Cheap Camera Systems And Their Installers Are Doing A Disservice To The Community If you are looking for a great deal on a camera system this holiday season, make sure you aren’t compromising value in the name of savings. Last Week, A Client Walk-through In Brooklyn “I want something cheap, and I need it by next week.” Last week I had the pleasure of doing a site survey for a potential client in Bay Ridge. It was a sizable job – over 30 cameras, and the client called us because of our online reviews. So I thought he understood the value of quality. After doing a thorough walk-through, I finally got around to asking the client about his expectations for the system, what were his areas of concern, what did he want to see, etc. He said “I want something cheap, and I need it by next week.” Fast and cheap “cameras don’t work anyway, I just need them to scare off would-be criminals.” I asked about the cash registers, the storage areas, the store safe,“fast and cheap, and make sure the roof is covered, the previous owner had a break-in through the roof.” I started explaining about resolution, lines of sight, back-light compensation, Wide Dynamic Range. He interrupted and said “cameras don’t work anyway, I just need them to scare off would-be criminals.” How could he…. quality video evidence is the difference between “police are searching for a person of interest,” and a “conviction?” I was aghast. How could he say that? Our cameras were responsible for three arrests just this year alone. One of them a murder. Doesn’t he know that quality video evidence is the difference between “police are searching for a person of interest,” and a “conviction?” His response floored me, “I had a professional install a twelve camera system in my last store, only four of them work, and it’s only been two years.” He continued with, “A few months ago a man was killed on this block. In broad daylight. Everybody here has cameras. They never caught the guy.” “I want something cheap and I need it by the end of the week.” It finally dawned on me… I am not talking about Bugatti, I am talking about Toyota. He had never seen a quality camera system. Not the stuff in casinos, but the stuff in a 4 star hotel or a convention center. I am not talking about Bugatti, I am talking about Toyota. I exited that store and walked down the block looking at the cameras on neighboring store fronts. There wasn’t a single camera there that wasn’t a part of a $300 or less kit. The whole kit, 4 cameras and a recorder sold for less than two decent cameras. No wonder he didn’t know any better. The equipment in his original store sells for $30 per camera and $500 for the recorder. There is a difference. Believe me. A huge difference!