family and I understand what all the switches do (or, in the case of the PBX, how to transfer a call, set up voice mailboxes, etc), but I will be able to customize these systems to exactly meet my needs. Just remember, there are a lot of baby boomers out there starting to retire who are looking for new hobbies and one great hobby, which gives the person a lot of pride when they are done, is DIYing. Why not help them out as long as you can make money doing it? Just my 2 cents worth. Kim > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of larry > Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 9:08 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: KX-T: making lemon-aide > > > I hope this doesn't start the long, nasty threads that > the subject seems to start. I'm looking for > constructive ideas. > > We have been approached about installing systems > bought over the internet. From a buyer, not the > internet seller! Have you developed dual rate cards? > We're not going to install these systems for the > preferred rates we give customers where we do the > total sale. And all the free follow-up we provide. > > I can see advantages, we don't carry tens of thousands > in receivables! And we could charge for all the time > we spend with this customer, even for telling him what > to buy! And he gets to hassle with all equipment > failures. > > I see a reasonable return here. Have you found a good > way to make money from this business? What have I > missed? > > Thanks > > -larry > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Make a great connection at Yahoo! Personals. > http://personals.yahoo.com > > > ********************************************************* > * To unsubscribe, e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] * > * The KXT-Digest Home Page: http://kxthelp.com/ * > ********************************************************* > ********************************************************* * To unsubscribe, e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * The KXT-Digest Home Page: http://kxthelp.com/ * ********************************************************* ********************************************************* * To unsubscribe, e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * The KXT-Digest Home Page: http://kxthelp.com/ * *********************************************************
