Taking over a house with an older Control 4 system. Will try to upgrade it to Elan but if the client declines and wants to restore functionality what are the current options to get the software? Few years back was $75k annually if I remember correctly; is that still the case? Distribution or direct only?

Depends on your market, Your rep, and you....

They generally will not add someone that is just looking to take over a job though. You might want to partner with a remote programmer if they want to keep it.

Like this man.

He keeps my Control4 clients happy from 2000 miles away.

When I contacted them, they required buying at least one of each product and some guarantee of buying their annual minimum, which was ridiculous, especially in light of the number of C4 dealers who are close to me.

Early on I decided that I did not want to become involved with C4. Their attitudes did not make be feel that they were in any way interested in my well being. I was not at all surprised that, the night they purchased Extra Vegetables, they shut off all non C4 dealers. Another great feature of doing business with them is that if, for some reason (such as not making minimum purchases) your relationship sours a bit, they'll give all of your customers to someone else. And, their programming and user interfaces never excited me.

Another great feature of doing business with them is that if, for some reason (such as not making minimum purchases) your relationship sours a bit, they'll give all of your customers to someone else. And, their programming and user interfaces never excited me.

I'm wondering how that's legal- one dealer does the work of selling, programming and supporting a brand and when the brand develops a "What have you done for me, lately?" attitude, they give the customers to someone else? Voluntarily handing them off is one thing, but this would really piss me off. I understand that business relationships can end suddenly (think of rep firms) but the rep firms aren't doing the actual work in the projects, programming or being the client's point of contact in the event that problems arise.

You should see the dealer agreement, it’s huge
Not that i agree with it entirely

They are direct only. Unless your planning on trying to support both brands (I do and it’s not easy) I’d partner with a local dealer.
Both systems depend very heavily on having a robust network

A lot of non Control4 Dealers have a lot of opinions on Control4's policys.

I've worked with Control4 for nearly 20 years at this point. we had some pretty bad years with the last company I was with, and I dont set any sales records with my current company.

I respect the brand though. Its not a line I picked up because I wanted to maintain one or 2 old clients.

Its not a brand that I have "Just in case". And quite frankly, if it ever did become that for me, I'd expect C4 to pull the line. Would not be mad at all.

The only time I ever see Control4 get involved in handing a client to another dealer is when the client calls C4 direct.

I'm glad C4 didnt become just another Snap brand with the acquisition.

There was a least 2 stories by 2 different dealers over the past several years, that detailed how Control4 cut them off - if I remember correctly, it was from not doing as much business as they would like. They were doing several customers a year.
In getting cut off, this also meant they were locked out of the software and could no longer service all the clients they had installed the C4 systems. With the amount of money these systems cost, that pretty much means they lost all those customers. No one is going to re-buy a full control system, when the manufacture is recommending another dealer to them, that can service what they have.

No matter how you try and spin this positive... this is out right "anti-right to repair". It is dirty, sleezy, scummy tactics by the manufactures. And I will NEVER support a company that engages in such practices.
And I will educate every consumer on why it is a horrible idea to have a dealer install Control4 for them. They can decide from there if they think my assertions are worth merit or not.

For dealers that have been doing great with them for 20 years... well, good for you. Someone at the company likes you. Hope that never changes or....

Everyone is getting on C4 for their policies, and the only one I don't agree with is the inability to retain the software to service your clients.  However, during the pandemic, when both my URC and Sonos numbers dipped from firstly not being allowed into houses, and then secondly, people not wanting me in their houses, so sales dropped dramatically, both companies terminated my dealerships.  That meant I could no longer buy Total Control that I had sold for years, and could only buy Sonos via distribution at half the margin.  Sonos wouldn't even get on the phone to discuss and said I had to buy a ridiculous amount of gear to keep the line, ALL while they did not have ANYTHiNG in stock, meaning I had to come out of pocket with no money coming in for a substantial 5 figures for gear they couldn't even provide.  Hell, its 2 years later and still can't get an AMP.  I had already become a C4 dealer before the pandemic, and no problems with them.  BTW, as URC tends to do, their shit kept and keeps failing on the jobs I had and I cannot replace the clients gear, so how is it really any different than what everyone is complaining about with C4?  I do have the software, so there is that, but its not of much use when all the gear keeps failing and I can't do anything about it.  And to think about all the wasted time I spent in trainings for them as well.  No, not a URC fan anymore at all...