Why Are Avigilon Inside Sales People Declaring Themselves 'Security Solutions Experts'?

JH
John Honovich
Nov 23, 2015
IPVM

Don't you need some experience to be an expert?

This came to my attention when LinkedIn showed me she strangely shared our post criticizing her CEO as being an ambulance chaser.

5 months as an inside sales rep does not make a security solutions expert. We can debate how many years and what experience is needed but this is clearly not.

Sales people, lay off the expert claims unless you have a long resume of relevant experience to back it up.

UPDATE:

We found another 3 Avigilon employees with the same claims:

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U
Undisclosed #1
Nov 23, 2015
IPVMU Certified

lay off the expert claims unless you have a long resume of relevant experience to back it up.

lay off the expert claims or layoff the expert.

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ZS
Zuchi Sukhbold
Nov 29, 2015
Scorobogataya = ???????????? (fast/quick rich)
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JH
John Honovich
Nov 29, 2015
IPVM

Update: She has since removed the 'security solutions expert' claim:

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Nov 29, 2015
The name is too funny in itself...looks like someone pounded on the keyboard. Avigilon seems desperate now being that they're hiring just like a car dealership hires sales people...just a body on the lot with no product knowledge or experience what so ever.
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UD
Undisclosed Distributor #3
Nov 30, 2015

By the way: surname Scorobataya in Russian consists of two words, "scoro" means "fast, quick" and "bogataya" means rich. I think this fits perfectly into Avigilon strategy.

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Meghan Uhl
Nov 30, 2015

This young lady obviously made a professional mistake & when called out by John in this post - rectified it. She's probably embarrassed which is punishment enough. I think IPVM members should act like adult professionals and get off her case about it. Who among us hasn't made a similar political or social blunder in our early days (some still doing it!)

Und 2 & 3: Breaking her name down in a derogatory manner is not only juvenile but its mean spirited and unprofessional. And then doing it under the cloak of anonymity is cowardly. At least Zuchi owned it. You two should be ashamed!

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KA
Konstantin Avramenko
Nov 30, 2015

Thank you Meghan.

@John, is it ok to make fun only on Avigilon employees names? I can find a lot of funny surnames in many companies. And by the way there were other people with the same tag line thus it probably was a general substitute for the inside sales title. Do not care whether it is good or bad but it is not fair to make it personal.

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JH
John Honovich
Nov 30, 2015
IPVM

I did not comment about anyone's name and I don't agree with making fun of someone's name but I am not going to delete comments over that. You can call me Honobitch if that makes you feel better...

Now that's get to your more serious yet unsupported assertion:

"And by the way there were other people with the same tag line thus it probably was a general substitute for the inside sales title."

Provide evidence immediately. So I ask: who are those other people who titled themselves "Security Solutions Expert"? People at Avigilon? Other companies? Inside sales people? Those with more than 5 months of industry experience? I am awaiting your details.

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KA
Konstantin Avramenko
Nov 30, 2015

Provide evidence immediately. So I ask: who are those other people who titled themselves "Security Solutions Expert"? People at Avigilon? Other companies? Inside sales people? Those with more than 5 months of industry experience? I am awaiting your details.

First of all, I am not your employee to fulfill your demands.

Second of all, your post is assertion - my is assumption. It is sad if you do not see the difference.

If you would try to search this tag line on LinkedIn (as I did) when you have been writing this post you could find other people with exactly the same tag line. How about to think about this coincidence?

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JH
John Honovich
Nov 30, 2015
IPVM

Konstantin, now you're trolling. Whether someone else on LinkedIn calls themselves a 'security solutions expert' is obviously not the issue.

The point is whether they make the claim and do not have the experience / expertise to back it up. For instance, if you called yourself a 'security solutions expert' I would not object even if I believe you are wrong in many areas because you clearly have experience and expertise.

For your criticism to have any merit, you need to prove both points. And I am asking you to do so, which is only fair since you made the claim. Can you find a sales person in our industry with less than a year's experience claiming to be a 'security solutions expert'? Can you do it? I'd be happy to call them out as well.

KA
Konstantin Avramenko
Nov 30, 2015

John, try to search the whole phrase "Security Solutions Expert Helping Provide Companies and People With a Complete End to End Solution" in "" on LinkedIn. Even now you can find that there are other people that have this, exactly this tag line. My assumption is that it could be a company policy to make a meaningful tag lines (personally I do not see so huge issue in it) or it could be just a viral thing to place this statement into a tag line but anyway as I saw it was not a single case.

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JH
John Honovich
Nov 30, 2015
IPVM

Yes, evidently it is an Avigilon pattern, as the screencaps in my earlier comment below show. The fact that Avigilon is systematically encouraging or directing their rookie inside sales people to call themselves "Security Solutions Expert Helping Provide Companies and People With a Complete End to End Solution" is misleading and unfair.

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KA
Konstantin Avramenko
Nov 30, 2015

John, now you make an unsupported assertion. Do you have an evidence that

the Avigilon is systematically encouraging or directing their rookie inside sales people to call themselves "Security Solutions Expert Helping Provide Companies and People With a Complete End to End Solution"

?

As I wrote it can be viral. Somebody has used it first and others just found it cool. That's it.

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #6
Dec 01, 2015

Meghan, based upon the update (which may have appeared after you wrote this), it doesn't appear to be an individual mistake. One of two things happened: (1) several of the inside sales reps got together and decided on their own to use this precise phrase, or (2) a supervisor or manager at the company "suggested" that they all use the phrase. I suspect the latter.

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Nov 30, 2015
RUN! The PC police have arrived!!!
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Ari Erenthal
Nov 30, 2015
Chesapeake & Midlantic

Not making fun of people's names isn't "PC", it's "not being a schmuck". Don't be a schmuck. Signed, guy with hard-to-spell-or-correctly-announce name.

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JH
John Honovich
Nov 30, 2015
IPVM

Konstantin, you are right. There are more sales people with minimal experience calling themselves 'security solutions expert.'

Unfortunately, they too are from Avigilon, which works against your point.

For the record:

This helps show organization and a broader issue.

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KA
Konstantin Avramenko
Nov 30, 2015

Exactly because of this I did not comment on it previously.

John, what is it really between you and Avigilon? I have never used their products or even saw them but I see this company as a serious player of the video surveillance market and a pretty solid company (they are on the 14 place at Asmag 2015 Top Security 50). What's wrong?

Even this issue with tag lines. I do not know, tag line is a tag line. The full profile gives all needed information. And in fact all they have to do is to change Expert to Experts to make the message right. Anyway it is not so huge issue to make a post from it.

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Ari Erenthal
Nov 30, 2015
Chesapeake & Midlantic

They have an attitude and they make aggressive claims that they aren't careful to back up, and John hates that. Maybe he overreacts sometimes, but someone has to keep the manufacturers honest, and no one else can do it but John.

In other industries, you don't have the same kind of loose claims because a thousand bloggers will jump all over it and make fun of you. But there aren't a thousand security industry bloggers, there's pretty much only John. So he has to do all the making fun himself. It's a dirty job but someone has to do it.

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KA
Konstantin Avramenko
Dec 01, 2015

Good point. Thanks.

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MM
Michael Miller
Dec 01, 2015

Avigilon could cure cancer and John would still complain.

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JH
John Honovich
Dec 01, 2015
IPVM

Mike, we are still waiting for your proof on your "if I see false or misleading info I will call it out for any for any manufacture" claim. Share links to any criticisms of Avigilon or criticisms of any other company you have made on IPVM.

"Avigilon could cure cancer and John would still complain."

In the meantime, and for the record:

This is just a few of the positive things said in the last few months.

Mike, let's be clear. IPVM says positive and negative things about manufacturers, including Avigilon. You say positive things about Avigilon always and whine anytime we criticize your #1 business partner / profit driver.

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MM
Michael Miller
Dec 01, 2015

You say positive things about Avigilon always and whine anytime we criticize your #1 business partner / profit driver.

You keep saying this but you have zero clue about my business and how many business partners we have. You like to belittle people and condone others that do so on your forum (see above in this thread) and what makes it worse if you do it for profit.

We both know IPVM is your #1 marketing vehicle. Fight with IPVM to get attention for yourself and approval from your business partner.

You said this about me in another thread but you must have forgot that you told me I am not allowed to post undisclosed. You just love to manipulate people.

I enjoy the technical aspects of this site and appreciate what you have built but you are your own worst enemy.

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JH
John Honovich
Dec 01, 2015
IPVM

Again, "we are still waiting for your proof on your "if I see false or misleading info I will call it out for any for any manufacture" claim. Share links to any criticisms of Avigilon or criticisms of any other company you have made on IPVM."

Mike, here are the facts:

(1) You defend Avigilon IPVM regularly, monthly, if not weekly.

(2) You have never criticized Avigilon on IPVM.

(3) You sell lots of Avigilon by your own bragging / self-promotion, 2 of your 3 'strategic partners' are Avigilon, your twitter account is filled with dozens of tweets about Avigilon and retweets of Avigilon, etc.

So, net/net, you are sticking up for your business partner but in such an obsequious manner, that it really is sad.

No more of this Mike, it's a distraction for readers and our team to have you knee jerk defend Avigilon all the time. If you don't like IPVM, go find someplace else.

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MM
Michael Miller
Dec 01, 2015

Keep belittling people John It really shows your true colors. Have a good night and thanks for the plugs :)

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U
Undisclosed #1
Dec 01, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Avigilon could cure cancer and John would still complain.

And if you can't cure it, then secure it!

Novartis, was founded in 1999 to better understand the underlying mechanisms of human illness and help prevent and cure diseases such as the flu, malaria, and cancer. To this end, GNF researchers rely on a state-of-the-art technology infrastructure to pursue innovative drug discovery research. To protect its sensitive research technology and critical intellectual assets, GNF has deployed the Avigilon high-definition surveillance system to help keep the facility running safely and securely.

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JH
John Honovich
Dec 01, 2015
IPVM

Changed the title to: Why Are Avigilon Inside Sales People Declaring Themselves 'Security Solutions Experts'?

We can debate whether it is simply 'viral' with Avigilon sales people happily copying each other or Avigilon recommending it. Either way, it is absurd that Avigilon inside sales people, novice to the industry, are billing themselves as security solution experts.

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Dec 01, 2015

How does being a former hairdresser, victorias secret employee, insurance rep, and radio shack rep give them any ground to sell any security equipment?

Might as well let them claim title of Doctor and let them perform open heart surgery on someone.

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KA
Konstantin Avramenko
Dec 01, 2015

Do not be ridiculous it does not take a lot of time to start selling an unknown product and for the technical questions there are presales/application engineers. Will you apply for a junior sales position with your experience?

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Undisclosed Integrator #2
Dec 01, 2015

Reference the "Box Pusher" and "Complete Solution" in IPVM posts for a better understanding.

Na, Ill pass on taking a junior sales position...too FAR below my pay grade and I have people for that in my company.

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KA
Konstantin Avramenko
Dec 01, 2015

And for sure your junior sales are the most qualified people in the industry with long lists of relevant experience, aren't they?

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Dec 01, 2015

Yes, 5 yrs experience in cameras, automation, alarms, and access are required to work for me. I put them thru a hiring test, and they go thru ongoing training for product, sales, and motivation. Customers notice the difference when a sales rep demonstrates the passion because they also demonstrate the excellent knowledge, and stand out above the rest.

Long story short- integrators want answers and they want answers quick...not to be tossed around in a phone tree dealing with hairdressers. Only reason Avigilon hired them is so they dont have to pay them squat. I pay for results...not for a body to fill a job.

I am done playing your Politically Correct BS. If it looks like a duck, and it waddles like a duck, its a da** duck!

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #4
Dec 01, 2015

Sounds like a company title, as they are using the same wording. In light of the current turaorund in staff, after five months you will working your way towards a long standing service award, so mybe they are experts in terms of Avigilons internal team.Certainly not it terms of good people in the industry though.

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Undisclosed Integrator #5
Dec 01, 2015

Penney Jumper sounds like a great name for a Large Account specialist. I can team her up with Cha-Ching Collector. It must be a new age marketing concept in finding people with proper names to fit their positions.

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AT
Andrew Thomas
Dec 01, 2015

CCTV PC Facism is alive and well at IPVM.

This thread is an embarrassment to IPVM, its members, and to the industry.

Could someone explain why a persons title within a company, that doesn't sell to end-users is a sin?

What's the threshold to call someone a "Sales Professional"?

Everyone better with IPVM before making any claims..

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CC
Chuck Cyr
Dec 01, 2015

LOL! I can't believe I actually read through all of this. Now I know why whining, name calling and ridicule are done in forums.....it makes for fun reading ;-) Calling out who has what in there title, posting a picture, breaking down what a name means and actually having this in a "professional" forum is something they would call bullying in grammar school...it's childish....who in the hell really cares about this?? Seriously!! Angers me really since I am a new paying customer and am expecting professional content. A lot of it is extremely interesting but posts like this really take away from the positive content.

I was hoping my first post would have been driven by some meaningful information. Poking at people no matter which company is simply wrong. Generalizing about this maybe being an issue everywhere in the industry would have been a better approach instead of singling out specific names of people or a company. There was nothing meaningful or decent about the approach taken in this post, it was simply insensitive.

Just saying....I'm heading back to my sideline to hopefully read meaningful content.

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U
Undisclosed #1
Dec 01, 2015
IPVMU Certified

...who in the hell really cares about this?

You're right, no one.

No one cares about the continual erosion of the significance of words and meaning in this industry and society at large.

Tags like "Unique, phenonomal, unprecedented, groundbreaking, game-changing, state of the art, best in class" are recklessly thrown out with ever increasing velocity, yet having ever decreasing impact.

Sure these days everybody says they're an expert, usually in more than one field. It's just typing, and not even lying exactly, to say you're a CEO of a company of one.

But that doesn't mean it's right to do.

Imagine if being an expert still meant "you knew your shit, and you knew it cold."

What a concept!

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #8
Dec 01, 2015

Hi Chuck,

IPVM is a great resource. I've always felt the intentions are sound. As a current "Inside Sales Rep" I could read this thread and really take exception with much of it--as I do consider myself an expert and have a very long, in-depth career that spans beyond my current title.

However, I elect to read right through all of that and absorb what I find useful. In other words, it is "to a large extent" what you make of it.

Just like an email inbox, we all tend to receive messages that either don't apply to us or with which we disagree. Most of us just delete them and move on, giving our attention to those messages that capture our attention.

I think the same can be said for information on IPVM--a ton of great information can be reviewed in one place, and if a bit of content shows up that we may not find of interest, or we may disagree with, then that should be OK, too.

While I address this to Chuck, many others in the thread could benefit from the same message.

Avigilon readers, relax a bit. My company receives its share of attention on IPVM as well. If I jumped on here and threw a fit every time I saw that, it would do very little....for my own credibility......as well as for the others wanting industry information.

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Meghan Uhl
Dec 01, 2015

Welcome to IPVM Chuck Cyr. Don't give up on all of us yet - most of the members (in my experience) are professional and the vast majority of the posts meaningful. Don't let a few "children" turn you off - they'll find something else to entertain them in short order.

JH
John Honovich
Dec 01, 2015
IPVM

Netting this out:

  1. Inexperienced inside sales people, Avigilon or otherwise, should not claim to be security experts of any sort.
  2. People shouldn't make fun of people's names and its unreasonable to expect inside sales people to have great work background, experiences, etc. (just don't claim to be an expert).
  3. This is far less important than other things we have published in the last day including (A) Flir acquiring DVTel, which I think has potential to be a big player and competitor to Axis, Genetec, Milestone, etc. and (B) Axis 33MP test which shows Axis panoramic to be disappointing.
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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #7
Dec 01, 2015

Looks like a company policy thing.

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Ari Erenthal
Dec 01, 2015
Chesapeake & Midlantic

Probably more about corporate culture than company policy.

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AT
Andrew Thomas
Dec 01, 2015

Chuck,

Thank you for the fresh comments regarding a pattern of IPVM fascism. Let's not forget this thread was started by the CEO, Owner, founder, and chief IPVM antagonist, that now claims "This is far less important than other things", but felt compelled to start the thread anyway.

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JH
John Honovich
Dec 01, 2015
IPVM

Andrew, yes, by definition, not everything has the same importance, especially when a site is posting dozens of things a week.

For example, in November, just ended, we posted ~50 new articles and there were 160 discussions added (with me posting 20 or so of them).

We post lots of things. You only get upset and protest when it is about your business partner, Avigilon.

We will continue to start threads and publish posts on dozens of topics every month, that is what we do.

AT
Andrew Thomas
Dec 01, 2015

These posts don't upset me. I am actually somewhat embarrassed for IPVM, and the staff members working hard to make this an educational forum. It becomes more obvious when a new member has to point this out.

Now if you wanted to start the thread "Do Inside Sales reps overstate their qualifications" and step aside and let the membership give examples..... fine.. But you've demonstrated your bias in the past, and will continue to do so for your own personal reasons.

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JH
John Honovich
Dec 01, 2015
IPVM

Andrew, you turn thread after thread about your business partner Avigilon into fights and accusations of bias. Unless we say something positive about Avigilon (and we do regularly as listed above), you are quick to make allegations and disrupt comments.

This is it, Andrew. No more. This bickering and posturing hurts IPVM and wastes a lot of our time.

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Andrew Thomas
Dec 07, 2015

What format do you need so that at least you have the updated specs and capabilities across the entire product line.

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #9
Dec 07, 2015

I don't understand, the previous experience @ Radio Shack, Victoria Secret, Aflac and Toni's Hairdressing aren't valuable to Video Surveillance?

jk

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