Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC)
The way around it is to book it as an install Tom. YES you should be paid for work you do for people. That includes a site survey. If they just want to look, than you go out of them. If they want to buy it's for you. Marlon (509) 982-2181 Equipment sales (408) 907-6910 (Vonage)Consulting services 42846865 (icq)And I run my own wisp! 64.146.146.12 (net meeting) www.odessaoffice.com/wireless www.odessaoffice.com/marlon/cam - Original Message - From: "Tom DeReggi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 9:44 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) There is a big difference between not getting the subscriber because they changed their mind versus they couldn't get signal. If the customer wants your service, and you can;t get it to them, should you be able to charge for the trip? If I could, I'd make more money doing site surveys than providing service. With that policy, its just a matter of time before the best practice would be start advertising in every publication and promising the world. Whats wrong with over promising, if the end result will be just that they don;t qualify, and you are off the hook for delivering? For these reason, and credibilty I believe it is inappropriate to charge for site surveys. The ISP's job is to know develop systems for accurate pre-qual and know their target areas, and have efficient site survey methods, adequate to reduce the loss associated with the site surveys. I charge higher install fees, because the people that are successfull, subsidize the cost of those that are not. However, I feel getting a deposit is not a bad idea, and I see no reason to refund money for people that change their mind after the work was performed successfully. The problem is how to do it legally and amicably. Sure you can get a Credit Card, but they can protest the charge unless you have signed paperwork. They now need a fax machine to get you the paperwork. Most residential users don't have this. So now the survey process gets delayed several days, until they get to the office to fax the paper work, in the mean time you lost the opportunity to send the tech by that was just down the street already. Its jsut so much easier to send a contract with the installer to get signed when he arrives. And are they really going to sign it, if you aren't successful and there? I guess it depends on how far away the installation is, on wether its worth the risk to go without getting a deposit. Instead what we do is that we jsut make everyone wait for a surevey until its cost effective and convenient for us to do it, and its free. If someone wants us to escalate the survey, which increases our cost, then we charge them a "priority" fee upfront (non-refundable). There is also now a demand that has been established by the customer, and providers cost for special treatment recognized by custoemr, and an approival that he doesn't mind paying if you are unsuccessful. Money lost on site surveys is a sore point for us as well, but I'm just not sure there is a good away around it, and part of teh cost of doing business. I think instead a provider needs to think about what markets he serves are cost effective for them to serve, and how to cost effectively serve them. This is the difference between soliciting qualified leads and advertising blindly. The way we handled it for residential is that we send the van to the area that we want to serve, and he does a site survey from the road in front of every house, and if they qualify, they get a flyer on their door. Its cheaper to survey all the homes at once even if tehy aren't prospects than it is to go back and survey a few individually as they order. When a neighbor refers a new client to us, we pull up their address, and go, Yes we already sureveyed you, you do or do not qualify. Tom DeReggi RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband - Original Message - From: "Blair Davis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 12:06 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) I would not even consider charging for a site survey. Way too many possibilitys for bad press. I simply consider it a cost of doing business. Rarely do we have someone decline service if it can be done at our $199/$299 install rate. I have declines on the $799+ installs, but I expect those. Blair Davis West Michigan Wireless ISP Justin Wilson wrote: I would not be happy about the $29.95 fee. If you can get away with it go right ahead. I look at it the customer is betting $29.95 that they can get service. I would rather have it here if they can get service, and they do
Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC)
KyWiFi LLC wrote: Will 700Mhz not work like the local tv station broadcast? I mean, if someone can pick up a local tv station's broadcast via an antenna, they should be able to receive broadband via the same spectrum, right? Are you saying that 700Mhz is not much better than 900Mhz? Remember broadcast stations have much higher transmit power and ERP than fixed broadband wireless. 700 is a little better propagation wise, but the key is antenna again and placement. Leon Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" http://www.KyWiFi.com Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 === $29.99 DSL High Speed Internet $14.99 Home Phone Service $19.99 All Digital Satellite TV - No Phone Line Required for DSL - FREE Activation & Equipment - Affordable Upfront Pricing - Locally Owned & Operated - We Also Service Most Rural Areas === - Original Message - From: "Chris Cooper" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 7:17 AM Subject: RE: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) You are still going to need to do site surveys w/ 700. If you are in rolling terrain, the 700 is going to have the same problem with dirt as 900 c -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of KyWiFi LLC Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 2:07 AM To: WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) I can see both sides. Since we haven't implemented the new policy yet, we may just charge the $29.99 site survey fee if they decline service after a successful site survey. We only charge $99 for installation and our CPE is provided on a free-to-use basis as we are competing against one other WISP, cable and DSL. Out of 10 site surveys, only 3 or 4 are successful due to the rolling terrain in our coverage area and we have (17) broadcast sites! Now if we were using 900Mhz, we could probably double our site survey success rate but fewer people would be interested because of the cost of the 900Mhz CPE which we would have to pass along to them in order for it to be feasible. In a perfect world, prospects should expect to pay for an onsite site survey because there are costs involved (labor and gas). Too bad we don't live in a perfect world. Hopefully unlicensed 700Mhz will become available in our lifetime and we can avoid site surveys altogether. I wonder though if it will be less costly than 900Mhz gear when/if that time does come? Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" http://www.KyWiFi.com Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 === $29.99 DSL High Speed Internet $14.99 Home Phone Service $19.99 All Digital Satellite TV - No Phone Line Required for DSL - FREE Activation & Equipment - Affordable Upfront Pricing - Locally Owned & Operated - We Also Service Most Rural Areas === - Original Message - From: "Justin Wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2006 8:48 PM Subject: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) I would not be happy about the $29.95 fee. If you can get away with it go right ahead. I look at it the customer is betting $29.95 that they can get service. I would rather have it here if they can get service, and they don't then they are charged $29.95. If they can't get service why should they have to pay $29.95? That would be like going to buy a new car. You want a Blue one with a stick shift. The dealer can't get you one, but they charge you $29.95 for looking. I think the word will spread pretty quickly. Customers are a weird beast. I can see the coffee shop conversations now: Joe:"Yeah that company came out and did a site survey to see if they could get me wireless" Bob " How did that go?" Joe "The installer guy waived an antenna around and said he could not get me a signal" Bob "Too bad, so what now?" Joe "I don't know, but I got charged $29.95 for him coming out" Bob "What? They are supposed to come out next week. I don't want them charging me $29.95 if they can't hook me up." Just my .02 Justin begin:vcard fn:Leon Zetekoff n:Zetekoff;Leon org:BackWoods Wireless adr;dom:;;505 B Main Street;Blandon;PA;19510 email;internet:[EMAIL PROTECTED] title:Proprietor tel;work:484-335-9920 tel;fax:484-335-9921 tel;home:610-916-0230 tel;cell:610-223-8642 x-mozilla-html:TRUE url:http://www.backwoodswireless.net version:2.1 end:vcard -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
RE: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC)
No- what Im saying is that rolling, or hilly terrain is inherently difficult to cover. We are in pretty hilly terrain, use 900 and its rough at times. We almost always do signal testing for each prospect. We have paging down as low as 158.7 that still wont propagate everywhere. A big high ridge is a real signal killer. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of KyWiFi LLC Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 8:08 AM To: WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) Will 700Mhz not work like the local tv station broadcast? I mean, if someone can pick up a local tv station's broadcast via an antenna, they should be able to receive broadband via the same spectrum, right? Are you saying that 700Mhz is not much better than 900Mhz? Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" http://www.KyWiFi.com Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 === $29.99 DSL High Speed Internet $14.99 Home Phone Service $19.99 All Digital Satellite TV - No Phone Line Required for DSL - FREE Activation & Equipment - Affordable Upfront Pricing - Locally Owned & Operated - We Also Service Most Rural Areas === - Original Message - From: "Chris Cooper" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 7:17 AM Subject: RE: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) You are still going to need to do site surveys w/ 700. If you are in rolling terrain, the 700 is going to have the same problem with dirt as 900 c -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of KyWiFi LLC Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 2:07 AM To: WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) I can see both sides. Since we haven't implemented the new policy yet, we may just charge the $29.99 site survey fee if they decline service after a successful site survey. We only charge $99 for installation and our CPE is provided on a free-to-use basis as we are competing against one other WISP, cable and DSL. Out of 10 site surveys, only 3 or 4 are successful due to the rolling terrain in our coverage area and we have (17) broadcast sites! Now if we were using 900Mhz, we could probably double our site survey success rate but fewer people would be interested because of the cost of the 900Mhz CPE which we would have to pass along to them in order for it to be feasible. In a perfect world, prospects should expect to pay for an onsite site survey because there are costs involved (labor and gas). Too bad we don't live in a perfect world. Hopefully unlicensed 700Mhz will become available in our lifetime and we can avoid site surveys altogether. I wonder though if it will be less costly than 900Mhz gear when/if that time does come? Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" http://www.KyWiFi.com Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 === $29.99 DSL High Speed Internet $14.99 Home Phone Service $19.99 All Digital Satellite TV - No Phone Line Required for DSL - FREE Activation & Equipment - Affordable Upfront Pricing - Locally Owned & Operated - We Also Service Most Rural Areas === - Original Message - From: "Justin Wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2006 8:48 PM Subject: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) I would not be happy about the $29.95 fee. If you can get away with it go right ahead. I look at it the customer is betting $29.95 that they can get service. I would rather have it here if they can get service, and they don't then they are charged $29.95. If they can't get service why should they have to pay $29.95? That would be like going to buy a new car. You want a Blue one with a stick shift. The dealer can't get you one, but they charge you $29.95 for looking. I think the word will spread pretty quickly. Customers are a weird beast. I can see the coffee shop conversations now: Joe:"Yeah that company came out and did a site survey to see if they could get me wireless" Bob " How did that go?" Joe "The installer guy waived an antenna around and said he could not get me a signal" Bob "Too bad, so what now?" Joe "I don't know, but I got charged $29.95 for him coming out" Bob "What? They are supposed to come out next week. I don't want them charging me $29.95 if they can't hook me up." Just my .02 Justin -- Justin S. Wilson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Access - WISP Consulting - Tower Climbing Web: http://www.mtin.net Web: http://www.jwilson.ws -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman
Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC)
Will 700Mhz not work like the local tv station broadcast? I mean, if someone can pick up a local tv station's broadcast via an antenna, they should be able to receive broadband via the same spectrum, right? Are you saying that 700Mhz is not much better than 900Mhz? Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" http://www.KyWiFi.com Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 === $29.99 DSL High Speed Internet $14.99 Home Phone Service $19.99 All Digital Satellite TV - No Phone Line Required for DSL - FREE Activation & Equipment - Affordable Upfront Pricing - Locally Owned & Operated - We Also Service Most Rural Areas === - Original Message - From: "Chris Cooper" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 7:17 AM Subject: RE: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) You are still going to need to do site surveys w/ 700. If you are in rolling terrain, the 700 is going to have the same problem with dirt as 900 c -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of KyWiFi LLC Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 2:07 AM To: WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) I can see both sides. Since we haven't implemented the new policy yet, we may just charge the $29.99 site survey fee if they decline service after a successful site survey. We only charge $99 for installation and our CPE is provided on a free-to-use basis as we are competing against one other WISP, cable and DSL. Out of 10 site surveys, only 3 or 4 are successful due to the rolling terrain in our coverage area and we have (17) broadcast sites! Now if we were using 900Mhz, we could probably double our site survey success rate but fewer people would be interested because of the cost of the 900Mhz CPE which we would have to pass along to them in order for it to be feasible. In a perfect world, prospects should expect to pay for an onsite site survey because there are costs involved (labor and gas). Too bad we don't live in a perfect world. Hopefully unlicensed 700Mhz will become available in our lifetime and we can avoid site surveys altogether. I wonder though if it will be less costly than 900Mhz gear when/if that time does come? Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" http://www.KyWiFi.com Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 === $29.99 DSL High Speed Internet $14.99 Home Phone Service $19.99 All Digital Satellite TV - No Phone Line Required for DSL - FREE Activation & Equipment - Affordable Upfront Pricing - Locally Owned & Operated - We Also Service Most Rural Areas === - Original Message - From: "Justin Wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2006 8:48 PM Subject: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) I would not be happy about the $29.95 fee. If you can get away with it go right ahead. I look at it the customer is betting $29.95 that they can get service. I would rather have it here if they can get service, and they don't then they are charged $29.95. If they can't get service why should they have to pay $29.95? That would be like going to buy a new car. You want a Blue one with a stick shift. The dealer can't get you one, but they charge you $29.95 for looking. I think the word will spread pretty quickly. Customers are a weird beast. I can see the coffee shop conversations now: Joe:"Yeah that company came out and did a site survey to see if they could get me wireless" Bob " How did that go?" Joe "The installer guy waived an antenna around and said he could not get me a signal" Bob "Too bad, so what now?" Joe "I don't know, but I got charged $29.95 for him coming out" Bob "What? They are supposed to come out next week. I don't want them charging me $29.95 if they can't hook me up." Just my .02 Justin -- Justin S. Wilson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Access - WISP Consulting - Tower Climbing Web: http://www.mtin.net Web: http://www.jwilson.ws -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.13.1/466 - Release Date: 10/7/2006 -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC)
We have the same policy as this, but without the contract. Had the same problem, usually the husband 'checking with the wife'. I tell people that we come out to install service. The first part of the installation is a signal test. If it is successful, then we continue installing service and settle up for the installation fee of $199 when we're done. If it is NOT successful, we pack up and go away and they don't owe us anything. It's easy for people to agree to this if they want the service. If they are the type that doesn't know what they want, they don't waste our time. This solution works great because people know that if we get a good signal, they're going to receive our service and pay when we're done. I think it works well because it's more of an impulsive thing, because we're there and they feel committed. If we did the site survey then had to come back to install, there is time for second thoughts and I imagine a number of successful site surveys would not turn into customers. The signed contract and/or down payment would eliminate/discourage this. The problem I have now is that we now want to pay a contractor for installations, but I don't want to pay for alot of failed installations. If I had my way, all installations would be 100% positive. I don't want the contractor going out on site and not receiving payment, either...that would make for a bad relationship between us and the contractor. Perhaps a solution for us would be to have a contract and/or down payment and do the site surveys ourselves. This would save us the time needed to do the installations, and would solve my problem of not wanting to pay for unsuccessful site surveys. That seems like a good next step for us. Mark Nash Network Engineer UnwiredOnline.Net 350 Holly Street Junction City, OR 97448 http://www.uwol.net 541-998- 541-998-5599 fax - Original Message - From: "Cliff Leboeuf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 8:10 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) > We will only do a site survey after we have a signed contract. > > I learned after my second one over five years ago... > Husband call to see if we could provide them wireless service. Sent team out > to verify. Once we verified that we could provide them service, husband > responded 'well, I'll check with the wife and get back with you...' > > Since then, we require our contract to be signed before we attempt a site > survey. If our survey is successful, we continue with the install as we have > a signed contract. If our survey fails, there is no charge to the customer. > We thank them for the opportunity and keep their information available in > case we add a POP that may allow them to get service. > > - Cliff > > > > On 10/8/06 11:06 PM, "Blair Davis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I would not even consider charging for a site survey. > > > > Way too many possibilitys for bad press. I simply consider it a cost of > > doing business. Rarely do we have someone decline service if it can be > > done at our $199/$299 install rate. I have declines on the $799+ > > installs, but I expect those. > > > > Blair Davis > > West Michigan Wireless ISP > > > > Justin Wilson wrote: > > > >> I would not be happy about the $29.95 fee. If you can get away > >> with it go right ahead. I look at it the customer is betting $29.95 > >> that they can get service. I would rather have it here if they can > >> get service, and they don't then they are charged $29.95. If they > >> can't get service why should they have to pay $29.95? That would be > >> like going to buy a new car. You want a Blue one with a stick shift. > >> The dealer can't get you one, but they charge you $29.95 for looking. > >> I think the word will spread pretty quickly. Customers are a weird > >> beast. I can see the coffee shop conversations now: > >> > >> Joe:"Yeah that company came out and did a site survey to see if > >> they could get me wireless" > >> Bob " How did that go?" > >> Joe "The installer guy waived an antenna around and said he could > >> not get me a signal" > >> Bob "Too bad, so what now?" > >> Joe "I don't know, but I got charged $29.95 for him coming out" > >> Bob "What? They are supposed to come out next week. I don't want > >> them charging me $29.95 if they can't hook me up." > >> > >> Just my .02 > >> Justin > >> > >> -- > >> Justin S. Wilson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> Access - WISP Consulting - Tower Climbing > >> Web: http://www.mtin.net > >> Web: http://www.jwilson.ws > >> > >> > > -- > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC)
There is a big difference between not getting the subscriber because they changed their mind versus they couldn't get signal. If the customer wants your service, and you can;t get it to them, should you be able to charge for the trip? If I could, I'd make more money doing site surveys than providing service. With that policy, its just a matter of time before the best practice would be start advertising in every publication and promising the world. Whats wrong with over promising, if the end result will be just that they don;t qualify, and you are off the hook for delivering? For these reason, and credibilty I believe it is inappropriate to charge for site surveys. The ISP's job is to know develop systems for accurate pre-qual and know their target areas, and have efficient site survey methods, adequate to reduce the loss associated with the site surveys. I charge higher install fees, because the people that are successfull, subsidize the cost of those that are not. However, I feel getting a deposit is not a bad idea, and I see no reason to refund money for people that change their mind after the work was performed successfully. The problem is how to do it legally and amicably. Sure you can get a Credit Card, but they can protest the charge unless you have signed paperwork. They now need a fax machine to get you the paperwork. Most residential users don't have this. So now the survey process gets delayed several days, until they get to the office to fax the paper work, in the mean time you lost the opportunity to send the tech by that was just down the street already. Its jsut so much easier to send a contract with the installer to get signed when he arrives. And are they really going to sign it, if you aren't successful and there? I guess it depends on how far away the installation is, on wether its worth the risk to go without getting a deposit. Instead what we do is that we jsut make everyone wait for a surevey until its cost effective and convenient for us to do it, and its free. If someone wants us to escalate the survey, which increases our cost, then we charge them a "priority" fee upfront (non-refundable). There is also now a demand that has been established by the customer, and providers cost for special treatment recognized by custoemr, and an approival that he doesn't mind paying if you are unsuccessful. Money lost on site surveys is a sore point for us as well, but I'm just not sure there is a good away around it, and part of teh cost of doing business. I think instead a provider needs to think about what markets he serves are cost effective for them to serve, and how to cost effectively serve them. This is the difference between soliciting qualified leads and advertising blindly. The way we handled it for residential is that we send the van to the area that we want to serve, and he does a site survey from the road in front of every house, and if they qualify, they get a flyer on their door. Its cheaper to survey all the homes at once even if tehy aren't prospects than it is to go back and survey a few individually as they order. When a neighbor refers a new client to us, we pull up their address, and go, Yes we already sureveyed you, you do or do not qualify. Tom DeReggi RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband - Original Message - From: "Blair Davis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 12:06 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) I would not even consider charging for a site survey. Way too many possibilitys for bad press. I simply consider it a cost of doing business. Rarely do we have someone decline service if it can be done at our $199/$299 install rate. I have declines on the $799+ installs, but I expect those. Blair Davis West Michigan Wireless ISP Justin Wilson wrote: I would not be happy about the $29.95 fee. If you can get away with it go right ahead. I look at it the customer is betting $29.95 that they can get service. I would rather have it here if they can get service, and they don't then they are charged $29.95. If they can't get service why should they have to pay $29.95? That would be like going to buy a new car. You want a Blue one with a stick shift. The dealer can't get you one, but they charge you $29.95 for looking. I think the word will spread pretty quickly. Customers are a weird beast. I can see the coffee shop conversations now: Joe:"Yeah that company came out and did a site survey to see if they could get me wireless" Bob " How did that go?" Joe "The installer guy waived an antenna around and said he could not get me a signal" Bob "Too bad, so what now?" Joe "I don't know, but I got charged $29.95 for him comin
Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC)
We will only do a site survey after we have a signed contract. I learned after my second one over five years ago... Husband call to see if we could provide them wireless service. Sent team out to verify. Once we verified that we could provide them service, husband responded 'well, I'll check with the wife and get back with you...' Since then, we require our contract to be signed before we attempt a site survey. If our survey is successful, we continue with the install as we have a signed contract. If our survey fails, there is no charge to the customer. We thank them for the opportunity and keep their information available in case we add a POP that may allow them to get service. - Cliff On 10/8/06 11:06 PM, "Blair Davis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I would not even consider charging for a site survey. > > Way too many possibilitys for bad press. I simply consider it a cost of > doing business. Rarely do we have someone decline service if it can be > done at our $199/$299 install rate. I have declines on the $799+ > installs, but I expect those. > > Blair Davis > West Michigan Wireless ISP > > Justin Wilson wrote: > >> I would not be happy about the $29.95 fee. If you can get away >> with it go right ahead. I look at it the customer is betting $29.95 >> that they can get service. I would rather have it here if they can >> get service, and they don't then they are charged $29.95. If they >> can't get service why should they have to pay $29.95? That would be >> like going to buy a new car. You want a Blue one with a stick shift. >> The dealer can't get you one, but they charge you $29.95 for looking. >> I think the word will spread pretty quickly. Customers are a weird >> beast. I can see the coffee shop conversations now: >> >> Joe:"Yeah that company came out and did a site survey to see if >> they could get me wireless" >> Bob " How did that go?" >> Joe "The installer guy waived an antenna around and said he could >> not get me a signal" >> Bob "Too bad, so what now?" >> Joe "I don't know, but I got charged $29.95 for him coming out" >> Bob "What? They are supposed to come out next week. I don't want >> them charging me $29.95 if they can't hook me up." >> >> Just my .02 >> Justin >> >> -- >> Justin S. Wilson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Access - WISP Consulting - Tower Climbing >> Web: http://www.mtin.net >> Web: http://www.jwilson.ws >> >> -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC)
I can't see charging for a failed site survey, but we do turn down customers that we know that we cannot reach. If we fail 3 customers on Pebble Ridge Drive, then customer numbers 4 and 5 probably won't get a truck roll, but the HOA in the area might get a call to see if we can put in an AP on that street. If we can make something big and (not too) ugly work, we might call back all 5 customers, as well as their neighbors. pd KyWiFi LLC wrote: I can see both sides. Since we haven't implemented the new policy yet, we may just charge the $29.99 site survey fee if they decline service after a successful site survey. We only charge $99 for installation and our CPE is provided on a free-to-use basis as we are competing against one other WISP, cable and DSL. Out of 10 site surveys, only 3 or 4 are successful due to the rolling terrain in our coverage area and we have (17) broadcast sites! Now if we were using 900Mhz, we could probably double our site survey success rate but fewer people would be interested because of the cost of the 900Mhz CPE which we would have to pass along to them in order for it to be feasible. In a perfect world, prospects should expect to pay for an onsite site survey because there are costs involved (labor and gas). Too bad we don't live in a perfect world. Hopefully unlicensed 700Mhz will become available in our lifetime and we can avoid site surveys altogether. I wonder though if it will be less costly than 900Mhz gear when/if that time does come? Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" http://www.KyWiFi.com Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 === $29.99 DSL High Speed Internet $14.99 Home Phone Service $19.99 All Digital Satellite TV - No Phone Line Required for DSL - FREE Activation & Equipment - Affordable Upfront Pricing - Locally Owned & Operated - We Also Service Most Rural Areas === - Original Message - From: "Justin Wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2006 8:48 PM Subject: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) I would not be happy about the $29.95 fee. If you can get away with it go right ahead. I look at it the customer is betting $29.95 that they can get service. I would rather have it here if they can get service, and they don't then they are charged $29.95. If they can't get service why should they have to pay $29.95? That would be like going to buy a new car. You want a Blue one with a stick shift. The dealer can't get you one, but they charge you $29.95 for looking. I think the word will spread pretty quickly. Customers are a weird beast. I can see the coffee shop conversations now: Joe:"Yeah that company came out and did a site survey to see if they could get me wireless" Bob " How did that go?" Joe "The installer guy waived an antenna around and said he could not get me a signal" Bob "Too bad, so what now?" Joe "I don't know, but I got charged $29.95 for him coming out" Bob "What? They are supposed to come out next week. I don't want them charging me $29.95 if they can't hook me up." Just my .02 Justin -- Justin S. Wilson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Access - WISP Consulting - Tower Climbing Web: http://www.mtin.net Web: http://www.jwilson.ws -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
RE: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC)
You are still going to need to do site surveys w/ 700. If you are in rolling terrain, the 700 is going to have the same problem with dirt as 900 c -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of KyWiFi LLC Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 2:07 AM To: WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) I can see both sides. Since we haven't implemented the new policy yet, we may just charge the $29.99 site survey fee if they decline service after a successful site survey. We only charge $99 for installation and our CPE is provided on a free-to-use basis as we are competing against one other WISP, cable and DSL. Out of 10 site surveys, only 3 or 4 are successful due to the rolling terrain in our coverage area and we have (17) broadcast sites! Now if we were using 900Mhz, we could probably double our site survey success rate but fewer people would be interested because of the cost of the 900Mhz CPE which we would have to pass along to them in order for it to be feasible. In a perfect world, prospects should expect to pay for an onsite site survey because there are costs involved (labor and gas). Too bad we don't live in a perfect world. Hopefully unlicensed 700Mhz will become available in our lifetime and we can avoid site surveys altogether. I wonder though if it will be less costly than 900Mhz gear when/if that time does come? Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" http://www.KyWiFi.com Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 === $29.99 DSL High Speed Internet $14.99 Home Phone Service $19.99 All Digital Satellite TV - No Phone Line Required for DSL - FREE Activation & Equipment - Affordable Upfront Pricing - Locally Owned & Operated - We Also Service Most Rural Areas === - Original Message - From: "Justin Wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2006 8:48 PM Subject: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) I would not be happy about the $29.95 fee. If you can get away with it go right ahead. I look at it the customer is betting $29.95 that they can get service. I would rather have it here if they can get service, and they don't then they are charged $29.95. If they can't get service why should they have to pay $29.95? That would be like going to buy a new car. You want a Blue one with a stick shift. The dealer can't get you one, but they charge you $29.95 for looking. I think the word will spread pretty quickly. Customers are a weird beast. I can see the coffee shop conversations now: Joe:"Yeah that company came out and did a site survey to see if they could get me wireless" Bob " How did that go?" Joe "The installer guy waived an antenna around and said he could not get me a signal" Bob "Too bad, so what now?" Joe "I don't know, but I got charged $29.95 for him coming out" Bob "What? They are supposed to come out next week. I don't want them charging me $29.95 if they can't hook me up." Just my .02 Justin -- Justin S. Wilson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Access - WISP Consulting - Tower Climbing Web: http://www.mtin.net Web: http://www.jwilson.ws -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.13.1/466 - Release Date: 10/7/2006 -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC)
I can see both sides. Since we haven't implemented the new policy yet, we may just charge the $29.99 site survey fee if they decline service after a successful site survey. We only charge $99 for installation and our CPE is provided on a free-to-use basis as we are competing against one other WISP, cable and DSL. Out of 10 site surveys, only 3 or 4 are successful due to the rolling terrain in our coverage area and we have (17) broadcast sites! Now if we were using 900Mhz, we could probably double our site survey success rate but fewer people would be interested because of the cost of the 900Mhz CPE which we would have to pass along to them in order for it to be feasible. In a perfect world, prospects should expect to pay for an onsite site survey because there are costs involved (labor and gas). Too bad we don't live in a perfect world. Hopefully unlicensed 700Mhz will become available in our lifetime and we can avoid site surveys altogether. I wonder though if it will be less costly than 900Mhz gear when/if that time does come? Shannon D. Denniston, Co-Founder KyWiFi, LLC - Mt. Sterling, Kentucky "Your Hometown Broadband Provider" http://www.KyWiFi.com Call Us Today: 859.274.4033 === $29.99 DSL High Speed Internet $14.99 Home Phone Service $19.99 All Digital Satellite TV - No Phone Line Required for DSL - FREE Activation & Equipment - Affordable Upfront Pricing - Locally Owned & Operated - We Also Service Most Rural Areas === - Original Message - From: "Justin Wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2006 8:48 PM Subject: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC) I would not be happy about the $29.95 fee. If you can get away with it go right ahead. I look at it the customer is betting $29.95 that they can get service. I would rather have it here if they can get service, and they don't then they are charged $29.95. If they can't get service why should they have to pay $29.95? That would be like going to buy a new car. You want a Blue one with a stick shift. The dealer can't get you one, but they charge you $29.95 for looking. I think the word will spread pretty quickly. Customers are a weird beast. I can see the coffee shop conversations now: Joe:"Yeah that company came out and did a site survey to see if they could get me wireless" Bob " How did that go?" Joe "The installer guy waived an antenna around and said he could not get me a signal" Bob "Too bad, so what now?" Joe "I don't know, but I got charged $29.95 for him coming out" Bob "What? They are supposed to come out next week. I don't want them charging me $29.95 if they can't hook me up." Just my .02 Justin -- Justin S. Wilson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Access - WISP Consulting - Tower Climbing Web: http://www.mtin.net Web: http://www.jwilson.ws -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC)
Blair Davis wrote: I would not even consider charging for a site survey. Way too many possibilitys for bad press. I simply consider it a cost of doing business. Rarely do we have someone decline service if it can be done at our $199/$299 install rate. I have declines on the $799+ installs, but I expect those. You must have better customers (or potential customers) than I do... Over the past three years my company has done hundreds of site surveys for folks that could get our service but never actually did, for whatever reason. That's hundreds of "pay guy to drive out there" and "put gas in truck" and it all adds up. My boss recently decided to split the difference on site surveys - ask for a small deposit up-front, which is refunded if we can't get service. That way, our costs are covered, and so far it seems to be discouraging folks that aren't seriously interested in our service, which is exactly what we want. (This is actually a new-ish policy, so check back in a few months and I'll let you know whether it's really working like it should.) David Smith MVN.net -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
Re: [WISPA] Re: Outsourced installations (KyWiFi LLC)
I would not even consider charging for a site survey. Way too many possibilitys for bad press. I simply consider it a cost of doing business. Rarely do we have someone decline service if it can be done at our $199/$299 install rate. I have declines on the $799+ installs, but I expect those. Blair Davis West Michigan Wireless ISP Justin Wilson wrote: I would not be happy about the $29.95 fee. If you can get away with it go right ahead. I look at it the customer is betting $29.95 that they can get service. I would rather have it here if they can get service, and they don't then they are charged $29.95. If they can't get service why should they have to pay $29.95? That would be like going to buy a new car. You want a Blue one with a stick shift. The dealer can't get you one, but they charge you $29.95 for looking. I think the word will spread pretty quickly. Customers are a weird beast. I can see the coffee shop conversations now: Joe:"Yeah that company came out and did a site survey to see if they could get me wireless" Bob " How did that go?" Joe "The installer guy waived an antenna around and said he could not get me a signal" Bob "Too bad, so what now?" Joe "I don't know, but I got charged $29.95 for him coming out" Bob "What? They are supposed to come out next week. I don't want them charging me $29.95 if they can't hook me up." Just my .02 Justin -- Justin S. Wilson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Access - WISP Consulting - Tower Climbing Web: http://www.mtin.net Web: http://www.jwilson.ws -- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/