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Topic:
Is it just me...?
This thread has 32 replies. Displaying posts 31 through 33.
Post 31 made on Friday July 22, 2016 at 16:49
Bubby
Advanced Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2007
942
On July 8, 2016 at 18:02, dtc said...
Then a couple of things happened. URC clamped down on the availability of remotes going directly to consumer and on the availability of the software. And, critically, Harmony remotes showed up. With the easy download system people did not have to learn all the things above. The hard core stayed with URC, but the masses went to Harmony. Add to that the whole iPod and streaming changes and everything changed.

In addition things got easier to control. With HDMI compatible AVR's having 7+ HDMI Ins a Harmony can do a decent job vs when components sent audio to the AVR and video to the TV.

I still use URC and probably will as long as they are available to me as a DIY'er.
Post 32 made on Friday July 22, 2016 at 18:59
buzz
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2003
4,363
On July 21, 2016 at 16:15, SRTShaker said...
^^^

I guess I am blinded by dealing only with professionals in my current and former business life. I am naive to how challenging dealing with an end user can be. Most of the people I run with with are EEs, Military officers and very tech savvy.

And, these people are in your specialty. Also, you didn't need to compete with online pricing for your goods and services.

Many of the people that I deal with (men in particular) are highly specialized, very smart and want to feel that they are in total control of their home environment. It chafes them a bit when they call someone like me to do something as simple as setting up a stereo system or computer network. Anyone can do this, right? The worst situation is when I'm facing off with an unseen "expert" friend.

I'm thinking of one MD in particular. We get push back at practically every step along the way, but things really do work better when done our way. He is so proud of his Harmony, but I think that it is a nightmare. When I go in, I simply ignore the Harmony and use the native remotes or go directly to the equipment. I try very hard to leave the system in the same "state" as I found it -- else the Harmony might not be as much fun as usual.

For this type of individual the URC controller based systems are already too expensive and our programming fee should be included with the price of the remote. And, we should not charge more for the hardware than the lowest price that he can find online. Harmony is cheap, his programming is free, and he has a sense of accomplishment because he has full control.

This mindset is very strong in some individuals. Note how aggressively you are plotting against the C4 dealer. You are angry because he seems to be locking in his customers, yet you are proud of your locked up contracts.
Post 33 made on Thursday July 28, 2016 at 19:15
BobL
Founding Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2002
1,351
I just had one of those coincidences. Yesterday a customer calls and asks me how to put his new Roku into his remote. Tells me the Roku is connected to HDMI 3 of his receiver. Now this is an MD and states he writes code for their medical programs. He has an MX-450.

I start talking him through how to put the code in the remote. His remote hasn't been updated in a couple of years so the code for Roku is not in the remote. I know it is available for it. I tell him he can learn all the keys or download the archiver software and update the remote so it has the latest IR codes. He asks if this is all he has to do. I explain after adding the device he still has to set the volume and on/off buttons with the copy and paste command. Then create the 'macro' to go through the sequence needed for the TV and receiver to go to the correct inputs and surround settings. He doesn't know what I mean by macro. I explain it to him.

After 15 minutes on the phone with him he says "When can you come here and do this? I know it will only take you 10-15 minutes". I went there today and spent about 1/2 hour.

This is obviously a very intelligent man. But I think people underestimate that these remotes take more time then they realize and the support by URC or any other company would also be greater than people realize.
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