If you’re looking for a security company in St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe or St. Clair counties, we recommend picking a local company instead of one the many big national retail alarm chains. Big national alarm companies dangle low installation offers to entice new customers, but these low-price offers rarely provide adequate home protection. You’ll also find yourself locked into long term contracts with proprietary equipment that doesn’t allow you to switch to a different company without purchasing all new equipment.
There are a few misconceptions surrounding large national retail alarm companies. Picking a local company may be a better decision for local businesses and residents.
Why Big-Box Alarm Offers Aren’t What They Seem
Often the “too good to be true” offers from big national companies really are too good to be true. Some of the largest national alarm dealers in the nation are ADT, Tyco, Stanley Security, Vivint, Monitronics Security, Protection 1, and Diebold Security. Many times their “free” or “$99” offers only includes two doors, a control panel, motion detector, and possibly a glass break sensor. Does the offer include fire detection and carbon monoxide equipment? What if you have a door to the basement or garage? What if you have windows that aren’t in range of the sensor?
In dealing with a “free” alarm offer, be prepared to make a decision between paying what you initially expected or thought would be free and adequately protecting your home. You’ll also likely be asked to pay extra to set up smart home features controlled by a smartphone.
Reasons to Pick a Local Company
When you hire a local St. Louis alarm company like Butler Durrell Security, employees of our company come out to service or install equipment in your home. The national chain companies may or may not have an actual location in our Missouri region, and those installing equipment or servicing your system are often third-party contractors. Third-party contractors create a buffer between customers and the alarm company, which may contribute to more problems down the road.
Not putting customers first has led to a host of issues for national alarm chains, thousands of unresolved BBB complaints, law suits ranging from illegal early termination fees to deceptive business practices, and government actions for misleading of customers.
Accountability and trust is the life-blood of our industry. If you can’t trust the person walking through your front door, then how can you trust them to protect your home? That’s why picking a local alarm company helps ensure there will be accountability, as well as someone you can call if you ever have an issue. Secondly, if you’re unhappy with the service you’re getting from your local alarm dealer, you’ll have the freedom to switch dealers without having to purchase all new equipment.
The Long Term Contract Trap
Many of the national alarm companies trap customers into long-term contracts that can cost thousands of dollars to get out of. What happens if you move? You might find yourself up a creek if your new home isn’t in an approved alarm dealership area. Most local alarm companies try to work hand-in-hand with customers to figure out a solution that is beneficial to all involved.
What Customers Have to Say About Our Local Alarm Company
More than 100 customers have taken the time to review Butler Durrell Security. We’re also extremely proud of our A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We’ve never had an unresolved complaint with the BBB since accreditation more than 15 years ago. We’re also listed on Yelp, but have yet to have any customers give us a review. If you’re a “yelper” and customer of Butler Durrell, we welcome you to tell us what you think.
Butler Durrell is headquartered Wildwood, Missouri, which is located just outside St. Louis, MO. Contact us if you’d like to learn more about residential or commercial security or are interested in getting a quote from a trusted local alarm company.
