Camera Basics
Where do you place the cameras? What kind and how many cameras will be needed? What lens should be used? These are the questions we will try to answer for you in this month’s flyer. Before you can answer your customer’s questions about any camera equipment, you must find out a few facts. The equipment will almost sell itself once you receive accurate answers to just five questions from your customer. You must learn: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and WHY these cameras are being installed. Remember it is important to write out the questions and the answers for future use:
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1) WHO are the cameras observing?
Ask about the person(s) that the customer will be watching. Is your customer concerned about the general public, an internal problem or both? Is he having present concerns or trying to protect himself from a problem that might happen in the future?
2) WHAT does your customer want to observe?
Ask about the areas of the store, property, parking lot, warehouse or the cash register that are most important for his observation.
3) WHERE are the cameras expected to work?
Bright light or low light conditions (Inside or outside, “check for sun glares” in the morning or evening)
4) WHEN does the customer want to be able to see the camera’s images?
Ask about a monitor and a recorder of some kind.
5) WHY does your customer want to observe these areas?
Again, find out the exact reason and what observation might be expected in this area that would cause your customer to want a camera installed. This would also help your recommendation on a recorder. |
The basic answers to the questions: who, what, when, where, and why the customer wants cameras must be completely understood by YOU. You must carefully listen and not take a generalization for an answer. “I want the camera to look around,” is not good enough. If you use a camera with a wide-angle lens you will see a large area, but you will not be able to see the face very well. Does your customer want to watch the whole area or one or two individuals? Again you must find the exact reason for the cameras. |
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Give your customers at least two choices of cameras and two different quotes. Remember black and white cost less than color, but with black and white, you do not see the color of the shirt, pants or hat on the monitor. If there is a robbery, the victim may not be able to think clearly enough to give an accurate description of the suspect(s). Color is very important if you have a camera outside in the parking lot; you will know the vehicle color leaving your customer’s parking lot. When giving quotes to your customers on different cameras, ask your customer exactly what they want to see if something happened.
We have all seen the TV programs with the video of the robbery. What is the one thing they all have in common? They show a wide area where the people represent only 5% or 10% of the screen. This is fine to see what happened, but difficult to see who did it. This is why you need a close up camera mounted at eye level at the door looking in. This will give you a good close up of their face when they leave the store. If they have a mask on, they usually take if off as soon as they leave the store to look for the police or anyone who might be outside of the store.
Most customers try to get the most for the least amount of money. This is normal, but when it comes to security, you need to be careful. What they ask for may not always be what they need. It is your job to explain different choices to your customer in the simplest terms possible.
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