Entry Level Pack / Loss Leader

[Automator]

Guys, if Simon Gerard is serious about taking CBUS to the world, surely we need to get it into as many homes as possible in Australia. With an entry level (basic) of say 12 ch relay and 14 switches, Mr & Mrs Suburbia get stung about 2 grand for hardware and say another grand for the install. Now I don't wanna be the guy who is trying to tell the couple who are wondering how much they may save by painting the ceilings themselves that for 3 grand more we can make their lights turn on and off.

For mine, we need a builders pack that would provided a 12 ch relay and 12 switches for about 500 dollars. (That is it, nothing else) We then lead the trade into the next generation of home construction. They join it or fall behind. Basically, with Simon's support, we could work with builders to offer a very marketable product for less than the free concrete or 26" CRT Analogue TV they currently offer as a give away. Point of difference.

Why would we do it? Because if we give the customer something for nothing and tell them that once they lay the carpet in the lounge, they might want to run a set of dimmers and some scenes.

Sudenly we have a footprint market.

Now thats Smart.

Feed a man today, he gets fed, help him feed himself tmw and he lives on.

Lucky Phil

[coppo1]

. For mine, we need a builders pack that would provided a 12 ch relay and 12 switches for about 500 dollars.

Lucky Phil

Correct me if i am wrong, but i don't think you could get all of that I/O happening
for $500 even using a simple to install product like x10 based system.

Even so does that mean the cost savings will also be passed onto the customer...

Isn't $500.00 what builders charge customers for standard light switches
and GPO's at the moment??

Granted that whilst reducing the cost of some of the units would be an easier
selling point , i think the regular installers of any home automation product
will agree that it is a products features that sell it, not just that it is cheap.

all that being said, yes there is definitely a place for a more cost effectively
version of cbus output units , however, i think the price of $500.00 is unrealistic.

[Forumadmin]

For mine, we need a builders pack that would provided a 12 ch relay and 12 switches for about 500 dollars. (That is it, nothing else) We then lead the trade into the next generation of home construction.

Lucky Phil

Hmm, well I have chewed on this one for a while, and I agree and I disagree. Clipsal have a product, at a price point, that, the market NOW accepts. To fall from this position will not increase your profit or your bottom line. It would not create a mass of work for your company, it would just pull your profit margin down, and introduce greater competition in pricing and cost cutting.

I think the product suite overall is at a maximum sell price for the market to tolerate, everyone makes a buck and the customer is happy. If products are over the top in price, the market simply won't go/stay there and Clipsal have 2 choices. Review the price or weather the opposition.

At the moment, I believe CIS sales are strong, demand is strong and customers are happy. Almost a complete diatribe of sweet bliss and harmony.

All that said, I’d agree that a “builders pack” or I would prefer “automation introduction pack” was made available in “budget” say in classic or 2000, “lite” say in neo and “pro” say in Saturn or reflection ranges, this would be a good thing for some, and maybe not for others.

Builders are synonymous for kicking the guts out of deals and cutting the installers prices to the bone, passing on deals, ppftttttttt. Fuel for the fire is not always a good thing. The idea has merit and has been tossed around before. Weather it is a good thing or not I’m not in a position to judge.

The current arrangement is working, growing stronger in demand, funding R&D and has a brilliant career.

I could blab on some more but you get the drift.

Cheers

[coppo1]

As u say the more product u get out there,
typically the price decreases....

not sure on what the current marketing plans are
but i do remember years ago that CIS had $20 off trade
price reduction across all the input units.

Bearing in mind that back in the old days a 4 channel relay
was approx $150 and 4 channel dimmer approx $250 trade.

That being said, stranger things than trade price reductions
have happened..