That's incredibly rich, John. Coming from a country that has just put jobs and money ahead of human rights and state-sponsored assassinations by Saudi. To flip the coin - don't Americans ever wonder what the missiles they make for Saudi are used for? Trump refusing to sanction Saudi for their war crimes (other than suggesting they were a bit naughty) is tantamount to endorsing them. Ever since 9/11 we know how the Saudis are Teflon coated by the US Government - but the last couple of weeks and Trumps stated reasoning of lives being worth less than US jobs should be used as a yardstick by which to measure your China comments.
You talk about loyalty. Western manufacturers have had a level of arrogance for many years that showed absolutely no loyalty to their resellers. Customer support was poor, innovation lethargic, stock levels pitiful, through selling non-existent and overpriced. Much of that has improved significantly since they have been placed under pressure by Hikvision.
The picture you paint is of a utopian security market that Hikvision has ruined. The fact is that Hikvision has given a wake-up call to the mainstream manufacturers that it isn't ok to take your customers for granted and sit back and let the world go by while lining the pockets of shareholders.
I had commented a long time ago that as Hik improved their functionality and quality, IPVM would have less to attack them on. The theme now is xenophobic state bashing - so we can take that as a compliment that Hik have now moved forward significantly faster with their innovative products than the crowd - leaving you to join the jingoism that is all the rage at the moment - albeit blinkered.
If Hik salespeople are making far more - it's because their competitors do not pay the market rate. There isn't a mass discount issue in the UK/EMEA, so I think those comments are directed at US ADI, which is just a reflection of the US market in general.
I've always said it's horses for courses. If a product fits, I sell it. At the moment that's Avigilon, DVTel, and Illustra - but if tender lands on my desk, as it did last week that says Hikvision - then I'm going with Hikvision. In competitive tendering to M&E companies where no kit is specified - if I know or suspect someone is going with Hik/Dahua - I'm not going quote Avigilon. You may be surprised that the use of Hik isn't as binary as you think. Many integrators I know install Hik alongside CCure, ProWatch, Avigilon etc.
So it really doesn't matter how you dress it up - Hik has been good for the industry. It's amazing how others follow their design and innovation trends, and how IPVM fails to credit Hikvision with this. It sticks in your throat, we get that. But CCTV is no longer a dark science practiced by Western manufacturers where partners were only buyers and expected to be honored to do be one. Just look at the vast amount of CCTV footage being shown on everyday media to see how much Hikvision has been used. It's brought accessibility, quality, and innovation to the masses - not the elite.
To attempt to put a guilt trip on anyone using Hik is cheap. Suggesting we are making "loads" of money only shows that you have no idea how competitive tendering works or the margins achievable in OJEU open tender processes. What evidence can you provide that demonstrates that Hik dealers and distributors make more money from Hikvision than other products lines? It's a great soundbite - but baseless in fact. If anyone is making money out of Hikvision, it must surely be the Honovich household.