Your Universal Remote Control Center
RemoteCentral.com
Custom Installers' Lounge Forum - View Post
Previous section Next section Previous page Next page Up level
Up level
The following page was printed from RemoteCentral.com:

Login:
Pass:
 
 

Page 5 of 7
Topic:
New Sonos "AMP"
This thread has 94 replies. Displaying posts 61 through 75.
Post 61 made on Monday September 3, 2018 at 22:59
Ranger Home
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
3,486
On September 3, 2018 at 19:59, SOUND.SD said...
That's sad that you've convinced yourself and your customers of that. It's simply not true. We sell more of everything you listed now than ever.

AGREED. More than ever.
Post 62 made on Tuesday September 4, 2018 at 02:14
SOUND.SD
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2006
5,523
On September 2, 2018 at 00:47, Stryker said...
This post makes me feel disappointed. Who is complaining? Our industry is amazing compared to other Constuction trades.

Agreed. I'm certainly not complaining about the industry. Just trying to show people that are complaining about the direction the industry is heading and say that Sonos, Nest, Eero are their only options that they are digging their own grave. Sonos in the right situation... Sure. As a business model and constant go to option? Nah.

Sonos is a product that works and is very reliable. Perfect it is not but what is? Use it to your advantage. Leverage the brand awareness and push. A Sonos connect feeding a DSP amp into a kick ass pair of speakers is a money maker. And a happy client.

I use to think reliable. The last few months have been heavy with service calls due to registration issues and software updates.

If Sonos can Take your client because they have an email address than good on Them and shame on you.

This is where we disagree. Good on them? Control 4 would never actively pursue my clients. Quite the opposite actually. They tell me when opportunities arise. I support businesses that support my business, not Make it harder.


Clients call you because they trust you and would rather pay you than to have to figure out things themselves.

So be a professional and provide them with more and they will pay and you will both be happy!

The client I am referring to in my specific post wrote a glowing 5 star Yelp review on us when we first did the job. She was ecstatic with our service, just got caught in a loop and saw free install so she went for it. Nothing to do with us not being professional. Quite a reach there.
Bulldog AV - San Diego, CA
www.bulldog-av.com
[Link: facebook.com]
Post 63 made on Tuesday September 4, 2018 at 08:09
goldenzrule
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2007
8,470
On September 3, 2018 at 20:10, SOUND.SD said...
My point of view of the entry level stuff has simply increased customer awareness. It's your job to explain to them why what you sell is better than the entry level stuff that was designed for "small condos and dorm rooms, not an estate of this size and quality". This is what I'm talking about when I say that Sonos has made you lazy.

Nothing to do with lazy.  I have had 0 service calls related to Sonos only jobs in the entirety that I have sold it.  Not a single one.  The major alternative that I sell, every single job has had a number of service calls due to equipment issues and lockups and what not.  To the point that if I did not install a wattbox or something similar, I would be losing money on many of those jobs.  Is Sonos right in every situation?  No, but the benefits are hard to ignore.  It works every single time, without fail.  No service calls.  Brand recognition like no other in the business. Simple to use.  While everyone here loves to complain about their new app, not a single customer has complained about it and I ask when I see them how they like the new app and everyone says its fine, most while ordering more Sonos.  So I understand the point of working with a company that supports you, however, at the end of the day, I am EXTREMELY burnt out due to ridiculous service calls due to systems failures from companies that "support me".
Post 64 made on Tuesday September 4, 2018 at 10:40
Richie Rich
Senior Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2002
1,150
On September 3, 2018 at 19:59, SOUND.SD said...
That's sad that you've convinced yourself and your customers of that. It's simply not true. We sell more of everything you listed now than ever.

I don't convince my customers of that. Otherwise I wouldn't have any customers (or have a profitable business for that matter).

It is just what we are up against on a playing field that is almost totally unrecognizable to the one I entered into almost two decades ago.
I am a trained professional..... Do not attempt this stunt at home.
Post 65 made on Tuesday September 4, 2018 at 10:53
tomciara
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2002
7,958
On September 4, 2018 at 10:40, Richie Rich said...
It is just what we are up against on a playing field that is almost totally unrecognizable to the one I entered into almost two decades ago.

Please refer to my previous post [Link: remotecentral.com]

You cannot go back to 10 or 20 years ago. And 10 or 20 years from now it will be completely different again. Your job is to change and to find new places where you fit in. As long as you have clients that can't or don't want to do it themselves, and there are plenty, you will have work.
There is no truth anymore. Only assertions. The internet world has no interest in truth, only vindication for preconceived assumptions.
Post 66 made on Tuesday September 4, 2018 at 13:26
SOUND.SD
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2006
5,523
On September 4, 2018 at 10:40, Richie Rich said...
I don't convince my customers of that. Otherwise I wouldn't have any customers (or have a profitable business for that matter).

It is just what we are up against on a playing field that is almost totally unrecognizable to the one I entered into almost two decades ago.

Well just going off what you said how there are no opportunities for the markets you listed.


Yeah, 10k profit for just dropping off a TV? Those days are gone. They went with Fujitsu. But there is a much bigger market for integrated components. Personally, I refuse to take part in the race to the bottom.
Bulldog AV - San Diego, CA
www.bulldog-av.com
[Link: facebook.com]
Post 67 made on Tuesday September 4, 2018 at 14:24
goldenzrule
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2007
8,470
On September 4, 2018 at 13:26, SOUND.SD said...
Well just going off what you said how there are no opportunities for the markets you listed.

Yeah, 10k profit for just dropping off a TV? Those days are gone. They went with Fujitsu. But there is a much bigger market for integrated components. Personally, I refuse to take part in the race to the bottom.

Do you sell TVs?
Post 68 made on Tuesday September 4, 2018 at 17:12
SOUND.SD
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2006
5,523
On September 4, 2018 at 14:24, goldenzrule said...
Do you sell TVs?

So by default I should also sell Nest? What are you getting at?
Bulldog AV - San Diego, CA
www.bulldog-av.com
[Link: facebook.com]
Post 69 made on Tuesday September 4, 2018 at 18:05
kwkshift
Active Member
Joined:
Posts:
February 2004
508
I think the problem isn't the Sonos equipment, it's the company and the way they conduct themselves in relation to custom integrators. The equipment is fine. The path that the company has been going for the last few years with us is a dwindling one.

I just look at it as more a betrayal, than anything else. We are the ones that educated the consumers and spread the word about their little white boxes that magically played music. Now, all these years later, with the market established, they're not outright dumping us, but making it a more hostile relationship than it should be.

Thankfully, there are alternatives now that we can show customers. They just need to play music with an app in their home. We can provide that, still. Just not with Sonos, if we choose.
Post 70 made on Tuesday September 4, 2018 at 18:20
goldenzrule
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2007
8,470
On September 4, 2018 at 17:12, SOUND.SD said...
So by default I should also sell Nest? What are you getting at?

Can't really talk about others being part of the race to the bottom if you sell TVs.  They are cheaply made and cheaply sold with no margin.  Even the "high end" tvs that still have some margin are cheaply made now.
Post 71 made on Tuesday September 4, 2018 at 18:30
goldenzrule
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2007
8,470
On September 4, 2018 at 18:05, kwkshift said...
I think the problem isn't the Sonos equipment, it's the company and the way they conduct themselves in relation to custom integrators. The equipment is fine. The path that the company has been going for the last few years with us is a dwindling one.

I just look at it as more a betrayal, than anything else. We are the ones that educated the consumers and spread the word about their little white boxes that magically played music. Now, all these years later, with the market established, they're not outright dumping us, but making it a more hostile relationship than it should be.

Thankfully, there are alternatives now that we can show customers. They just need to play music with an app in their home. We can provide that, still. Just not with Sonos, if we choose.

I agree with a lot of this, but still find there is no REAL substitute for Sonos.  Two of the biggest services out there are Spotify and Apple Music.  Who, other than Sonos, works with these within their app, seamlessly?  I am not really sure if any do.  Certainly in the case of Spotify.  Everyone talks about a REAL system is controlled in one interface, one app, one system, but at the same time will denounce Sonos which from a music standpoint, delivers just that.  Love them or hate them, it is hard to deny that they offer the most complete music streaming system (speaking strictly as a standalone system).  I've integrated Sonos, Music Cast, URC DMS, C4, Fusion Ovation, Autonomics, and seen some demos of some other systems like Heos and Casatunes.  While a lot or most are decent systems, none of them offer what Sonos does in ease of use combined with all of the desired services built in.  Throw Spotify in the mix and all of them pale in comparison to Sonos in ease of use.  Combine all of that with the fact that I never ever EVER have a call back for anything other than adding more, and its a decent option.
Post 72 made on Wednesday September 5, 2018 at 01:43
SOUND.SD
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2006
5,523
On September 4, 2018 at 18:20, goldenzrule said...
Can't really talk about others being part of the race to the bottom if you sell TVs.  They are cheaply made and cheaply sold with no margin.  Even the "high end" tvs that still have some margin are cheaply made now.

That's a rediculous statement and you have to know that. Because there are few options for quality elite displays we are either supposed to not offer displays as part of a solution or succumb to the industry degradation and offer only products that are cheaply made across our entire offering? We should just give up because TVs have no margin? A truly rediculous comment that doesn't require further discussion.
Bulldog AV - San Diego, CA
www.bulldog-av.com
[Link: facebook.com]
Post 73 made on Wednesday September 5, 2018 at 07:45
goldenzrule
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2007
8,470
On September 5, 2018 at 01:43, SOUND.SD said...
That's a rediculous statement and you have to know that. Because there are few options for quality elite displays we are either supposed to not offer displays as part of a solution or succumb to the industry degradation and offer only products that are cheaply made across our entire offering? We should just give up because TVs have no margin? A truly rediculous comment that doesn't require further discussion.

Ridiculous?  If you are going to throw stones and call people names for selling a product you do not believe in, then be prepared to discuss the comparisons.  The entire market is on a downward spiral with the race to the bottom.  It is sad but true.  There are ways to remain profitable, stay in business and keep and grow a happy client base.  Again, don't have to like the practices of a business, that's fine, don't work with them.  I don't think anyone has issues with that.  But you went on record as saying that Sonos has made people lazy.  Sonos has allowed people to sell jobs in which they create a strong customer relationship with a quick install, without service calls.  If I go back and calculate my true profit margin on jobs I did with Sonos versus TC, I already know which will be on top simply due to the amount of time I spent on many of those TC jobs in setup and programming, updates, trouble calls and more.  Again, you do not have to like Sonos, but please stop acting like people that do sell it are somehow 2nd or 3rd rates salespeople.
Post 74 made on Wednesday September 5, 2018 at 08:39
highfigh
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
September 2004
8,311
On September 4, 2018 at 17:12, SOUND.SD said...
So by default I should also sell Nest? What are you getting at?

I was talking to a guy who was installing Nest cameras, smoke sensors and thermostats last week- he charges $150 to install each piece, although I think the doorbell is a bit less- how is he not making money on it? The cameras look good, the video is easy to zoom whether live or recorded, they connect to the network easily and they can make $2K in a day. I don't see a problem with that.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 75 made on Wednesday September 5, 2018 at 09:30
goldenzrule
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2007
8,470
Got another text a short while ago from a non Sonos client. Pandora not working, please reboot system. Probably at least a dozen times for this client. Nothing seems to fix the issue permanently. Not a single of my Sonos systems has ever required a single service call, ever.
Find in this thread:
Page 5 of 7


Jump to


Protected Feature Before you can reply to a message...
You must first register for a Remote Central user account - it's fast and free! Or, if you already have an account, please login now.

Please read the following: Unsolicited commercial advertisements are absolutely not permitted on this forum. Other private buy & sell messages should be posted to our Marketplace. For information on how to advertise your service or product click here. Remote Central reserves the right to remove or modify any post that is deemed inappropriate.

Hosting Services by ipHouse