I don't think its fair to say all pool contractors are horrible. That would be like someone having bad experiences with multiple CI's saying that ALL CI's are horrible and you're better off doing your own work. I think you've had a run of bad luck or there is a shortage of good pool contractors in your area. I know of a couple decent ones in my area

I think we've seen those guys here asking for help!

Nope, Im am convinced. Even my pool contractor that does ultra high end pools that throws me work absolutely SUCKS. i have saved his butt numerous times and he never realizes it.

I have countless projects with different pool contractors and they truly do all suck

How do you think trying to find a good electrician, plumber, GC, or Realtor is any different? Lots of bad ones in all of those fields too, and usually people dont know it until its too late. And The Association of Realtors spends more than any association to try to educate the public. But all they really tell the public is "hire a Realtor, not someone with just a real state license".

the big difference in our industry and most others, is that most people think they know a little bit about those other fields, and arent afraid of the products they provide.

True, but you will see a much higher percentage of poor quality work with stuff purchased through distribution.

Secondly, exclusive lines don't get whored-out price - wise as readily.

Those were the points I was trying to make.

I just make it a point to run a couple of wires from the pool equipment location to the headend and another bundle to where the pool controller should live. I don't show them to anybody, they do not appear on any plans, purely a CYA move as I have been blamed before.

5 out of the last 6 jobs I have done the pool guy stood around, gazing at his bellybutton when I ask him where he pulled wire to for his controller, long after the houses were completed. "Uhhh, we sorta forgot to run wire". Or better "our controller is wireless". Awesome… Too bad the pool is 100ft from the house and down a hill. Think your wireless will work up to the living room door area?

Most of the sparkys I deal with want absolutely nothing to do with what we do. I get a lot of good natured ribbing from the sparks when I am behind a rack, wrangling a couple of firehose diameter, multicolored cable trunks.

The only local company I run into that does both well is a C4 dealer. They hired a real LV guy to deal with that end of the business. I have seen their work and have to grudgingly admit they do a quality job.

I think the challenge really rely's on our own companies to set ourselves apart. I think a basic showroom goes a long way to test drive the systems. Having a good referral page on a website or Facebook pictures of installs also helps. Most of the calls we get are word of mouth anyways. Most of our customers care more about the professionalism of our company, shoe covers, feeling comfortable with employees that have good eticate in peoples homes and clean up practices than anything else. They expect the system to work as described. What we need is to better describe who we are and why they should go with our companies.

The other day I got a call from an older couple who's cable box wasn't working. Couldn't help them over the phone and a remote power cylce didn't fix the issue. I made trip to take a look at it and had it going withing minutes. (cable issue) she asked why the cable box would sometimes come on and other time would not.
Here I found myself trying to explain discrete codes again. But a light bulb went off in my head. I asked her if she had ever had a room with 2 light switches controlling one light bulb. She said, "why yes, my kitchen is this way." We walked into her kitchen and I hit the light switch in the down position (off) but the light came on. I asked her why the light came on when the switch was in the off position? She said because there is another switch over there.

I said, this is how your cable box works. Even though you hit what you thought was the off button, the box came on. She said, "like a toggle?" I said exactly.

We have to find a better way to explain our value.

I heartily disagree. At least a doctor or lawyer has passed a certain basic level of scrutiny. Lawyers must pass the Bar in their state, and doctors must serve a residency. Both professions must demonstrate a certain level of theoretical knowledge, and then demonstrate a level of practical application. This is common in many professions, but is lacking for what most in this forum define as CI's.

PS: Engineers have their equivalents along with Dr's & Lawyers, when it comes to theoretical knowledge and practical application.

So the CI industry is a bunch of un educated babbling bafoons?

I agree to disagree. There are a lot of accredited professionals who .... s u c k!
Dr's, Lawyers, Cops, Dentists, Teachers, Professors, Chiropractors, Crestron programmers....

Take a look at the AV nightmares page on FaceBook. I also deal with a lot of take over projects.

So I will say your description is accurate for a large portion of the industry. Better or worse than others, you can debate that all you want...

you just made stamps point, there is good ones and there are horrible ones.

Same goes for doctors,lawyers,builders etc etc.

That's only true in the northeast.... ;-)

Shut up you old fart

Plenty of bridges that fall apart. Lots of malpractice suits.