"If I don't get the software I will look elsewhere
and spend the money somewhere else."

Ok, You might want to look at Addicon or HAI/Omni

"If I don't get the software from Control4 then it is their
loss."

How?

"What would Control4 gain by not giving out
the software???"

Not having to support an untrained & non-revenue producing one-shot sale (big savings).


"If I bought the hardware and programmed it myself
(at my own risk, no technical support from them)."

Ah, if I only had a dime for every I heard that one.

"It would be free advertising for them. Every time
somebody comes over I can advertise their system."

Probably not, without full Tech support the chance of you getting the true value of the system is slim.
So you would in fact be showing an incomplete possibly nonworking system that you will most likely feel was overpriced.
Where is the Up-Side for Control 4.

"My point is what percentage of USA has heard of
Control4, 0.1%!!!"

Lower I think.
They do however support the dealer in getting the name out (I think).

"I like the system and the hardware seems very
completive too a moderate system, but the programming
makes it an expensive project for my budget."

Ultimitly Control 4 is in this to make a profit and a paycheck. It is NOT in their best interest to work directly with the public.
Evey company that I know (execpting Outlaw) of that started out as a mfgr direct to the consumer has been forced away from that model.
Tech support will kill you and if you do not talk to every nut that calls up with an imagined problem (dealers are bad enough) you will quickly get a bad name.

Become a dealer get your contractor’s license and pay for the training and insurance like the rest of the authorized dealers.

Yes unless you have a trial version.


And btw, i put an crestron patch on my control4 jacket.

Obviously you didn't read ATOH's response to your previous post on the matter which was:
"Yes, this is true"

Programming it would be quite simple, since I am use of Crestron and AMX. I don’t want to be a dealer for 1 project. I use to be in the business and sold it do to the problems with customers and long hours.

Brent - If you took marketing classes you would realize that the more you advertise the product the more you sell. If somebody sees this system at my house, I'm sure a couple of my wealthy friends would buy it. It's all about passing the word.

Yes, I can see if you used to be in the business that it would be nice to do it yourself, however it seems the whirlwind has turned full circle..

I have been related to this business since 1976
(and made a good living).
I and other dealers I know have used their homes, done the Street of Dreams, builders homes, show homes and freinds homes.
The most effective thing that I have found is the personal referral.
One lone end user is not going to make any difference in the bottom line of a mfgr (Hell, Ozzie did more damage to AMX with his drunken blundering than good).
The typical end user is not going to swayed by a "DIY", in fact it is my contention that if he sees your job (if it is well done). You tell him how much you paid, then he contacts a dealer and all he will be is pissed off, thinking the dealer is ripping him off (after all the dealer has to make a profit).
Again where is the Up-Side for the mfgr?

You mean the ones who wanted to bypass you and go directly to the manufacturer to save some money?


There's more than sale's to making a profit, though I'm sure you realized that on your way out of the business.

This is the funniest thing I have EVER read here. And thats really saying something - especially lately.

There are so many responses I have that I can't pick one.

I could not said patch in either the software ot Firmware updates section.

||

I bid a large Vantage Job last Summer. The homeowner got buyer's remorse the more he realised that PROGRAMMING was going to run a few thousand dollars...
He then turned out to be such a pain (after his electrician installed the main control module enclosures)... that we sat him down and had a very long talk.
He decided since he was "technical" he could install the Vantage System himself and program it on his own. We, couldn't supply parts to him without risking running the risk of getting cut off... Last I heard he was frantically trying to find a dealer to sell him hardware...Not to mention his getting any programming software, and actually pulling it off! How much time and money do you think that has cost him NOW??? Not to mention all the aggravation!
His house should have been done a few months ago... I hope the candles don't burn it down!
A good friend of mine, has a Security Gate... it had problems... This guy is CEO of a 20 million per year business... But he decides to take 3 or 4 days off to try and troubleshoot the electrical problems with the Gate because he "knows circuitry design"...
I finally talked him into just having a Gate company go out and fix it (3 hours & $330 later it's working!)...
How much money do you think the CEO wasted by giving up all of his time working on it? What is his time worth?
Maybe some consumers won't have C-4 install programming problems... But today, all frickin' day...I've been fighting with M-Soft Windows not wanting to recognize my Palm Zire... Plug and Play??? How about Plug and Pray?!?!?

Uhmmm, let me guess... Radio Shack?!?!?!

Good luck w that one! :)

|| 8 hours adjusting drivers to operate equipment

Will C4 "comp" you or give you any credit for your time spent on the phone etc.??? I wish one of these companies would have the class to support us - the early beta installers, when we lose tons of money on gear/software that isn't quite there yet.
When you're finished you'll probably (after all the beans have been counted)... be backwards financially all for the opportunity to install one of the early systems...

I wish one

These are the prices you pay for being an early adopter. DEalers know the drill, and they can choose to dive in early or wait. I know plenty of dealers who got in early with Control4, blew a lot of time and effort, and now get a lot of business because they're the only ones in town who do Control4. Ditto for Media Center Edition. Ditto for any new technology--including new technologies delivered by established companies. Those who play it safe and wait, well, that's a fine strategy, too. Make your choice and live with it.

Yeah, Ijumped in early and got some of the first equipment shipped in April of 05. The results were a bigger nightmare than I had planned for. I figured there would be some trouble in the software side but didn't figure on the amount of bad equipment I would have to deal with. I wound up with several thousand dollars in product that I had to send back (there is a list on my earlier post). Every replacement part exept one worked perfectly and I received it next day air.
The one complaint I have is that C4 will not give any protection to a dealers area. I had hoped that after jumping in early and suffering through the start up and losing money with C4 they would at least promise some loyalty. I asked my Rep for a number I needed to hit anually to keep my territory free from any new dealers, you know the ones who sat back and waited for me to lose all the money while putting the product in front of the public. The rep told me that it was against company policy to offer territory protection. Competition doesn't scare me at all, in fact I think some competition is a good thing, but some loyalty would be really nice.