The following story was posted on transmitternews.com. It was the result of an online survey, which I took a part of. Its results were very interesting. Here is Part one of five:
The Satellite Industry From A Retailer/Technician Point Of View
Part 1/5—The Overview
From surveys to studies, and expert analysis, come facts and results used to determine the direction of the satellite industry. The problem isn’t the way this information is obtained; the problem seems to be with retailers and technicians being overlooked when statistics are compiled. In our effort to further the interests of independent satellite retailer and technician, the Transmitter News made an online survey available to compile information from a retailer and technician point of view.
Some of the survey results may surprise, some are what you expect, and others are guaranteed to make you angry. When we reach the final segment of this multi-part series and tell you the percentage of retailers and technicians that do not think they will be in the industry a year from now, everyone in the industry should be extremely concerned. These numbers should concern DIRECTV™, EchoStar™, HughesNet™, WildBlue™ as well as any company that utilizes the independent satellite retailer/technician network for sales, installation and service of their product. The number of seasoned pros with plans to exit the industry within the next year is frankly alarming. Given a choice, the majority of those planning to leave the industry in the next 12 months, would prefer to remain in the vocation they have grown to enjoy. The problem occurs when quality technicians feel as if they have no choice other than leave the industry. Based on our survey, many techs feel that the demand for technicians that do quality work is reaching an all-time low, the price of supplies is rising and the pay they receive is decreasing.
In a speech made some weeks ago, a very high ranking corporate official made a statement in essence saying their sales had never been higher because they never experienced the backlog of installations they are currently experiencing. That statement was only partially correct at best. The backlog of systems being installed is not so much due to increased sales as it is directly related to the fact installers cannot work for some of the rates being offered by some companies. Some companies offer very fair rates to the retailer as well as the technician, these companies are the one’s without the backlog of work because it is the first work the tech takes, given a choice. As you will see in the articles that will follow, the blame for industry problems does not fall completely at the feet of corporate America, there is blame enough to go around and we are not surprised to see retailers and technicians take their part of the blame as well.
Tomorrow we will explore exactly what the surveyed retailers offer for sale in their storefronts. We will also take a look at the number of retailers and technicians that accept outside fulfillment installation work and the rates they are getting for that work. Stop by tomorrow and see how your company ranks against the average company across the nation.
It's About Time Someone Asked
Member #: 43928
Registered: 1/26/2006
Posted:
476
Name:
yo
Company:
Me and my tools
Occupation:
Technician
Location:
here and there
Personal:
Experience:
~24 years
There is 1 reply to this message
