By: Adam Tuiaana
I'm constantly bombarded by property owners who have been mislead by DISH and DirecTV retailers who communicate the wrong message when it comes to installing a shared-satellite-dish solution for their building(s). Many retailers who sell and install independent satellite dishes on balconies have one goal mind, get the dish installed (in whatever way will be easiest for them), get the satellite receiver (set top box) activated, and get the heck out of dodge before something breaks down (or the property owner sees you).
If someone calls in with a service problem, delay and dance around it until they get tired of calling in. Of course, not all retailers fit this description, but most are not qualified to install and serve and apartment community. Yep, I said it!
Is a shared-satellite-dish solution the answer to your problem? It really depends on what your problem is to begin with. Is your goal to get dishes down? Is your goal to offer more programming choices and attract more residents? Perhaps you just want to stop denying those residents who continue to ask you why they can't put their own satellite dish up. Whatever your problem, the solution is not as simple as putting a couple dishes up and hoping for the best.
In many cases, a shared-satellite-dish solution may cause you more problems than you have now. It all boils down to the following:
1. Has your prospective shared-satellite-dish provider/ installer ever designed and installed a successful shared-dish-system before...or is this their first project? Do you really want to be the guinea pig here?
2. What happens when one of your residents has a service issue at 11pm on a Sunday night?
Do your prospective shared-satellite-dish providers/ installer s have a dedicated call center standing by to address his or her needs?
3. Do they have the capital means to invest in hundreds of $200 to $500 set top boxes in order to accommodate the demand of your property?
4. Do they have the ability to send out a bill for service? Do they perform the actual billing and customer service functions (such as activations, deactivations and programming changes) or is the customer going to receive one bill from DISH Network / DirecTV and some other "access fee" charge from them?
5. Do they have the ability to bundle Internet service with satellite TV service? Cable companies can. You can't expect to transition your residents to a new service provider that offers less than what's currently available.
Shared-satellite-dish solutions do offer some huge benefits, but those benefits will never outweigh the risk of losing residents due to poor customer service from an under-qualified provider.
Do your due-diligence before proceeding.
