Domestic secrets! | Archive Titles

Sources of information prior to purchasing
Information sources consumers used to choose alarm	% respondents
Recommendation (relative, friend, neighbour etc)	25%
Specialist retailer/installer	22%
Police/Crime Prevention Officer	11%
Yellow Pages (no other directories referred to)	10%
Press advertising	9%
Insurance company	4%
Direct mail	1%
Variety of individual, miscellaneous responses	11%
Don’t know/not stated	7%

Householders currently without an alarm
Reasons given by those who have considered an alarm	% respondents
To improve the security of the property	29%
Following actual or attempted break-in	13%
Following burglaries in the neighbourhood	11%
Personal security/safety	10%
Concern over burglaries/crime	9%
For peace of mind/reduce anxiety about crime	6%
Know that alarm is an effective deterrent	5%
Following break-in relative/friend	2%
Advice from friends/colleagues	1%
Advice from police	1%
Other answers	6%
Don’t know/not stated	7%
Reasons given for not installing an alarm yet	% respondents
Too expensive/can’t afford one	36%
Have not got round to it yet/may in future	22%
Have a dog	8%
Current security arrangements sufficient	4%
No need around here/this is safe area	3%
Not worth disruption	1%
Member of Neighbourhood Watch	1%
Other answer	6%
Don’t know/no particular reason/not stated	19%
The purchase decision (all respondents): 1 = not important, 5 = extremely important.
Overall quality and reliability of the system	4.5
Length of warranty	4
Quality approved by an independent body	3.9
Cost of on-going maintenance	3.9
Initial cost of alarm system and installation	3.9
The person or firm who installed it	3.8
The cost of monitoring	3.6
Type of alarm / specific features	3.5
A well known installer in my area	3.4
A well known brand or make	3.4
Method of payment	3.3
The company or store where it is purchased	3
Appearance / attractive design	2.6

Installers’ views on the supply chain
Action desired by installers from manufacturers	No. of mentions: 205
Helping to reduce false alarms	34
Maximising reliability of equipment	31
Offering more marketing assistance	24
Making equipment easier for the homeowner to operate	23
Lower prices	22
Being generally more innovative	18
Producing more wire-free equipment	16
Maximising cost-effectiveness of equipment & installation	15
Making easier to install	14
Offering regular product training	8
Changes desired by installers from distributors	No. of mentions: 82
Lower prices	26
Recognition that payment methods may need to change	18
Improved quality of advice	13
Greater help in minimising stock/wastage	8
Improved speed of response	7
Improved quality of response	5
Hold more stock training sessions	5
(Although not specifically asked this question, five installers said that distributors should stop selling to non-qualified installers and members of the public.)