Hey guys, I just want to say thanks one more time. Berg, I really appreciate the information regarding what my options are, and helping me to understand satellites and signals for international programming. Dragon, I also appreciate your help as well. And sheridan, I can't agree with you more on your posts.
I was hoping this topic wouldn't degenerate, but now that it has gone off topic, I just have to comment a little.
While I understand that "Doc" might not want to share his precious "trade secrets" with the common person for his own financial well being, I just have to say that we are waaaay beyond the dark ages, dude, where information was kept secret and passed on from person to person in secret. In the age of the internet, everyone benefits from being more knowledgeable. Knowledge wants to be free. It always has. But you can hold on to yours.
What I don't understand is why you bother to post at all. You live all the way in California. I'm in Chicago. You are not going to be my technician anyway. If you cared so much about your field of "installation business", why didn't you recommend someone in my area, or help me figure out how to find a good installer (e.g. which questions to ask, what to look under in the phone book, a link to your satellite installation provider community (you did just go to the expo last year, right?)). Something that could actually help. But your post was 100% useless, except to start a flame war and so that you could write RONTGLMAO and LOL a ton of times.
The other thing you don't understand is most people actually get *more* business when they are actually helpful online. This has been proven over and over again. I doubt anyone who reads this thread in the future would ever consider you as a hire. The reality is that even if someone figures out exactly what needs to be done, there's a good chance they're still going to call a professional. They just want to know what's up. But of course, you actually like to type/talk more than anything anyway. You like to obfuscate the issues so that people are confused. Why else would you post this on another forum:
If you don't have a FTA Motorized System, then you are missing out on a very profitable part of your business...
We now sell the Motorized System for $800.00 installed... Cost is approx. $250.00!!! Do you think DirecTV/Dish Network/WildBlue/Hughes, or anybody else will give you that much profit???
RUNATWTTBLMAO... (RUNNING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK LAUGHING MY A$$ OFF...
Besides we are not marketing to the average consumer!!! Our Clients are Doctors and Attorneys, Judges and Business Owners... They don't really care how much it costs, they just want to have the high quality stuff, so they can show off to their friends...
Never go after volume, go after the hi-end profits... Volume only puts you out of business, faster... RONTGLMAO
http://skychat.mediabiz.com/viewtopic.php?p=6993&sid=53f489f41d9b5d7965dd185582731b95
The truth is, in my case, I may end up ultimately hiring someone to come out, although it's not that difficult at this point (all my cables are run, a 4x8 switch is already there, etc). But at least now I'll know what I need when I call, I'll know what to ask for, and I'll be able to judge the competency of the tech I call. I don't have any more time to waste with techs that don't really know what they're doing. And the phone book doesn't really help you figure that out.
Like Berg and sheridan noted, some of us actually like to learn and work with our hands and solve problems. It's really not up to you to decide what is easier for us. I like to understand how the satellite signals work, where they come from, how the multiplexers work, etc. It's fun. If you don't want to help share knowledge, then just don't post. It's as easy as that.
Finally, would I share the secrets of what I do with you? Well, I'm a real Doctor, as in "M.D." Doctor means "to teach." You should think about that since you insist on calling yourself "Doc". And yes, I would teach you about your body and how to take care of it. There is tons of information on the web that is out there "for free" about your health. It's not like that suddenly has worsened my job. In fact, it's better because people are more educated and we can move forward from a more knowledgeable stance.
The only people who suffer from the spread of knowledge are the people who have so little competetive advantage and so little to offer, that anything can usurp that edge. Do you think so little of what you do that you're afraid to share your "trade secrets"? Even magicians share a lot of their "secrets" but they know most people aren't go to have the skill, patience and diligence to copy it and therefore aren't that threatened (e.g. Chris Angel putting out a DVD explaining how to do the "levitation trick").
If I didn't get some "real" help on this board, I was probably just going to give up on international satellite. Now that I know it can be done, and how it can be done, I will likely get someone to come out here and do it because overall, that is still easier than me going out to get everything. This spread of knowledge in fact does help installers like you. Your lousy attitude, however, doesn't.
...ok.../end rant... sorry about the long off topic words.
Regards,
Bhavesh Patel, MD
