Bend home service expert says beware of outsiders offering television products. Local business owner and home service expert, Michael Marshall, has seen this happen time and time again. “Opportunities like this do not come around too often, but when they do the vultures will fly in. You can count on it,” says Marshall.
DirecTV looks to launch High Definition Locals in Deschutes County on December 12.
Local business owner and home service expert, Michael Marshall, has seen this happen time and time again. “Opportunities like this do not come around too often, but when they do the vultures will fly in. You can count on it,” says Marshall.
When DirecTV launches High Definition Locals in Deschutes County an estimated 250 representatives from all across the U.S. will be heading to Central Oregon to get their piece of the pie.
Many of these representatives will knock on your door or send you a flyer and they will most likely present themselves as a local retailer. This is because DirecTV only requires that a company have a minimum of one sub-contracted installer in a market to call themselves a local retailer, as is industry standard explains Marshall who owns The Signal Spot in Bend.
So, what is wrong with signing up through these nice sales representatives? According to Marshall doing so supports a company outside of our local economy, but more importantly it more often than not leaves a customer with a very poor experience. Out of market representatives have no brand to protect and no local image to uphold.
“They are simply here to sell you DirecTV, make their money and disappear,” offers Marshall. “The customer is left with absolutely no local support and typically a poor install, a representative that will never again answer their call and a list of broken promises. Sound familiar?”
It is important that consumers know where to turn at times like these. Several local businesses exist to give customers the desired experience when switching services. Businesses that do have a local image to protect and businesses that are here to take care of their customers, perform their own installs and drive our local economy.
Marshall’s company, The Signal Spot, specializes in free service consulting and offers all major providers in Central Oregon, including DirecTV, Dish and BendBroadband. When approached by a representative make sure they also offer a variety of services, as all local retailers do.
“This allows us to fit the customer to the service that best fits their needs rather than hard selling a service that may not be the right fit because it’s the only service we offer,” says Marshall. “Out of area representatives will typically only offer DirecTV.” Marshall also stresses the importance of making sure your representative has a local retail location, somewhere to walk in for help and call when you need assistance.
“Am I saying you shouldn’t sign up for DirecTV when they launch locals? Absolutely not!” says Marshall. “DirecTV is an excellent product for the right customer, as is Dish and BendBroadband. Just make sure you go somewhere that can provide you with the best possible experience.”
So, as these exciting times come for residents of Central Oregon, make sure you are prepared. Make sure you are working with a local representative who knows the ins and outs of our local market. Make sure they have a local retail store and a local phone number. And make sure you enjoy the next two years of your television experience, because once you’re locked in with the wrong retailer, help is hard to find.
The Signal Spot is located at 335 NE Greenwood Ave next to All Occasion Flowers and across from the ARCO AM/PM in Bend. They can also be reached at 541-639-4840. You can also reach out to other knowledgeable local retailers such as Link Point, Juniper Satellite and Para-Tech Satellite.
Contact:
Michael Marshall – The Signal Spot
mike@thesignalspot.com
335 NE Greenwood Ave
Bend, OR 97701
(541) 639-4841
