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 2 of 4
Topic:
AVAD and Savant
This thread has 50 replies. Displaying posts 16 through 30.
Post 16 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 16:09
MNTommyBoy
Senior Member
Joined:
Posts:
November 2010
1,060
On March 9, 2019 at 16:15, Ryan_SD_CA said...
Hey All,

So AVAD and Savant got together in a few markets and recruited some dealers (like myself). After signing up to be a Savant dealer through AVAD I thought I would go through some training, buy some product and boom I would be a Savant dealer. Not. the. case.

I get very limited access to the product line and I don't get access to Blueprint to program. I get access to their new Savant Studio iPad app to try and program my systems. I've been in this industry for nearly 20 years and this app based programming is a total nightmare. I have a very simple system at home and at our office and we cannot get this thing to work at all. Have done online training and in-person training. I also cannot call Savant tech support, I have to call AVAD tech support.

This isn't even the worse part. When I signed up with Savant through AVAD no one told me that I would be forever blacklisted from going direct with Savant and getting access to the whole line. The only way I can sell more of their line is if AVAD designs the system and then they have to do the programming from Chicago (I live in San Diego) that is just not going to work.

I am so pissed off and frustrated that I was never told about this. I have multiple jobs where people are asking for Savant by name and I can do nothing for them but call a friend of mine who is a Savant dealer. This lie that they sold me is costing me thousands of dollars. I have done everything in my power and everyone is telling me that there is nothing that I can do about it.

This just seems like really bad business for both of them. Everyone is losing on this.

Sorry for the rant, just so pissed and frustrated.

Are any of you dealing with this?

Sorry to hear about your issues, Ryan.

Is it possible to go direct with Savant and use your friend for small jobs when needed? Like others have said, check out C4 or Elan. Maybe you have outgrown distribution?

Unfortunately though, you made the wrong business decision. You need to put yourself and your business ahead of your friend. Your story above won't matter to the bank...

Did you go to CEDIA over the last two years? Last year I had an integrator friend drag me through either AVAD or the Savant booth and I saw the little iPad setup. In about 2 questions I knew it would never be helpful with its extreme limitations.
"There's a big difference between winging it and seeing what happens. Now let's see what happens." ~MacGruber
OP | Post 17 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 16:26
Ryan_SD_CA
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2004
104
On March 10, 2019 at 16:09, MNTommyBoy said...
Sorry to hear about your issues, Ryan.

Is it possible to go direct with Savant and use your friend for small jobs when needed? Like others have said, check out C4 or Elan. Maybe you have outgrown distribution?

Unfortunately though, you made the wrong business decision. You need to put yourself and your business ahead of your friend. Your story above won't matter to the bank...

Did you go to CEDIA over the last two years? Last year I had an integrator friend drag me through either AVAD or the Savant booth and I saw the little iPad setup. In about 2 questions I knew it would never be helpful with its extreme limitations.

Since I signed up with Savant through AVAD I can never go direct with Savant, part of their deal with each other I guess.

We currently do Elan and we like them but I would like another option that is not RTI so I might check out C4.

I didn't know I was making the wrong business decision lol :) but I think I will let AVAD know how I feel with my wallet. There are other options to get gear.

I knew there were limitations but we are struggling with basic single zone systems and this should not be happening and we can only call AVAD tech support (they are 2 hours ahead) and I'm sure they probably know as much as we do. I am going to try and call them next week tho and give them the benefit of the doubt and see what they can do.
Post 18 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 18:17
Fins
Elite Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
11,627
On March 10, 2019 at 16:26, Ryan_SD_CA said...
Since I signed up with Savant through AVAD I can never go direct with Savant, part of their deal with each other I guess.

We currently do Elan and we like them but I would like another option that is not RTI so I might check out C4.

I didn't know I was making the wrong business decision lol :) but I think I will let AVAD know how I feel with my wallet. There are other options to get gear.

I knew there were limitations but we are struggling with basic single zone systems and this should not be happening and we can only call AVAD tech support (they are 2 hours ahead) and I'm sure they probably know as much as we do. I am going to try and call them next week tho and give them the benefit of the doubt and see what they can do.

If you like Elan why do you want another control system? Why add the hassle of trying to support two lines? Do you do enough work to be able to keep two manufacturers happy to have your business?
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 19 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 18:21
Greg C
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
October 2002
2,585
^ This!!!^
OMG, I'm agreeing with Fins.
CEDIA University Designer CAT Team Member
CEDIA University Instructor
CEDIA Registered Outreach Instructor
Post 20 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 18:27
SammPX
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2005
471
Have you plead your case to the local Savant sales rep or west coast sales? May or may not get you mileage.

I'm in a similar boat with Lutron Homeworks in my area (SF bay). I'm a RA2 Inclusive dealer but can't get to the next level. I'm partnering with a local Homeworks guy for any work I need and I still make money with our arrangement. Conversely I have a local integrator that uses me for Savant and networking, works well for him as he doesn't want to deal with it.
OP | Post 21 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 18:43
Ryan_SD_CA
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2004
104
On March 10, 2019 at 18:17, Fins said...
If you like Elan why do you want another control system? Why add the hassle of trying to support two lines? Do you do enough work to be able to keep two manufacturers happy to have your business?

There are just a few things that bug me about Elan and Nortek as a whole and I would like to have another option instead of being limited to only having Elan. I really do not like RTI so that is not an option and I don't care for URC.

Do I do enough work to keep both of them happy? Probably not but I might find that I like Savant more and could make a switch.

But at this point now I am over it since there is nothing that can be done.
OP | Post 22 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 18:50
Ryan_SD_CA
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2004
104
On March 10, 2019 at 18:27, SammPX said...
Have you plead your case to the local Savant sales rep or west coast sales? May or may not get you mileage.

I'm in a similar boat with Lutron Homeworks in my area (SF bay). I'm a RA2 Inclusive dealer but can't get to the next level. I'm partnering with a local Homeworks guy for any work I need and I still make money with our arrangement. Conversely I have a local integrator that uses me for Savant and networking, works well for him as he doesn't want to deal with it.

Someone I know spoke to their rep guy in the Bay and told him about the situation and the guy said I'm screwed.

Lutron is a nightmare to deal with. It took nearly 6 months for my client to get his RA1-RA2 upgrade rebate. And a bit of mess one time when I had to order shades from them.

For the few Savant jobs, I'm coming across I will just partner up with a friend of mine down here who has sold Savant exclusively for the past 10 years or so and let him deal with it.
Post 23 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 19:05
Fins
Elite Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
11,627
On March 10, 2019 at 18:43, Ryan_SD_CA said...
There are just a few things that bug me about Elan and Nortek as a whole and I would like to have another option instead of being limited to only having Elan. I really do not like RTI so that is not an option and I don't care for URC.

Do I do enough work to keep both of them happy? Probably not but I might find that I like Savant more and could make a switch.

But at this point now I am over it since there is nothing that can be done.

From what I’ve come to realize, every product has quirks and every manufacturer has problems. You have to figure out what’s acceptable and what you can work with. I understand wanting to check out another option. But I would want to make sure the other line provided something different and wasn’t just a different apple. You mentioned possibly looking at C4, from what I’ve seen, carrying it and elan would be like pedaling red delicous and yellow delicious apples.
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 24 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 19:06
Fins
Elite Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
11,627
On March 10, 2019 at 18:21, Greg C said...
^ This!!!^
OMG, I'm agreeing with Fins.

We’re making progress. If we keep it up, we can have you in a MAGA hat by 2020 😉
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 25 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 19:07
SammPX
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2005
471
Good luck sir

BTW thinking about coming down there in a couple weeks to celebrate my son's 21st birthday and looking for places to eat. We will spend the day on Coronado and lunch/dinner at Coronado brewery. There's the mexican place in old town too and I know a few other spots we hit during CEDIA.

Any other recommendations? Me/wife/teenage kids
OP | Post 26 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 19:19
Ryan_SD_CA
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2004
104
On March 10, 2019 at 19:05, Fins said...
From what I’ve come to realize, every product has quirks and every manufacturer has problems. You have to figure out what’s acceptable and what you can work with. I understand wanting to check out another option. But I would want to make sure the other line provided something different and wasn’t just a different apple. You mentioned possibly looking at C4, from what I’ve seen, carrying it and elan would be like pedaling red delicous and yellow delicious apples.

You are totally right, every product has its quirks and I know that. Except the Philips Pronto, that thing was a godsend!!! JK!!

The start of this thread was really to just express my frustration of how I thought I was getting one thing only to have the rug ripped out from underneath me and being told " Even though you've done nothing wrong you will never ever get to sell Savant!!"

I'm the type of person that when you tell me I can't have something I will try everything in my power to get it.

Lol but no company is worth this much trouble to deal with.
OP | Post 27 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 19:25
Ryan_SD_CA
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2004
104
On March 10, 2019 at 19:07, SammPX said...
Good luck sir

BTW thinking about coming down there in a couple weeks to celebrate my son's 21st birthday and looking for places to eat. We will spend the day on Coronado and lunch/dinner at Coronado brewery. There's the mexican place in old town too and I know a few other spots we hit during CEDIA.

Any other recommendations? Me/wife/teenage kids

Thank you.

The Zoo is awesome.

Balboa Park is amazing.

While in Coronado I would check out Hotel Del Coronado.

An infinite amount of breweries here.

If the Padres are in town you guys could check out a game. Petco Park is amazing no matter where you sit.

More breweries....

Plenty to do here!!
Post 28 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 19:30
Fins
Elite Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
11,627
On March 10, 2019 at 19:19, Ryan_SD_CA said...
You are totally right, every product has its quirks and I know that. Except the Philips Pronto, that thing was a godsend!!! JK!!

The start of this thread was really to just express my frustration of how I thought I was getting one thing only to have the rug ripped out from underneath me and being told " Even though you've done nothing wrong you will never ever get to sell Savant!!"

I'm the type of person that when you tell me I can't have something I will try everything in my power to get it.

Lol but no company is worth this much trouble to deal with.

I appreciate you starting this thread because we have been considering signing up too because one client is considering building a house and has brought up savant several times. The guys at avad keep swearing you can get the full line and they will handle all the programming. But your experience gives a lot of reason to avoid this deal. Especially having to call AVADs tech support.
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 29 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 19:35
Fins
Elite Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
11,627
On March 10, 2019 at 19:25, Ryan_SD_CA said...
Thank you.

The Zoo is awesome.

Balboa Park is amazing.

While in Coronado I would check out Hotel Del Coronado.

An infinite amount of breweries here.

If the Padres are in town you guys could check out a game. Petco Park is amazing no matter where you sit.

More breweries....

Plenty to do here!!

Isn’t Hotel Del Coronado rumored to be the inspiration for the Emerald City in Wizard of Oz?
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 30 made on Sunday March 10, 2019 at 19:41
Jeff at Zektor
Active Member
Joined:
Posts:
August 2009
596
Hey Ryan, as a fellow San Diegan, I feel your pain dealing with Savant albeit from the manufacturer side. They are impossible to deal with. Pretty much every other control partner has worked with us to solve an issue for the benefit of the dealer and end user.

Savant? Never.

Their first question, why didn't you use our xxxxx? Next question; did you start a tech ticket?

Good luck.
Jeff Haynes
The CA Guy
Coastal Source [email protected] 619-889-3700
Find in this thread:
Page 2 of 4


Jump to


Protected Feature Thread Closed
This thread has been locked. Replies are not allowed at this time.

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