Where do you buy HA supplies

[davefred99]

Hi All,
I am just getting into this as an additional service for my existing business.
I am wondering where you purchase your HA supplies from. I have already set up a Pro account with Smarthome for Insteon & x-10 products but i know there must be other distributors out there for retailers and contractors. Seems the margins from dealer and retail are a little low compared to other consumer products. I generally make most of my profit off Labor but sometimes its tough on consumer products that are seen as something that you can find at Home Depot and do it your self. My work is mostly in commercial stuff like Business Tv and Distance Learning systems. I do make some contacts from the work I do for Home Theater and Custom installations. I also work with conference rooms and small office training rooms. So anyways I thought I would ask if anyone can refer me to any distributors that might cater to small HA and AV contractors.
Dave

 

[Digger]

Hi All,
I am just getting into this as an additional service for my existing business.
I am wondering where you purchase your HA supplies from. I have already set up a Pro account with Smarthome for Insteon & x-10 products but i know there must be other distributors out there for retailers and contractors. Seems the margins from dealer and retail are a little low compared to other consumer products. I generally make most of my profit off Labor but sometimes its tough on consumer products that are seen as something that you can find at Home Depot and do it your self. My work is mostly in commercial stuff like Business Tv and Distance Learning systems. I do make some contacts from the work I do for Home Theater and Custom installations. I also work with conference rooms and small office training rooms. So anyways I thought I would ask if anyone can refer me to any distributors that might cater to small HA and AV contractors.
Dave

Check out DBL Distributing.com. They really only sell wholesale and only disclose the wholesale prices after you sign up as a commercial account.

 

[pkoslow]

Dave,

If you don't already have a CE Pro magazine subscription, go to the following link and sign up. It's free and the magazine has some good industry info as well as ton's of advertising from distributors who would like to get some of your business.

http://www.cepro.com/site/subscribe/

Some distributors require a more "substantial" application process, while some are very easy... I'd put the two already mentioned in the very easy category.

We're in a similar area, so if you'd like, send me a PM and I'll give you names of a few to look into here on the West coast.

Cheers,
Paul

 

[AnthonyZ]

Hi All,
I am just getting into this as an additional service for my existing business.
I am wondering where you purchase your HA supplies from. I have already set up a Pro account with Smarthome for Insteon & x-10 products but ...Dave

Do yourself a favor. If considering professional HA services, forget that you ever heard of X10. It is by no means a professional product.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

http://www.automatedoutlet.com
http://tech-home.com/
http://store.worthingtondistribution.com/iwwiaa.pvx?;login
http://tri-ed.com/

 

[Steve]

Yeah, there are enough places to make your head spin, you can add

ADI
Smarthomeusa.com
Silmarelectronics
etc etc

Personally I like to buy from a place that makes things easy and offers support. There are lots of places where you can buy cheap, but then when it comes time to get some help or return a product, its a nightmare.

My strategy is to buy most 'planned' items from a place like Automated Outlet - they have good prices (and will price match others), great support and even hang out here. I also have my back pocket location like Silmar that is local for times that I just need something right away - like one day I needed an Elk 24V transformer. Was easy to pop into Silmar and pick it up same day.

It doesn't hurt to register at several and try them out - you will soon find a favorite.

 

[davefred99]

Yeah, there are enough places to make your head spin, you can add

ADI
Smarthomeusa.com
Silmarelectronics
etc etc

Personally I like to buy from a place that makes things easy and offers support. There are lots of places where you can buy cheap, but then when it comes time to get some help or return a product, its a nightmare.

My strategy is to buy most 'planned' items from a place like Automated Outlet - they have good prices (and will price match others), great support and even hang out here. I also have my back pocket location like Silmar that is local for times that I just need something right away - like one day I needed an Elk 24V transformer. Was easy to pop into Silmar and pick it up same day.

It doesn't hurt to register at several and try them out - you will soon find a favorite.

Wow
This is a great place to hang out. Lots of friendly folks willing to share there knowledge and pass along information. I do not know if this will eventually lead to a significant part of my business or not but it sure seems like a natural extension to what I already do.
Thanks to All, Dave

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Also, keep in mind a lot of distributors are Cocooners. This means they communicate with our membership on support, products, and other related items...

Automated Outlet, Tech-Home, ASIHome, Worthingtons, are among some of our membership here.

Lots of friendly folks willing to share there knowledge and pass along information

That is what this place does best!