HAI being sold at Home Depot

[Frunple]

I think its great. theres such a markup on this stuff, why shouldn't the consumers get a little deal on the prices??

You clearly don't know what you're talking about. If you had any idea how piss poor the margin is on HAI, you'd be embarrassed by your comment. The analogy I use with HAI is eating rabbit. If stranded on an island, with nothing to eat but rabbit but, you could eat all the rabbit you wanted, you would still starve to death. Selling HAI is the same. The only real markup is at the distributor level and I know this because I have a copy of the 5 tier pricing list from HAI. You, as a consumer, misinformed as you are, will not see the benefit in price that you think because HD will still keep the margin that's available. Despite the miniscule list of SKU's at HD's website when searching "automation", the price differential is shown to be minimal. The issue I have is in a watering down of the market when Joe Homeowner buys a complete package, has no idea of the capabilities other than what some pimply faced, know nothing orange smock "sells" him on, goes home and builds a POS that hinders HA perception when his ridiculous install is shown off to friends and family. I have no beef with legitamate, passionate retailers (a la AO and Worthington) that sell the line. I love the DIY aspect of HAI/ELK installs. Hell, I've learned much from this very forum. But, I do have a beef when the line is watered down by water heads...and Frumple, if you really believe that there's that much of a markup on HAI, you should go work at Home Depot with the other....well, if you don't have anything nice to say...

Boy, I hit a nerve there huh!! lol
Let me guess....you're a distributor, right??
Figured.
Too bad for you, thats all I can say. No one who knows anything about this stuff needs you to sell to them or install for them, so your whole argument is moot.... good luck on that island all by yourself!

 

[Steve]

Ok, guys, lets just all get along!

Frunple: I also have to respectfully disagree as I and others have said - HD is not going to save you any money, they sell MSRP. I would guarantee my left ... the you would get an equal or better price at AO and MUCH better support. So, the point on a better deal at HD is really not accurate. Now I'm sure you can argue you can get a 10 or 20% off coupon at HD that may apply, but I would counter that AO would match any legitimate price and still give better support, etc.

Anthony: While I understand what you are saying (and typically agree), your reply was honestly a bit harsh and confrontational, which led to Frunple's equally harsh reply.

Let's all respect each others comments and resist the flaming. That runs counter to the whole atmosphere of this board. We all have our opinions, good bad or indifferent. Lets keep it professional and friendly, please.

Sorry, I'm not a mod, but it kills me to see this stuff on CocoonTech of all places.

 

[Digger]

From the manufacturers point of view the company I work for DOES NOT support the DIY market and probably never will. The complexity of doing it "right" is above some fly by night installers let alone a weekend warrior. We support our dealers and actually get upset if someone "resells" our products (like SH and others) to the general public. We would never market directly to HD or Lowes as the tech support would be unmanagable. Heck I wanted to see if AO would sell our products but I was shot down by the management of our company and AO is tops in support of their customer base.

In addition the liability is to great for the homeowner and the retailer. Suppose an alarm system is installed incorrectly and a false alarm is created. A police officer or fire department personel respond thinking it is a true emergency and is injured or injures someone else responding to a false alarm. It happens! The high school pool in my town is named for a volunteer fire fighter killed responding to a false alarm.

All of this is being said by someone who installed his own system

I have many friends that are licensed installers. I occasionally help them out on the weekends etc for some extra bucks and I am coverd under their license. I am at times very "anal" and insist on doing things a little to perfect and I dont go by the "get in and get out" mentality. But I am cheap labor to them so they put up with me

 

[royalj7]

I think IVB hit the mark. Sometimes I think DIYers who are fairly technically proficient sometimes misclassify the general public as DIYers. The statements like "people who buy these at HomeDepot would never need an installer to help them" are off base. If it's out there on a shelf, there are going to be TONS of people that don't have the skill or time to setup a system correctly, but will buy them anyway. And HAI loses out, because people *will* blame the product for their deficiencies.

Just remember, the people here on this wonderful board, are not the average public.

 

[AnthonyZ]

Just remember, the people here on this wonderful board, are not the average public.

Agreed.

As for my attitude towards Frumple, well, my man, I apologize. I tend towards rash and, in retrospect, regret my tone. I stand by the message but certainly not the method. Forgive me.

 

[Digger]

I find it very scary when I see someone who obviously does not know what they are doing buying a 200 A breaker panel.

Certian products just are not meant for the average joe ( or jane)

 

[hockeypuck]

Because i am in the electrical contracting business, this is old hat for me. We refuse to install the piece of crap generators they sell, and god forbid you have to order a replacement part through them. It will take for ever, if you get it all. When customers buy their lights from them, they get to pay me to put it up and then take it down because it is broken or mal-constructed. All in all it rots for the Ha installers, but do you really want the customer that is trying to save a few cents like that, by cutting you out of the profit loop? I like to ask my customers, "Do you bring your own toothpaste to the dentist?"

 

[AutomatedOutlet]

"Do you bring your own toothpaste to the dentist?"

LOL, I think that's great!

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

"Do you bring your own toothpaste to the dentist?"

LOL, I think that's great!

Actually, my dentist gives me toothpaste for free when I visit him!

 

[LightenUP]

I don't think this will hurt too many, as we all know they sell alot of roofing materials and lots of other things I wouldn't try to do. I think with the public there's a comfort level when aproaching an improvement. What will be interesting is the calls to electricians for support that won't know what to do with PLCs.

It's all about our intelectual property anyways, the product line is a level playing field.

I hope this further solidifies the technology and yeilds to further product improvements from all manufacturers.

Ahhh capatalism.

 

[DavidL]

I believe that HD will help open people's eyes of what an automation home can do for them. It will make it at least appear to be more than just for the rich and more mainstream. I think the value to this is that it widens the very narrow market that currently exists for all HA and security players. The rich won't buy it from HD, and they won't install it themselves. It will take a LONG time to make these pieces install that easily and reliably where an expert (pro or DIY) doesn't add value. The rich won't be satisfied with whatever the HD offering is as that is too "normal". They will want to go over and above, just because they can.

Technology is becoming an ever larger portion of disposable income, and the Pro will always have a role and fill it well.

 

[Frunple]

I totally agree with the 2 previous posts.
In my opinion, HA is still a relatively unknown technology, so the more publicity it can get, the lower the prices will fall.
Does anyone really think a light switch should cost $100+??? No matter what it does, its still just a light switch.
We all will benefit from the spreading of HA, and I disagree that any products will be hurt from being sold at Home Depot.