The Guardian Meeting

Whoops. Just realized I never finished and posted this entry. Better late than never! What's frustrating is going back now and realizing that there is pretty much no pricing listed in their materials, just price ranges such as $95.00 - $3,995.00 for an"ON-Q Structured Wiring Center". How that's helpful to anyone, I have no idea. I realize after re-visiting this post, that a call/email to Guardian to get an itemized list of our purchases with pricing is in order.


Oh Howard. He tried to be a good salesman, I give him credit for that. He was definitely less slimy than I expected. As a former policeman/ pastor, I would hope that would be the case. The meeting took much longer than expected, mostly because he was "required" to walk us through the packet, focusing on the security offerings in detail, even when I said upfront that we weren't interested in a security system. I can see why many would be swayed to choose them.

Based on the horrifying online reviews of the shady sales tactics of Guardian, I decided no-go on the security system. I want one, and we'll get one, just not with them.

For your reference - pricing from the Guardian meeting packet: Base security package - "free" with $250 installation fee. Then there about 10 other add-on options including:

• Upgraded keypad
• Keyfob remote
• Wireless panic pendant for medical emergencies
• Local sensor contacts (door/window, etc.)
• Window contact switch
• Overhead garage door switch
• Glass breakage detector
• Smoke communicator
• Heat communicator
• Additional motion detectors
• Cell phone system access, etc. etc. etc.

These extra add-ons were offered free or at a decent price in various combos/packages; but we were't going to bite.

I'm unclear on the detail and pricing for other technical offerings including "ON-Q Structured Wiring Center", Home networking packages, intercom and camera systems, LyriQ whole house music from OnQ Legrand, surround sound pre-wiring, speakers, home theater packages, etc. etc.  While a built-in vacuum system sounds lovely, I can purchase a new Dyson for each floor and still have money left over for a cleaning lady for the $3-$6k quoted for that system.

We decided against mounting the TV over the fireplace, as I want a place to decorate, and didn't want to be limited by height/ TV interference. So, we had them add an internet jack and outlet on the inside wall where our TV will be placed. Then hubs decided he didn't want to have a big console full of components under the TV, so he elected to pay the $X charge to have the wiring for the components moved to the mud-room closet. I'm not 100% sold on the idea, but there you have it. You can't interfere with a man and his football-obsession.

2 phone jacks and 2 cable jacks come "free" from Guardian. Howard did offer to mix and match those up with packages to find us the best price to get all the wiring we wanted. I give him credit for that flexibility.

Ended up with (this is from fuzzy memory - none of this is documented in our paperwork):

1. A combo package of 4(?) 6(?) extra cable jacks - for each bedroom + loft + family room + basement + study. We were required to keep 1 phone jack from the free set, but the other was converted to a cable jack.
Price = $500-ish?

2. Behind-wall wiring for our family room TV components to the mudroom closet.
Price = $1,500-ish???

3. 2 extra outlets. I'm guessing one of these is designated for the mudroom closet components. The other one goes on the wall for the TV in the family room.
Price = $300-ish?

Total Guardian bill - $2,210

Tips: Review the packet in advance to save time in the meeting. Document your questions (likely many - the packet is VERY vague). If you aren't "techie", ask advice from a friend/family member/ co-worker that is. Hubs is pretty good at the techie stuff, consulted with a couple of really techie friends after the appointment and still was unclear on choices. I understand the benefits of wiring everything behind the walls now, truly. However, it's really hard to distinguish necessary versus silly fluff you can do yourself better/cheaper without Guardian.

Edits added 4/26 after SR pulled Guardian records from our file for us. Really doesn't help clarify much, huh? No locations for any of this are noted. Not sure what some of this is....remote, for instance? Grrr.

1 Basic Home Wiring Package - Standard Features (Telephone, Cable, Data) ($0)
4 Single Wall Plate Outlet - white ($0)
4 Cable ($95)
1 Basic Enclosure 20 ($0)

1 Smart Connections PREMIUM Package with router/switch ($1,140)
3 Included cable outlet
2 Included data outlet
1 - 4 Port Multi-Media outlet (1 cable, 2 data, 1 phone)

1 Single wall plate outlet - cable - white ($95)

1 High Speed Digital Flat Panel Prewire ($0)
1 Remote (High speed HDMI) ($665)
1 IR Repeater ($310)

110V outlet (x2) - ($250)