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QuickCarl2K1
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Posted: December 14 2018 at 07:08 | IP Logged Quote QuickCarl2K1

So I get an email today from SmartHome that they are having a BOGO sale on plugin modules - dimmers and
on/off plugins.

These are the new version: smaller, square, etc. So I'm interested.

In particular I'm interested because after spending THOUSANDS of dollars on Insteon equipment and
having, literally a huge box full of dead switches, and living in a with malfunctioning wall switches
for years, my wife would divorce me if I installed one more switch. BUT, she's OK with a plugin module.

So I click the link to see what the price of the 2 dimmer units are going to set me back. To my
surprise, the Buy One Get One sale price for the two dimmer modules (or on/off) was $99.98!!!!



These people are trying to tell us that dimmer modules regularly sell for $99.99. HOLY COW! They've
lost their dang minds. I've NEVER seen a plugin module of any kind that was priced at even $49.99, much
less $99.98.

</rant>

Come on PowerHome, bring on the Zwave!
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TonyNo
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Posted: December 14 2018 at 08:16 | IP Logged Quote TonyNo

They mean two would normally be $99. ;)
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QuickCarl2K1
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Posted: December 14 2018 at 09:08 | IP Logged Quote QuickCarl2K1

No, it specifically says that 2 would normally be twice that. The total price for 2 is $99.98...


The price for the 2 was $99.98. It has since been changed to 2 for $49.99. Which still doesn't
seem a little high. I'm thinking they should be priced at each $39.99 regularly.
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dhoward
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Posted: December 15 2018 at 15:34 | IP Logged Quote dhoward

Unfortunately, it seems as though the prices on Insteon have been increasing steadily. I remember buying KeypadLinc's in the $50.00 range but now they're
$80.00.


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TonyNo
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Posted: December 15 2018 at 16:16 | IP Logged Quote TonyNo

QuickCarl2K1 wrote:
No, it specifically says that 2 would normally be twice that. The total price for 2 is $99.98...


The price for the 2 was $99.98. It has since been changed to 2 for $49.99. Which still doesn't
seem a little high. I'm thinking they should be priced at each $39.99 regularly.

I think only the ill-fated Icon line was under $49.
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BeachBum
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Posted: December 16 2018 at 01:47 | IP Logged Quote BeachBum

Smarthome has a terrible quality control problem. If you
take their junk apart you will find contaminated flux and
cracked solder joints and overheated components. It
appears they don't even know how to flow solder. I have
come close with the 2245-222 Insteon hub to re-flow but I
afraid some of the modules might be damaged. I've been
able to repair system boards from Acer but that is a
little different. I have also successfully re-flowed
older Iphones.

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Timmcd1
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Posted: January 04 2019 at 00:44 | IP Logged Quote Timmcd1

Although my experience with Insteon device's longevity
hasn't been exceptional, since I have installed a whole-
house surge suppressor at my service panel things have
improved vastly. I believe that the small MOVs in the
modules are frequently the point of failure. With the
master surge suppressor absorbing the majority of spikes,
the local MOVs last much longer. I am not an electrical
engineer, but this seems to make sense to me.

BTW, I took advantage of SmartHomes's BOGO sale and did
indeed end up getting 2477D's for ~$25. ea.

Edited by Timmcd1 - January 04 2019 at 00:58
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jeffw_00
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Posted: February 05 2019 at 13:56 | IP Logged Quote jeffw_00

having worked in consumer electronics myself I would mention that the markup BOM -> retail can be 4-5x. So these $50 modules may have to have a BOM < $10, and a manufacturing cost of <$20. And the volumes probably aren't very high (compared to, say game controllers or smartphones). Also - SH is selling primarily to the commercial market where the sensitivity to price is lower for small quantities (and I'm sure they strike volume deals with builders for large quantities). Still - It's not their fault - they made a big push to crate a volume consumer market years ago (remember Icon modules?) but it didn't take - not sure if it was too complicated or too early. Today a lot of people I work/socialize with now talk about home automation, and there's even an "appliance module" that talks to Alexa, but I say "Insteon" to anyone and still get a blank stare :-(
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Timmcd1
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Posted: February 06 2019 at 00:03 | IP Logged Quote Timmcd1

I'm afraid I get the same blank stare with
regard to Insteon and it's unfortunate as,
IMHO,it is the best home automation
protocol out there, what with its dual
band implementation. I happen to pair
Insteon with Universal Devices ISY994i
device for an incomparable protocol-
spanning solution.
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MaxwellRow
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Posted: February 08 2019 at 09:08 | IP Logged Quote MaxwellRow

I've seen this happen numerous time. Companies or
vendors pump up the prices so they can display bigger
discounts. Such a scummy tactic.
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