Ernie,
They are NOT trying to sell to anyone here. They posted to get feedback on the website & business model.
They know this is a professional forum and no one here is going to use the service.

Really Paul?
I tried my BFE area of New Mexico and understandably didn't get any hits.
Then I tried my parents zip in Staten Island NY -- still no hits.
Then I tried Manthattan, still nada. Really? Fricken Manthattan?

Maybe beyond feedback on the site these guys are looking to onboard us to expand their service areas for DIFM? What's the franchise buy-in amount? I too believe that listing at least a corporate headquarters address lends a certain creed to services like this.

Comments:

Website is average and has the common look of so many websites today, it looks pretty and professional but gives very little detail. I personally don't like it but it is the 'In look' at the moment and I get it.

I like that it is targeting average homes for people that don't know how to set any of this stuff up. Many of us target higher end homes and the average person doesn't know where to go for services like ours, so they use Best Buy or similar.

I am curious how the money and scheduling works for the installers? Probably better answered at IP. I just see a lot of variables here where it might not be profitable for an installer to do many of these jobs particularly the products that involve wiring inside walls. For a set price structure you need to make VERY good money on the easy jobs to account for the ones that will take more time. Also, curious how the scheduling works with installers.

Some items need to be very clear and highlighted in the description like electrical needs and not just listed below. I think many customers will need to be aware they need an electrician up front and the price does not include that.

You need a FAQ page to cover many different situations. Some questions off the top of my head that need to be answered in the FAQ.

I already have a mount or cables can I use them and save money? .

TV over fireplace or other difficult location to wire?

Difficult wiring situations?

Repeat electrical and explain needs for TV and Sonos if used as surrounds and any other products that it would be required.

Customer supplied equipment?

Other accessories that might be needed?

Probably a lot more that I can think of off the top of my head but you want to set your guidelines up front to eliminate someone scheduling a service and the installers get there and say it isn't possible or it is going to cost extra.

I wish you the best of luck in this endeavor.

Thanks Brad.  Ernie only has the ability to correct punctuation and grammar at every step, he doesn't have the ability to comprehend the words he's reading...It's his curse.  That's why he still hasn't wrapped his head around DirecTV and Apple TV for the last 20 years. :)

Mario,

I think I'm following what you're saying.  I think you're assuming that they cover multiple states.  They don't.  They're only in WI.  For example, if your IP address is in their coverage area, they would show up in a search. But if you're in any other state, you wouldn't.  The same as how one of your guys websites work currently.

Don Heany,

Since this is a web based venture from top to bottom, we decided not to confuse the situation by providing a corporate address"front and center". Didn't want people doing the "Do you have a showroom?" routine.

Ihummingbird.net is a very similar business model.

[Link: hometech.fm] Here's a podcast with the owner of Ihummingbird. The guy makes a strong argument IMO, definately worth a listen.

Fixed it for you

Touche' my friend...Hows' the grillin' going?  You know Ernie is gonna have a fit over the spellin' of grillin'


TechValley,

Thanks for that post.. I'd never heard of this company before (listening to the podcast now)..  Yes, there are a few companies like this..I'd like to point out on Remotes-plus.com what sets these 2 sites apart...On the remote-plus site, they can purchase and schedule directly from the site. Ihummingbird, you just go to a contact form like a standard site...But yes, similar business for sure..

Thanks BobL. ,

Yes, this is still a work in progress and will continue to grow, but you make some good points...On the back end, once a visitor makes a purchase, they'll actually get a call from remotes-plus.com and go over the details of alot of those situations...We had a lot of that stuff in there, and I ended up removing it because I felt like it would possibly confuse and bog down the transaction, so in the end, we decided we'd cover some of the details with a personal touch..

We're working on a FAQ page as we speak, but we wanted to get the site launched, up and operational, and work the bugs out.

Other accessories-  as you go through the purchasing/scheduling on many of the products, a list of EXTRAS is available for you to choose from.

I like the site and model, however have not given much thought to the back end which at a glance seems very complicated.

I agree that a follow up call to discuss things like electrical outlet requirements, or customer supplied gear is much better than trying to incorporate it into the website, however this does add another overhead component to have a semi knowledgeable person on the phone following up on purchases all day.

Curious to see how it goes for them.

All the best!

A couple of questions just because I'm curious:

You are selling Sonos and other gear online, so did you have to get approval to do that, or is it just OK because you are bundling it with labor? I'm only asking because I was considering doing something similar in my area.

I did try the extras but things like cables were not on it. I am sure it will be fixed. The follow up phone consult is a good idea to avoid some situations. Put it on the website as part of the process that a consultant will follow up to go over all the details.

Once you complete the purchase you're redirected to a page that says that you'll be receiving a call from a representative.  

Regarding the necessary cables, and other miscellaneous like wall plates, etc. They're built into the price...We figured this was the best way to do it rather than complicate the experience with details that a prospective customer may not know how to answer, or may not know what they need..for these types of installs, you can really drill down to almost every piece of equipment required...Sure, there'll be times when additions to labor, etc. will change..The technicians will/can take that up on site..

To answer a few of the other questions from previous posters..

(andrewinboulder)
They're currently dealers for everything they sell on the remotes-plus.com website, however everything on the website has installation included. They don't ship products, they deliver the products on the installation date.

(BradKas)
The backend, is actually very seamless.  Here's how the process works..
1. Visitor purchases product.  (Funds are deposited into business bank account the next day)
2. An email is sent to the customer and remotes-plus.com with date/time and other purchase information,  we're at "pending" appointment.
3.  At the very same time, that appointment is synced into the Google Calendar of remotes-plus.com and the technician assigned.


(At this point, nobody from Remotes-plus.com has done anything, it's all automated)

4.  remotes-plus.com contacts customer by phone. Goes over details. Marks appointment APPROVED.
5.  Customer receives an automated email directly from the backend of the website. Inside that email is a downloadable form for them to print and fill out for WIFI password, and all other logins that may be needed (i.e- Pandora, Netflix, etc)
6. The night before the appointment customer receives an email and a text confirming the appointment the following day.
7. Installation day.

So, that's the entire process.  In short, all these guys need to do is contact and confirm the appointment. The technology does everything else.

Have you ever been tested to see if you're on the spectrum?

Should be solution orientated. You're assuming that the customer knows what a managed network is.

Wifi Sucks - click here
Sound at the pool - here
Tired of looking at wires hanging on your wall

Front page should be something I want to buy.
Instead it's do we even want you as a client, and some dude looking in a mirror. (yeah I know it's a guy hanging a TV, does the user?)