Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

[cheburashka]

We've had a lot of break-ins in our neighborhood lately and people are getting a bit paranoid. Today, one of those fine clean-cut APX boys from Utah came to my door offering me a special deal--they pay for the equipment and installation, and I pay $199 activation and $50.00 per month. Tried to make me believe we were providing free advertisement for them, and that not everyone was getting this spectacular deal. I realize that's a pretty ordinary deal as far as home security goes, but I don't know if there's much that's better. This is a wireless system which is monitored by the Police and Fire departments.

I have to say, the sales rep gave me the willies. Completely transparent used-car-salesman style pitch (and I just bought a new car yesterday, so I'd pretty much had it up to my ears with cheesy sales tactics) naming my neighbors and saying that EVERYONE was signing up. He was also tweaked that I didn't sign up on the spot, since I wanted to talk it over with my wife who wasn't home.

Mister Personality is coming back tomorrow, so I'd appreciate it if anyone could let me know if there's much better than APX out there, or whether one can set up a system on the cheap that does the same basic thing.

Thanks

 

[Ryan De Leon]

Re: Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

I would not get APX. I am from Moses Lake and I sold security in Pittsburgh for their competitor, Pinnacle. We never had any 199 installation or activation fee for anyone that took the system from the door approach, those fees are bogus. Although there has been many break ins in Moses Lake lately, sort of a bummer. If you want to talk to me about a better system and for a way better price, let me know.

 

[Ryan De Leon]

Re: Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

Also, what neighborhood are you in? I live in Pelican Point.

 

[heyttown]

Re: Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/local&id=7632593

APX just made the local news yesterday...

Granted its the door to door people more then the business... but id give my $$$ to somebody else first.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

I"ll put my recommendation in, (If you lived in WI)

Per Mar Security.
http://www.permarsecurity.com/Residential/Overview.aspx

We use them for our business here. Very good and professional company.

What I would do is drive around and look at some local businesses. Just note the little stickers that are on the doors. Then check out some local companies.

Personally I wouldn't trust a company that is out of state sub contracts out.
Use Local in my opinion.

Or, my security choice... A gun and 2 dogs.

 

[bently]

Re: Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

I have a Pinnacle system in my house which is also wireless. When we signed-up, all of the equipement was free and we just have the monthly bill of about $50.00. Our home owners ins. reimburses us for $25, so we are really only paying $25/month.
I got 4 door alarms and one motion sensor (at sign-up), we are planning on adding the smoke detector this fall.

 

[brianvolt7]

Re: Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

If you are good at following instruction manuals then I would recommend that you purchase a system for your home from a dealer or on line and install it yourself. The best systems and easiest to program for a homeowner would be the GE Caddex or an Ademco systems. When shopping look for a keypad programmable system.

Then you can go on line and sign up for monitoring. You will find it for under 10 bucks a month. Keep in mind you will be programming and performing system upkeep yourself, but on the other hand service calls are very expensive.

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

I have used ADT for the past five years without any problems, two years ago they switched from going thru the reg phone lines to a wireless system, that's when i had them installed a few cameras, since there are times when i could be away from two to three months.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

I would not get APX. I am from Moses Lake and I sold security in Pittsburgh for their competitor, Pinnacle. We never had any 199 installation or activation fee for anyone that took the system from the door approach, those fees are bogus. Although there has been many break ins in Moses Lake lately, sort of a bummer. If you want to talk to me about a better system and for a way better price, let me know. .

What kind of boat do you have Ryan?

 

[642mx]

Re: Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

It kills me when people come knocking door to door trying to sell something.... if your product was that darn good, I would be contacting your company!

As for alarms, the price of the monthly alarm bill would be higher than the money I save on my homeowners. (I did call and check).

If I'm not home and my house gets broken into, I'll call the insurance and get a check for whatever is missing... if the house gets broke into while I'm home, the thug better have on a bullet proof vest or he will be carried out in a body bag.

 

[Ryan De Leon]

Re: Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

What kind of boat do you have Ryan?

We have a 2007 Bayliner in Moses Lake. My Dad, who lives in Pasco, WA, owns a 2004 Air Natique.

 

[Ryan De Leon]

Re: Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

It kills me when people come knocking door to door trying to sell something.... if your product was that darn good, I would be contacting your company!

As for alarms, the price of the monthly alarm bill would be higher than the money I save on my homeowners. (I did call and check).

If I'm not home and my house gets broken into, I'll call the insurance and get a check for whatever is missing... if the house gets broke into while I'm home, the thug better have on a bullet proof vest or he will be carried out in a body bag.

It is obvious that the alarm bill will be more than the homeowner insurance savings, we never claim that it will superimpose the alarm bill to have an effect of not even paying for the alarm system. What we claim, as you welcome us in your home, is that your homeowner insurance will compensate you with a discount to allow the alarm bill to be even more affordable. As for your gun theory, maybe you could explain to me the cirumstance of a customer I was able to do business with, who was himself a police officer. This poilce officer had two Pit Bulls and an obvious gun abundance. He got robbed of all of his electronics and of some other personal belongings, such as his wedding certificate and all of his guns that were not in a safe. Alarms are very important to have in the home, but also, people do get by without them just fine as well, it is all preference. But when people tell me that their gun will save them, it is only the contrary, their guns will target the home even more for robbery, because guns are worth a lot of money. Not only that, the Alarm system that is installed in your home can also protect you from fires and gas leaks. Sure, if your house burns down you might be able to collect insurance, but if it were really worth all the hassle of having everything of yours burn down, why doesn't society just burn their own homes down all the time to collect insurance?

 

[Ryan De Leon]

Re: Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

I have a Pinnacle system in my house which is also wireless. When we signed-up, all of the equipement was free and we just have the monthly bill of about $50.00. Our home owners ins. reimburses us for $25, so we are really only paying $25/month.
I got 4 door alarms and one motion sensor (at sign-up), we are planning on adding the smoke detector this fall.

And isn't it satisfactory? The only reason why Pinnacle and APX do the door to door idea is so it can impower many college kids to become financially stable through college. I see some of the local alarm companies such as Moon Security and others who have petty offices and zero national recognition. ADT is the only one that I can see that truly dominates the competition because of the company's veteran status. Yet, even ADT can't offer such amazing equipment like Pinnacle and APX. The equipment that Pinnacle and APX deal kills all of the other competition because of the way they can afford to deal it.

 

[642mx]

Re: Home Alarm Systems. Anyone use APX? Any advice appreciated.

It is obvious that the alarm bill will be more than the homeowner insurance savings, we never claim that it will superimpose the alarm bill to have an effect of not even paying for the alarm system. What we claim, as you welcome us in your home, is that your homeowner insurance will compensate you with a discount to allow the alarm bill to be even more affordable.

Let me put it a different way... if the savings from my insurance was the same $$$ as the alarm bill, then I would have one. Its not, so I don't.

As for your gun theory, maybe you could explain to me the cirumstance of a customer I was able to do business with, who was himself a police officer. This poilce officer had two Pit Bulls and an obvious gun abundance. He got robbed of all of his electronics and of some other personal belongings, such as his wedding certificate and all of his guns that were not in a safe. Alarms are very important to have in the home, but also, people do get by without them just fine as well, it is all preference. But when people tell me that their gun will save them, it is only the contrary, their guns will target the home even more for robbery, because guns are worth a lot of money.

I sleep with my wife to my left and my 12 gauge to my right.... Trust me, if someone comes in while I'm in bed... they will have a big hole thru them. And I'll turn in an insurance claim for the damaged carpet. If they break in and steal the shot gun while I'm at work, then so what? I'll call my insurance guy and tell him I need a check cut.

Sure, if your house burns down you might be able to collect insurance, but if it were really worth all the hassle of having everything of yours burn down, why doesn't society just burn their own homes down all the time to collect insurance?

Some days I want to burn it all and start over... don't we all have those thought?....lol

I'm not knocking your profession.... just saying that I find an alarm to be worthless.... to each there own tho.