You took the words out of my mouth. My company has been in business 17 years in Colorado and we have managed to retain some very large customers, simply because they recognize the value added feature of doing business with us. Several school districts, multiple utilities and county agencies, we've managed to keep them for years because we don't practice the old $99 installed bait and switch sales gimmicks, or lock in temporary low monthly monitoring all the while charging them for the air they breathe!
Earlier this summer a res customer of mine contacted me and asked if I could talk to his elderly mother who still lives alone. Found out she had signed a contract with "Orange" and 31 days after signing the contract she wanted out. NO GO. They wouldn't do it.
The clincher?
They signed her for 5 years
$99.00/mo. for two door contacts; one motion; one keypad; one glass break and a medical alert pendant! A pendant that broke 2 days after they gave it to her and never bothered replacing. Honestly, whats the big deal? It's just a medical alert device for an 80 year old woman. It's not like its the single most important component of her system; the one she's most likely to need!
Out of loyalty to my friend and disgust for my competitor, I installed a communicator w/built in wireless, gave her a new pendant (water proof). I charged her $15.00 for the pendant and she allowed me to rip out the Orange signs and put mine in her yard. I sold 2 residential alarm systems because of her recommendation.
WE HAVE A GREATER RESPONSIBILITY HERE!!!
I have to be honest, I am being a little unfair. I'm sure there are franchises of these large company's that take this industry as serious as I do and for those who do....I applaud them!
(I get a little over-zealous and passionate about this topic)