sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Security, Alarms and Paging Security Stores?

Hello all,
New guy here. Just found this site and find it way helpful - and civil.
I work with DSC and cctv installs here in my small valley and enjoy it much. My boss and I have recently noticed a bit of a trend locally and wonder if you guys experience the same. We quote cctv jobs and never hear back from the customer only to one day wander into their store and see cctv installed by them. I know they just go buy it online or at walmart and muddle their way thru it and are "somewhat" pleased with the results.
My question is if the big cities have "security stores" around town that sell security specific items? It seems like a good idea but I'd like to know if it works and a guy could make a go of it. Most likely offer install in addition as mainstay money. I googled "Security Store" and found very little.
Any thoughts?
Thanks, Tom

Hello Tom,
Welcome aboard!
Yep, in the fairly short period of time I've been on the board I have discovered that just about every one here is respectful and helpful.

As far as I know the the dealers in Dallas will not sell directly to the end user because they don't want to step on the toes of installation companies that buy a lot of equipment from them.

I have thought about a store like that but I have wondetred about the legal liability if I gave or sold technical information to someone that used the knowledge to break in to a bank or someplace. So I have not persued the idea because of that type of stuff.

I guess the best advice I could give to you is to check any laws in Montana about selling security equipment. Sellers here in Texas must have a permit from the state but I don't know all of the details regarding it.

Some of the other guys may be able to give you more info.

I haven't looked but my guess is they buy it off the net, probably using your quote as a shopping list. That's how it goes with us.

We don't do security, but I can tell you that customers buying telephone equipment off the net and installing it themselves is absolutely killing us. Those guys who sell on the web could care less about legalities, if you have a credit card they will sell you anything you want and usually for the same price we pay for it.

If you think we are civil around here just watch when one of those cheap SOB's comes here looking for free advice from us suckers.

-Hal

Thanks Bobby,
If those stores do not exist in the big towns it is probably for the reason you describe - liability. I wonder if the same applies to cctv, for which many applications apply that are more for theft prevention, monitoring warehouses, horses, pools etc..
Funny, here in MT any electrical wiring requires a permit and a licensed electrician - unless you are a homeowner. At that point Home Depot will sell a service entrance and panel to a guy that thinks a volt is a power drink. Imagine the potential danger there and the liability yet it's no sweat for Home Despot - follow that money trail !.
Hal, I agree that it's getting to where half the bids are used as a shopping list. Not only that, some are so ballsey that they get pissed if you are 10 minutes late to a "free" appointment. "I'm sorry sir, would you like a refund?"
I would add that in addition to people selling anything to anybody over the net that the product has become more easy to use and install. CCTV has become so simple to install and operate that as long as you can read and tell the difference between a red and black wire you could install any of the low to mid systems.
Thats why I was wondering if any of the big cities have started catering to these folks. I know that some of my customers and even banks just have their maintainance man or computer guru shop around and install their own. Of course once they have problems they can't fix they call us.
Seems like there is a niche somewhere and it would be nice to make lemonade out of lemons.
Trying to read the future I guess, Tom

LoL I guess I haven't seen that yet.
I know what you mean about people buying telephone eq from the net or where ever they get it.
One of my favorites is "My home office in BFE sent this complete system, We are willing to pay what it's worth for you to install it. Will $20.00 be enough?"

The Security Stores/Spy Shops are here in Dallas, but not as many as there were. A friend of mine owns 5 of them. They do installs direct for end users, but also have a dealer price list and a dealer website for real installers.

Part of the issue is that so much is computer based now, and due to the progression of the age, more and more people are computer literate (or think they are.) I mean think about it. Everyone thinks they can program up a phone system that is computer based, but how many people were willing to tear apart a 1A2 Cabinet the size of a riding lawn mower?

All those wires scared people, when Digital systems came out and the wires decreased then anyone with tech training started doing phones. Now that its decreasing down to one network cable everyone can handle that just plug it in right.

Trying to read the future I guess...

The future of CCTV is IT and IP based just like they are trying to do with telecom. Awhile back some joker was going door to door pushing his new IP CCTV surveillance systems to businesses. It's a bunch of cameras that plug into a Dell computer and monitor. No recording is kept on the machine, instead it is connected by the internet to some huge server someplace that these guys maintain. They claim that it is more secure than doing this on premises. My question was what happens when the DSL or broadband internet connection goes down?

So, that's what you are up against.

-Hal

I think I had the same guy hit up mothers shop...I basically tossed him out and set up a 16 chan dvr with an internal hdd and remote viewing. The whole set up is secured in an upstairs office, I do have an old vhs based recorder under the front desk, it does not work, but it does power up and eject the tape, so anyone looking to destroy eveidence will be trashing a blank tape. Now the idea of an off site backup I like, but not as my primary means of storage.