Mega-OEMs vs Micro-Relabelers

Author: John Honovich, Published on Aug 04, 2015

Manufacturers like Dahua are sold under dozens, if not hundreds, of aliases in the United States alone. Companies doing it range from two stoners in their basement to Fortune 100 corporations (e.g., Honeywell).

But are there any differences between them? And are there any risks? This debate arose recently when we exposed a 'manufacturer' who is really an integrator relabeling Chinese cameras.

We believe that there are significant differences and more end user risks in going with micro-relabelers. Inside this post, we explain why and how.

************* **** ***** *** **** ***** ******, ** *** ********, of ******* ** *** ****** ****** *****. ********* ***** ** range **** *** ******* ** ***** ******** ** ******* *** corporations (*.*., *********).

*** *** ***** *** *********** ******* ****? *** *** ***** any *****? **** ****** ***** ******** **** ********* * '************' *** ** ****** ** ********** ********** ******* cameras.

** ******* **** ***** *** *********** *********** *** **** *** user ***** ** ***** **** *****-**********. ****** **** ****, ** explain *** *** ***.

[***************]

Integrators ** *** *****

*** **** ** *** *** *****, *** ***********. ** *** integrator ***** ****** ** **:

"**'* * ***/*** ****."

*** '****' ** *** *** *****.

Why *********** **** *****-***********

******* *** *** *** *********. '********' ****** *** **** ********. It ** **** ** **** ***** *** ***** ***.

*** ********? *** **** *** ***** ** ******* ****'* ******* and ***** ** ** **** ***. *** *** **** ********* 'unique' ** **** **** *** *** *** **** ********* *****. "Dahua? ****'* ****. *************** ** *****? *******."

Spec ***** **** *****-**********

*********** ********** ******* **** ***** *** ***** ******* ***** **** numbers ** *****. **** ***** *********** ***** **** **** *********** their ******* ** ***** ** ******* ***********. ** **** *****, the **** *** **** ** ******* ** ** ************* *******, even ****** ******* ********** *** ******* *** ******** ************'* ****** or *** ***** **** ***** **** ******* ***.

Easier **** ****

*** ******** *** **** ** ****** **** **** *** *** integrator, ****** ** *** *** *** ****** ** *** ******* re-labelled. *** *** **** *** *** ******** *** ** ** to *****. ***, ******* **** ******** *** ***** ** ***** you **** ***** *** **** *** ******* ** **** ********.

Inherently *********

****** *** **-******** **** **** ** **** *** ******** ******. Why? *********, ** **** ****** **** **** *************** *** **** vanilla ********, *** ***** ***** ** ****, *** ******* ***** erode *** **** ***** ****** **** ** *** ******** **** the ******, **** ** **** **** ******** ********.

Mega-OEM **********

**** ** ***** ********* *** **** ******* *************. **** ** the **** ****** *** ********* (*.*.,***), *** (*.*.,*-***), **** / *****, **********, ** **** **** * *** big ******.

**** ********* ***** * ****** ** ********** ******** ** ***** micro-relabeler ************:

  • **** / ******** *******: ********* **** **** ********* ************* ** provide **** ** ***** ***** ******** ****.
  • **** **** *******: *** *** ** ****** ********* **** **** are ***** ** ** ** ******** *** ***** ** **** if *** **** ******, **** ************, ***.
  • ******** **********: ******* **** *** ***** ** ** ****** *** the **** **** *** ******* **** **** ** ******* ***** overall ***** / ********, **** *** **** ****** ** ***** warranties.
  • ******* *********: **** *** / *** ******** ** ********* ** units, ***** ***** **** ********* *** ****** / ******* ******** QA ** ******** ******** *** ******* ******* ******.
  • *************: ***** ********* ********* **** ******** ****** **** *********** **********, manuals, *** ******** / ******** ********, ***.
  • **** ************: ** *** **** **** ************ ** *********, *** can *** **** ** ***** ******** *** **** *** ***** and ** ********* **** ***** *********** **** ******* ****.

Micro-Relabeler *************

** ****** ** ***** *** ******* ****, *****-********** *** **** less ****** ** ******* *** ********* *****. *** ***** **** one ** *** **** *** **** *** ******* ****, *** not * ********* **********. **** **** ******* ****** *** *****-********* who ** *************, **** *** ******** ** **** **** ** do **** ** *** ******* *************, *** *** ***** ***** purchasing ***** ********* ***** ********. ********, *** ********** **** *****-********** are ***** ** ******** ** *** **** ******** ***** ***** is **** ***** **** ****-****.

*** *** *****, ******* ******* *** ****-**** ** *** **** likely **** *** *****-**********, ** ***** ** **** **** ***** and *** ******* ************ *** * ********* **** ****** ****.

Real ************* ********* ****

*** **** ****, *** **** ****** *** **** *** ***** is ****** ******** **** *** '****' ************ (*.*., ****, *********, Dahua, ********, ***.). **** ****-****, ***** *** ********* ***** ************* with ****-**** *******. **** ****** ******, ******* **** *** *** real ************, **** ********* **** *** *** **** **** ** fix ******** **** **** * ***** ***** **** * ****-*** Honeywell *** **.

Integrators ***** **** *** **** *****

****** ** *** ** ******** ** ****** * **** ***** and *** ** ***** ****** **** ******* ****, ** ** deceptive *** ***** ** *** *******. *****, ***** *** ***** of *** ******** ** ****** ***** ******, ** ** **** to ******** *** *****.

****** **** ********** ** ** * ************, **** ****** ** build **** *** ***** ** * ******* ******, ** ****** can ****** ******* ****** * ******* *** *** *** **** services, *** * ******* ****** **** **** **** **** ****.

Comments (21)

Thumbnail pp 5

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified / IPVM Admin | 08/04/15 02:37pm

*'** ******* **** ***** ********** ***** ** ** ** ***** the **** **** *** ** *****.

* *** **** ** **** **** ******* **** *** ****** installers, *** **** * *** ****** ** ** *** *** show *** *** ****** ******* **** ** ******* ******* ** logo, **** *********** ****** ** ***** ******!

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Brian Rhodes | 08/04/15 02:50pm

**** ******, ******* ****'* **** *** ******** *****.

"****, ********* ** **** ****** ********** *****. ** **** ** the ******* **** ** *** ****** *** *** ******* ** partner **** ****."

Thumbnail pp 5

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified / IPVM Admin | In reply to John Honovich | 08/04/15 04:36pm

"** *** *** **** ****** ****** ** ********* ********, **'** give *** $*** **** *** *** ********* *******!"

Undisclosed 1

In reply to John Honovich | 08/04/15 05:02pm

****, *'** ***** *** ********* ** ********* ***** ***** ******, we **** ***********...

Undisclosed 1

| 08/04/15 05:11pm

*** **** ****, *** **** ****** *** **** *** ***** is ****** ******** **** *** '****' ************...

**** ***** * ***** ***** **** ****** **** **** ** possibly *** **** **** ** *** ****** ** *****. ** you **** ******* ******* **, **** ******* ******** *** **** documentation, ** *******, ** ****** *** **** *****.

** ********, ******** ** *** ***** ***** ***** ****** ********, they *** ****** **** *** **** **** **** **** **** value-add ** ***** ***, ** **** ******* *******.

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Undisclosed 1 | 08/04/15 06:24pm

****'* *** * **** '****', ***** *** ********** ***** *** real ************ ********** ** ******* / ***** *** *********. *******, ***** *** ********* ** **** *** **** ************* grow ***** *** ****** ******* ********.

***, **** ** ***** **** **** ***** *********'* '***** ** ******* ********', **** *********** *** ********* ****** *** ******** **** *** for ********* ** **** * *****.

Undisclosed 1

| 08/04/15 08:21pm

** **** ***** ** *** **** *** **** *******...;)

********** *********** ******* ****** ******* **** ** ******* ** *******....

Undisclosed 2 Integrator

| 08/04/15 08:54pm

* ***'* ********** *** ********* ****.

**'* ** ** ******* ** *** *** * ******** *******, but ** *** *** * ***** *********** ******** * ******** - ** *** **** ** ** **** - *** *** doing ********* ********* ** **********? **'* ****** ****** *** ***********, illogical.

**** ****** ***** **** ******** ** *** **** ********* ** someone ********** * ***** ******* - *** * ******* *******? I **** ******* ****** ********* *** **** **** ***** ***** provide ****** ******* **** ***** **** - *** ******* *** mentioned ** **** *****. ** **** ***, **** *** **** tried ********** ***** ********? ***** ******* ****, **** **** ******* by ********** **** *** ******* **** ***** ********. *** *********** of ******** ******* ** ********* **** ** **** ** ******* and **** ******** ** *********.

* **** **** ***** ******** *** **** *****; *** **** have ***** *** * ***** *****. ***? ******* ***** **** not ***** *** ** **** ******** ** *** ** **** their ****. *** **** **-***** **** **** *** ***** ** remove ***** ***** *** ********.

**** ****, ** * *** ** ******* **** ** ***** products, ******* **** **** ** *******'* *********** *** **** **** with ** ******* ********, ***** ** *** *******?

** * *** **. ***** *'* *** **** ** ** Realtime, * **** **** *** *****. **** *****. ************ ******. This ** *** ***** **** * **** ****** **** ************ by *** ******** ****** ** **** ** *** ******* ** this *****. * **** ****** ** ********** ************. :(

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Undisclosed 2 Integrator | 08/04/15 09:10pm

"* **** ******* ****** ********* *** **** **** ***** ***** provide ****** ******* **** ***** **** - *** ******* *** mentioned ** **** *****."

***** **** ** ******** *** ********* **** ******** **** **** are * **** ************. *****, ***** ****'* ********** *** ** tricking *** ********* **** ******** **** *** ******** ** * separate ********* ************.

** ** *********.

Undisclosed 5 Integrator

In reply to Undisclosed 2 Integrator | 08/06/15 05:07pm

** **** *** ******* *** *** **** ******** **** ** you're ***** ** *** *** **** **** ** ***** **** face???? **** *** ****** ******* **** ***? ** *** ******* you **** ***** ** ***** **** **********, ********* ***'** **** living ** * ***** ***** *** *****, ******** *** ******* personally ** **************. * ***** **** ** *********** * *** *** ******** ** ****** **** * *** or *** *** ***** **** *** ** ********* * *** educated *** ********* * **** ****** ** ******* ***** ** input **** ***** *******. ** ***'** ***** ******** ***** ******* over **** * *** **** ********, **** ********* *****'* **** attitude *** **** *** **** **** ** ******** ******** - I'm ****** ** **** *** ***** **** ******* *** **** in *** ******* ***'* **** ** ** *****? *** **!

Undisclosed 2 Integrator

| 08/04/15 09:40pm

* ***** **** *** **. * **** ******* ***.**********.***. ** the ***** **** ** ***** "* ****** ****** ** ******* & ****** ** ******** ****** ************* *********." ********* ****, *** see *** ********* ***** ******: "** ***********, ** ***, ** Hear, ** *******." * ***** ***** **** ********** ** **% dahua ********. *** **** ***** *********?

********* *** ******** ********* ************* ******, * ***'* ***** ** how **** ***'* ********* *** **********. ***, ** ** ******** for ********* ** ** ********** ******** *** **** *** **** owners. ** ****, ********* **'* ****** ***** *** *********. **** and ****** ******** ********* ******* ** **** **** ******** ***** for **** ** ******** **********. ** ** ***.****.*** *** ********. It's ** *** *** ** *** *******. ** ** *** am * ********* **** *** ** ****** ** ****, *** at **** ***** *** ** ******* ** ****** ***** ******** men? ************, ** ** ***** ** ** ** ******* **'** small *** **** *********?

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Undisclosed 2 Integrator | 08/04/15 10:28pm

"************, ** ** ***** ** ** ** ******* **'** ***** and **** *********?"

**'* ********* *** **** ******** ** * ******** ** *** from * '************' **** * ** * ********* **** *** with *** ** ***. ****** '*************' *** ***** * *** more.

* ** ** *** ** ** ******** (** ********* **** often,**** ******** ****) *** **** *** ******* $**+ ******* ** ******** * year, **** ******** ** *******, ******* ************, * ******** ******* with *********** *************, ***.

*** *** **** ** *** **** ** ***********? *** ************ the ****** ** ******** ****?

Undisclosed 2 Integrator

In reply to John Honovich | 08/05/15 01:51am

"*** *** **** ** *** **** ** ***********?"

****'* ** **** ** **** *** ******** ** *** ****** we'd **** - ** **** ********* ******** ** ******** ******** for ******? ****'* ** ******* ** **** *** ******** **** to **** *** ********, ********** **** ***** ************ ********** ******, "Custom ************ *** * ***** *****?"

"*** ************ *** ****** ** ******** ****?"

******* ** * **************** ** ** *** *** ******* ********* misunderstand *** ******** ***** ** **** *******. ******** ** ******** are **** ** *****, *** ** *** **** **** ***** the *.*., **** **** *** **** ** * ******* *******. None ** ***** ********* ***, "*** ** **** **** **** stuff. ** ***'* ******** **** * *******. **** ***** ** really **** ** *** ******* ** ***** **** ***** ** companies **** **. ** ******* ** *** ********* *** **** that." ***'* **** ********* *** ******* ** *** "**** ** China" *******? ********* ********** *** ****** ***** ****.

**** ********* ******** **** ******** *** **************. *** ** *******, most ********* ***'* ****** ***** *** ************. **** ********* **, and ****'* * **** ****.

**** ********* ******* ******* **** **** **** ** *********** *** re-labeling ** *** ********* *** ********* **** ***** **** * couple ******* *********. *** ***** *** ******, *******, ** **** HiDef **** *** **** *** ********* ******* *** ******** **** does *** ******* ****. ** **** *** **** **** *********, the ******* ***** *** *** ******* *** ** ******** ** matter **** *** ****. *** ***** **** *** ** **** enough ********* ** ****** *** ******** ******. * ** * small *********. ** **** * *********, **** *** ****** ******** the *****. ** *** **** ** ***** *********** ******** ******* because *** ****** ** *** ********* ** ************ ** *** customer ****. *** **** *** **** ******. ** * *** from *****, * *** ******** ***** ******** **** *** ***** if * **** * *******. * *** **** ** **** to *** *** ***** ** **** ** ** **** *** troubleshooting. ****, ** ******, ** ********* - ** *********** ******** service ********** **** ***** *** **** ************ ********* ****** *******. Quality **** *******.

****** ****, * ******* ** ******** ********* *** ******'* ******* any ******* **** ******** ********* ** *** ******.

** **** ***, **** *** ** *** ***** ** ***** for *** *************** ****** ***** ** ******* ** "* ******* that ******** ******** ***********, **********, ******* *** ********** ***********. ... Entrepreneurial ****** ***** ********* **** *** ****** ****** **** ****** stagnant *** *****.” - ****** ********

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Undisclosed 2 Integrator | 08/05/15 02:07am

"****'* ** **** ** **** *** ******** ** *** ****** we'd **** - ** **** ********* ******** ** ******** ******** for ******?"

*** *** **** ** ******* **** *********. ** *** **** to ****** ** **.

"*** ** *******, **** ********* ***'* ****** ***** *** ************. They ********* **, *** ****'* * **** ****."

***'** ****** ******** ************* **** ***********. ** **** ******* ******** and ********, *** *** ** ******** ************ ** ****, **** is ***** * **** ************.

****** * ********** ******** ******* **** *** *** ******* ** do **** *** ****** ** *********** ** *** ****** **** label ** *** *************.

"**** **** ** *********** *** **-******** ** *** ********* *** companies **** ***** **** * ****** ******* *********."

* ** ****** **** ***** ********* *** ******* **** ******** services **** * *** ** * *********.

"** * *** **** *****, * *** ******** ***** ******** with *** ***** ** * **** * *******. * *** even ** **** ** *** *** ***** ** **** ** my **** *** ***************."

***** ** ***** ******* ** ** ** **** ***** ** Hikvision ******. **'* *** ********* ** **-***** ** ******* ***** support.

*** *** **** *** ** *** *********. **** ** *** owner ** ** ******** *** *** ******** ***** ****? **** if *** ***** ******* ** ** ********* **** ** **** out ** ********? **** ******* ** *** ********? **** ** the ******** ** *** ***** **** *** ***** *** ***** another **********?

Undisclosed 2 Integrator

| 08/04/15 09:54pm

**** *****,

*'* *** ********* **** ***** ** **** * ***** **-*******. If *** **** ** ***** ******* *** ******* ** ** nellysecurity.com '* ******* *** **** *** **** ***** *** **** color ****** *** ******* ****. **** *** ** ******* * Nelly ****** ****** ********* ** *** ******* ***** ******* **** Nellys ******. ** * ***** **** ** * **-***** ** a **-*****.

*** *** *** ******, ****** ****** **** ** *** **** customer ******* ** *** ********.

Undisclosed 1

In reply to Undisclosed 2 Integrator | 08/06/15 05:01pm

** * ***** **** ** * **-******** ** * **-********...

****** *** *** *****.

*** *** ***** **** ** ** *****-**, ******* *** ***-**** no ****** *** ** **** *** ***** ******* *** (**************), revealing *** **** ********* ******* *****.

** *** ***** ***** ***** ***** ** ***** *** ******** that *** ******** ** ******?

** ** ********* *******, * ***** ** **** **** *****'* response ***** **...

Undisclosed 2 Integrator

In reply to Undisclosed 1 | 08/06/15 05:18pm

* ***** *** ***** **** ** *** ****** ** **** would ***** **** ********. ****, *** **** *** **** ***** a ******* ***** *******, ********** **** ** ***** ** ** frowned **** ** **** ***** ******* ****.

Undisclosed 3 Manufacturer

| 08/06/15 02:48pm

* ******* ***** ** * *** ******** ** **** ******* and ** **** ** *** ******** ** ** ******* ** Mega-OEM's. * ****** ***** *** *** ** ****** *** ****** based ** ******* **** ******* *** ***** **** ****-***'* *** simply ********** *******. ** **** ***** **** *** ** *** from *** *****. **** *** **** '***' ******* **** *** this *** *** ****** ** ****'* ***** **. **** ******* a ******* ** ***** ** * ********** ******* **** *** neccissarely **** *** *** **** ******* **** ******** ** **. The ***** ** ****-***'* ** ***** ***** ****** ****** ***** comes **** *** *********** ** ***** *&* ********* ** ******* special ******** ** * ******* (*.*. ****** *********** ******* *** example) ** *** ******* ********. ** ***** ** *** **** like * *******, ** *** ******* *** ******** **** ** side *** *** ****** *********** *********** ** ***********/******. * *****-********* has ** **** ********* ** ***** *********. *** **** ***** we **** **** ********** ****** **** ***** ******** ******* ** where *** ******* ** ********/***** *** ***** ******** ****** ('**** enough *** ***** ******') ***** ** ** ***** ** ** more ********* ** **** * **** ************ **** *** ******** than ****** *** **** ***********/******. **** ** **** ****** **** you ***** *********** *** *** *** ***** ****** **. ** that *** ******* *** **** ** ***** **** ********? ** ahead.

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Undisclosed 3 Manufacturer | 08/07/15 11:01am

"** ***** ** *** **** **** * *******, ** *** compare *** ******** **** ** **** *** *** ****** *********** differences ** ***********/******."

*** ***** ** ***** **** ** ** ******* ******** **** by ****. ** **** *** ******* '*********** *********** ** ***********/******' for ****-****. *********, ** ** *** **** ***** *****, **** changes ** ******** / ***** ** ***.

******, **** ****-***'* ************** ** ***** ****** *****. ******* ****** ** ********* **** *******.

**** ****, ** ** ******** **** **** *** ******, ** just **** *** ***** ****** *********** *********** ** **** **** a ******* *****.

** *** **** ******** ********, *** *** ********* ***** **** or ******* ** ******* ** *******.

Undisclosed 4 Distributor

| 08/06/15 03:06pm

**** ****-*** **** **** *** *******, *** ***'* ******* **** technical *******. *** ******* *** *********** ** **** ******, *** sales ****** *** *** ******** **** **** **** ****

John Honovich

IPVM Admin | In reply to Undisclosed 4 Distributor | 08/07/15 11:03am

*********** *, ******. *** ** ** *********** **** ** **** are * *********** *** ** *** ************ ******** * ****-***. However, ** *** ***** ***, ****** **** *********** ****-**** (********* sister ******* ********* ********), ** **** *** ****** **** *** testing / ************ **** **** *** ********* ***** / ******** tech ******* *** ***** * *** ** ******* / ****.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Get End User Leads for Just $997 A Month on Aug 31, 2016
Scam or opportunity? As trade mags continue to suffer from the decline of print media, they are scrounging for new ways to make money. Rather than...
Integrators Vs Manufacturers Direct To End Users on Aug 31, 2016
Many manufacturers have increasingly large and hungry sales forces that call on more and more end users. One recent example is Axis ~$20 Billion...
Integrators, Replace Electricians With PoE Lighting on Aug 19, 2016
Electricians often steal security business, causing problems for themselves, users and security integrators. Now, an emerging technology...
Service / Maintenance Contracts Guide And Downloadable Sample Agreement on Aug 18, 2016
This guide provides in-depth recommendations for service / maintenance and a sample service agreement that integrators can edit and customize for...
D-Link ONVIF-Enabled Security Switch Examined on Aug 05, 2016
D-Link has embedded ONVIF discovery software into a network switch, and are targeting security integrators with what they claim is a unique...
Integrated IR Camera Use Dominates - 2016 Statistics on Aug 03, 2016
In 2014, IPVM statistics showed integrated IR camera use was surging. Now, new IPVM statistics show that the surge continues, with integrated IR...
Favorite Video Surveillance Hard Drive Statistics 2016: Seagate vs WD on Aug 01, 2016
What is the favorite hard drive for video surveillance integrators? Two manufacturers stood out, Seagate and WD but one of them trounced the...
Surveillance Recording Mode Statistics 2016 on Jul 28, 2016
Continuous? Motion? Boost? What recording should be used? What is used? This report compiles data from 90 integrators on storage modes most...
Anixter Touts Selling to End Users on Jul 27, 2016
Anixter's track record of selling to end users inspires much negativity in the industry. But Anixter's CEO has a different take on it. In this...
Video Surveillance Hard Drive Failure Statistics 2016 on Jul 22, 2016
Hard drive failures are decreasing and lifespans are getting longer, according to new IPVM statistics. Failing hard drives have historically been...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Camio Natural Language Processing Tested on Sep 27, 2016
The ex-Googler led team from Camio has advanced its video monitoring offering to include natural language processing. Camio ingests video,...
Hacked Dahua Cameras Drive Massive Cyber Attack on Sep 27, 2016
Cyber attacks are accelerating and IP cameras are behind many of them. Worse, last week, a 'massive' attack was carried out using numerous Dahua...
Axis Secretly Paid Anixter Sales People To Push Axis NVRs on Sep 26, 2016
Internal Axis communication shows how Axis paid Anixter and Tri-Ed sales people with secret bonuses to push Axis NVRs. In this report, we examine...
VLANs for Video Surveillance on Sep 26, 2016
Many people confidently say to 'use VLANs' as an answer to IP video networking problems and as a way to signal expertise. But how should VLANs be...
Ambarella CEO Admits H.265 and 4K Not Popular on Sep 26, 2016
Ambarella is the main chip provider for high-end surveillance cameras driving higher resolution and new CODECs. While Ambarella has been pushing...
Nest Cam Outdoor Tested on Sep 23, 2016
After years of claiming an outdoor model was "coming", addressing their biggest user demand, Nest has finally released their Outdoor Camera, an...
ACTi Refuses Race To The Bottom, Shifts To Solutions on Sep 23, 2016
The original low cost IP camera disruptor was ACTi. Back in the 2008 - 2010 time frame, Taiwanese manufacturer ACTi challenged the Western and...
You Get Robbed, Canary Will Pay You Up To $1,000 on Sep 22, 2016
Canary is trying to break the status quo in DIY security, first by raising over $40 million, and now a revamp of their monthly services package...
Milestone Ends Development of "Enterprise" VMS on Sep 22, 2016
Milestone 'Enterprise' was one of the first enterprise video management software offerings, selected by many early adopters of IP video. However,...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact