"Local Dealers" AKA custom Installer

[Tsunamii]

I just read about a pretty cool home automation company "Control 4" only to read on their web sight that you have to contact a "local dealer" for sales. I cant say how much I hate when Companies do this. I do not want to be the next guy these local dealers get to up sell too. I don’t want a custom installer to do it for me. I don’t want to pay more just because it went through their hands and I don’t want to have another layer of red tape to deal with. I do like to do my own projects, I do like to spend money, and I do. Why do places try to isolate them selves from customers? I just dont get it. Now I know a lot of guys here are custom installers and that is cool for you but there is a part of the market where people know enough to do it them selves and want to so why not let us? I take it as an insult.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I just read about a pretty cool home automation company "Control 4" only to read on their web sight that you have to contact a "local dealer" for sales. I cant say how much I hate when Companies do this. I do not want to be the next guy these local dealers get to up sell too. I don’t want a custom installer to do it for me. I don’t want to pay more just because it went through their hands and I don’t want to have another layer of red tape to deal with. I do like to do my own projects, I do like to spend money, and I do. Why do places try to isolate them selves from customers? I just dont get it. Now I know a lot of guys here are custom installers and that is cool for you but there is a part of the market where people know enough to do it them selves and want to so why not let us? I take it as an insult.

Control, that is what they want. No different form Corian. You cannot buy it unless you are an installer. And, it is easy to work with.

Time to look at other brands to fill your needs.

 

[Johnd]

Home automation was supposed to be easy to install, and make life simpler. It is neither of these. It is not as easy as getting a $10.00 Heath/Zenith rf transmitter and plug-in receiver, and you're done. Although, oddly enough, I just did that yesterday...purchased one transmitter and two receivers for $7.00 each. X-10 is the preferred brand for most installers, and was my first choice, (Insteon was considered too).

Back on point. There is a plethora of potential problems with rf home automation, including, but not limited to other rf interference (any rf device in your home, or even your neighbor's home can cause intereference), phase differences, am radio noise, intercoms, emi, etc., etc., etc. RF home automation is incredibly susceptible to all types of interference, unless you isolate yourself on a mountaintop and turn off all electrical supply and rf sources. That's not to say it does not work very well often times.

My point is, these problems can arise even after a professional install. How can a company make money if its' service department is inundated with calls from novices about setup/install/interference problems? I can't blame the company, unless they choose to sell to unqualified persons. This company has not chosen that route. Besides, there are plenty of other home automation companies that you can purchase product directlty from. Just my $0.02 for the day. Cheers.