Anyone know of an ELK Installer in Atlanta area?

[Digger]

If what Digger is saying is true that Elk is having its moment of truth, then DIY will be left dealing with unfriendly/uncompetitive master distributors. I tried calling ADI and asked if I could purchase Elk products. I was flatly told, “Not unless you are a professional installer.â€

I too tried to find some Elk installers in Atlanta. I was quoted crazy prices – like I owned some sort of luxury home. Another installer I talked with would not quote me a price because it was “refurb†that required moving around crawl space.

I absolutely refused to install an ADT or Brinks system. I have visited many houses where the control keypad is just a decoration. My friends/family just stopped using big company alarms because of false alarms, high service fees, and deficient customer service.

For example, my fiancé had a simple battery problem. For four days, we had to listen to ding-dongs coming from the panel. The service representative was nice and all, but he had to call the service center in order to get instructions on how to reset a zone trouble alert.

I have invested a considerable amount of time and money to educate myself on Elk operation and products. I will be extremely upset if I cannot maintain and enhance my system. I picked Elk because if I was going to shimmy around a musty unsafe craw space, I was going to at least have a decent security and home automation system.

I have received excellent service from Elk (Brad Weeks), and I hope that Elk will not abandon a core group of customers. Early adopters are critical for any technology product. I have already “sold†an ElkM1G to a friend after he saw the system’s capabilities. He purchased system online. I have a large number of technically savvy friends that might get a case of, “iPhone that’s Cool where can I Buy One,†syndrome. Actually, Elk can take a lesson from Apple here. Beside Apple’s wonderfully engineered products, Apple has a cult-like following of loyal/passionate customers.

Sorry, I don’t really want to start a big soap-box message. I have spent well north of $1800 to build my own system. I don’t want it flushed down the drain because installers are unhappy about being undercut (i.e., change in marketing direction). Channel conflict is normal part of the technology lifecycle. The key is figuring out how to manage growth while not putting your entire product’s destiny in the hands of one segment only.

If you are an end user and emailed ELK Tech support directly did you try and contact your retail distributor first? That is where the end user is supposed to start for help. Elk can not be the first point of contact if you have a question or need assistance. The overhead to support thousands of DIY customers would be tremendous for any manufacturer.

ADI did exactly what ELK wants. They are a trade distributor and not supposed to sell to retail customers. If you want to buy ELK products you need to contact a retail distributor (distributors like Spytown and ASI who are buying at Trade Distributor prices and selling to retail customer at what the retail distributors and installers pay are putting the installers and retail distributors in a position where they cant make money). Granted it is unclear who will be left standing shortly but if Dan's information is what ELK is planning someone has to be selling to the DIY market if ELK plans on continuing to support them. Again retail customers are supposed to contact their retail distributor not ELK for support and trade distributors (and those paying trade distributor prices) are not supposed to be selling to retail customers at installer pricing.

Example:

You have ADT install an alarm in your house. You have a problem do you call ADT or Ademco who makes most of the hardware for ADT? You buy an Ademco system online and install it yourself. Do you call Ademco or the reseller if you have a problem? If the reseller does not help you (after you give them a reasonable chance to) and you call Ademco would they help you? Not sure anymore. But ELK and HAI would but at a great overall expense to them. The retail distributors are making money and should help their customers. If they dont they ruin it for everyone.

 

[jmark71]

Wow - I didn't expect this can of worms when I posted the original request! Any way to change the topic heading?? B)

In the end, I've gone with Elk and gave Digger my business since it sounded like he may end up in the lurch with more equipment than he's allowed to sell. Installing it doesn't actually seem as tricky as I originally thought , but since the builder's LV sub-contractor absolutely refused to pre-wire the windows, I'm left with just entry doors currently wired; that's NOT an invitation for any of you guys to come shimmy a window .

Wireless seems like a reasonable approach, but I'd much prefer a hardwired solution... I still have major concerns about drilling into windows - I mean if the professional subcontractor didn't want to do it, then there's a good chance I'd REALLY make a hash of things... any ideas out there who to contact to help? It seems like all the security folks out there simply want to tie me into a monitoring contract with THEIR system, so I'm not making much headway... would a general LV guy be my next step?

TIA,
Mark

 

[Digger]

Wow - I didn't expect this can of worms when I posted the original request! Any way to change the topic heading?? B)

In the end, I've gone with Elk and gave Digger my business since it sounded like he may end up in the lurch with more equipment than he's allowed to sell. Installing it doesn't actually seem as tricky as I originally thought , but since the builder's LV sub-contractor absolutely refused to pre-wire the windows, I'm left with just entry doors currently wired; that's NOT an invitation for any of you guys to come shimmy a window .

Wireless seems like a reasonable approach, but I'd much prefer a hardwired solution... I still have major concerns about drilling into windows - I mean if the professional subcontractor didn't want to do it, then there's a good chance I'd REALLY make a hash of things... any ideas out there who to contact to help? It seems like all the security folks out there simply want to tie me into a monitoring contract with THEIR system, so I'm not making much headway... would a general LV guy be my next step?

TIA,
Mark

Remember drilling into brand new windows may violate the warranty. I went with the tiny Tane surface contacts and nobody notices them.

It is hard to find an installer to do just labor as the money for them is in the monitoring contract and the mark up for equipment. Here on Long Island I have had a few customers in the same situation but I knew a couple of out of work installers (who are licensed) and hooked them up. For me it just kept everyone happy (including me since I got the sale).

Thank you for the business B) Didn't realize you had purchased already (Mark is a common name sorry). Remember if you need anything call or email me. You dont have to wait until Monday to Friday 9 to 5 either when you are probably at work.

Maybe put an add on Craigslist looking for a licensed low voltage installer in your area (make up a new email address just for that so you dont get spam forever). I know one guy here who monitors craigslist for people looking for Home Theater, CCTV and Alarm installation help. Verify their license and experience before you let them start working.

 

[jmark71]

Wow - I didn't expect this can of worms when I posted the original request! Any way to change the topic heading?? B)

In the end, I've gone with Elk and gave Digger my business since it sounded like he may end up in the lurch with more equipment than he's allowed to sell. Installing it doesn't actually seem as tricky as I originally thought , but since the builder's LV sub-contractor absolutely refused to pre-wire the windows, I'm left with just entry doors currently wired; that's NOT an invitation for any of you guys to come shimmy a window .

Wireless seems like a reasonable approach, but I'd much prefer a hardwired solution... I still have major concerns about drilling into windows - I mean if the professional subcontractor didn't want to do it, then there's a good chance I'd REALLY make a hash of things... any ideas out there who to contact to help? It seems like all the security folks out there simply want to tie me into a monitoring contract with THEIR system, so I'm not making much headway... would a general LV guy be my next step?

TIA,
Mark

Remember drilling into brand new windows may violate the warranty. I went with the tiny Tane surface contacts and nobody notices them.

It is hard to find an installer to do just labor as the money for them is in the monitoring contract and the mark up for equipment. Here on Long Island I have had a few customers in the same situation but I knew a couple of out of work installers (who are licensed) and hooked them up. For me it just kept everyone happy (including me since I got the sale).

Thank you for the business B) Didn't realize you had purchased already (Mark is a common name sorry). Remember if you need anything call or email me. You dont have to wait until Monday to Friday 9 to 5 either when you are probably at work.

Maybe put an add on Craigslist looking for a licensed low voltage installer in your area (make up a new email address just for that so you dont get spam forever). I know one guy here who monitors craigslist for people looking for Home Theater, CCTV and Alarm installation help. Verify their license and experience before you let them start working.

Yeah, my parents were REAL original with the names... John Mark Jones... wow... not many of those around!

Anyway, back on topic... I hadn't thought of Craigslist and that sounds like a great plan; hide behind the anonymity while checking their credentials etc. certainly sounds like a good way to find someone who actually wants to do the work... the number of messages I've left with folks not to receive a call back is astounding - especially given the economy; you'd think folks would actually want to get paid???

Thanks for the offer too - hopefully I won't have any issues, but it's always good to know there's someone there if I need them.