No, we are not talking about Brangelina. We are talking about your Digital Lifestyle and Home Entertainment. These are two words you certainly do not want to hear when you have been involved in a botched or unresolved audio/video solution.
Seriously, what do you do?
You now realize that the garage-based audio/video company no longer exists. Or, the builder that built your house used his brother in-law or his own son/daughter and now they are now no longer in the business. Or, the company you worked with was just so terrible they fail to return your phone calls or even remedy long standing issues. When your lights are supposed to work and they don't, you care!
Where do you go?
If you're lost, you are not alone. Your first action may be to open up the yellow pages or your favorite online search engine and take your chances with the list. Nine times out of ten you will get a company that's says "I've got just what you need". This quite possibly could not be farther from the truth.
Here is how it all breaks down:
Audio/Video dealers, now called Electronics System Contractors (ESC), have several channels as to where and how they get the products they sell. The products could be the brand of speakers, displays (TVs), receivers and amplifiers, the list goes on and on with other areas like security, Smart Homes (home automation) components, and yes, sometimes even vacuums. This is just a few of the items and the list goes on and so forth. What follows is the nuts and bolts of the basic distribution.
Dealers get these products in one of three-ways, directly from the manufacturer, through a manufacturer's representative (rep) firm, or through what's called distribution. In all cases there is a caveat called "the protected lines". These protected lines (lines = products: detailed above) are name brand and set up regionally to protect the individual dealer. The protection ensures that the dealer is the only one who can order and sell that line within a specified territory (could be county, city or even state). Protected lines are designed to be good for dealers, but bad for consumers as they remove pricing benchmarks for the consumer to check. Distribution is a little different as it carries numerous options other than those that are protected. This is the most common method of acquisition for early ESC's as it gives them what they need to get started. Next, the dealer usually works up to either manufacturer direct or their manufacturer rep when their purchasing volume can sustain the manufacturer's level of commitment for a volume discount. Essentially, the chances of finding another dealer that can support your protected product, if the first one failed, can be very discouraging as they may be the only one to carry it.
Getting back to the "got just what you need" scenario. You just spent the price of a car in your living room and it works for the most part, however, small things need to be changed.
You call up the first lucky dealer. The sales person answers "(insert sales variation here)", they set up an appointment to come over and to see what they are dealing with. After awhile, in one fashion or another, they will say, "I don't have access to that product nor do I support it. It will need to be replaced".
You think to yourself, "Starting Over? What about all the money I spent on getting this system in the first place?"
"EBay!" they say, "you may recover 25% of it".
In desperation, you ask "Who supports what I have?"
They say "I don't know, (insert sales variation here) "
Aaaargh! Now, repeat this process a couple more times. You love it right?
So what is the solution?
This is where the independent consultant comes in. The consultant should be unaligned with any dealer or manufacturer and offer up solutions rather than problems. They should know the products available and the sources of service to achieve optimum customer alignment. They are your answer to this problem saving you precious time and ensuring your money is well invested.
If you have had a similar experience and you would like to share please do so below
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Do I have it wrong or right? Feel free to comment. This is an open forum and all home-related technology discussions are welcome and encouraged. If you have a question or would like more information on any of the topics discussed in this blog, email me-Media Mike @ mmartoccia -at- gmail -dot- com. Find out more about Boise Idaho Home Technology (Home theaters, media rooms, whole-house audio, home healthcare, lighting and automation) at www.mydigitalauthority.com