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If your business operates in a manner that ignores how shoppers rely on the Internet for information, life is only going to tougher. Sadly, that seems to be exactly the challenge for some alarm companies, especially the door knockers who all too often cross the line with aggressive and deceptive sales practices. The Internet is a powerful forum for posting and reading on-line reviews, as even the folks who knock on doors are learning the hard way. Bad web reviews don’t go away – even when you change your name.
APX [now Vivint] hires young people to sell their services door-to-door, usually during the summer time, all over the country. They setup in a neighborhood and canvas the area to see if they can sell their systems. They usually go to homes that don’t have an alarm sign, but have neighbors that have alarms. This enables them to use a simple scare tactic in order to push for the sale. The real issue that you need to be aware of is that most of the sales reps do not follow the requirements setup by the company. They are in a cut-throat environment trying to survive, so they resort to lying.
Ouch. This is a tough review, to be sure, and it gets worse. But what may surprise you is the long string of comments that follow the review. Most are equally scathing.
Other Consumers Pile On
Here’s the reviewer’s request for comments:
If you are a current APX alarm customer, let me know what you think of the company and their service. I want to hear what you have to say. Do you think APX Alarm is a scam? Provide me with your APX Alarm Review.
And here is a pair of representative examples from other homeowners:
I agree with this review. This company came to my home and pressured my wife into a sale while I was at work. Now we are stuck in a 5 year agreement that will cost over $2000 to get out of. The sales rep would not leave the house until she finally agreed to the “contract” that he misrepresented with no contract cancellation fees and other issues. I would never recommend this company. APX always seems to say that they are not responsible for what their sales people say, but then who is?
How does APX Alarm even think that they provide customer service to anyone? After a few minutes of searching online, I know I made the right choice in telling their sales person to leave my home. I wish my neighbors had time to review before getting pushed into a long contract. I have gone around my neighborhood and told everyone not to talk to anyone from APX. This company has no morals!
Consumer warnings issued on door knocking alarm companies continue to mount all across the US. These alerts are issued by television stations, local law enforcement, the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and even the Federal Trade Commission, and the theme is always the same: be very careful before you let one of these pushy folks into your house, and do not commit until you have adequate time to research the company, its reputation, and its products. These companies employ pressure sales tactics and, in some cases, outright fraud to get your signature on a contract – and you may not realize what you are signing up for.
FrontPoint has never knocked on doors – and we have no plans to sell that way in the future. That’s only part of why FrontPoint has an “A” rating with the BBB – instead of a “D” or “F,” like some door knocker companies. The best home security customers are the people who are looking for peace of mind in the first place, and with home security expanding to including to include remote video, interactive features, and even control of light, locks, and thermostats, it’s no wonder that demand is increasing. FrontPoint systems are safer, smarter, simpler, more affordable, and virtually impossible to defeat. That’s what makes FrontPoint the leader in wireless home security, and the #1 ranked alarm company in the US. And it also explains why we have the highest customer loyalty in the business. Just read the FrontPoint reviews!
Door to Door Alarm Sales Scams – For One Utah Alarm Company, the Complaints Just Keep on Coming
By:
Peter M. Rogers
|November 29, 2011
If your business operates in a manner that ignores how shoppers rely on the Internet for information, life is only going to tougher. Sadly, that seems to be exactly the challenge for some alarm companies, especially the door knockers who all too often cross the line with aggressive and deceptive sales practices. The Internet is a powerful forum for posting and reading on-line reviews, as even the folks who knock on doors are learning the hard way. Bad web reviews don’t go away – even when you change your name.
APX [now Vivint] hires young people to sell their services door-to-door, usually during the summer time, all over the country. They setup in a neighborhood and canvas the area to see if they can sell their systems. They usually go to homes that don’t have an alarm sign, but have neighbors that have alarms. This enables them to use a simple scare tactic in order to push for the sale. The real issue that you need to be aware of is that most of the sales reps do not follow the requirements setup by the company. They are in a cut-throat environment trying to survive, so they resort to lying.
Ouch. This is a tough review, to be sure, and it gets worse. But what may surprise you is the long string of comments that follow the review. Most are equally scathing.
Other Consumers Pile On
Here’s the reviewer’s request for comments:
If you are a current APX alarm customer, let me know what you think of the company and their service. I want to hear what you have to say. Do you think APX Alarm is a scam? Provide me with your APX Alarm Review.
And here is a pair of representative examples from other homeowners:
I agree with this review. This company came to my home and pressured my wife into a sale while I was at work. Now we are stuck in a 5 year agreement that will cost over $2000 to get out of. The sales rep would not leave the house until she finally agreed to the “contract” that he misrepresented with no contract cancellation fees and other issues. I would never recommend this company. APX always seems to say that they are not responsible for what their sales people say, but then who is?
How does APX Alarm even think that they provide customer service to anyone? After a few minutes of searching online, I know I made the right choice in telling their sales person to leave my home. I wish my neighbors had time to review before getting pushed into a long contract. I have gone around my neighborhood and told everyone not to talk to anyone from APX. This company has no morals!
Consumer warnings issued on door knocking alarm companies continue to mount all across the US. These alerts are issued by television stations, local law enforcement, the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and even the Federal Trade Commission, and the theme is always the same: be very careful before you let one of these pushy folks into your house, and do not commit until you have adequate time to research the company, its reputation, and its products. These companies employ pressure sales tactics and, in some cases, outright fraud to get your signature on a contract – and you may not realize what you are signing up for.
FrontPoint has never knocked on doors – and we have no plans to sell that way in the future. That’s only part of why FrontPoint has an “A” rating with the BBB – instead of a “D” or “F,” like some door knocker companies. The best home security customers are the people who are looking for peace of mind in the first place, and with home security expanding to including to include remote video, interactive features, and even control of light, locks, and thermostats, it’s no wonder that demand is increasing. FrontPoint systems are safer, smarter, simpler, more affordable, and virtually impossible to defeat. That’s what makes FrontPoint the leader in wireless home security, and the #1 ranked alarm company in the US. And it also explains why we have the highest customer loyalty in the business. Just read the FrontPoint reviews!