Things To Consider

Things to consider when choosing an installation company.

• Price-gouging is commonplace is this industry. In order to insure you get everyday low pricing, make sure the company has a webpage showing the most common products and sale items clearly identified. If a company promises to "meet" or "beat" any competitor's pricing, most likely their products were over-priced to begin with, but they didn't want you to know about that. This is a common practice of trying to see how much a customer is willing to pay before having to renegotiate lowering the prices, and is called a "sucker punch" in sales techniques commonly in use today.  We offer everyday low pricing as not to insult our customers. We add a modest profit margin to all of our products to earn a modest and ethical living.

• Licensed contractors are a good idea, but not necessary in many cases involving smaller projects involving low voltage electronic equipment such as telephone, CCTV, and home theater installations.

• A CCTV company must be as intelligent and learned as their customers.  That's why at least a high school diploma is necessary to run a business successfully in order to understanding business principles, contracts, warranties, employment laws, and safety regulations, just to name a few important principles.  Basic reading and writing skills are necessary for understanding technical manuals and training as well.  Without a high school diploma, the risks simply outweigh the benefits. We further recommend you insist on employing college graduates that have earned college degrees which have a much better satisfaction rating on average than high school graduates or high school "drop-outs" as published in Consumer Reports. Check the educational backgrounds of installation companies. You may be very surprised at what you may find.

• Paying employment taxes to all employees is essential.  Make sure the installation company has a long standing history of paying all applicable employment taxes and withholdings and does not hire laborers "under the table".  This insures your safety and the safety of the workers.  Many field technicians complain that installation companies not on our recommended list owe them thousands of dollars in back employment benefits and Social Security.  We don't think this is fair, lawful, or ethically right.

• Make sure the installation company is fully insured with at least $1,000,000.00 worth of liability insurance.

• Find out if the installation company makes good on employee benefits, bonuses, vacation pay, sick days, and overtime compensation.  If not, run from these companies and find a reputable one.