SectorSecurity 0 Posted May 26, 2011 So my question to everyone is where do you buy your cameras? What I am finding is my customers just want the cheapest camera they can get and usually want to spend about 1000$ and get 4-8 cameras + DVR and run them usually 300+ ft. For me this has usually meant they are fine settling with a DIY kit from someone like Q-See or Night Owl. This means I havent had a chance to buy any really cool cameras or lenses or anything, and was wondering what are your guys favorite places to buy your cameras and DVR's? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnederlanden 0 Posted June 17, 2011 (edited) I find the opposite with my business. In this economy, it seems the only ones who are buying are big corporations, the government, and the military. Edited June 18, 2011 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tesc_cctvpro 0 Posted June 17, 2011 same here -- the only members of my network community who are surviving are those who are servicing government, military etc, as well as those who are focused on rentals. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tesc_cctvpro 0 Posted June 17, 2011 Hey Sector, Can I tell you the reason behind that. The only value proposition that people see day in and day out from CCTV installers is price. The CCTV installers have taught the market that the only way to make a purchasing decision is to look at price. One CCTV Installer delivers a quote, the customer shows the next installer the quote and he strips 5% off the price, he shows the new quote to the next installer and he strips 2% off the price ...etc It is sad that our industry doesn't know what their actual value proposition is ! Saving lives, securing assets, increasing profit, increasing customer service, putting business people in charge of their lives - all they can do is throw a lot of technical hype at potential customers who are more confused when they leave as when they arrived! Sell value, sell actual objectives that have measurable ROI's and solve your customers problems --- they will want to pay you, and what the next guy is charging will be irrelevant! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charles Liu 0 Posted June 20, 2011 Tesc is right, but the problem is that the client will ask your price in advance, whatever your service is, if your price is a little bit higher, and you will be "passed" from the beginning... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fa chris 0 Posted June 23, 2011 99% of the time we get them direct from the manufacturer. Depending on your volume you may want to pick a line and try to become a rep. The other 1% we go through vendors like ADI or other similiar local distributors who cator to low voltage systems. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the keifer 0 Posted July 1, 2011 Most of the ones I install come from ADI. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Birdman Adam 0 Posted July 1, 2011 DIYer here... I think part of the problem you guys have is that the average CCTV consumer (small business, etc), doesn't know quality from cheap. All they see is the picture on the screen. Not whether its angled correctly, the proper FPS and resolution, etc... Something I thought of that you could show to potential customers: Do a quick set-up with a DVR and one camera at an entrance or something. Show them the features they can get from a $800+ DVR, versus a $200 DVR. Show them the details they can get from a properly installed $100+ camera, and what they can get from a $50 camera. I think as long as you sell at firm prices with good equipment, and show your buyers the difference, they will understand! BTW I have bought from surveillance-video.com many monalisa CNB domes, and an SRD-870 with 3.5TB of storage. I wanted quality for a low price, and that's definitely what I got! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chief_lam 0 Posted July 14, 2011 My primary distributor is LTS Security based in California. A lot of my customers prefer to purchase DIY kits and get the lowest price since that always matters to them, otherwise theyll move on and find someone else with a cheaper price. Although the bigger corporations - or a casino project I'm currently working on won't be getting LTS products... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liveinxs 0 Posted July 15, 2011 Surveillance Video they are out of NYC.... speak to Karen, very helpful.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Birdman Adam 0 Posted July 15, 2011 I spoke to a Karen as well - they are very helpful on the phone! I was a little surprised coming from what some people on the forum have said about these guys. Will definitely buy from them again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liveinxs 0 Posted July 15, 2011 I spoke to a Karen as well - they are very helpful on the phone! I was a little surprised coming from what some people on the forum have said about these guys. Will definitely buy from them again. well i don't know what the issue the other guys had, but they have been nothing but great to me, they always send me my items free of charge, next day service, and , when i didn't like one of the items i bought, they sent me a label for return , out of their pocket... in my book, you can't get better, then that... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted July 16, 2011 Hey guys, just names, no links please ... thanks (admin may remove this thread anyway eventually) BTW search for 123 reviews as that is the same company .. It has been like pulling teeth dealing with at least one sales person there that was assigned to me, they even sent all the wrong products on the last order!! I'd have to go back there with a different name just in the hope of getting a sales agent that has a clue Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edyang 0 Posted July 20, 2011 DIYer here... I think part of the problem you guys have is that the average CCTV consumer (small business, etc), doesn't know quality from cheap. All they see is the picture on the screen. Not whether its angled correctly, the proper FPS and resolution, etc... Agree with Birdman here. When price is the only thing that's highlighted, you end up with a customer base that don't care or know about the quality. The analogy I draw is digital cameras and the fixation on megapixels for price, but no other idea on the more nuanced features of a digital camera that makes one take better pic sthan another. Industry needs to do a better job educating... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
