...

For these consumer electronics companies to make money, they need to move boxes. And to move the most boxes, they need to fill those boxes with something that is accessible to the largest number of people. There's a far, FAR larger number of people who are NOT tech savvy, so whatever is in the box needs to be very easy to use - and that means eliminating anything that gets between what's in the box and the end user.

'This' is the worst time for you because of what YOU do. 6 or 8 (or whatever) years ago, when C4 and Savant hit hard, residential Crestron guys were saying the same thing. These newer systems made a strong push to get those pesky programmers out of the equation. What made you think installers aren't next?

When Crestron said a couple years ago that they weren't going to be at CEDIA, that was when I made the decision to stick with them, and chase the jobs that require that kind of solution - because the crowd was going the other way.

Sometimes, there's safety in numbers. Other times, you're just headed for the slaughterhouse.

This may be a great approach for your business, but Crestron's base will shrink and eventually they will need to react. They have already reacted by avoiding the expense of going to CEDIA.

I could name things it does that ring doesn't like integrate and show up on touchscreens. What does ring do that it doesn't? Besides look like junk.

It's hilarious how the same people that are complaining about the industry is degrading are the ones suggesting DIY product is superior.

Them not going to CEDIA is very likely not a cost cutting measure. Residential is not Crestron's bread and butter - their revenue split is something like 25% resi and 75% commercial, so they're probably not too worried about Alexa and Ring. This is also why the jobs that might do better with Crestron are usually very large estate type of properties, with multiple buildings and more commercial/industrial requirements. And to be fair, this is probably why a *lot* of smaller resi jobs that got Crestron were not executed well - it wasn't the right solution! That's why things like C4 and Savant - which were made for residential - are killing it right now in resi.

Also - Crestron has been working on stuff to stay relevant in residential. I have no idea how well it's going to work out, but that OK - I'm still just doing my thing, and it's working out well so far.

This statement brought Sonos to mind. If that's not in actuality a DIY product, nothing is.


Not to say you can't make money on it (somehow), and not to say it's junk, like most DIY stuff, but it really is a DIY item.

In reality, to the customer there's no difference between SnapAV and Monitor Audio, or Doorbird and Ring, or Crestron and Control4.  They don't know what any of it is...(although I do think $2k for a doorbell is a little kooky).

The point is, integrators get shook up over products and brands....what they're missing is, they ARE the product.

The customer isn't buying a Denon.  They're buying you. 

Think about this, the vast majority of your competition is using the identical products as you are, and the proposals are within a few $ of each other.  The only thing that's different is you.

If you're losing more than you win, you're doing something wrong.. If you're winning more than you lose, you're either at the top of your game or you're too cheap.

They've been in Los Angeles, Venice, Santa Monica for a while now. They're either loved or hated by locals.

https://www.bird.co/

Scooters!!!
I already checked and Denver has them as well, whoo.

Scooter ralley?

Agree to disagree.

Voice control has been out for a while now and though I do agree it is the future, it's not ideal selling/installing a platform that still in its' infancy. I know we are experiencing a few headaches integrating it but it sounds like it's great for you.

Automation for the masses? IMO, it's still automation for the people who have money. Sure you can get a automation processor for considerable less money than in the past but you're rolling the dice if you don't have a robust hardwired/wireless network and IP managed power outlets. Those critical items are almost always accompanied by racks, UPS's, blah blah blah. I don't think we've ever done a Savant job under 20K.

I agree that things have been changing at an incredible pace over the 10+ years. But my point was that there isn't anything new that compelled me to go to Cedia. I never to pretend to know as much as most people on here. That's why I continue to visit these sites to learn about what's new, what works, and what doesn't. There is nothing at Cedia that you don't hear about on this site within days of it being shown at the show. I guess that was all I was saying.

[Link: instagram.com]

^^ That's awesome!

Those scooters were a trip. Who's got the balance with so much drinking going on? The booths were serving early this year! 230 or 3pm... nice!

I just watched several videos.
What a shame that we live at the time where such vandalism is promoted.
I'd bet they would sing a different tune if they were made to pay for the damages.

I would have no problem if they were doing that to the own, personally paid for items. But we all know they didn't pay for destruction that they caused