I'm sick of Authorized Dealers breaking SIGNED CONTRACTS while the rest of us have to take it on the chin.

This same dealer has broken the rules over and over. The rep calls them...the problem goes away for a couple of months. I've called my rep each time (since that dealer is in his territory) and also e-mailed URC. I'd probably reach that dealer's sales levels too if I played by my own rules!

It's not my job to police the line, but I do my part and try to help. I haven't been mean or nasty about it either - just pointing out the issues. NOW I'M GETTING REALLY MAD BECAUSE I'M LOSING BUSINESS FROM THIS, IN ADDITION TO EBAY!

I'm not looking to cause problems for them, but if they are going to make rules, I expect that EVERYONE must abide by them.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with this in a professional manner and perhaps more effectively than I have already?

I think some of us Authorized Dealers need to do something like A**D did and form a collective buying firm.



Thank you,
Damon DG
= = = = =
http://www.ProRemotes.com - Authorized Dealer & Remote Programming Services

Just curious, but you don't say what the "issues" are.

The issues were pretty obvious to me...

Authorized dealers blowing the remotes out on Ebay at or barely above cost

Breaking their contracts doing such sales

That was another reason we bailed on URC....really didnt seem like they care who sales the lines nor what price it was sold for..Kinda sucks for guys like Damon who do this for a living who has supported URC and their products so strongly, even after he left the company,he has no obligation, but stands by them and this is how HE gets treated?

I am contractually bound to not discuss the specifics - but it's ultimately sales related. No, it's not eBay, but it has to do with other Authorized Dealers breaking contract more directly.



Thank you,
Damon DG
= = = = =
http://www.ProRemotes.com - Authorized Dealer & Remote Programming Services

Hey Damon

Try this on for size. How about showing URC that they could easily be replaced. Bring in RTI, put their complete line on the first two pages of product listings and stick URC stuff at the end. Or better yet, start a new website for the URC stuff and use, well maybe, www.whoredoutremotes.com or www.urcdoesntgiveashit.com. That might get their attention.

I have to say, I like their products and thankfully only get clobbered with an ebay price occasionally. I am rather certain though that you other guys are more impacted by this nonsense than I am. It does piss me off that I can buy stuff thru Ebay cheaper than thru my only LEGITIMATE channel. If URC wants their wares whored out, how about creating a new line that can be whored out and giving CI guys a line that IS PROTECTED!!! ERIC ARE YOU LISTENING?????? DO YOU CARE????? DOES URC CARE?????

OEX,

Yes, I am actively seeking out new lines. Already in the process of Elan Certification and hope to take on RTI and one or two other brands very soon. They aren't "web friendly" brands, but talks for that are taking place.

That's not going to solve the problem though. URC needs to address the issues with Authorized Dealers who are breaking contract.



Thank you,
Damon DG
= = = = =
http://www.ProRemotes.com - Authorized Dealer & Remote Programming Services

Damon, I feel your pain.

To the Pro's that utilize URC day in and day out to satisfy a clients needs, your preaching to the choir.

The tide appears to be going out,leaving the ones that once loved the sea struggling to survive on the shore.





Need I say more?

Thanks Glack - just read your post. I always appreciate your supportive posts.




Thank you,
Damon DG
= = = = =
http://www.ProRemotes.com - Authorized Dealer & Remote Programming Services

Damon, I can appreciate you're need to branch out(given the light of things) but Elan is going to be tough!

I've been a dealer for years and it always involves a ton of 're-learns' and trial and error to get them to behave!

The Via's! aren't as bad(much better than the Xantech's) but , even with your expertise, it could be a challenge.

When the T-4 and k-4 come out,as well as with the existing remotes, you may find a niche that will allow you to have fewer headaches.

RTI seems to be more 'cut and dried' with it's functions. They seem to do there own 'experimentation' before they ship the product.

Just a thought!

Thanks for the info, Pilgram. I'm going to be calling them about some new development.



Thank you,
Damon DG
= = = = =
http://www.ProRemotes.com - Authorized Dealer & Remote Programming Services

Vote with your dollar. Don't use there stuff anymore. Don't support it. Don't even think about it.

You are kind of stuck as you are shall we say "married" to them. Your expertise is in working with that stuff. Its a reall pain to get real good with a product. But once you see how well other lines can be done. And how you won't get shopped so much... its totally worth it.

Best of luck with what ever you do. But I say dump URC right now if you are serious.

Damon, we just dropped URC due to the Ebay thing and poor tech support.

We lost a few sales on jobs where we were shopped on the internet, we did the bid and they went shopping, then they decided to use us but informed us they bought a few things already and stillwanted us to do the work, in the few cases it was MX3000's from ebay or other discount sales, we explained the warranty issues but they didnt care...I gues we still made money on the programming but it wasnt as much as we would have gotten from the sale of the remotes too

To bad...we moved on, I am seeing more and more of this every week

Well, I've been on this soapbox for 5 years now without much to show for it. My sales are less than half of what they were two years ago when I was one of their top ten resellers nationally. While some of this is due to an increased number of authorized dealers (which I have no problem with), most of it is due to the unauthorized large online and Ebay resellers that are buying the products through unrestricted distribution. There's even one authorized dealer I know of that's been selling on Ebay for years under a different name, but nothing's ever happened to him.

I am an authorized dealer for other products (InFocus Screenplay and Denon for example) that don't have these problems, at least not to this extent, but they also only have a few authorized distributors and only allow local sales.

Fortunately, I am semi-retired now, so I don't need the sales volume I used to get. That doesn't make it any easier to see this happening to others who are trying to promote and support the products (like Damon), only to have their profits taken away from them by lack of equal enforcement.

Mike
Surf Audio Video

I agree with Damon, the internet can be evil place for retailers. URC really should wake up and proctect the people have made them what they are. In our retail store we have change the way we prepose a system to a client. Every system gets bid with only a total, we do not break down by line items because we found that we would be shopped on the internet. And if I am talking to a customer about just the MX3000, I tell them that it sell for $1500.00 with a simple program that I have made, or $2000.00 for a total custom program. (the custom usually become my generic templete that then sell as my simple program.) If I have a customer who starts talking internet, everyone in our store has been told to answer ever question.
And ANSWER IT WRONG. I can not, and will not compete with the internet. URC should know this and respect the people that sell and support them.

Lee - Surely it's not THAT simple. There are plenty of legit businesses on the internet (like Damon) and plenty of valuable resources like Remote Central. I personally do not like doing business with people who do not have some kind of web presence because it allows me to read about the company and look at the products they sell while I'm warm and comfy late at night in my jammies and without dealing with some high-pressure salesman. After all, an educated consumer is the most valuable and they're more likely to realize that $500 more for custom programming may in fact be a tremendous value.

Damon- I can certainly understand your frustration but I honestly believe that anyone who has spent more than a few minutes on these forums understands what you and Mike bring to the table. In fact, you should talk to Daniel about getting permission to re-print some of the great posts from these forums on your site from people praising you and thanking you for your help.