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5.0

Client experience and many other ones here has nothing to do with the Control4 hardware. Nowadays, the gear is bulletproof. The user experience has to do with many factors which I will list a few of them bellow:

1. Overal project budget. This is usually a big factor. Case and point: Dealer presents the owner with an estimate, Owner chops the price down and tells the dealer that they will also supply some of the parts. Dealer agrees because he is desperate to work. As a result, overall user experience diminishes greatly and service to the system becomes almost non existent.

2. Owner supplied gear.

3. Dealer experience and know how.

Please choose your dealers after carefully studying their competence and know how, don't margin too much and for sure don't supply your own gear.

I am a turn key CI contractor operating out of Toronto/Canada and I will not be involved in a project unless I design, supply and implement everything. By that I mean everything from complete electrical work, automation, security, vacuum and even as far as building the addition or the complete house.

Best,

Shane

Reason of review: Wrong reviews toward a really good brand.

Location: Toronto, Ontario

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Guest

Sorry Shane but C4 needs to stand by its equipment and the dealer/installers it recommends. In 2012 we had Best Buy, Magnolia Div., sell and install our simply C4 system.

The only cornervutting we did was to defer adding additional lights and tying in our alarm system. In 2015 C4 no longer issued updates for the C4 HC-300. A little like planned obsolesence. We finally got a local C4 authorized service company who cleaned up some C4 issues we suffered with for 4 years.

Our original system was sold and designed for whole house automation to include home security, lighting, home entertainment, comfort, etc. This past month after both I and the new C4 Dealer contacted C4 and were told that while they recommend that we replace both of our HC-300s (to get more options and current software updates), we could add our security system, more lights and update our Comcast box. After the new installer completed C4 recommended procedures, installed C4 recommended light switches and used C4 recommended interface equipment to integrate the existing alarm system and After 24 man hours and the HC-300s refusing to load the changes, C4 tells our installer that we NEED to buy 2 new director/controllers for the system to work as intended. The reason - C4 no longer manufacturers switches and interfaces for the HC-300s.

When we bought and installed the original system, and what I was told in 2016 by C4, was that we could do add-ins as long as they were not outside the confines of the original systems specifications. So I now have light switches and an alarm system that cannot remotely access ( can't even access them through C4 AT ALL) and I need to use both the Comcast AND C4 remote to use my TVs. But supposedly it can all be fixed for an ADDITIONAL $1500.

And I did my homework on the installer. He also did his homework and had C4 tell him that everything was doable.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1223599

I have to agree with Shane. Control4 isn't a toaster or a DVD player.

It is a complex system of inter-working parts.

And choosing a big box like Best Buy to install something like that was an unfortunate mistake. They are not remotely trained in the intricacies of a complex system like that.

Guest

That's just self-serving BS. If the dealer leaves something undone, won't respond and/or wants to charge you $500 before they even know if it's a $5 fix, then it's still Control 4's fault FOR HAVING THEM REPRESENT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Guest

The assertion that the hardware is bulletproof is nonsensical and laughable. Bang for the buck, control4 has a very low return.

The practice of forcing all support towards dealers only serves the control4 business model (control4 and the dealers) and rarely not serves the customers. If the technology requires to have a custom install, not plug and play, the system WILL be riddled with problems and a constant suck on the wallet.

Guest

I had the best installer in the area install mine, upgraded to the best as soon as the newer equipment was available and it's still a nightmare. Tv turns on, no sound, tv turns on and but doesn't and there's only sound.

Tv doesn't turn on. The WD that's Hooked up to it never turns on. Everytime theirs a problem I have to contact the installer - dealer.

That's a charge every time. As soon as I figure out how to get a replacement product the Control 4 is in the trash.

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