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Selling anything door-to-door is a demanding practice – but it works. Vacuums, magazines, and even alarm systems are sold this way, in huge numbers. I’ve posted before on those pushy “door knockers” who claim they "just want to put their alarm company’s yard sign in your yard, since your house is the best one on the block," in exchange for a "free" alarm system. The catch: an inflated monthly fee for service that is anything but the safest and most reliable you can get today. As this recent report about ADT shows, even an established provider can fail the test.
Sarah says that last night an ADT sales rep came to her door trying to sell her an alarm system. He said that there were two break-ins "last week" and that whenever these occur ADT sends out a rep to "give away" two "free" alarm systems.
What She Did Then
"I sent the guy away, and this morning looked up police reports from the last month and a half to see whether our neighborhood really did have two break-ins," writes Sarah. "Big surprise, the answer is no." Moral of the story: never believe what a salesman who comes to your door says, let alone buy what they're selling.
Any company is only as good as its representatives, and for a company as large as ADT, one can expect a bit of rogue behavior. But in following the reader comments that followed the report, I found another story:
Same thing happened to me: funny thing was our neighbor was over, and asked to see his permits. After he said he didn't have any, our neighbor said to leave the cul-de-sac or be reported. Our neighbor was not happy ADT was lying, he's a local cop. Contacted ADT, they said they can't control their contractors. Funny thing is Direct TV told me the same thing - no control.
Other Reports
Then I was reminded of the high-profile home invasion tragedy in Cheshire, CT, after which ADT targeted the community with fliers. The State of Connecticut took exception to the practice, and reacted strongly:
ADT Security Services Inc. left its fliers in the neighborhood in the days following the killing of three members of the Petit family, a move that angered many neighbors who felt the solicitations were in bad taste so soon after the tragedy. Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr. looked into the matter and ruled earlier this month that the advertisements were a violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. The department has jurisdiction over false advertising under the act, Farrell said.
It’s a fine line that alarm companies tread, and we're the first to agree that no company is perfect - even FrontPoint. The truth is that crime is actually up in many areas, but since alarm systems can do so much more now, we’re not just selling intrusion and fire protection. Today’s technology lets you connect to your home and control the alarm system, plus lights, locks, thermostats, even security cameras. With free apps for all the popular smart phones, it’s never been easier to combine control and peace of mind – or more affordable. That’s why FrontPoint offers the latest in home security and automation, with a completely transparent and non-pressured approach to pricing and customizing a system that meets your needs. After all, we did didn’t become the nation’s leader in interactive, wireless home security by knocking on doors.