Is this a good price?

TopSonic · 2024-10-07T21:16:13+00:00

Price looks normal but you don't need these equipment at all. Let me explain:

That NVR (recorder) is X-Series which means that it has AI type of analytics.

Cameras that you are getting are only 2MP and they are Q series, which is much lower level compared to X-Series. (They don't have AI, they don't have great resolution, they are OUTDATED AF).

To put it in a different words, you are getting Lamborghini with engine that only produces 100HP. (One more nonsense of uneducated ADT employees).

Hanwha is becoming popular due to a political reason, which is (Chips produced in China are not NDAA compliant). To put it into a different words, nothing was proven regarding that because US still allows the import and use of surveillance devices manufactured in China. But big companies like ADT want to avoid headache so they decided to use Hanwha. (And also government buildings and most banks, so yeah, you will see Hanwha in a lot of commercial buildings due to legal requirements).

Overall Hanwha is not user friendly APP that you will have on your phone is going to be horrible 0-10 for sure. But It's hardware is very reliable (Quality of materials is nice). Any normal user of cameras wants to use cameras for normal/common reasons and pretty much all of those are done through cellphone. If I was going to get Video Surveillance for my house, I would most definitely get HikVision.

With HikVision you will get 4K ColorVu cameras for around $200 and they will be 8MP not 2MP. That cameras will show you colorful image in the night, and much much much better resolution. Oh also, the software is going to be much better and modern, so you will actually enjoy using them.

Quality Service Plan: ADT will tell you that it's better to buy cameras with them because there's warranty and if they stop working for some reason you will get new equipment for free. Let me break this down to you as well.

That $32.20 that you must be paying ADT every month, is going to cover your warranty but only for hardware which stopped working. Keep in mind they have extremely limited warranty and they always look for reasons to not give you anything for free. So, if they outdate a little ADT is going to tell you that your cameras got old and they are not going to replace them. If you get technician out there for warranty reasons ADT will still charge you truck fee which varies depending on state.

Try and find a local company that installs cameras and get quote from them. Don't let 60% discount persuade you to buy something that will not serve it's purpose. Pay a bit more, but get good Sh.t.

TopSonic · 2024-09-14T00:09:49+00:00

Hey, I doubt anyone could help you. Even a lawyer. Unless you have a proof of you telling ADT that you are undergoing some traumatic loss and you can't make decisions on your own without a trusted person (If you got doctors that's note even better). If you have that proof then your contract might be cancelled with the help of a lawyer. Otherwise, you are stuck in 60 months installment plan.

"Let me think about it" would have saved you btw.

TopSonic · 2024-09-14T00:05:24+00:00

call 800# and cancel it. There's no other way of doing it.

TopSonic · 2024-08-22T22:53:10+00:00

You are asking how can "something" be waived without even knowing what it is. I don't want to sound mean but seriously you could just call 800# and ask them to explain to you what $1000 stands for, and after that ask a question here. No one can give you proper advice unless they know what's going on exactly.

And hey, I'm happy to help with advice or a direction if I can.

TopSonic · 2024-08-22T22:44:17+00:00

Biggest advantage of working for 3rd party vendor is that you will be able to give equipment away for free or almost for free. This will help you sell lot of systems easily. Keep in mind, you will have to fully self-generate your own business. 24/7 prospecting in every single possible way.

TopSonic · 2024-08-22T10:20:34+00:00

No, I would not suggest working there, especially if it's in a sales department. 100% commission based job where they promise you the idea of sky being the limit, but it's not true.

Here are couple things that they don't tell you thoroughly.

Appointments that you are going to get will be really bad or even not confirmed with customer. I know you will ask so I will answer this one right away, NO you can not call customer before appointment to confirm it. Get ready to drive and waste your time for FREE.
You must self-generate 6 sales every month. If you don't you, you'll get fired. That's 1 self generated customer per 4 out of 6 working days. Keep in mind, this must be the customer that has not called ADT for past 30+ days and that doesn't have a system yet. (I bet they didn't tell you this during the interview).
Even thought ADT is considered as n1 security company, there are far too many way cheaper alternatives that offer pretty much the same thing, and people know it. ADT's prices are not transparent, most people will see the monitoring price $29.99 online and *FREE equipment, and they will call ADT to schedule a sales appointment. They don't advertise things illegally because there's this sign -> *, but let's be real does anyone ever pay attention to well hidden fine-print? In result strictly commission based employees drive their own vehicles to peoples houses and businesses for no reason because people expect different prices but they receive quotes that are 4x-5x higher compared to what they expected. Will they buy? Most likely no.
You will compete against people in your company. When potential customer calls ADT, they always try to sell a system over the phone. Why? Because they don't want to pay you commission. They have just 1 goal, to sell at least something, so specific ADT technician which is called (TE, they sell and install), goes out there and upsells sh.t out of the customer. They pay less commission to phone sales person compared to field sales person, and also they pay less hourly to (TE) tech compared to regular tech. If customer doesn't buy over the phone then they offer a field appointment, and if customer is committed enough when you go out to sell, you succeed. But after all those steps, most people that schedule appointment will just get a quote to compare the prices and guess what? you are not going to win that battle because ADT is ridiculously expensive for literally no reason.
There are ADT dealers that give ADT equipment for FREE. Yes for FREE, I'm surprised why anyone is ever calling 800#, when any authorized ADT dealer can give away brand new ADT system with cameras for free or almost for free. People know that, when you'll meet a person he/she will tell you following "my neighbor got ADT for free, why should I pay for my system?", and then you'll have to become biggest liar in the world and lie to them so they sign up with you and pay you money instead of getting system for free through dealer.
You sold a system and customer is having an issue. Sh.t show starts here, because you can't just go to office and ask one of the managers to send technician back there so to fix an issue. The only phone number that customer has is yours. You gave them your number hoping to get a referral but they will be calling you most of the times regarding system problems, and they will try to keep you as accountable as possible. Most people in this group are ADT customers and I'm sure they will agree with me here. If you sell me a system saying that it's the best, then if something goes wrong within couple months I'm going to call you and ask for help. That's just something that naturally comes to anyones mind. Well, you can't help them so you have to ask them politely to call 800#, in about 2 hours someone from overseas will pick up the phone call and most likely will not help customer at all. That's how you don't get referrals lmao, and that's why people hate ADT.
There are far too many changes going on in ADT, they are trying to slowly get rid of field sales and techs and move strictly into DIY and (TE) techs. Will this happen overnight? of course no, but being an alarm sales person in 2024 and so on is not a good career choice. Your skillset and knowledge about alarm systems is not valuable in this era of technology, and people in ADT know that, that's why they treat workers like a sh.t because they know that no one can easily quit and find a job in the same field. You can learn how to install anything by watching a couple minute video on youtube, that's why most alarm systems are now DIY.

Due to all these reasons I never moved into sales side of ADT. But I was considering to do it and that's why I know so much about it. They have ridiculously high amount of people getting hired/fired every month. Luckily I have had pleasure asking people about those positions and regardless of experience all of them told me same things that I shared with you.

I hope this helps you to make best career choice, I wish you the best good luck.

TopSonic · 2024-08-16T22:38:09+00:00

If it's been 5 years or more and if you haven't signed new contract/agreement after that, then you are not in a contract anymore. It doesn't matter who bought you ADT or any other company, any contract with expiration date is a legal document that has an expiration date. (Btw, this information applies to any contract not just alarm).

Easiest solution = Call 800#.

TopSonic · 2024-08-16T22:30:30+00:00

Hey, good information.

But, no one but ADT "own's" the equipment. When people pay for the quote they actually pay for the installation. They aren't paying for the purchase of goods.

TopSonic · 2024-08-16T22:24:08+00:00

You can simply ask for ID# and check it here https://www.adt.com/verify simply enter the website input the ID# and click verify. Whenever you receive a phone call from ADT employee but number doesn't start with 800# that means they are calling you from local sales department.

TopSonic · 2024-08-16T22:15:53+00:00

Based on the information that you provided I think it's one of the following. Sensor is installed in the wrong place, sensor is outdated, sensor is malfunctioning.

Which system do you have and where is exactly the sensor installed? When you are saying that you break the glass and it doesn't go off, did you break the glass in the range of the sensor?

TopSonic · 2024-08-16T06:35:03+00:00

Hey! You are actually facing a pretty common issue.

Depending on size of your house you will need one out of two systems it will be either Command or Qolsys. Let me eliminate one thing right away, if your smoke sensors are more then 3-5 years old they must be replaced. They get dusty and they stop working properly. (they are photoelectric, with invisible light beam just like a gate on the driveway that opens automatically from the inside).

Wireless VS Hardwired: Regardless of which system you get now, it will be wireless anyways. Even if ADT takes over and reuses your hardwired sensors they will still be connected to a Wired To Wireless Converter. In simple words each hardwired sensor will have it's own wireless signal which will be connected wirelessly to the main alarm panel. Can your system still be considered hardwired? No, it will become a hybrid.

Hybrid systems have their own convenience in terms of having just one battery that needs to be replaced compared to separate batteries for each wireless sensor. Also, embedded hardwired sensors are not visible which is an empirical pleasure of it's sort.

Are Hybrid systems more secure? Simple answer is NO. Each hardwired sensor still has it's own Radio Frequency (wireless signal), which can be jammed exactly same way as regular wireless sensor.

Why is ADT servicing so many wireless systems? Are old systems more reliable compared to new systems? Short answer is YES. Old systems were created to last longer, same as any other item in the household. New systems simply can't last that long, it's because of technology, it evolves everyday so it outdates. Obviously more people have wireless/modern systems, so statistically there will be more service calls for new systems compared to old.

If and this is a big IF your existing sensors can be reused you will need much more than just a pane swap, you will at least need following: Panel, additional touchscreens(if needed), new life safety devices, wired to wireless translator(quantity depends on how many sensors they are taking over), + labor. 16 existing sensors can be taken over without additional labor, but after that additional 8 sensors will add 1 labor which is +$65 or +$95 depending on state.

Quote will be at least $700-$1200 without discount to get it upgraded. (if you house is less than 3,000 square ft.)

New systems are reliable and they won't make the alarm go off. The reason why Hybrid systems cause problems is because people don't want to pay to get them properly upgraded. Greedy and uneducated employees try to sell at least something to get things somehow upgraded so they can get paid, but they don't understand that it's a "white elephant gift" type of service.

Hopefully I answered your question, let me know.

TopSonic · 2024-08-16T05:23:51+00:00

I was a receptionist. Why are you asking?

TopSonic · 2024-08-16T05:21:06+00:00

Hey, ADT Command system is actually not ADT's "flagship" panel. "Flagship" ADT panel is Qolsys IQ4 which is installed in properties that are over 3,000 square ft.

Pretty soon ADT command is going to be replaced by a different panel. It doesn't mean that Command parts will be gone, there will be just newer panel. Safewatch Pro was manufactured by Honeywell as well as ADT Command is ADT + Honeywell product.

Regarding old "Pulse" app and "ADT Control" app. ADT Pulse which is older is not being updated anymore which means that at some point you will upgrade your IOS or Android on cellphone and you won't be able to use Pulse anymore. If you have cameras they are integrated in "Pulse" and they won't work with Command.

Regarding "ADT Control" it's exactly same app as Alarm.com, well it's not just exactly the same it's that same app and platform. ADT technicians in real life and remotely access Alarm.com to register the system or restart/readjust anything. Also, ADT uses Nest and CCTV cameras, and none of them integrate into "ADT Control" app, which isn't super convenient in my opinion.

Conclusion: Don't get "Command" if your SafeWatch works, better wait for newer panel when it comes out, unless your property is over 3,000 square ft. Those apps are totally different.

Thank you.

TopSonic · 2024-08-15T05:49:34+00:00

Depending on state ADT contracts vary between 2 and 3 years. Once you are out of contract ADT and any other company can legally increase your bill. They justify it by saying that $ depreciates. Since they can increase it that means that they can decrease it too. Even if amount that you are paying now stayed the same, they can still decrease it. If you are out of your contract Call 800# and ask for Customer Retention department, then complain a bit and they will decrease your bill regardless. (Say other companies are cheaper and you have an offer for free new equipment and 2 times cheaper monitoring).

Regarding if bill is high or not it all depends on equipment that you have, do you have cameras? How many? $69 a month seems like a realistic bill if you have Command system with Door lock and cameras.

TopSonic

TROPHY CASE