VIVINT Security Alarm/Home Automation System

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7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#889878 4-Sep-2013 19:44

Its the Risco Agility 3. Just arrived in NZ and supported by the same team that support the Bosch range.

Here's a link to the Risco site.

http://www.riscogroup.com/products/solution/39

My techs are booked into the product training this month.

sonyxperiageek

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#889888 4-Sep-2013 20:05

I'm also in West Auckland, and they also came around to our house offering free equipment and installation! But after reading the fine print, we had to pay about $6000 in total over a number of years! The equipment and installation was only worth at the most $2500! The $6000 costs include monitoring, zigbee and the z-wave technologies..

Aren't those Zigbees/ Z-Wave technology free for all to use?

Sony

Johnk

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#889893 4-Sep-2013 20:16

sonyxperiageek: I'm also in West Auckland, and they also came around to our house offering free equipment and installation! But after reading the fine print, we had to pay about $6000 in total over a number of years! The equipment and installation was only worth at the most $2500! The $6000 costs include monitoring, zigbee and the z-wave technologies..

Aren't those Zigbees/ Z-Wave technology free for all to use?

Same here, in Henderson, or some call it Western Heights. Pushy as, wanted me to sign up then and there. Did not seem worth it.
But you are forgetting one other part of his deal, you do get to have a "nice" big bright orange sign of his on your letterbox for the duration of contract, thats got to be worth something, surely haha

sonyxperiageek

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#889957 4-Sep-2013 21:53

And what's even more, that sign is originally worth "$14.99"!

Sony

petercad

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Master Geek

#890037 5-Sep-2013 06:54

Haven't put these systems in, but I installed quite a few of one other wireless system by Risco, had over 60% failure rate, either out of box, or within 1 month of installation
Uninstalled every one of them and replaced with another brand, no more issues
Also, this unit for $2500 - really?
I'd retail them for no more than $950 installed, and make great money at that price!

Securitypro

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#890069 5-Sep-2013 08:01

Certainly agree the price woudn't be $2500 for the Risco. Suspect $1200-$1500 depending on product selection. There is an annual cloud subscription so I suspect the DIY market is not the target market.

The mainstream security industry has taken not taken up wireless kit quickly and there are only one or two systems out there worth considering, DSC and Bosch.

However DSC now have the Alexor from Intek and Connnect who supply the Bosch kit have the Risco. From looking around the Internet Risco is widely used so if all their products had that failure rate they'd be out of business by now.

Bosch has been my product of choice for home and business till now and I know the support offered is excellent and would expect the same support and backing for the new Risco range.

jeunekong

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#898592 19-Sep-2013 16:22

One of their staff just knocked on my door today.

Now they are offering free equipment no charges at all except those monthly cost.

My home has old alarm system and they are offering wireless. Contract for 4 years seem reasonable enough for the safety of the house if they're good at what they are doing since i am in the wild west.

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Securitypro

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#898631 19-Sep-2013 17:53

Buyer beware is my advice. No good has come of any door knocking company in the security industry.

Go to the home show, wherever the next one is held. The local Auckland one, held just last week, was the place to find some good quality systems, or call some reputable companies in yellow pages under security or home automation.

My advice?

Don't buy the first one you've seen, from some unknown person with some some unknown brand, at the door, in the evening, who stays all night, and offers discounts if you sign that night.

And your mum would tell you the same.

sonyxperiageek

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#898650 19-Sep-2013 18:31

jeunekong: One of their staff just knocked on my door today.

Now they are offering free equipment no charges at all except those monthly cost.

My home has old alarm system and they are offering wireless. Contract for 4 years seem reasonable enough for the safety of the house if they're good at what they are doing since i am in the wild west.

It's not really that reasonable. Not sure if your price is the same, but my monthly costs totaled up to $6000 for 4 years!

Sony

RooniecakesMcgee

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#902167 25-Sep-2013 01:29

Securitypro: Buyer beware is my advice. No good has come of any door knocking company in the security industry.

Go to the home show, wherever the next one is held. The local Auckland one, held just last week, was the place to find some good quality systems, or call some reputable companies in yellow pages under security or home automation.

My advice?

Don't buy the first one you've seen, from some unknown person with some some unknown brand, at the door, in the evening, who stays all night, and offers discounts if you sign that night.

And your mum would tell you the same.

vivint door salesman came to my house today. Didn't buy from him because I don't like buying from door sales man. During the down pour of rain I invited him to wait it out a bit on my porch. We began chatting about non alarm things and he mentioned he was going to Cambodia with Vivint in a few weeks to dig fresh water wells for charity. He mentioned that vivint gave him the opportunity to donate some sales for an expense paid service trip. Thought it was worth looking the company up which I did and found aside from other things their employees actively participate in local and foreign charity projects. After finding this forum thought it was worth sharing because of the previous comment.

Securitypro

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#902578 25-Sep-2013 18:12

That sounds marvellous, and with the 4 year deal costing $6000 as someone posted here previously,there's plenty of wells that can be dug with elderly kiwis money.

noize

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#915614 15-Oct-2013 17:42

We just had a dodgy looking guy claiming to be from them come round and claim to be giving 4 houses in our street completely free house alarm $700 value as long a we kept a sign on the fence saying protected by them!!

sonyxperiageek

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#915621 15-Oct-2013 17:55

noize: We just had a dodgy looking guy claiming to be from them come round and claim to be giving 4 houses in our street completely free house alarm $700 value as long a we kept a sign on the fence saying protected by them!!

Yes... and you must have monitoring with them as well, plus pay a Z-wave/Zigbee fee and a Vodafone data fee as well for 48 months or so.. If you don't pay the Z-wave and Vodafone data fee, the $700 worth security system is practically useless as you can't use nearly all the features they say you can!

You might as well buy a cheap $100 alarm system from DickSmith with NO recurring fees!

Sony

ViperGeek

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#949061 11-Dec-2013 00:12

Firstly let me say I am an Alarm Tech so read any bias to my comments as you will...

I have had a couple of customers contacted by Vivint.
One signed up with them and the other told them where to go.

My biggest concern is that the reps are using scare tactics on customers and appear to be unregistered and unlicensed which is very illegal.

Wireless is great if you can't hard wire a system, but there is a reason that hard wiring is still the standard for commercial/military/government and for good reason.
Additionally, once the batteries on each of the devices runs down, what will be the cost of getting a technician out? Especially for the elderly.

One of Vivints tactics is to advise that current systems will soon be defunct with the roll out of high speed broadband.
Whilst I haven't looked into Vivint's equipment I can say that there are plenty of TCP/IP and 2G/GPRS dialers available for monitoring of "standard" alarms for those that can't/won't have a phone line, as well as smart phone apps for most major brands.
And again, all the major brand alarms have very good automation/scheduling abilities.
Be very certain what you are signing up for and check the fine print people.

timmmay

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#949087 11-Dec-2013 07:35

I paid $1000 for a nice Bosch alarm and $30 a month for monitoring, which is $2260. It's not as fancy, has no HA features, but does the job of an alarm well. Sounds like you got a decent deal, though time will tell.

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