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Subject: MasterGuard Author: No name [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 04/25/04 8:48am I'd like to share something with others that I have shared with those in the North Texas Group. I'm also placing it here because the information put here will be searchable on the WWW but stuff in the club is private and will not be searchable. I want to put the word out so consumers can make an informed decision. [Please consider visiting and joining the North Texas Group using the links above] Information... My wife was all excited the other day because she "won" a "free" dinner at Macaroni Grill for filling out a card. I didn't want to go because I smelled a scam and had the perfect excuse for getting out of it. She ended up bringing 2 girl-friends. That night, she told me how good the whole thing was. She told me how much she learned about Fire Safety. Then the bombshell... Her and the other girls she went with signed up for the in-home Fire Safety Check (hi-pressure sales pitch). Did I have to be there? Yep! Well, after 2 hours of listening about Fire Detectors and how I needed MasterGuard if I really cared about my family, I was finally able to say "no". If MasterGuard REALLY cared so much about the public, why would they charge such a ridiculous amount for their detectors ($335 ea.)? Are they made of gold? Part of the pitch was how MasterGuard is so much more concerned about our saftey than First Alert or other Fire Safety companies because they go out and educate everyone about the dangers of not having the correct Fire Detectors and equipment. They chose that marketing/distribution plan and I'm sure the higher-ups are making a killing because of it. It wasn't a totally loss. I did learn a lot about Fire Safety and the truth is... 1) A fire can happen to me or you even while we sleep 2) People do die even if they have fire detectors in the home 3) People don't always die in fires (some live to suffer terribly) It's worth checking out. BTW, The initial price quote after the salesman determined we needed 3 heat detectors, 4 smoke detectors, 1 carbon monoxide detector, and 1 fire extinguisher was $2,981. I could have saved $335 if I bought it the day of the sales pitch and I could have saved a little more if I were to not get all of the detectors recommended. 5 heat/smoke detectors (MasterGuards bread & butter) 1 carbon monoxide detector 1 extinguisher Total = $2,311 PLEASE READ ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have these types of detectors, please don't take this as me saying thay you got suckered. They seem to be high quality detectors and you have to pay for what you get. And, you can argue that your family's safety is important enough to make the investment. Before you buy, here are some other items: 1) The MasterGuard salesman led me to believe that their company is the only company that makes these types of detectors. This isn't true. Triad Safety Systems, Inc. makes the same quality products. They are manufactured by the same people in MI from what I understand. Take a look at http://www.triadsafetyinc.com/ I found "Responsive" detectors (manufactured for Triad) on eBay for $70 ea. "Responsive" is Masterguard's competition in the high-priced detector market. 2) CPSC and Interstate Engineering Recall Heat Detectors WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Interstate Engineering, of Dallas, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 40,000 heat detectors. These heat detectors can fail to alarm or alarm for a shorter period of time than intended when fire is present. Interstate Engineering and CPSC are aware of one incident when a heat detector failed to operate properly during a retail demonstration. Subsequent testing by Interstate Engineering produced approximately 38 additional failures. CPSC is not aware of any failures during use by consumers, and no injuries have been reported. The heat detectors are round, have an off-white aluminum cover, are roughly 7 inches in diameter and 3 inches high, and have a round, brass-colored metal disk at the center of the cover. They are mechanical, and do not use batteries or electricity. The heat detectors were sold under the following private label brand names and models, which were printed on labels on the back of the detectors: MasterGuard model MG-50/70; Responsive model TRI70; Rescue II model R-50FT. Heat detectors are intended to supplement smoke detectors to warn of fire, but CPSC reminds consumers they should not rely on heat detectors as substitutes for smoke detectors. (4/20/99) 3) A news article that was in the Google cache... MasterGuard Scam? BILLINGS, Oct. 30 - MasterGuard of Montana sells fire safety equipment to homeowners in the Billings area, but not in stores. If you listen to a brief presentation on fire safety the company will take you to dinner. But some homeowners say they're just getting taken. People KULR talked to who went to the dinner say the company uses scare tactics to get you to buy expensive and unnecessary fire safety equipment and most people at those meetings happen to be senior citizens. MasterGuard says its Billings representative is an independent contractor. He told us that kids and older people are the highest target for fires. He says the fire department reaches the schools and his firm reaches the elderly. One elderly couple, who wants to remain anonymous, bought 12 units from MasterGuard, mainly smoke and heat detectors. Their bill totaled nearly $2,500. A MasterGuard representative told KULR-8, "You get what you pay for, and if you want a Cadillac you have to pay for a Cadillac." Billings deputy fire marshal Ralph Freeman says you don't have to pay a couple hundred dollars for a good smoke alarm. He says a smoke detector that is UL listed is perfectly safe for your home. Most U-L listed smoke detectors cost between $5 and $15 dollars. You can return the items from MasterGuard for a full refund if you do so within three days. But don't bother going down to the office. MasterGaurd lists its address as 928 Broadwater, Suite 101. When KULR-8 tried to find their office, we found suite 101, but it wasn't MasterGuard. We found a tanning salon. And KULR-8 wasn't the only place to receive the complaints, the Billings Fire Department has too. We asked if MasterGuard uses scare tactics to intimidate elderly people. Representative Adam Schaser said the video clip may frighten some people, but he says fire is a very serious subject. KULR contacted MasterGuard's headquarters in Texas. The company declined an interview over the phone. 4) Something I found in newsgroups regarding Masterguard http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&frame=right&th=8556480b8e69df92&seekm=2319c424.0204022319.d9beca0%40posting.google.com#link1 [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 05/13/04 1:51pm Thank you so much for making this information available to people outside your group. My parents and I just attended one of the dinners last night. We went thinking we'd just enjoy a free dinner and learn about fire safety and not buy anything, but ended up being impressed and thinking about having MasterGuard come to our home. I wasn't so impressed that I didn't have questions--like why no information on prices, for one. Obviously, if they could afford to feed us all a nice dinner at Famous Daves--not a cheap place--they were making a LOT of money on these devices. My questions grew into active suspicion when I started looking online this afternoon. When I tried to access the MasterGuard website I got one of those holding pages saying something about a site being under construction and offering links to various unrelated sites. No amount of googling could bring up anything about pricing, or anything besides one-sentence summaries and links to the MasterGuard site--until I found a link to your message. It answered my questions, and the newsgroup that it directed me to finished the job. I hope that others will find your warning. Thank you again. JT, Salt Lake City

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 03/31/06 11:56am I attended a dinner to hear the Masterguard presentation and I was very skeptical at first. Then the speaker introduced himself and stated that he had products for sale but that I couldn’t buy any of them during the dinner. That really impressed me. I don’t recall ever hearing any kind of a sales presentation where you couldn’t buy anything. The information was extremely informative about fire safety and I will recommend to everyone that I know that they should attend this dinner. Even if they don’t buy anything it is worth seeing. The speaker then offered anyone who wanted a free quote on how many alarms they would need and how much they would cost. The salesman came out and I was surprised that he was not pushy at all. In fact he let me pick which rooms to put alarms in. I purchased about 75% of what he showed me the NFPA recommended. The installer came over and wired the alarms in and we had one of the strobe light alarms installed into our kids room, for they are very deep sleepers. We had metal heat detectors installed in the attic and garage and a carbon monoxide detector to protect us from gas leaks. After reading all these threads I was concerned and so I had a different company come over and give me a counter-bid. Their price was about 20% less but the warrantee was only 3 years and when the alarms got dirty the only way to clean them was to try and vacuum them. With the Masterguard ones I can wash them under water and their warrantee is 25 years. I was able to find other alarms on Ebay for cheaper, but i figured i spent more than that on my hot tub, so im happy with my decision. Portland, OR

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 05/15/08 4:15pm Would you of rather gone to Taco Bell?? Take it for what it is and not on some yahoo's opinions. If you learned something you did not waste your time and you should be grateful for a NICE meal and hopfully some knowledge to protect yourself and your family. >Thank you so much for making this information >available to people outside your group. My parents >and I just attended one of the dinners last night. We >went thinking we'd just enjoy a free dinner and learn >about fire safety and not buy anything, but ended up >being impressed and thinking about having MasterGuard >come to our home. I wasn't so impressed that I didn't >have questions--like why no information on prices, for >one. Obviously, if they could afford to feed us all a >nice dinner at Famous Daves--not a cheap place--they >were making a LOT of money on these devices. > >My questions grew into active suspicion when I started >looking online this afternoon. When I tried to access >the MasterGuard website I got one of those holding >pages saying something about a site being under >construction and offering links to various unrelated >sites. No amount of googling could bring up anything >about pricing, or anything besides one-sentence >summaries and links to the MasterGuard site--until I >found a link to your message. It answered my >questions, and the newsgroup that it directed me to >finished the job. I hope that others will find your >warning. Thank you again. > >JT, Salt Lake City

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 05/13/04 1:55pm Thank you so much for making this information available to people outside your group. My parents and I just attended one of the dinners last night. We went thinking we'd just enjoy a free dinner and learn about fire safety and not buy anything, but ended up being impressed and thinking about having MasterGuard come to our home. I wasn't so impressed that I didn't have questions--like why no information on prices, for one. Obviously, if they could afford to feed us all a nice dinner at Famous Daves--not a cheap place--they were making a LOT of money on these devices. My questions grew into active suspicion when I started looking online this afternoon. When I tried to access the MasterGuard website I got one of those holding pages saying something about a site being under construction and offering links to various unrelated sites. No amount of googling could bring up anything about pricing, or anything besides one-sentence summaries and links to the MasterGuard site--until I found a link to your message. It answered my questions, and the newsgroup that it directed me to finished the job. I hope that others will find your warning. Thank you again. JT, Salt Lake City

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: trent [Edit] Date Posted: 11/30/06 2:21pm >Thank you so much for making this information >available to people outside your group. My parents >and I just attended one of the dinners last night. We >went thinking we'd just enjoy a free dinner and learn >about fire safety and not buy anything, but ended up >being impressed and thinking about having MasterGuard >come to our home. I wasn't so impressed that I didn't >have questions--like why no information on prices, for >one. Obviously, if they could afford to feed us all a >nice dinner at Famous Daves--not a cheap place--they >were making a LOT of money on these devices. > >My questions grew into active suspicion when I started >looking online this afternoon. When I tried to access >the MasterGuard website I got one of those holding >pages saying something about a site being under >construction and offering links to various unrelated >sites. No amount of googling could bring up anything >about pricing, or anything besides one-sentence >summaries and links to the MasterGuard site--until I >found a link to your message. It answered my >questions, and the newsgroup that it directed me to >finished the job. I hope that others will find your >warning. Thank you again. > >JT, Salt Lake City well there must have been something wrong with the page cause i just pulled it up in 10 sec. www.masterguard.com or maybe baised on you argument you can't use your browser either

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 11/ 8/04 10:29pm >If you lost a loved one and had a chance before to buy a alarm for $335 each and did not buy. you would sit there saying to your self " I wish I could get back time so I could buy Masterguard and my loved one would be here today with me. Thats priceless and you know it money is nothing compared to a life..................

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 12/15/07 11:43am >>If you lost a loved one and had a chance before to >buy a alarm for $335 each and did not buy. you would >sit there saying to your self " I wish I could get >back time so I could buy Masterguard and my loved one >would be here today with me. Thats priceless and you >know it money is nothing compared to a >life.................. Wow... I really Agree Totally

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Phil [Edit] Date Posted: 01/17/05 12:54am After hearing about the free dinner from my parents I told them specificly not to buy anything. I've been through plenty of trainint classes and talked to many salesman from MLM to vaccum sales. The fear-prevention tactic is nothing new but still very effective. What business would sell something to people by producing fear and having them stay awake in fear for nights while they beg for others to get the product? What company doesn't put up front pricing and easy availability in stores? In anywhere in America you'll find customers walking in and out of retail stores purchasing items and happy with what they chose. Never will you see a person buy a product from a salesman and have them feel good about the purchase and feel informed, not afraid or led into something. If you care about your family, you will save yourself the money of buying a product which contains the very same thing many other companies produce and sell for 1/10th the price. $2000-3000 is not caring about loved ones, it's stress over the ammount and in the case of my parents it's compromising their ability to see my grandma in her bad health before she dies. Masterguard may be backed by the BBB, but they are a very heartless company which cares about money more than family. This shows through all the smoke they blow when they lay down the price onto worried families. Both me and my father are going to return the masterguard detectors and buy Firex detectors that are both hard wired, interconnected and have battery back-ups with the same capabilities as Masterguard fire detectors, all for thousands less than what they sold to my parents. "Ignorance gets you nowhere; think before you do!"

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 05/28/05 3:31pm firex, Ionization or optical? masterguards are optical with heat.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: firefighter101 [Edit] Date Posted: 01/13/06 9:35am >After hearing about the free dinner from my parents I >told them specificly not to buy anything. I've been >through plenty of trainint classes and talked to many >salesman from MLM to vaccum sales. The fear-prevention >tactic is nothing new but still very effective. > >What business would sell something to people by >producing fear and having them stay awake in fear for >nights while they beg for others to get the product? >What company doesn't put up front pricing and easy >availability in stores? > >In anywhere in America you'll find customers walking >in and out of retail stores purchasing items and happy >with what they chose. Never will you see a person buy >a product from a salesman and have them feel good >about the purchase and feel informed, not afraid or >led into something. > >If you care about your family, you will save yourself >the money of buying a product which contains the very >same thing many other companies produce and sell for >1/10th the price. $2000-3000 is not caring about loved >ones, it's stress over the ammount and in the case of >my parents it's compromising their ability to see my >grandma in her bad health before she dies. > >Masterguard may be backed by the BBB, but they are a >very heartless company which cares about money more >than family. This shows through all the smoke they >blow when they lay down the price onto worried >families. > >Both me and my father are going to return the >masterguard detectors and buy Firex detectors that are >both hard wired, interconnected and have battery >back-ups with the same capabilities as Masterguard >fire detectors, all for thousands less than what they >sold to my parents. > >"Ignorance gets you nowhere; think before you do!" I pray that you never have a fire because if you do you might wake up dead. Wired in detectors are just as cheap as the battery opperated ones that you can get for $5

[> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: More info i found on MASTERGUARD [Edit] Date Posted: 01/25/08 6:46pm Did you know that Masterguard SPONSORS the Regional fire schools, symposiums, Extrication competitions, Shriners burn hospitals as well as GIVING A SCHOLARSHIP A MONTH away to the families of FALLEN HEROS. NOW.... read the owners manual of your new firex, sentry, kiddie, first alert or any other ionization detector... what does it say about the company, the warranty, where can it NOT be installed.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Ron [Edit] Date Posted: 12/13/07 2:46pm >After hearing about the free dinner from my parents I >told them specificly not to buy anything. I've been >through plenty of trainint classes and talked to many >salesman from MLM to vaccum sales. The fear-prevention >tactic is nothing new but still very effective. > >What business would sell something to people by >producing fear and having them stay awake in fear for >nights while they beg for others to get the product? >What company doesn't put up front pricing and easy >availability in stores? > >In anywhere in America you'll find customers walking >in and out of retail stores purchasing items and happy >with what they chose. Never will you see a person buy >a product from a salesman and have them feel good >about the purchase and feel informed, not afraid or >led into something. > >If you care about your family, you will save yourself >the money of buying a product which contains the very >same thing many other companies produce and sell for >1/10th the price. $2000-3000 is not caring about loved >ones, it's stress over the ammount and in the case of >my parents it's compromising their ability to see my >grandma in her bad health before she dies. > >Masterguard may be backed by the BBB, but they are a >very heartless company which cares about money more >than family. This shows through all the smoke they >blow when they lay down the price onto worried >families. > >Both me and my father are going to return the >masterguard detectors and buy Firex detectors that are >both hard wired, interconnected and have battery >back-ups with the same capabilities as Masterguard >fire detectors, all for thousands less than what they >sold to my parents. > >"Ignorance gets you nowhere; think before you do!" I have noticed that everyone of the complaint messages in this forum is by some one that has not attended a presentation on fire safety. The (documented) fact is that in the past 36 years that MasterGuard has been in business no one has died or been seriousley burned because of the failure of their alarms. The price, well "cheap isn't quality and quality isn't cheap." The 3000 or 4000 quote is just that a quote, most homeowners spend far less on the alarm system they install in their respective homes. Even by installing less alarms that recommended, these homeowners have a far better chance of getting out of a home fire than anyone using cheap products that are manufactured for (in some cases less than $1 each)very little. Lets face it, even at 3000 or 4000 dollars (complete system) it is much less than the cost of a FUNERAL.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Lou [Edit] Date Posted: 07/19/05 8:36pm Tonight my husband and two other couples and myself attended a local fire safety meeting presented by MasterGuard. After a nice dinner at a local restaurant we listened to the sales rep explain their product versus what we currently have in our home. In addition to the video (which was informative) the final screen asked if anyone was interested in becoming a tele-marketer for their company. I flag arose. Towards the end of the presentation the sales rep explained how great their product is and why we should have one in our home. He slid into asking us to fill out the card to mark a date and time that would be convenient for an inhouse consultation. Quite interesting enough I asked how much a unit costs. The rep said, I'm sorry I can't tell you. I continued to pry and ask questions. The rep got extremely agitated and said, I can't believe you are questioning the product, etc. I'm tongue tied. Several seniors were sitting in the room and agreed with me. I could tell he was frustrated by my questions. Needless to say, he walked away from our table. Our group of friends left the meeting before the "Door Prizes" and asked not to be called upon again. Watch out! I am glad to hear there are others with my same suspicions.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 12/ 4/05 6:18pm By chance I stumbled upon these articles during a thesis on residential smoke/ fire detection systems in a home. After reading the post I quickly looked into this company, which installs 1000s of alarms every week and found out what a GREAT company it is and what GREAT products they have. After talking to one of their reps I did a quick cost analysis of what I used to have in my home and what I purchased from a sales man from Michigan. I could not believe the MasterGuard alarms were less expensive in the long run and of much better quality. Wow a couple negative posts from silly people compared to the 1000s of alarms installed every week -- By the way, I also protected my daughter and son, because they deserved the best!

[> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Consumer Advocate [Edit] Date Posted: 12/ 5/05 9:48am Yes, I too went to one of the meetings. I believe these detectors are probably the best, but I can't find evidence to prove it! I can find evidence that the very same manufacturer makes another identical model under the Responsive label that can be bought for about $80. Now I don't get a fish dinner with it, but saving $250 per detector is pretty serious. Of course your going say "my family's safety is worth it!" Did it strike you odd that the Masterguard agent quickly mounted all your detectors for you at that moment you said yes when he was in your house? I'll tell you, it was to keep you from getting cold feet! I can buy them online and then I can call my local fire department and tip one of the guys "after hours" $100 for telling me where I should put them. I bet you, he'll grab your drill and screwdriver, and do it for you in less than 20 minutes. They deserve whatever you pay them far more than the Masterguard agent does!!! Now the problem with the whole thing is that the dinner I went to was filled primarily with retired citizens. It's pretty easy to instill fear in our older citizens. Sure, some are very well off financially, but most can't afford to be ripped off! The $250 difference per detector, times how-ever-many are suggested, translates to a huge rip-off!!! Oh, and I'll buy my own Kidde Carbon Monoxide detector and Fire Extinguisher (laid on its side, of course)! Just thank them for the meal! If you bought their deal, you need to be happy with it! Whether it's Masterguard or somebody else, there will always be another scam out there! When anybody asks you to buy "now," always say you're going to wait and then walk to the door. I bet the deal gets better at the door! Unless you're armed with the right information up front, patience and the power of a good proper search on the internet is your best weapon! Also, if you like your friends, don't put their names on anybodys' list!!!

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 7/07 11:16pm >Yes, I too went to one of the meetings. I believe >these detectors are probably the best, but I can't >find evidence to prove it! I can find evidence that >the very same manufacturer makes another identical >model under the Responsive label that can be bought >for about $80. Now I don't get a fish dinner with it, >but saving $250 per detector is pretty serious. > >Of course your going say "my family's safety is worth >it!" Did it strike you odd that the Masterguard agent >quickly mounted all your detectors for you at that >moment you said yes when he was in your house? I'll >tell you, it was to keep you from getting cold feet! > >I can buy them online and then I can call my local >fire department and tip one of the guys "after hours" >$100 for telling me where I should put them. I bet >you, he'll grab your drill and screwdriver, and do it >for you in less than 20 minutes. They deserve >whatever you pay them far more than the Masterguard >agent does!!! > >Now the problem with the whole thing is that the >dinner I went to was filled primarily with retired >citizens. It's pretty easy to instill fear in our >older citizens. Sure, some are very well off >financially, but most can't afford to be ripped off! >The $250 difference per detector, times how-ever-many >are suggested, translates to a huge rip-off!!! Oh, >and I'll buy my own Kidde Carbon Monoxide detector and >Fire Extinguisher (laid on its side, of course)! Just >thank them for the meal! > >If you bought their deal, you need to be happy with >it! Whether it's Masterguard or somebody else, there >will always be another scam out there! When anybody >asks you to buy "now," always say you're going to wait >and then walk to the door. I bet the deal gets better >at the door! Unless you're armed with the right >information up front, patience and the power of a good >proper search on the internet is your best weapon! > >Also, if you like your friends, don't put their names >on anybodys' list!!! Let me put a stop to this ridiculas bickering...First of all, I do not know where you saw the responsive alarm for $80.00 probably on E-bay. I am a responsive dealer in nc and we, just like every other dealer, sell the alarms for $278.00 each. We educate the public, fire departments, schools, and local civic organizations about fire safety(at no charge) We teach them far more than they have ever learned from local fire departments,schools,our federal government, You say you attended the dinner? You learned something in that dinner that could save you or your family's life, and got a free dinner in the process, how much is that worth to you??? If YOU....decided that learning more about a product (that since 1971 has not had a fatality much less a serious injury from a fire where it is installed) then that decision was made on your own. When a fire safety advisor goes into someones home it is because they were invited. If you buy from them it is because you decided to buy. we do not pressure sale anyone, now knowing what this product can do (save your life) I am very frustrated and disappointed when I enter someones home and they honestly cannot afford it. But I have either financed their system myself or given them one or two units out of compassion. But you probably wont see those things mentioned here. We donate money to the shriners burn institute, we donate money to the fallen firemens fund, we donate money to the Firemens education fund. So not only are you buying a quality alarm(that is going to save your life) you are helping to fund continued education about the very back bone of the problem, which is an epidemic in this country, called FIRE. By the way, as mentioned earlier on, this product has a 25 year warranty, a life time fire warranty, and yea a level one, full protection system costs between $1200.00-$3000.00 depending on the layout and size of your home. Now folks, how much do you pay a year for fire insurance?( to protect your furniture and other material things) Well here in NC I pay $600.00 a year/in 25 years that is $15,000.00. So what your telling me is your furniture and other belongings is worth more than your life? I think what we have here is a litttle problem with priorities. Get your priorities straight and then come back here and post something a little more on the mature side.

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Cornville Mom ("just like every other dealer $278 each??) [Edit] Date Posted: 08/21/08 2:09pm Unfortunately that is NOT true!! If it were then why are there so many complaints regarding what people were quoted? We were 'persuaded' by a cousin who is an authorized dealer to get into the MasterGuard business. We put our last savings from the sale of our home into it at a cost of $20,000. We got all the stuff, the alarms, training materials, videos, we even gave dinners to sell them. The agent trained my husband to do this. We were given a price list of how much to sell them for at a cost of $400 each. And yes the dinner is designed as a scare tactic. My husband did not like the fact that he was scaring people into buying these alarms and after about 4 dinners (and little sales) he didn't want to do it anymore. MasterGuard says they have a buy back policy but his cousin only bought back at half price. We figured out he pocketed about $8,000 off of us. He bought the alarms and training materials from the company and then sold them to us. Now we are stuck with them. He told us if we sold all the units and needed more we would have to get them from him (which in turn he gets them from the company) see where I am going with this? A MLM. We were so brainwashed by the training and selling techniques we couldn't see it for what it was. If we always had to get the products from him and he in turn gets them from the company he will profit off of us. He also had another person he was doing this with and we found out later that that person also has all his alarms sitting in his garage because he can't sell them for $400 each. I wish I would have investigated it more before I handed over our savings. We have sold a few of the units on the internet but I was recently threatened by "a masterguard VP" that I was in violation of my contract and I was causing hard working agents/dealers to lose their customers and therefore I could be held liable for people cancelling their contracts if I did not stop selling them in the internet. So where does that leave me? I could only protect my home so much with the units....

[> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 01/24/07 11:57am Spoken like a true Masterguard salesman!

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: minnesota [Edit] Date Posted: 07/19/06 8:30am I also went to one of these dinners. They came out to our home wanting to sell us the system for only $2800. Looked like a great system but that can buy a whole lot of other neccesities. So we told him we couldn't do it even though he could do a monthly payment plan. After he left I called one of our friends that went with us who told me she e-mailed me a story that one of our local news channels did about the company it is well worth reading and worth passing on. The story is on WCCO.com in the I-team reports it is from March 2,2006. People beware

[> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 09/ 6/06 11:58am The International Fire Chief Association is giong to begin requiring Residential Fire Sprinklers (Heat detectors taht spray water...) in all new construction of homes....WHY? ...It's simple people because they WORK. Now go get a quote of that for your already established home, you're looking at a good amount of money. Why? It's SUPERIOR protection. If you want to make this investment, don't let these forums fool you into beinga sucker...no one wants to be a sucker... Should that fear stop you from protecting your family? If you take 2,500 dollars and divide that by 25...that's 100 dollars a year to protect your family from fire... If you do what the NFPA really recommends, you're going to spend about $280 to protect your home with store bought alarms, then..have to worry about replacing thsoe about every 5 years if not less in some cases. Do you vaccuum your smoke detector? Does your smoke detector tell u when it's dirty? What are the real benefits here...After doing this you'll spend about $1,400 to replace, etc your detectors. And they are not superior. Fire protection is the last thing we should have to think about in our busy lifestyles. If you think about all the facts...this makes sense...I did a lot of study and research over the past 3 years. I think that counts for something...you are not a sucker. People buy these for a reason. There is proof out there...ask to call a customer who's life has been saved. Would your smoke detector tell you if your furnace was heating up? No...but our heat detector DID.

[> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 11/ 1/06 9:52pm The crazy thing is there is no regulation of the internet and some people believe what is typed here. By the way the news on the MINN thing was your typical muck-racking reporting-- Did you read the rest of the paper that day-- the story about the two people who died in a home fireand had a cheap smoke alarm? I didn't think so. Matter of fact, when i called the news myself they appoligized for the story and pulled news about the family that died. and they apologized for the Masterguard story.

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 11/ 1/06 9:55pm Masterguard is a great company! Negative bias people. Every complaint on here is concerning price and or money. You are all more concerned about money then anything else. Good job guys and good luck with that

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 01/19/07 9:01pm >There is no doubt my family is worth every penny to protect them from the dangers of a home fire. The prior message indicated those of us who are complaining about the costs of these products are fools. It's unfortunate that people like you who actually pay these ridiculous costs are the true fool. I don't think anyone questions the quality of this product. What people question is the ethics this company uses to sell it's product. Prying on the fears of people who CANNOT AFFORD $425 for each alarm, afraid if they don't buy it...a fire will take their family. This company could do so much good by simply making their product more affordable so more people could take advantage of them. Instead they price them so high, and prey on peoples fear and pocketbooks. Its SAD and unethical at best.

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 06/28/07 11:41pm Great companies do not have to rely on scare tactics and stay in your home for hours without leaving even after being asked to. Do NOT let these people in your home. We had to call the police to get them to leave!!!!

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 07/25/07 7:52pm >Masterguard is a great company! Negative bias people. >Every complaint on here is concerning price and or >money. You are all more concerned about money then >anything else. Good job guys and good luck with that The reason people are negative about the price is because some of us (who would love to be able to afford these fire safety products) are fighting daily to put food on the table, and clothes on our kids. not all of us can afford an additional monthly payment. I do not doubt the quality of these products, i do doubt the sincerity of the company who claims to care about saving lives.....i guess only the lives of people who are above a certain tax bracket? electronics are cheaply made....they could sell them at a more affordable rate, and prove how much they care about MY family's safety.

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 04/14/08 5:18pm >Masterguard is a great company! Negative bias people. >Every complaint on here is concerning price and or >money. You are all more concerned about money then >anything else. Good job guys and good luck with that Why would they not tell me how much they cost?

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 04/13/07 9:08am We got the sales pitch last night at our friend’s house. What my friend did not tell the salesman was that he is a fireman for our city. After the salesman left he told us about all the lies he told. The masterguard salesman said that there is no point in networking the alarms. He said his product is so loud you could hear it in the basement bedrooms. If you have $3500 to burn hire a commercial alarm installer. They can give you horn strobes, photoelectric heat and ionization all in one units. They can even install a duct alarm that will turn off the furnace/AC if it detects smoke/heat.

[> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name (Amazed) [Edit] Date Posted: 05/21/07 12:01pm My husband and I had these alarms installed (next to our cheap store-bought ones)and then had a fire in our furnace room. Guess which alarm didn't go off? The store-bought one. Never heard a peep out of it, even though we had changed the batteries shortly beforehand. The Masterguard alarms alerted us, we both got out safely. Kind of hard to put a price on that. Seems to me fireman are good at putting fires out, not getting people out of a house before they succumb to smoke inhalation. I have alot of respect for firefighters, but like all people in all lines of work, it is a good idea to stick to what you know (putting out fires) instead of trying to discount what an expert in another field knows (in this case, alarms that save lives). As far as the alarms not being networked -- Usually, if one fails, they all fail. Also, I don't know if the rep lied to you or not. I wasn't there. However, the Masterguard rep we boght from was very informative and his customer service was second to none. >We got the sales pitch last night at our friend’s >house. What my friend did not tell the salesman was >that he is a fireman for our city. After the salesman >left he told us about all the lies he told. > >The masterguard salesman said that there is no point >in networking the alarms. He said his product is so >loud you could hear it in the basement bedrooms. > >If you have $3500 to burn hire a commercial alarm >installer. They can give you horn strobes, >photoelectric heat and ionization all in one units. >They can even install a duct alarm that will turn off >the furnace/AC if it detects smoke/heat.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Alan (Angry) [Edit] Date Posted: 05/ 6/07 12:47pm I just found out my parents got scammed by these jerks who sold them detectors they put next to the ones that came with their mobile home and charged them $2000 for the 7. You can go to any hardware store and get perfectly good ones for under $50. I am royally pissed --- my parents have got a lot better things to do with their money. Don't anyone else be taken in!

[> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 05/15/07 5:30pm Most children value their parents more than that. You should be grateful that your parents made such a good decision to protect themselves with the BEST detectors you can get, all so they wouldn't have to become a serious burden to you if they got burned or lost their lives in a home fire. If you could guarantee with 100% certainty that a fire was going to happen tomorrow night and that your parents or yourself would be seriously burned or lose a life, it wouldn't matter if the detectors cost $10,000, YOU WOULD WANT THEM! There was one family a year or two ago who attended a Masterguard presentation but decided that they would think about it for a while before they made a decision. A fire occured in their home the very next week and they and their children needlessly lost their lives. Also, concerning price, I'm sure you or someone you know wears eyeglasses. Why would you pay $350 for a pair of eyeglasses? You don't really think there is $350 worth of material in there do you? The reason people pay $350 for a pair of eyeglasses is because of what it gives them, vision! It's all about how much you value the thing in which you are investing. You get what you pay for and when you protect yourself and your family with Masterguard, you get something that's worth more than $350, you get something that is priceless my friend. I hope anyone who reads this will listen to reason and not be a tightwad when it comes to your and your family's lives.

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 06/28/07 11:45pm Why keep scaring people? If regular smoke detectors were that bad, we would see things on the news or in newspapers. It's not a big conspiracy to let Americans die in their sleep at night, unless it's because the scary salespeople who won't leave your house come back to set the fires...

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Jim [Edit] Date Posted: 07/10/07 2:06pm >Why keep scaring people? If regular smoke detectors >were that bad, we would see things on the news or in >newspapers. It's not a big conspiracy to let Americans >die in their sleep at night, unless it's because the >scary salespeople who won't leave your house come back >to set the fires... There HAS been MANY things on the news and in the papers over the past few years regarding the situations of regular smoke detectors not working. It's been the subject of several news programs, and there's a class action lawsuit going on now involving the makers of regualr smoke detectors. While I dont agree with Masterguard's salespeople's techniques, I do beleive in the product they are selling. UL and several others have tested them over and over, and they always perform EXACTLY as they are suppposed to.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 09/22/07 3:47pm It's such a shame that there are so many ignorant people in this country who can be scammed. How dumb do you have to be to see that these MasterGuard people are scamming you? I've seen their presentation, and it's the most obvious scam I've ever seen! Of course, I guess if you're dumb enough to fall for it in the first place, then you deserve what you get. They prey on people who don't bother to educate themselves about the topic before writing a huge check. The company might be unethical, but at least they're smarter than you suckers who buy into it!

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name (Very Happy) [Edit] Date Posted: 10/16/07 6:12am My husband and I went to a dinner and then WE BOUGHT the system. I WAS NOT pressured by our salesman. Only INFORMED. There were not any of this crap others are reporting. If you had a problem with your sales rep than report him to Master Guard. Every company has a few bad seeds. Don't let them spoil the bunch. Our sales rep A Mr. Anderson, was professional and very helpful. I did research all of the products online. As I was instructed to by our rep. As for the cost, I am retired and on a fixed income. The monthly payment was less than a carton of cigarettes. You will complain about those prices but will still buy them. I do too. But at least if I fall asleep with one lit I know my alarm system will wake me up and get out. Get your facts straight...

[> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Virginia K. Maitland (Very Happy) [Edit] Date Posted: 10/18/07 7:10am >My husband and I went to a dinner and then WE BOUGHT >the system. I WAS NOT pressured by our salesman. Only >INFORMED. There were not any of this crap others are >reporting. If you had a problem with your sales rep >than report him to Master Guard. Every company has a >few bad seeds. Don't let them spoil the bunch. Our >sales rep A Mr. Anderson, was professional and very >helpful. I did research all of the products online. As >I was instructed to by our rep. As for the cost, I am >retired and on a fixed income. The monthly payment was >less than a carton of cigarettes. You will complain >about those prices but will still buy them. I do too. >But at least if I fall asleep with one lit I know my >alarm system will wake me up and get out. Get your >facts straight... OUR SALES REPS. NAME WAS HUNTER ANDERS NOT ANDERSON. MY MISTAKE. THANKS.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 10/19/07 10:40am This is one of the most insidious marketing schemes I have ever experienced. These alarms could EASILY be sold for much less, but they will never be marketed that way because, just like encyclopedias, avon, amway, kirby (and other high powered vacuums), while they may be marketed as superior products, and I will not argue their value, but the scheme is always the same: -- NEVER tell the target customer the price until you have given the presentation and stressed the EXTREME value for their family or home, so they feel compelled to fork out the money. -- ALWAYS try and get them to buy at the maximum retail price first, and then tell them the quantity or promotion price they qualify for only if they won't take that price. -- ALWAYS make them feel extremely guilty that they are sacrificing the safety/well-being/child's education opportunities, or whatever if they do NOT purchase the product. -- OFTEN they will then make a 'special call' to their 'manager' to qualify the customer for an even deeper RIGHT NOW discount - the manager may even, unbeknownst to the customer, be waiting outside in the car. -- ALWAYS ask for several referrals, but PLEASE make sure to tell them not to tell their friends about the presentation, especially if they end up not buying. They don't want the referrals spoiled by hearing the outRAGEOUS prices before they can even make a presentation, and then have the referrals cancel their appointments! -- ALWAYS withhold the gift they were promised until the absolutely extreme end of all negotiations, good or bad - AND, in the event that the customer is so frustrated after saying no 20 times that they forget about the gift, then the salesman might also forget about the gift. Masterguard does all of these things (and did them with US) with the added insidious application of extreme guilt that one does not think their family is important enough for them to spend thousands of dollars, mostly to line the pockets of the presenting salesman with lucrative commissions. We were PROMISED that there would be NO PRESSURE to buy, but this guy would not LEAVE our house until we told him NO 10 different ways, refused to give referrals, but agreed NOT to call my brother who had an appointment the next evening for the same thing (my brother called me anyway and asked about it!! so i told him - he went through with it, and had the SAME experience but was not as nice as me) DO YOUR HOMEWORK: There are several very good smoke alarm/fire detectors in local retail outlets that are much improved over what the Masterguard salesman will tell you is out there for less, and the better ones are still more expensive than the $19 models that the Masterguard salesman will tell you is out there. ALSO, there have been posted news articles online that, in some cases, side by side, the retail purchased alarm activated BEFORE the masterguard alarm went off. I think I would trust an experience fireman over a masterguard salesman, no matter how much guilt is thrown around - one post here says don't trust the fireman's negative comments, trust the MASTERGUARD EXPERTS!!!! The irony of this is that Masterguard uses firemen testimonies in their promo films. This should be enough for me to be able to get valid corroborating testimony, one way or the other, from a local experienced fireman. A good masterguard salesman will not want you to call your local fireman first, because "they may not know enough about the product" to give you "valid" advice. LAST THING: They are now, in our area, no longer giving free dinners, but are standing around in Wal-Mart, giving away prizes for Wii's, Barbecue Grills, and other things. Go for it, if you want that stuff, but be willing to pay the uttermost farthing in either agony of the pressure to buy, or out of your bank account for the product.

[> [> Subject: What's worse: wretched death or Masterguard sales appointments? Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 10/19/07 12:36pm I am very sad. My house burned down yesterday. It killed my wife, child, dog, cat, and three gerbils named Bill, Ted, and Adventure. In addition, I too was killed. I cannot begin to express the excrutiating pain one feels when ones own skin melts and bubbles from the heat of a housefire. I can assure each of you, my death was definetely a welcome relief from that horrible pain. If only I had sold my home to someone else so that I could afford to furnish it with the world's most expensive fire alert systems. Now, as I have "passed beyond the bar" into the next life, and as I am speaking from firsthand experience of the wretched death you and your family members might experience if you do not hurry and buy 400 Masterguard devices TODAY (as you'll find out, you'll need 25 for each room, 17 for each hallway, 32 for the garage, and a few more for other places like one on your windchime, one under the stone in your garden next to the spare housekey, etc), TRUST ME all you potential Masterguard customers when I say: I would watch my flesh melt and bubble 100 times over and over again if it meant I could have the 3-4 hours back that I wasted with that ignominious Masterguard salesman at my home.

[> [> [> Subject: Extinction of the Fremont: No Masterguard? Author: Tribal Chief Ubehebe [Edit] Date Posted: 10/19/07 12:51pm I am of the Tohono O'odham Indian Nation. I am concerned with the haphazardness of everyone's mockery towards the Masterguard system. I have bought several of these very valuable devices for my teepee. I know that my teepee is very flammable. These Masterguard devices will safeguard my family from the fire that we burn in the center of the teepee, were any of the family members to catch fire in the night. I believe my fellow ancestors, the Fremont Indians, became exctinct in the year 1500. I am convinced that their extinction could have been prevented if Masterguard had been available then. I am convinced their entire population was made extinct by hutfires that the inhabitants could have been warned about with enough time to escape. Then we would've had many more rich tribal stories to share. Praise Masterguard, and may the Great Spirit over us all safeguard Masterguard and its sacred, lifegiving products.

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Extinction of the Fremont: No Masterguard? Author: Jen [Edit] Date Posted: 12/ 5/07 2:31pm >I am of the Tohono O'odham Indian Nation. I am >concerned with the haphazardness of everyone's mockery >towards the Masterguard system. > >I have bought several of these very valuable devices >for my teepee. I know that my teepee is very >flammable. These Masterguard devices will safeguard my >family from the fire that we burn in the center of the >teepee, were any of the family members to catch fire >in the night. > >I believe my fellow ancestors, the Fremont Indians, >became exctinct in the year 1500. I am convinced that >their extinction could have been prevented if >Masterguard had been available then. I am convinced >their entire population was made extinct by hutfires >that the inhabitants could have been warned about with >enough time to escape. Then we would've had many more >rich tribal stories to share. > >Praise Masterguard, and may the Great Spirit over us >all safeguard Masterguard and its sacred, lifegiving >products. ***While I know you are trying to be funny it's really not because people actually do lose their lives to fires. Our sales representative was in our house less than a half hour. I think ANY sales persons can be pushy - after all, it is their job to sell. I think as consumers you can take responsibility and take the time to consider your purchases. If they don't like it, then find a consultant that has patience. They are out there.

[> [> Subject: The Unsinkable Mrs. Masterguard Author: Millvina Dean [Edit] Date Posted: 10/19/07 2:12pm How could a ship deemed "practically unsinkable" be brought down on her maiden voyage? The shipbuilder Hartland and Wolff wanted to install Masterguard products in the helm and throughout the ship. The investors who purchased a hefty insurance plan didn't want to save lives. They were already worried the ship would never be able to make money. The Masterguard products were left off, and a fire is what brought this Titanic to the bottom of the sea. When I was only 10-1/2 months old, I was on the Titanic when it hit the glacier. What a horrendous day. I would like to share a little-known fact that "they" don't want you to know about that I witnessed with my own eyes. I have tried to bring this to light several times but the investors have shut me up too many times. Here is one final attempt to bring to light a horrible conspiracy that cost the lives of 1500 innocent victims. If you perform any level of research on the Titanic, you will discover that there are theories for why the Ship broke into two pieces. There are even conspiracy theories trying to establish that it wasn't even the Titanic that sank but the Olympic. As a passenger on the vessel, let me please tell you what really happened. I can assure you that the ship that sank was indeed the Titanic. When Captain Murdoch gave the order to reverse engines the ship's reverse system failed, and the ship drifted into the iceberg. What has never been explained is why the system failed. A fire had broken out in the bottom hull. The fire ended up causing a major explosion, creating a significant rift in the integrety of the entire hull. How do I know this? I was in the bottom level, looking into one of the system control room portholes. I looked in and saw an engineer being burned to death in a fire. He was writhing in agony, being consumed by flames. When I ran upstairs to tell my mommy, I felt the explosion. Shortly thereafter, we struck the iceberg. If the ship's investors had let Hartland and Wolff install Masterguard products, the fire would've been detected sooner, the ship would've been brought to a full stop (standard operating procedure when dealing with an onboard fire), and the Titanic would never have impacted the glacier. 1500 victims would've been able to live full, happy lives instead of drowning and freezing to death in the depths of a cold, uncaring sea.

[> [> Subject: ATTENTION MODERATOR!!! Author: A concerned Netizen [Edit] Date Posted: 10/19/07 2:29pm To the moderator of this forum/thread/message board (and those among us who feel similarly please voice up too!): PLEASE INSTALL MASTERGUARD RIGHT NOW IN YOUR SERVER ROOMS!!!!!!!!!! Please, please also install their products in your data backup repository safes. Otherwise, this board and more importantly, this thread could be potentially lost forever!

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 10/24/07 2:24pm I am in marketing class in business school. I can tell you right now that all of the reply's that are saying how great Masterguard smokes are belong to people that represent/sell Masterguard smokes. A photoelectric smoke is a photoelectric smoke. If you have the kind of money to buy a Masterguard system, buy a real alarm system from a qualified alarm installer and your system will call the fire department when fire is detected. It will also sound an audible alarm. If you can't afford that, just buy photoelectric smokes from menards/home depot.

[> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 02/ 1/08 10:31am Thank you so much, your comment really helped me decide what to do. Thanks for posting it. It makes total sense. They are selling a good product, but it's an expensive product and other places sell the exact same thing for much less. >I am in marketing class in business school. I can >tell you right now that all of the reply's that are >saying how great Masterguard smokes are belong to >people that represent/sell Masterguard smokes. A >photoelectric smoke is a photoelectric smoke. If you >have the kind of money to buy a Masterguard system, >buy a real alarm system from a qualified alarm >installer and your system will call the fire >department when fire is detected. It will also sound >an audible alarm. If you can't afford that, just buy >photoelectric smokes from menards/home depot.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Laurie [Edit] Date Posted: 03/19/08 5:59pm My husband & I went to one of those "free" dinners last night. The guy presenting was a total jerk. I felt like I was back in school! "Turn around and face me please!" "No talking!" "If you brought a cocktail in with you - it's your LAST one!" Gheesh! Anyway - the presentation scared us so like suckers we signed up for a sales call. The guy came the mnext day and I wasn't there (only the hubster) because I got called into work on an emergency. The salesman was PO'd!! Wouldn't even talk to my husband at all with out me there! My husband said that he would NOT reschedule because he'd alredy taken time off work for the appt. and the guy wouldn't budge. So - hubster kicked him out. As the jerk was leaving he yelled over his shoulder, "Enjoy your FREE dinner last night?" Hubby said "Yep! See ya'!"

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Erik [Edit] Date Posted: 12/25/05 5:16pm While using a dust mop to clean around the MG-50 Heat Detector I bumped the SIDE of the detector and the center fuse cap popped off, activating the alarm. The spring-loaded alarm wound down in 1 minute and didn't even get a yelp from the family pooch. The alarm had a nice ring. But when it takes the annoying buzzer of my alarm clock 2 feet from my ear longer to wake me up I really question if the MG-50 has the alarm intensity. But it at least can serve as a secondary alarm to the smoke detectors. After finding the center fuse cap it took me another 10 minutes to find the steel center pin and spring that popped out after the fuse cap came off. Unfortunately, something else is missing or broken because the fused center cap does not want to affix. The serial number is 892570579 (not on the recall) and the unit was already installed in the home when I moved in 13 years ago. I do not have the owners manual to determine if I have retrieved all the parts. Anyone have similar experiences?

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 02/ 6/06 9:21pm I just went to a MasterGuard dinner tonight. I did learn that the fuse will not go onto the heat detector unless you completely rewind the detector. Did you try that?

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 05/ 5/06 10:04am >While using a dust mop to clean around the MG-50 Heat >Detector I bumped the SIDE of the detector and the >center fuse cap popped off, activating the alarm. > >The spring-loaded alarm wound down in 1 minute and >didn't even get a yelp from the family pooch. The >alarm had a nice ring. But when it takes the annoying >buzzer of my alarm clock 2 feet from my ear longer to >wake me up I really question if the MG-50 has the >alarm intensity. But it at least can serve as a >secondary alarm to the smoke detectors. > >After finding the center fuse cap it took me another >10 minutes to find the steel center pin and spring >that popped out after the fuse cap came off. >Unfortunately, something else is missing or broken >because the fused center cap does not want to affix. > >The serial number is 892570579 (not on the recall) and >the unit was already installed in the home when I >moved in 13 years ago. I do not have the owners manual >to determine if I have retrieved all the parts. > >Anyone have similar experiences? Not knowing what city you reside, I am sure you can find a local MasterGuard dealer to assit you. The fuse-link that you accidently knocked off can be reset provided the center of the fuse link is in tack. Dismount the heat detector and there should be a key like object attached to the back. Take the key and insert it into the hole and wind-up until you feel the tension. Holding the key and detector in one hand, take the other hand and snap on the fuse link. Once this is done remount the heat detector onto the fixed mount. You may contact MasterGuard at www.Masterguard.com and they will refer a local dealer to you.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 12/ 2/06 11:08am Try contact www.masterguard.com for a replacement or a local office near you. there service is free or a local Masterguard dealer in your area, they will come by and take care of the problem. >While using a dust mop to clean around the MG-50 Heat >Detector I bumped the SIDE of the detector and the >center fuse cap popped off, activating the alarm. > >The spring-loaded alarm wound down in 1 minute and >didn't even get a yelp from the family pooch. The >alarm had a nice ring. But when it takes the annoying >buzzer of my alarm clock 2 feet from my ear longer to >wake me up I really question if the MG-50 has the >alarm intensity. But it at least can serve as a >secondary alarm to the smoke detectors. > >After finding the center fuse cap it took me another >10 minutes to find the steel center pin and spring >that popped out after the fuse cap came off. >Unfortunately, something else is missing or broken >because the fused center cap does not want to affix. > >The serial number is 892570579 (not on the recall) and >the unit was already installed in the home when I >moved in 13 years ago. I do not have the owners manual >to determine if I have retrieved all the parts. > >Anyone have similar experiences?

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 01/16/06 6:56am Thanks to the folks who have posted their experience here. My mother "won" the dinner which we attended yesterday and of course we HAD to sign up for a visit today (I did NOT. However, to my surprise, my parents did. I had a bad feeling about it from the time mymother told me about this. Honest companies advertise, they tell you their prices up fromt and let you make a decision based on quality, price and need. To the employees of this company that are posting the nasty comments to folks who are simply stating their personal experiences. Shame on you. It's just more of the nasty scare tactics. Fire is a TERRIBLE thing. No one wants to have to experience even a small one. Certainly no one wants to have to face the loss of loved ones due to a fire. The information given in your presentations is excellent. Why not continue the presentation to it's logical end? Present a brochure with cost options and available systems. Let the marketplace respond. If your products are as good as they say word will spread and you won't have to respond to these negative reviews. I will be attending the meeting my parents have today with the local respresentative. WE will NOT be purchasing.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: trent [Edit] Date Posted: 11/30/06 2:17pm >Thanks to the folks who have posted their experience >here. My mother "won" the dinner which we attended >yesterday and of course we HAD to sign up for a visit >today (I did NOT. However, to my surprise, my parents >did. I had a bad feeling about it from the time >mymother told me about this. Honest companies >advertise, they tell you their prices up fromt and let >you make a decision based on quality, price and need. > >To the employees of this company that are posting the >nasty comments to folks who are simply stating their >personal experiences. Shame on you. It's just more of >the nasty scare tactics. Fire is a TERRIBLE thing. No >one wants to have to experience even a small one. >Certainly no one wants to have to face the loss of >loved ones due to a fire. The information given in >your presentations is excellent. Why not continue the >presentation to it's logical end? Present a brochure >with cost options and available systems. Let the >marketplace respond. If your products are as good as >they say word will spread and you won't have to >respond to these negative reviews. >I will be attending the meeting my parents have today >with the local respresentative. WE will NOT be >purchasing. you are an idiot if you think that all the comments that suport masterguard are their employees. it all comes down to one thing the price. all the info givin in the dinner presantation is true. if they don't tell you the their compatitions price cry a river. i haven't been to a car dealership that will tell me their compatitons prices. its a great product. if you don't want to pay it the only truthfull thing you can say is sounds great but im not willing to pay that much for fire safty.

[> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: jacki [Edit] Date Posted: 01/20/07 8:20am >>Thanks to the folks who have posted their experience >>here. My mother "won" the dinner which we attended >>yesterday and of course we HAD to sign up for a visit >>today (I did NOT. However, to my surprise, my parents >>did. I had a bad feeling about it from the time >>mymother told me about this. Honest companies >>advertise, they tell you their prices up fromt and let >>you make a decision based on quality, price and need. >> >>To the employees of this company that are posting the >>nasty comments to folks who are simply stating their >>personal experiences. Shame on you. It's just more of >>the nasty scare tactics. Fire is a TERRIBLE thing. No >>one wants to have to experience even a small one. >>Certainly no one wants to have to face the loss of >>loved ones due to a fire. The information given in >>your presentations is excellent. Why not continue the >>presentation to it's logical end? Present a brochure >>with cost options and available systems. Let the >>marketplace respond. If your products are as good as >>they say word will spread and you won't have to >>respond to these negative reviews. >>I will be attending the meeting my parents have today >>with the local respresentative. WE will NOT be >>purchasing. >you are an idiot if you think that all the comments >that suport masterguard are their employees. it all >comes down to one thing the price. all the info givin >in the dinner presantation is true. if they don't tell >you the their compatitions price cry a river. i >haven't been to a car dealership that will tell me >their compatitons prices. its a great product. if you >don't want to pay it the only truthfull thing you can >say is sounds great but im not willing to pay that >much for fire safty. WHAT IS FIRE "SAFTY"...USE YOUR SPELL CHECK...THAT'S NOT THE ONLY MISTAKE IN YOUR FEW SENTENCES.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: kevin (laughing) [Edit] Date Posted: 08/ 1/07 5:37pm I love how you HAD to set an appointment, but didn't -- How does that work?

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Satisfied customer [Edit] Date Posted: 01/19/06 8:22pm >I am a satisfied customer!! I've read these posts and realize your all silly loud mouths! I've had a real fire and had both ionization and masterguard alarms in my home at the time the fire occured. The hard wired Ionization alarms never sounded. Never, not once not ever! the masterguard smoke in my dinning room and living room sounded. I asked the fire department about it and the capt. said I had the same alarms from masterguard in my home for 15 years and wouldn't have anything else. Both of my alarms were replaced with in 2 days of me telling the fire safety rep that sold them to me!!!! That was fast, and real. the young guy really cared.--> After reading the maunal I discovered he didn't even need to replace them he could of washed them and repaired, but he gave me new ones!!! WORTH EVERY PENNY --- ALL 2000 of it

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Someone Who Knows [Edit] Date Posted: 04/19/06 7:31am I am responding to this posting to set the record straight. First of all you are correct, no alarm of this sort should cost $350! While reading this if you are skeptical I don't blame you, but please read on and contact the number below if you like. I have been in the alarm industry for 20 years from local companies to one owned by Ameritech corporation called Securitylink, formerly called National Guardian which was the number 2 alarm company in the world (of which I was a regional manager), and believe me when I say that these alarms should not cost $350. Notice I have not said they are not worth it, just that they should not cost that much. First of all, any UL listed smoke alarm will not work just fine for you, if you don't believe me do a search on fire litigations stemming from smoke alarms in homes where people have died and no alarm sounded. Next, I ask you to do a search on ebay again because the alarms listed on another posting were from a dealer getting out of Triad and wanted to clear his inventory. I have been involved with Masterguard, Detech, etc. and believe me they cannot sell them to the general public continuously for $80, because they would be out of business when their own money ran out, because they certainly are not making any. Having said that I believe a person should not talk about a problem without offering a solution. I have, for many years, put on the very dinners you are talking about here. The thing people need to realize is that the information is well worth the time spent, if you don't want the products, don't sign up for the follow-up visit, but in most cases the salesman/system designer is not the bad guy, it's the dealership he works under, not for, because they are independent contractors not an employee of the dealership and have no real control over the pricing. This is where the problem exists. I am no longer with Masterguard, Detech, etc. because of the complaints listed above and their business practices, that is why, and here it comes the sales pitch right, wrong, there is a company that does the same thing only at a price where it doesn't require a second mortgage to put them in, and they are talking about the same or in some cases better products for about half, that's right, nearly half the price. Incidentally, call a "regular" alarm company and ask how much it would cost to protect your family in a way that the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) recommends, and they will tell you the same thing as anybody else, I don't know without seeing your situation. Now, in closing, I want to stress two very important issues right here and right now. First of all, not all smoke alarms work the same or work as well. I am not going to use the old you get what you pay for line because once you really understand the message these companies are trying to get across, you can make that decision for yourself, but it really is in your own best interest to find out. Secondly, if your are relying on Fire Fighters for your alarm concerns, do not assume they are experts in this field. Believe me when I say this, I know what I am talking about. I have had many many fire fighters work for me and hear my message and they all will tell the same thing. I have numerous friends and relatives who are fire fighters and the one thing I ALWAYS say about them is they are the greatest at what they do for rescuing people and putting out fires but they are not alarm system experts and are not certified to be one, like many of the people you are complaining about are. In fact I, at every program I ever did, have the people always take an 11 question quiz to see how much they knew about fire and fire safety, and I even had a cousin of mine, a fire fighter for 25 years, take this quiz, and he got 1 out of the 11 questions right. He is a volunteer fireman and a business manager by trade, so he is not a stupid person. So to sum this whole posting up, please get the information, and then make an informed decision, because safety really is the most important thing. If you are still skeptical, and live near Cincinnati, call 608-498-4234 and get more information. Thank you for taking the time to read this!!!

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Opinions are like...... (DISGUSTED WITH THE IGNORANCE PRESENTED HERE!!!) [Edit] Date Posted: 01/25/08 6:30pm Let me see, have you ever heard of a kirby vacuum, they cost 5-10 times what a regular vacuum cost, but my grandmother used the same one for 45 YEARS !!!!!. Let's see you could choose to drive a YUGO or you could check out the crash test data available on websites and end up with a Lexus or Toyota..... but.... it'll COST YOU MORE !!! Do you REALLY BELIEVE that it COSTS the government $0.41 to make a stamp? Then WHY PAY 0.41 for it.... perhaps you'd rather DRIVE YOUR MAIL TO MAINE!!!! I have invested in my MASTERGUARD ALARMS and let's just say i'm GREATFUL I did. They have already alerted my family to three DANGEROUS situations. I have Four children and they are EVERYTHING to me. I TRUELY believe that if not for our MASTERGUARD alarms, any one of these could have proven TRAGIC. I don't care if they cost me a thousand dollars each i wouldn't sleep a night without them. The store-bought alarms (including carbon monoxide) NEVER sounded a peep. Yeah Masterguard is expensive, but FAR cheaper than a PINE BOX !!!!!!!!!!!! ASK ANYONE WHO'S EXPERIENCED A FIRE AND HAD MASTERGUARD IN THEIR HOME IF THEY SPENT TOO MUCH !!!!!

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Sucker [Edit] Date Posted: 07/ 3/06 11:46am > You can return the items from MasterGuard for a >full refund if you do so within three days. But don't >bother going down to the office. MasterGaurd lists its >address as 928 Broadwater, Suite 101. When KULR-8 >tried to find their office, we found suite 101, but it >wasn't MasterGuard. I'll admitt it, I fell for it hook, line, and over priced smoke alarm. It's amazing what you can talk yourself into after a "free" dinner and then a visit by a restraunt-to-door salesman at 11:00 at night. Once you have a couple of minutes to actually do the research, like finding this forum, you realize what a jackass you were only a few short hours ago, and decide to cancel the deal. The "full refund" that was mentioned isn't quite "full." Check the small print before signing it and you'll see that if you choose to cancel you agree to pay them 6% for a "restocking fee." In my case this only came to $240. Call me crazy, but I could've gone to a MUCH nicer place than Red Lobster for dinner and spent WAY less than that. Save yourself the time, money, and shame I have to suffer with. Take your wife out to a nice dinner and a movie, then go to the local hardware store and buy something reasonalble.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Pamela Vogel (ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) [Edit] Date Posted: 09/ 8/06 7:47pm >Let me say this is a SCAM! I am appalled at this company. Yes I joined my father, for the dinner because he won dinner and a fire safety course at the local fair. Ok, lets see the pitch. Well My father a very recent widow of 2 months, losing my mother is usually level headed. I would say this was not one of his better moments. They Masterguard suckered my father on a very fixed income and very little money after my mothers death to two of these detectors for over $600.00!!!!!! OMG! I was not there for the visit, had I been I could have talked him out of it. I am just beside myself that they talked my 71 yr old father who lives alone now that this was a necessity. People Help do something. They convinced him this makes him feel safer....why? Because you just spent half your monthly budget on two items you did not need to?. Someone tell me that you got your money back and embarrassed this company or something. Tell me I do not have to carry this anger with me with just losing my mother to cancer. I thought that was bad, but my dad getting taken advantage of ranks up there. UPSET, ANGRY, FURIOUS, APPALLED, DOWN RIGHT BITTER. I'd like to share something with others that I have >shared with those in the North Texas Group. I'm also >placing it here because the information put here will >be searchable on the WWW but stuff in the club is >private and will not be searchable. I want to put the >word out so consumers can make an informed decision. > >[Please consider visiting and joining the North Texas >Group using the links above] > >Information... > >My wife was all excited the other day because she >"won" a "free" dinner at Macaroni Grill for filling >out a card. I didn't want to go because I smelled a >scam and had the perfect excuse for getting out of it. > She ended up bringing 2 girl-friends. > >That night, she told me how good the whole thing was. >She told me how much she learned about Fire Safety. >Then the bombshell... Her and the other girls she went >with signed up for the in-home Fire Safety Check >(hi-pressure sales pitch). > >Did I have to be there? Yep! > >Well, after 2 hours of listening about Fire Detectors >and how I needed MasterGuard if I really cared about >my family, I was finally able to say "no". > >If MasterGuard REALLY cared so much about the public, >why would they charge such a ridiculous amount for >their detectors ($335 ea.)? Are they made of gold? > >Part of the pitch was how MasterGuard is so much more >concerned about our saftey than First Alert or other >Fire Safety companies because they go out and educate >everyone about the dangers of not having the correct >Fire Detectors and equipment. > >They chose that marketing/distribution plan and I'm >sure the higher-ups are making a killing because of it. > >It wasn't a totally loss. I did learn a lot about >Fire Safety and the truth is... > >1) A fire can happen to me or you even while we sleep >2) People do die even if they have fire detectors in >the home >3) People don't always die in fires (some live to >suffer terribly) > >It's worth checking out. > >BTW, The initial price quote after the salesman >determined we needed 3 heat detectors, 4 smoke >detectors, 1 carbon monoxide detector, and 1 fire >extinguisher was $2,981. I could have saved $335 if I >bought it the day of the sales pitch and I could have >saved a little more if I were to not get all of the >detectors recommended. > >5 heat/smoke detectors (MasterGuards bread & butter) >1 carbon monoxide detector >1 extinguisher >Total = $2,311 > > >PLEASE READ >------------------------------------------------------- >------------ >If you have these types of detectors, please don't >take this as me saying thay you got suckered. They >seem to be high quality detectors and you have to pay >for what you get. And, you can argue that your >family's safety is important enough to make the >investment. Before you buy, here are some other items: > >1) The MasterGuard salesman led me to believe that >their company is the only company that makes these >types of detectors. This isn't true. Triad Safety >Systems, Inc. makes the same quality products. They >are manufactured by the same people in MI from what I >understand. Take a look at >http://www.triadsafetyinc.com/ > >I found "Responsive" detectors (manufactured for >Triad) on eBay for $70 ea. "Responsive" is >Masterguard's competition in the high-priced detector >market. > >2) CPSC and Interstate Engineering Recall Heat >Detectors > >WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. >Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Interstate >Engineering, of Dallas, Texas, is voluntarily >recalling about 40,000 heat detectors. These heat >detectors can fail to alarm or alarm for a shorter >period of time than intended when fire is present. > >Interstate Engineering and CPSC are aware of one >incident when a heat detector failed to operate >properly during a retail demonstration. Subsequent >testing by Interstate Engineering produced >approximately 38 additional failures. CPSC is not >aware of any failures during use by consumers, and no >injuries have been reported. > >The heat detectors are round, have an off-white >aluminum cover, are roughly 7 inches in diameter and 3 >inches high, and have a round, brass-colored metal >disk at the center of the cover. They are mechanical, >and do not use batteries or electricity. The heat >detectors were sold under the following private label >brand names and models, which were printed on labels >on the back of the detectors: > >MasterGuard model MG-50/70; > >Responsive model TRI70; > >Rescue II model R-50FT. > >Heat detectors are intended to supplement smoke >detectors to warn of fire, but CPSC reminds consumers >they should not rely on heat detectors as substitutes >for smoke detectors. (4/20/99) > >3) A news article that was in the Google cache... > >MasterGuard Scam? > >BILLINGS, Oct. 30 - MasterGuard of Montana sells fire >safety equipment to homeowners in the Billings area, >but not in stores. If you listen to a brief >presentation on fire safety the company will take you >to dinner. But some homeowners say they're just >getting taken. > >People KULR talked to who went to the dinner say the >company uses scare tactics to get you to buy expensive >and unnecessary fire safety equipment and most people >at those meetings happen to be senior citizens. >MasterGuard says its Billings representative is an >independent contractor. He told us that kids and older >people are the highest target for fires. He says the >fire department reaches the schools and his firm >reaches the elderly. > > One elderly couple, who wants to remain >anonymous, bought 12 units from MasterGuard, mainly >smoke and heat detectors. Their bill totaled nearly >$2,500. A MasterGuard representative told KULR-8, "You >get what you pay for, and if you want a Cadillac you >have to pay for a Cadillac." Billings deputy fire >marshal Ralph Freeman says you don't have to pay a >couple hundred dollars for a good smoke alarm. He says >a smoke detector that is UL listed is perfectly safe >for your home. Most U-L listed smoke detectors cost >between $5 and $15 dollars. > > You can return the items from MasterGuard for a >full refund if you do so within three days. But don't >bother going down to the office. MasterGaurd lists its >address as 928 Broadwater, Suite 101. When KULR-8 >tried to find their office, we found suite 101, but it >wasn't MasterGuard. We found a tanning salon. And >KULR-8 wasn't the only place to receive the >complaints, the Billings Fire Department has too. We >asked if MasterGuard uses scare tactics to intimidate >elderly people. Representative Adam Schaser said the >video clip may frighten some people, but he says fire >is a very serious subject. > > KULR contacted MasterGuard's headquarters in >Texas. The company declined an interview over the >phone. > >4) Something I found in newsgroups regarding >Masterguard > >http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=U >TF-8&frame=right&th=8556480b8e69df92&seekm=2319c424.020 >4022319.d9beca0%40posting.google.com#link1

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Perry [Edit] Date Posted: 11/16/06 10:46pm >>Let me say this is a SCAM! >I am appalled at this company. Yes I joined my father, >for the dinner because he won dinner and a fire safety >course at the local fair. Ok, lets see the pitch. Well >My father a very recent widow of 2 months, losing my >mother is usually level headed. I would say this was >not one of his better moments. They Masterguard >suckered my father on a very fixed income and very >little money after my mothers death to two of these >detectors for over $600.00!!!!!! OMG! I was not there >for the visit, had I been I could have talked him out >of it. I am just beside myself that they talked my 71 >yr old father who lives alone now that this was a >necessity. People Help do something. They convinced >him this makes him feel safer....why? Because you just >spent half your monthly budget on two items you did >not need to?. Someone tell me that you got your money >back and embarrassed this company or something. Tell >me I do not have to carry this anger with me with just >losing my mother to cancer. I thought that was bad, >but my dad getting taken advantage of ranks up there. >UPSET, ANGRY, FURIOUS, APPALLED, DOWN RIGHT BITTER. >I'd like to share something with others that I have >>shared with those in the North Texas Group. I'm also >>placing it here because the information put here will >>be searchable on the WWW but stuff in the club is >>private and will not be searchable. I want to put the >>word out so consumers can make an informed decision. >> >>[Please consider visiting and joining the North Texas >>Group using the links above] >> >>Information... >> >>My wife was all excited the other day because she >>"won" a "free" dinner at Macaroni Grill for filling >>out a card. I didn't want to go because I smelled a >>scam and had the perfect excuse for getting out of it. >> She ended up bringing 2 girl-friends. >> >>That night, she told me how good the whole thing was. >>She told me how much she learned about Fire Safety. >>Then the bombshell... Her and the other girls she went >>with signed up for the in-home Fire Safety Check >>(hi-pressure sales pitch). >> >>Did I have to be there? Yep! >> >>Well, after 2 hours of listening about Fire Detectors >>and how I needed MasterGuard if I really cared about >>my family, I was finally able to say "no". >> >>If MasterGuard REALLY cared so much about the public, >>why would they charge such a ridiculous amount for >>their detectors ($335 ea.)? Are they made of gold? >> >>Part of the pitch was how MasterGuard is so much more >>concerned about our saftey than First Alert or other >>Fire Safety companies because they go out and educate >>everyone about the dangers of not having the correct >>Fire Detectors and equipment. >> >>They chose that marketing/distribution plan and I'm >>sure the higher-ups are making a killing because of >it. >> >>It wasn't a totally loss. I did learn a lot about >>Fire Safety and the truth is... >> >>1) A fire can happen to me or you even while we sleep >>2) People do die even if they have fire detectors in >>the home >>3) People don't always die in fires (some live to >>suffer terribly) >> >>It's worth checking out. >> >>BTW, The initial price quote after the salesman >>determined we needed 3 heat detectors, 4 smoke >>detectors, 1 carbon monoxide detector, and 1 fire >>extinguisher was $2,981. I could have saved $335 if I >>bought it the day of the sales pitch and I could have >>saved a little more if I were to not get all of the >>detectors recommended. >> >>5 heat/smoke detectors (MasterGuards bread & butter) >>1 carbon monoxide detector >>1 extinguisher >>Total = $2,311 >> >> >>PLEASE READ >>------------------------------------------------------ >- >>------------ >>If you have these types of detectors, please don't >>take this as me saying thay you got suckered. They >>seem to be high quality detectors and you have to pay >>for what you get. And, you can argue that your >>family's safety is important enough to make the >>investment. Before you buy, here are some other >items: >> >>1) The MasterGuard salesman led me to believe that >>their company is the only company that makes these >>types of detectors. This isn't true. Triad Safety >>Systems, Inc. makes the same quality products. They >>are manufactured by the same people in MI from what I >>understand. Take a look at >> >href="http://www.triadsafetyinc.com/">http://www.triads >afetyinc.com/ >> >>I found "Responsive" detectors (manufactured for >>Triad) on eBay for $70 ea. "Responsive" is >>Masterguard's competition in the high-priced detector >>market. >> >>2) CPSC and Interstate Engineering Recall Heat >>Detectors >> >>WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. >>Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Interstate >>Engineering, of Dallas, Texas, is voluntarily >>recalling about 40,000 heat detectors. These heat >>detectors can fail to alarm or alarm for a shorter >>period of time than intended when fire is present. >> >>Interstate Engineering and CPSC are aware of one >>incident when a heat detector failed to operate >>properly during a retail demonstration. Subsequent >>testing by Interstate Engineering produced >>approximately 38 additional failures. CPSC is not >>aware of any failures during use by consumers, and no >>injuries have been reported. >> >>The heat detectors are round, have an off-white >>aluminum cover, are roughly 7 inches in diameter and 3 >>inches high, and have a round, brass-colored metal >>disk at the center of the cover. They are mechanical, >>and do not use batteries or electricity. The heat >>detectors were sold under the following private label >>brand names and models, which were printed on labels >>on the back of the detectors: >> >>MasterGuard model MG-50/70; >> >>Responsive model TRI70; >> >>Rescue II model R-50FT. >> >>Heat detectors are intended to supplement smoke >>detectors to warn of fire, but CPSC reminds consumers >>they should not rely on heat detectors as substitutes >>for smoke detectors. (4/20/99) >> >>3) A news article that was in the Google cache... >> >>MasterGuard Scam? >> >>BILLINGS, Oct. 30 - MasterGuard of Montana sells fire >>safety equipment to homeowners in the Billings area, >>but not in stores. If you listen to a brief >>presentation on fire safety the company will take you >>to dinner. But some homeowners say they're just >>getting taken. >> >>People KULR talked to who went to the dinner say the >>company uses scare tactics to get you to buy expensive >>and unnecessary fire safety equipment and most people >>at those meetings happen to be senior citizens. >>MasterGuard says its Billings representative is an >>independent contractor. He told us that kids and older >>people are the highest target for fires. He says the >>fire department reaches the schools and his firm >>reaches the elderly. >> >> One elderly couple, who wants to remain >>anonymous, bought 12 units from MasterGuard, mainly >>smoke and heat detectors. Their bill totaled nearly >>$2,500. A MasterGuard representative told KULR-8, "You >>get what you pay for, and if you want a Cadillac you >>have to pay for a Cadillac." Billings deputy fire >>marshal Ralph Freeman says you don't have to pay a >>couple hundred dollars for a good smoke alarm. He says >>a smoke detector that is UL listed is perfectly safe >>for your home. Most U-L listed smoke detectors cost >>between $5 and $15 dollars. >> >> You can return the items from MasterGuard for a >>full refund if you do so within three days. But don't >>bother going down to the office. MasterGaurd lists its >>address as 928 Broadwater, Suite 101. When KULR-8 >>tried to find their office, we found suite 101, but it >>wasn't MasterGuard. We found a tanning salon. And >>KULR-8 wasn't the only place to receive the >>complaints, the Billings Fire Department has too. We >>asked if MasterGuard uses scare tactics to intimidate >>elderly people. Representative Adam Schaser said the >>video clip may frighten some people, but he says fire >>is a very serious subject. >> >> KULR contacted MasterGuard's headquarters in >>Texas. The company declined an interview over the >>phone. >> >>4) Something I found in newsgroups regarding >>Masterguard >> >> >href="http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF- >8&oe=U">http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UT >F-8&oe=U >>TF-8&frame=right&th=8556480b8e69df92&seekm=2319c424.02 >0 >>4022319.d9beca0%40posting.google.com#link1 you forgot to mention that since 1971 folks with the masterguard system (full protection) nfpa recommendations, have no fatalities or much less a serious injury from a fire where this system is installed. when you find something to falsify that you post it on here for me please. til then you havent the slightest idea what you are talking about. i would gladly pay three hundred or more for a life saving device. you also forgot to mention that the recall you showed here is the only recall masterguard has had since its founding in 1971. now you go check out those cheaper alarms that "work just as good" and see what their track record looks like!!!!!!!

[> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Dave (Annoyed!) [Edit] Date Posted: 03/30/07 3:50pm >>>4022319.d9beca0%40posting.google.com#link1 >you forgot to mention that since 1971 folks with the >masterguard system (full protection) nfpa >recommendations, have no fatalities or much less a >serious injury from a fire where this system is >installed. when you find something to falsify that >you post it on here for me please. til then you havent >the slightest idea what you are talking about. i would >gladly pay three hundred or more for a life saving >device. you also forgot to mention that the recall >you showed here is the only recall masterguard has had >since its founding in 1971. now you go check out those >cheaper alarms that "work just as good" and see what >their track record looks like!!!!!!! HA HA check this out! NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 3, 1981 Release # 81-020 Smoke Detectors Recalled WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 3, 1981) -- Some Commercial and residential battery-operated photoelectric smoke detectors sold since 1979 under the brand names of Chloride Pyrotector, Archer, Masterguard, Vanguard, Vantage I and Protect-er Systems are being recalled because a potentially defective electronic microchip may prevent the alarm from sounding in the presence of smoke. The recall is being conducted voluntarily by the Chloride Pyrotector Division of Chloride, Inc., Hingham, Mass., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Some of the firm's 185,000 smoke detectors manufactured from March 1, 1979 to March 15, 1981 may contain a transistor array semiconductor that will not operate in the presence of smoke. Owners of the smoke detectors have been asked by the manufacturer to remove the back plate of the product so that the model or code number may be checked on the interior hosing. Potentially defective smoke detectors include the following: Chloride Pyrotector - Models 3077,3078,3079; Archer number 275453 sold through Radio Shack; Masterguard MGB 360; Vanguard 817; and Protect-er Systems P365. Potentially defective models also will have a 6-digit data code on the housing showing dates between 030179 and 031581. Consumer wishing to verify the model number should contact CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800-638-2772. Commerical and residential users may verify the integrity of the smoke detectors by testing the horn with a fresh factory specified 9-volt battery. If the horn sounds when the test button is pressed, the detector does not contain a defective microchip; if the horn does not sound, the user is requested to call Roberta Calla of Chloride Pyrotector at 1-800-343-5647 for instructions on where to send the product for a free replacement or repair.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard is a scam Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 11/21/06 4:04am Let me tell you with confidence that Masterguard is certainly a scam. I was recruited to work for them but quit after I realized what terrible people they were. High pressure sales, scare tactics, etc etc. I've sold used cars and these guys are on a totally different level. And you won't find any complaints against the Masterguard Company, that's because they don't sell anything to the public to keep their name clean. When you buy a system you write a check, or finance at 20% intrest, directly to the salesman's checking account. I can't remember the exact numbers but the $300 smoke detectors are mostly cash profit for the salesmen. Yes, salesmen, they might tell you they are fire safety instructors but they are salesmen with an script designed to scare you and make you choose between your money and the safety of your family. Watch how frantic they get if you say you just want to think about it for a night, or talk to your friend the fireman, or research the internet. I'm also sorry to say that these people target older, retired couples and mobile home owners (don't wory, there are great financing options!). People, when you put your name and number in the box to register for a free dinner YOU ALWAYS WIN. Unless you are single, rent your home, or have an obvious African-American name, then you are thrown out (they told me black people don't buy). TRUE. Yeah, they really care about your safety. So do yourself a favor, if you really want an optical/photoelectric smoke detector and a metal heat detector go to Target or Wal-Mart and get one for 20 bucks. That's all they are and they are everywhere.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard is a scam Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 3/07 10:17am They certainly are a scam. We told the man that we could not afford the system he was trying to sell us. He showed us a picture of the outline of a toddler's body, complete with bottle in hand, on a bedsheet. The part where the baby had been lying was white, the rest was pitch black from smoke. He said to my husband and I, "This could be your little Kaylynn", who is our 15 month old daughter. Now we are paying 90 dollars a month for this, while trying to provide for our child. We are very young parents, having just purchased our first home, and cannot afford this scam. I've called the finacing office that put us on the payment plan, and they were no help. They said that they would make a note of how "Shady" the salesman was, and ask him to lower the payment, but since then, no luck.

[> Subject: re: Metal Heat Detector Author: Kevin (Look! A reply w/o quoting the whole frikking post!) [Edit] Date Posted: 11/22/06 10:24pm Where do you get the metal heat detectors? I've found them on eBay but they're nearly a couple hundred apiece, used! I had a dealing with a DeTech.com rep and was told that they "own the patent" on that particular detector. Now I've seen it being (re-)sold under other names (MasterGuard, UltraGuard, Rescue Two, etc.) and TriadSafetyInc.com probably has OEM'ed it as well. Since I nearly got took by a DeTech guy, I'd really like to know where to get those metal heat detectors. Anybody know who the China manufacturer is???

[> [> Subject: Re: re: Metal Heat Detector Author: No name (someone who knows) [Edit] Date Posted: 11/25/06 5:28am In response to your questions, there is no Chinese manufacturer. They are made by Interstate Engineering in California and are made for Masterguard, Detech, and Triad, all basically the same, only different labels and colors, and oh ya the Detech one has a "D" stamped in the front.The rep was partially correct that Detech does own the patent because the president of Detech has part ownership in Interstate Engineering. Also, there is no place that these alarms can be purchased except from a sales rep from one of these companies and definately not at Target, Walmart, Sears etc. . Also, in response to the sales rep who had the check made out in his name, he was obviously the owner of the dealership because no salesman working for a dealership would be allowed to have a check made out in their name, that is the owners money. Lastly, if you want the heat detectors but not the price, there is an electronic heat detector that works continuously, not for a just a few minutes, is self resettable so no fuses to replace or knock off, and comes with a 10 year lithium battery for a fraction of the price. This unit will be available very soon.

[> [> [> Subject: Re: re: Metal Heat Detector Author: Someone Who Knows [Edit] Date Posted: 11/25/06 5:43am Also, I almost didn't include this, but if you people are truely as concerned with your families safety as you say you are, please go to the website www.firecrusade.com and read the truth about fire safety, not just what your local, sorry to offend but, uneducated firefighter has to say, about true fire safety, because anyone who says ionization alarms are good does not know a thing about true fire safety. Read the documents and view the videos there, and if you still have questions feel free to contact me at 608-498-4234, leave a message if no answer and I will call you back.

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: re: Metal Heat Detector Author: Someone Who Doesn't Know [Edit] Date Posted: 11/28/06 10:21pm >www.firecrusade.com Are these the kinds of smoke detectors to use? http://www.gesecurity.com/portal/site/GESecurity/menuitem.f76d98ccce4cabed5efa421766030730?selectedID=16342&seriesyn=true&seriesID= That looks better to me than this one: http://www.gesecurity.com/portal/site/GESecurity/menuitem.f76d98ccce4cabed5efa421766030730?selectedID=16314&seriesyn=true&seriesID= because it will work with a control panel if you have one.

[> [> [> Subject: Re: re: Metal Heat Detector Author: Kevin ((He's Baaack lol)) [Edit] Date Posted: 11/28/06 9:53pm >Lastly, if you want the heat detectors but not the >price, there is an electronic heat detector that works >continuously, not for a just a few minutes, is self >resettable so no fuses to replace or knock off, and >comes with a 10 year lithium battery for a fraction of >the price. This unit will be available very soon. I'm looking forward to that! Can you say if it will be one of the common brands? Or will this be another hard-to-find item? I really did like the idea of 100% mechanical but not for hundreds of dollars each. I never considered the "5 minute" bell to be a problem, but continuous sounds better and I could see the fuse thing being a problem too. However, I was told the DeTech unit would withstand 3000 deg. F. An electronic unit couldn't possibly, could it? What would the upper limit be? Anyway, Thanks to Someone Who Knows!

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 12/20/06 5:34am you people are unbelievable... regardless if you believe masterguard, detech, etc... are a scam... how can you people put a price on your families head... i'd buy a mole hill in the middle of nowhere for $50,000 if i knew it would save my little daughters and my wife's lives! unreal that all you think about is money, there is MUCH more to life than money, and it seems that all the haters out there are hung up on money... go for it, go get a first alert alarm for $5, then you can buy your fancy car, hot tubs, etc... and not worry about your family all i can say is UNREAL how pathetic you people sound, read your own replies... money this, money that... NOT ONCE ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, ONLY OF YOUR POCKETBOOK... well, i'll tell you, that pocketbook will burn up too!

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Ript Toff (:p) [Edit] Date Posted: 01/ 6/07 10:34pm >you people are unbelievable... regardless if you >believe masterguard, detech, etc... are a scam... how >can you people put a price on your families head... Lol - that means "laugh out loud" which is what I did when I saw your shill! Either you are shilling or you don't get it. It's not a matter of "a price on your families head [sic]", the point is that you can get EVEN BETTER PROTECTION at a MUCH, MUCH LOWER PRICE!!! So, two kidnappers have kidnapped your daughter. One demands $10MM, the other will release her safely for $100. So, you pay the $10MM??? Just on the principle that there are more important things than money? LOL!!! It's my understanding that you can have a residential sprinkler system retro-fitted for your house for the price of one of these "protection packages." What would you rather have? Alarms that notify you of a fire ***OR*** sprinklers that put out a fire? Even if it cost more, you can't put a price on your family's lives - stop trying to kill us with alarms and save our fricken lives with the sprinklers, "DADDY"! Lol... For whatever it's worth, I purchased two Rescue II heat detectors on eBay for $35 each. I'd like to sell them to you for $500 per. After all, you can't "put a price on your families head"!!! ...

[> [> [> Subject: Read This! Author: Jeremy [Edit] Date Posted: 01/24/07 11:37pm Masterguard and Triad Safety provide some valuable knowledge concerning fire safety and the truth about common smoke detectors. The also provide quality products that really do save lives...The problem is, they are MLM companies. There are so many people getting a piece of each sale, that they have to charge ridiculous prices for their systems. ($1800 - $3500 on average) I attended the Triad training courses and I have a full understanding of how the program works. The bottom line is this: They pass along VERY important information that every family should know about fire safety. The information is true (I researched it myself) and very shocking. An individual can take this information, educate his customers, sell them the correct equipment and and make a wonderful career out of protecting families. However, you can do this on your own at a much cheaper cost than working through Masterguard or Triad. You can also sleep well at night, knowing that you didn't over charge anyone for keeping their family safe. If anyone in interested in more info, I can tell you what it would take you a week to learn in training classes. Just drop me an e-mail at sthrnguy19@yahoo.com

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: elvee (bemused) [Edit] Date Posted: 02/26/07 8:08pm >you people are unbelievable... regardless if you >believe masterguard, detech, etc... are a scam... how >can you people put a price on your families head... > >i'd buy a mole hill in the middle of nowhere for >$50,000 if i knew it would save my little daughters >and my wife's lives! > >unreal that all you think about is money, there is >MUCH more to life than money, and it seems that all >the haters out there are hung up on money... go for >it, go get a first alert alarm for $5, then you can >buy your fancy car, hot tubs, etc... and not worry >about your family > >all i can say is UNREAL how pathetic you people sound, >read your own replies... money this, money that... NOT >ONCE ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, ONLY OF YOUR >POCKETBOOK... > >well, i'll tell you, that pocketbook will burn up too! I can't put a price on my family's heads but I can put food on the table, Hot water in the shower and lights on at night by not going into debt over these things. You guys are such schmuks. Being defensive over a bad financial decision and being insulting will get you no where. You are probably employees of the company anyway. Whats that Tennesee Earnie Ford song? I owe my soul to the company? Not me brother, Not me.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 04/11/07 1:25pm If the price of any protection for your family is more than the price of an equal competitor wouldnt you be more loving of your family to use the least expensive comparable product? This practice will free up funds which may be needed to protect ones family from other-more common threats. Illness, tornadoes, floods, how frightening but by overpaying for a product you could get from other sources just because you got a comp meal at some second rate restaurant is stupid. And dont let the loser salespeople who will be next at your door with a vacuum cleaner dictate how you feel about your family. If you love them you know it with or without lining a crooks pockets. And to the con artist who will pay 50000 dollars for a molehill in the middle of nowhere to protect his family, someone needs to protect his family from him. Everyone knows that perfectly safe non recalled molehills, many in luxurious locations, can be purchased regularly for under 20000 dollars. Now tell me who is stupid? The price on my families head is capped at the lowest price that I can provide security for them so that the remainder may be used to feed, clothe and educate them as well as keep them well. Masterguard salespeople are rude, just recently I watched them turn away invited guests who to me were dressed poorly. Ha Ha to Masterguard, they happened to be the people who invited me and they own a $610,000 home and had come to the meeting after having done work at their second lake home due to the restaurant being closer to the lake home than their primary residence. Masterguard salespeople dont give a hoot about your families safety just your families money so if you dont believe it dress up like a homeless person and attend one of their sales presentations. These people are third rate trash. >you people are unbelievable... regardless if you >believe masterguard, detech, etc... are a scam... how >can you people put a price on your families head... > >i'd buy a mole hill in the middle of nowhere for >$50,000 if i knew it would save my little daughters >and my wife's lives! > >unreal that all you think about is money, there is >MUCH more to life than money, and it seems that all >the haters out there are hung up on money... go for >it, go get a first alert alarm for $5, then you can >buy your fancy car, hot tubs, etc... and not worry >about your family > >all i can say is UNREAL how pathetic you people sound, >read your own replies... money this, money that... NOT >ONCE ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, ONLY OF YOUR >POCKETBOOK... > >well, i'll tell you, that pocketbook will burn up too!

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Mythgarr [Edit] Date Posted: 06/28/07 9:34am >i'd buy a mole hill in the middle of nowhere for >$50,000 if i knew it would save my little daughters >and my wife's lives! I wonder, though, whether you would buy that same $50,000 mole hill if you saw the neighbor selling another molehill built by the same mole for $10,000? Nobody here is arguing that their families life isn't worth $4000. I don't think that anybody would argue that their families life isn't priceless, but when you are looking between two alarms made by the same manufacturer, process, and components with one model as much as 40% less, it seems stupid to purchase the more expensive model.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: tim [Edit] Date Posted: 02/11/07 9:21am Id like to share something with you all. I just stumbled accoss this forum when i was trying to research an issue on my credit report. Yes! I was taken by the scam. If I had taken action on my fist thought of the whole dinner,presentation,and sales pitch deal, I wouldnt be in this situation. A year and 6 mo. ago I took the deal. Later I learned the problems with the heat detectors the over pricing and the scam. I was able to contact a company called Security Systems Financial - the company that handles all the finance issues for Mastergurad. I told them that I changed my mind and did not want the items that i had installed in my home. After, listening to many desperate attempts to get me to keep the detectors, they finally agreed to pick up the items. it was within the times that was specified by the contract (3 days). Everything was good, so i thought. UNTIL,I recently pulled a credit report on myself, which i do regualary. To my suprise was an account from Security Systems Financial in the amount of $2,250. And on top of that it was listed as a REPOSSESSION. With much curiosity, the knowledge of every legal action I can take to rectify the error, I decided to contact Security Systems Financial. They had informed me that Masterguard was the ones to contact. I proceded to dig further. I asked the "so Friendly" representative, if they knew anything about the contract obligations, stipulations, ar anything of that nature. Again I was referred to Masterguard. So playing along I Called Masterguard. They were unable to verify any record of agreeing to pick up the items within the contract limits and said that I SHOULD WORK OUT A PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT WITH THEIR FINANCE DEPT. So finally after having enough of the BS. I contacted my attorney, Gave proof of the Contract and the dates that everything took place. This was a month ago. And still after threating legal action - NO CORRECTION HAS BEEN MADE, nor have i been contacted. YESTERDAY - contacted Financial company - was told that my account was refered to another department and was hung up on. Called back. Same response. Bottom Line - If you do feel the need to provide fire safety for you or your family, make a smart decision - shop around - take the advise of some of the others in this forum. If you chose masterguard, do not use their finance company, ABSOLUTELY get everything in writing and maintain records of all contact you have with them. Fire Safety is important, but how far are you willing to go for it???????

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: hack_mole (Concerned) [Edit] Date Posted: 02/17/07 4:04pm I went to the MasterGuard presentation on Thursday. The rep is coming over tonite. I don't have his number so I can cancel, but here is what I found out before he gets here. 95% of the presentation is true. Some info is omitted like the fact that almost 5% of the photo smoke detectors failed and that firefighters recommend a combination of detectors on each floor. Also, I found out from this forum that the smoke detectors are made from Gentex. Well, my next door neighbor works for Gentex and confirmed that the model MasterGuard is selling is one of theirs (Gentex holds the patent on photoelectric). It's just not their current version. He said he could get one for about $50-$80. He laughed at the bat and said just to buy my son a louisville slugger. It then has more uses. Anyway, my $.02 I think the education is needed, but paying 6-7 times the price for a product is a ripoff.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Someone Who Knows [Edit] Date Posted: 02/23/07 11:25am >Just wanted to get back to the people in this forum. To answer the question about the electronic heat detector as to availability it is not something readily available yet, but if you wanted to send me an e-mail, or call me I can get you more information about it. As far as the smoke detectors to use, GE is the best available for a stand alone battery powered unit. If you are using them in a system with a control panel, there are several units that work just as good, and none of them are $350 a piece. Also in regards to using different types of alarms per floor, always trust photoelectric, with the light scattering principle instead of photobeam principle, much more reliable, and heat detectors as a combination. Never rely on an ionazation type detector for anything. Even in a flaming ignition fire, which is what they are really designed to detect, they still have a documented 20% probability of a fatality due to the failure of that alarm. For others to contact me, please call my new number of 507-205-4144. If I don't answer leave me a message and I will gladly return your call.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: someone else in the know [Edit] Date Posted: 05/ 2/07 2:15pm Interesting that "someone who knows" repeats the exact same thing that describes Masterguard smoke detectors. He almost quotes from the description of their detectors and Firefighter attested statements yet contradict hisself by saying don't trust them or that you can get the exact same thing from another company (yea, right! Masterguard is the OEM). The thing that sold me was the reliability to detect all types of smoke from a wide variety of fires and that of the hospitals I visited, all had Masterguard smoke detectors. >>Just wanted to get back to the people in this forum. >To answer the question about the electronic heat >detector as to availability it is not something >readily available yet, but if you wanted to send me an >e-mail, or call me I can get you more information >about it. > >As far as the smoke detectors to use, GE is the best >available for a stand alone battery powered unit. If >you are using them in a system with a control panel, >there are several units that work just as good, and >none of them are $350 a piece. > >Also in regards to using different types of alarms per >floor, always trust photoelectric, with the light >scattering principle instead of photobeam principle, >much more reliable, and heat detectors as a >combination. Never rely on an ionazation type detector >for anything. Even in a flaming ignition fire, which >is what they are really designed to detect, they still >have a documented 20% probability of a fatality due to >the failure of that alarm. > >For others to contact me, please call my new number of >507-205-4144. If I don't answer leave me a message and >I will gladly return your call.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Someone Who Knows [Edit] Date Posted: 02/23/07 11:46am Sorry I did not leave my e-mail address, it is tjrohn@hotmail.com

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Layla [Edit] Date Posted: 02/28/07 3:28pm I think that you should go see a dinner for yourself. All of the information given at the dinner is legitament and the research is done by GOVERNMENT entities. MasterGuard does NONE of there own research so that they have even more evidence that they are NOT BLOWING SMOKE UP YOUR ASS! They go by research done by other companies, agencies and corporations. They are really cocerned with your safety and they want more than you obviously know for people to be protected. You obviously had a bad sales person. There are some of those in EVERY company. And there is nothing wrong with sales people. Again EVERY comapny has a sales person of one kind or another. Salespeople need to make a living jsut like yopu and I! Don't knock 'em for it! And to top all of this off, your research is limited and inacurate! i am completely unaffiliated with masterguard and i have done about 5 years of my own personal research on that company and ther product along with many other alarm companies and there products.... Master Guard is a one of a kind product and they are truely the only alarm worth buying even if it is more than any other one out there. if you want to talk bad about a company for selling there product for more than comparable products out there, then talk about mercedes and lincoln and cadillac and all of the other high end car makers... or Gucci and Vercaci and all of those designers that charge more than an arm and a leg ! any way i guess you get my point!

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Dave (Frustrated) [Edit] Date Posted: 03/30/07 2:28pm Yeah but I can look up the price of a mercedes, lincoln, cadillac, Gucci or Vercaci!!! Look them up I can buy any of them online! No BS sales technique, i mean the MasteGuard are worse than a used care salesman!

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: somedude in Utah [Edit] Date Posted: 03/14/07 8:21pm I went to one of these dinner that my wife "won" the other night and a Masterguard "salesman" is coming over tomorrow. I will forget to be here. I understand the need for a great product like these. I have no doubt that they are much better than what I have and I know a fire would devastate my family, however I can't afford these prices. This salesman talked over and over again about how much he believes in what he does and how much he believes in this product and how it saves lives. If he truly cared more about saving lives and less about making money, he would find a company that sales a similar product for less and go work for them. When somebody asked the price of the unit at the dinner and was told he wouldn't tell us, but he would tell us at our free fire safety consultation, I was immediately alarmed (no pun intended) and knew these products would be way over priced. I can't complain about going to the dinner though, It was 'FREE' and good, and I did walk out with a door prize (a nice fire extinguisher). Just don't get scammed by this company - I think their business practices are very shady and unethical.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Some dude in Idaho (exasperated) [Edit] Date Posted: 03/26/07 1:36pm >I went to one of these dinner that my wife "won" the >other night and a Masterguard "salesman" is coming >over tomorrow. I will forget to be here. OK, as someone who has done direct marketing myself (which is what this is people - not - I repeat - not MLM!!!) I have to say that that's real chicken !@&% of you. It's the equivalent of you going to work one day only to be stopped at the door and be told by someone you don't know that you will not be allowed to do your job that day. Oh and by the way - don't call us asking to come in and earn a living, we'll call you when we feel like letting you work. So what you're saying is that you don't have the guts to say NO to the guy, you just run and hide from him? If after listening to what he recommends you still don't think it is a good idea you have every right to say NO! When you are saying NO, at least have the courtesy to tell him why you are saying NO. If the reason is that you think this is a scam - say so! If the reason is because you don't want to afford the system - say so! At least have the courtesy to meet him at the door and keep up your part of the agreement you made to have him come out to your home. He is spending his own time, money, and gas to come out there. If you're not there then his time has been wasted, and that's not fair to someone who is trying to earn a living to feed his own family. > >I understand the need for a great product like these. >I have no doubt that they are much better than what I >have and I know a fire would devastate my family, >however I can't afford these prices. Fine, then tell him that. > >This salesman talked over and over again about how >much he believes in what he does and how much he >believes in this product and how it saves lives. > >If he truly cared more about saving lives and less >about making money, he would find a company that sales >a similar product for less and go work for them. When was the last time you were out in the job market? When was the last time you had to scour the classifids looking for a job that you had the skills for? When was the last time you had to check Monster.com or careerbuilder.com every single day hoping you were able to find something in time to keep your family from going under? It's not that easy getting work anymore and for you to say he should go work for someone else tells me that you don't have a clue as to how difficult it is to find a good job anymore. If you really want him to go work for someone else I have a suggestion - why don't you hire him to work for you? > >When somebody asked the price of the unit at the >dinner and was told he wouldn't tell us, but he would >tell us at our free fire safety consultation, I was >immediately alarmed (no pun intended) and knew these >products would be way over priced. That's because to tell you the price of the item would be tantamount to soliciting the product. In order to put on these dinners (at the reps expense by the way) the resturaunt has them agree to not solicit the product on the premises. If they tell you the price then they are soliciting and they can never do business at that location ever again. Seeing as it is difficult to cultivate a good working relationship with another business considering how suspicious people are these days (want proof? read all the posts above) they are very protective of these ties and they don't want to endanger them. > >I can't complain about going to the dinner though, It >was 'FREE' and good, and I did walk out with a door >prize (a nice fire extinguisher). > >Just don't get scammed by this company - I think their >business practices are very shady and unethical. Really? And if they had told you the price you would have stayed through the entire presentation, or would you have walked out in the middle and missed some information you didn't know about before? I think it would have been the latter. Look, not all direct sales reps are the same, there are good ones out there and there are bad ones out there. For you to make a generalization on a company as a whole just because you have doubts is unfair to all of the men and women out there who are trying to do it right, and trying to do right by their customers. We are not all snake-oil salesmen trying to sell you a bill of goods. We are not all trying to cheat you. Don't automatically assume that we are. I'm sorry if this sounds snippy, but I am sick and tired of people automaticlly assuming that I and others like me are nothing but a bunch of con-artists. I am just a guy who is trying to keep his lights and his heat turned on so his family doesn't freeze. We have the right to earn a living just like the rest of you.

[> [> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 06/29/07 12:19am You may not be a con-artist, but by reading so many of these info(s) tonight after the scare-tactic salesperson left, it's obvious to me that Masterguard trains their sales people to use scare people. Like the Duracell bunny, he just kept going and going even after we asked him to leave. He just kept coming up with how we could die in a fire, that it was probable and then saying that it was obvious we didn't love our family when we said it was too much money for us.

[> Subject: MasterGuard Author: Dave (Annoyed!) [Edit] Date Posted: 03/30/07 2:17pm Hello, I live in Lincoln Nebraska and just attended a "free dinner" sales presentation by MasterGuard. Let me say that the information about fire safety was informative, but many statistics quoted where not backed by their source, and the scare tactic video was disgusting!! The problem I truly had though was the inability of the salesman to devulge the cost of the damn smoke detectors. All he insisted on was an in-home "quick' consultation. One woman asked repetedly, for an aprox. amount.. to which the a-hole finally replied, "if yu have to ask, probably too expensive for you!" This rude asshole made my desicion for me, and i got up with my wife and left! Ok everyone... lets pretend you own a company, and the life saving product you produce, is the "absolute best on the market", do you: A) Sell it to everyone at a competitive price, and list the price on your website where you can make money while saving lives? B) Market the hell out of it, sell it in department stores, retail stores and info-commercials? C) Like every sleazy salesman, sell it with scare tactics an high pressure sales techniques, hiding the actuall cost until you know what kind of home your "client" lives in, so that you an adjust your price higher! These assholes don't understand that we know that if you truly had the best on the market, we would all know about it!! They would be EVERYHERRE, sold everywhere, and readily available! All this company is concerned with is lining thier pockets and scaming people out of their hard earned money! Go buy combo smoke detectors at Menards and save youself $300. They are UL recommended, just make sure you have enough of them! Also, heat detectors have been around for a long time, just shop around! Be an informed shopper and don't buy into BS sales techniques, because some a-hole is trying to scare you!

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Some dude in Idaho (Pissed off!!!) [Edit] Date Posted: 04/28/07 1:31pm >Hello, >I live in Lincoln Nebraska and just attended a "free >dinner" sales presentation by MasterGuard. So Dave, did you have to pay for the dinner? Did someone else pick up the tab? If you didn't have to take your wallet out in the resturaunt, then the dinners WAS free! >Let me say that the information about fire safety was >informative, but many statistics quoted where not >backed by their source, and the scare tactic video was >disgusting!! So Dave, what part of the "scare tactic video" was sooooo disgusting? The part where they showed newspaper headlines? The part where they talked to firemen about smoke alarms that didn't work? Or the part where the couple testified that their over-the-counter smoke alarms didn't go off untill the entire house was engulfed in flames? >The problem I truly had though was the inability of >the salesman to devulge the cost of the damn smoke >detectors. All he insisted on was an in-home "quick' >consultation. One woman asked repetedly, for an aprox. >amount.. to which the a-hole finally replied, "if yu >have to ask, probably too expensive for you!" This >rude asshole made my desicion for me, and i got up >with my wife and left! Then that was 1. your loss, and 2. the wrong response from that safety advisor. MasterGuard reps have to make an agreement with the resturants they conduct their dinners in to not devulge how much the alarms cost inside the resturant. If they did it would be considered soliciting and these resturants do not allow soliciting on the premises. >Ok everyone... lets pretend you own a company, and the >life saving product you produce, is the "absolute best >on the market", do you: >A) Sell it to everyone at a competitive price, and >list the price on your website where you can make >money while saving lives? >B) Market the hell out of it, sell it in department >stores, retail stores and info-commercials? >C) Like every sleazy salesman, sell it with scare >tactics an high pressure sales techniques, hiding the >actuall cost until you know what kind of home your >"client" lives in, so that you an adjust your price >higher! > >These assholes don't understand that we know that if >you truly had the best on the market, we would all >know about it!! They would be EVERYHERRE, sold >everywhere, and readily available! All this company is >concerned with is lining thier pockets and scaming >people out of their hard earned money! Dave if you take this the wrong way then that's fine, but your head is so far up your ass you should be able to perform an angioplasty on yourself. So everyone who works for this company is just out to cheat people, huh? Everyone who puts on one of these dinners is out to take advantage of people and line their own pockets, huh? Everyone who goes into a home ties little old ladies to railroad tracks and young women to logs in sawmills, have I got that right? I've got news for you friend, the people in this company are trying to feed their families, pay their bills, and keep a roof over their heads just like everybody else. The impression that I get from your tirade is that you feel that they do not have the right to earn a living. If you honestly think that then you need to check yourself, because if you really wnat to take food out of their child's mouth then that makes you the bad guy - not them. > >Go buy combo smoke detectors at Menards and save >youself $300. They are UL recommended, just make sure >you have enough of them! Also, heat detectors have >been around for a long time, just shop around! > >Be an informed shopper and don't buy into BS sales >techniques, because some a-hole is trying to scare you! Look Bugeater, not all salesmen are alike. For you to call us all a-holes who are only out to cheat people and line their own pockets is a load of bullcrap! A lot of us are just trying to show people that there is another way to do things. A lot of us are actually trying to help people out if we can to give them some information and let them make the decision for themselves. Obviously you don't like salesmen, but I am willing to bet that you make your living through some kind of sales. If that's the case, then what does that say about you and how do we know that you don't try to cheat people? Remember when you bought your last car? Did you go to the car lot when the lights were out and no one was there because you didn't want to have to deal with a salesman? NO, you went in the daylight when they were open and you had to deal with (hold onto something here folks) a salesman! Look I've had to encounter people like you before and I probably will have to again. But coming out and calling us all a bunch of crooks isn't being a smart consumer. It just makes me think that you hate the capitalist system that made this country great. That means that as far as I'm concerned, you're nothing more than a stinking Communist!!!

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 04/16/07 12:54am >I'd like to share something with others that I have >shared with those in the North Texas Group. I'm also >placing it here because the information put here will >be searchable on the WWW but stuff in the club is >private and will not be searchable. I want to put the >word out so consumers can make an informed decision. > >[Please consider visiting and joining the North Texas >Group using the links above] > >Information... > >My wife was all excited the other day because she >"won" a "free" dinner at Macaroni Grill for filling >out a card. I didn't want to go because I smelled a >scam and had the perfect excuse for getting out of it. > She ended up bringing 2 girl-friends. > >That night, she told me how good the whole thing was. >She told me how much she learned about Fire Safety. >Then the bombshell... Her and the other girls she went >with signed up for the in-home Fire Safety Check >(hi-pressure sales pitch). > >Did I have to be there? Yep! > >Well, after 2 hours of listening about Fire Detectors >and how I needed MasterGuard if I really cared about >my family, I was finally able to say "no". > >If MasterGuard REALLY cared so much about the public, >why would they charge such a ridiculous amount for >their detectors ($335 ea.)? Are they made of gold? > >Part of the pitch was how MasterGuard is so much more >concerned about our saftey than First Alert or other >Fire Safety companies because they go out and educate >everyone about the dangers of not having the correct >Fire Detectors and equipment. > >They chose that marketing/distribution plan and I'm >sure the higher-ups are making a killing because of it. > >It wasn't a totally loss. I did learn a lot about >Fire Safety and the truth is... > >1) A fire can happen to me or you even while we sleep >2) People do die even if they have fire detectors in >the home >3) People don't always die in fires (some live to >suffer terribly) > >It's worth checking out. > >BTW, The initial price quote after the salesman >determined we needed 3 heat detectors, 4 smoke >detectors, 1 carbon monoxide detector, and 1 fire >extinguisher was $2,981. I could have saved $335 if I >bought it the day of the sales pitch and I could have >saved a little more if I were to not get all of the >detectors recommended. > >5 heat/smoke detectors (MasterGuards bread & butter) >1 carbon monoxide detector >1 extinguisher >Total = $2,311 > > >PLEASE READ >------------------------------------------------------- >------------ >If you have these types of detectors, please don't >take this as me saying thay you got suckered. They >seem to be high quality detectors and you have to pay >for what you get. And, you can argue that your >family's safety is important enough to make the >investment. Before you buy, here are some other items: > >1) The MasterGuard salesman led me to believe that >their company is the only company that makes these >types of detectors. This isn't true. Triad Safety >Systems, Inc. makes the same quality products. They >are manufactured by the same people in MI from what I >understand. Take a look at >http://www.triadsafetyinc.com/ > >I found "Responsive" detectors (manufactured for >Triad) on eBay for $70 ea. "Responsive" is >Masterguard's competition in the high-priced detector >market. > >2) CPSC and Interstate Engineering Recall Heat >Detectors > >WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. >Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Interstate >Engineering, of Dallas, Texas, is voluntarily >recalling about 40,000 heat detectors. These heat >detectors can fail to alarm or alarm for a shorter >period of time than intended when fire is present. > >Interstate Engineering and CPSC are aware of one >incident when a heat detector failed to operate >properly during a retail demonstration. Subsequent >testing by Interstate Engineering produced >approximately 38 additional failures. CPSC is not >aware of any failures during use by consumers, and no >injuries have been reported. > >The heat detectors are round, have an off-white >aluminum cover, are roughly 7 inches in diameter and 3 >inches high, and have a round, brass-colored metal >disk at the center of the cover. They are mechanical, >and do not use batteries or electricity. The heat >detectors were sold under the following private label >brand names and models, which were printed on labels >on the back of the detectors: > >MasterGuard model MG-50/70; > >Responsive model TRI70; > >Rescue II model R-50FT. > >Heat detectors are intended to supplement smoke >detectors to warn of fire, but CPSC reminds consumers >they should not rely on heat detectors as substitutes >for smoke detectors. (4/20/99) > >3) A news article that was in the Google cache... > >MasterGuard Scam? > >BILLINGS, Oct. 30 - MasterGuard of Montana sells fire >safety equipment to homeowners in the Billings area, >but not in stores. If you listen to a brief >presentation on fire safety the company will take you >to dinner. But some homeowners say they're just >getting taken. > >People KULR talked to who went to the dinner say the >company uses scare tactics to get you to buy expensive >and unnecessary fire safety equipment and most people >at those meetings happen to be senior citizens. >MasterGuard says its Billings representative is an >independent contractor. He told us that kids and older >people are the highest target for fires. He says the >fire department reaches the schools and his firm >reaches the elderly. > > One elderly couple, who wants to remain >anonymous, bought 12 units from MasterGuard, mainly >smoke and heat detectors. Their bill totaled nearly >$2,500. A MasterGuard representative told KULR-8, "You >get what you pay for, and if you want a Cadillac you >have to pay for a Cadillac." Billings deputy fire >marshal Ralph Freeman says you don't have to pay a >couple hundred dollars for a good smoke alarm. He says >a smoke detector that is UL listed is perfectly safe >for your home. Most U-L listed smoke detectors cost >between $5 and $15 dollars. > > You can return the items from MasterGuard for a >full refund if you do so within three days. But don't >bother going down to the office. MasterGaurd lists its >address as 928 Broadwater, Suite 101. When KULR-8 >tried to find their office, we found suite 101, but it >wasn't MasterGuard. We found a tanning salon. And >KULR-8 wasn't the only place to receive the >complaints, the Billings Fire Department has too. We >asked if MasterGuard uses scare tactics to intimidate >elderly people. Representative Adam Schaser said the >video clip may frighten some people, but he says fire >is a very serious subject. > > KULR contacted MasterGuard's headquarters in >Texas. The company declined an interview over the >phone. > >4) Something I found in newsgroups regarding >Masterguard > >http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=U >TF-8&frame=right&th=8556480b8e69df92&seekm=2319c424.020 >4022319.d9beca0%40posting.google.com#link1

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name (Masterguard presentation) [Edit] Date Posted: 07/ 5/07 9:13pm I listened to the Masterguard rep at a meeting today. He was informative and a good salesman. The video was scary and he did prove that store bought detectors may be an inferior product. How come there was no video of a news agency like CBS or ABC breaking a story about Masterguard'd superior performance? When I look up Masterguard on consumer reports there are no articles. In fact all I find on-line are hundreds of threads like this one that is full of comlaints littered with a few Masterguard reps acting as happy customers. . I am a GM for a major home improvement center, there is a reason why Masterguard is not sold at our store. It has nothing to do with their favorite slogan which is "would you pay a dime for a Cadilac?". The reason is Masterguard would have to sell at fair market price which equals way less profit. Their superior technology would sell for roughly $75.00. . If Masterguard was truly concerned with protecting our families they would advertise on TV, radio and magazine and neogotiate contracts with major retailers to sell their product. . I have a Masterguard rep coming to my house tomorrow, I will listen to his pitch and then I will have my neighbor who is a city fire chief stop by. This should make for intersting tv.....by the way I will be secretly video taping the entire thing. . Bottom line here is these are door to door salesman who make their money by up-selling expensive systems with a high pressure approach. The product might be good but the business model is junk. Buyer be-ware.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 08/11/07 8:31am >I listened to the Masterguard rep at a meeting today. >He was informative and a good salesman. The video was >scary and he did prove that store bought detectors may >be an inferior product. How come there was no video >of a news agency like CBS or ABC breaking a story >about Masterguard'd superior performance? When I look >up Masterguard on consumer reports there are no >articles. In fact all I find on-line are hundreds of >threads like this one that is full of comlaints >littered with a few Masterguard reps acting as happy >customers. >. >I am a GM for a major home improvement center, there >is a reason why Masterguard is not sold at our store. >It has nothing to do with their favorite slogan which >is "would you pay a dime for a Cadilac?". The reason >is Masterguard would have to sell at fair market price >which equals way less profit. Their superior >technology would sell for roughly $75.00. >. >If Masterguard was truly concerned with protecting our >families they would advertise on TV, radio and >magazine and neogotiate contracts with major retailers >to sell their product. >. >I have a Masterguard rep coming to my house tomorrow, >I will listen to his pitch and then I will have my >neighbor who is a city fire chief stop by. This >should make for intersting tv.....by the way I will be >secretly video taping the entire thing. >. >Bottom line here is these are door to door salesman >who make their money by up-selling expensive systems >with a high pressure approach. The product might be >good but the business model is junk. Buyer be-ware. reader be-ware. The GM is a salesman and all his store/ place of business does is attempt to sell you something you don't need. Someone should attempt to research the marketing of these "major home improvement" stores. I have studied psychology in college for years. The "junk" approach is what this country is founded on. Let me get this straight. People would rather sit on their butts, watch a tv commercial and pay a high price for a cheap product, and go into a store and have your brain overloaded with lights, colors, music, signs, slogans, price drops(from what other price) and salesmen, but they would not like to receive a free meal with an education and then invite someone out for more information. Have a day or two to think about it before the person gets there and make a family decision in their own home. I'd love to conduct all business in my livingroom or table. Its called the upper hand.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Thomas (someone who knows) [Edit] Date Posted: 07/11/07 8:36am I would like to comment on a few things and then relay some information. First of all, to "someone else who knows", if you really did know, then you would not comment the way you did. If you had read my original posting, you would realize that I was with Masterguard, Detech, and Triad so when it sounded like what the Masterguard rep said, it is because it was the same presentation. The reason I said, as you say "don't trust them", is because their products, although very good, should not cost what they are trying to sell them for. Secondly, you do not know what you are talking about because Masterguard does not manufacture anything, the smoke alarms are manufactured by Gentex Corporation. They make the exact same smoke alarm for Triad, who does the same thing as Masterguard. Lastly, I challenge you to go to the hospitals you were describing and look to see if the alarms say Masterguard on them, because all Masterguard smokes say Masterguard on them, or do they say Gentex on them. Enough negative stuff, on the positive side we at Alert Systems are setting up a web-site where all the products people need will be available, with the prices clearly shown, and everything needed to get the products. Best thing is all products will be available for under $100, that is LESS THAN $100 per device, with many things for well under $100. Also, the battery powered heat detector I had talked about earlier will be available there, and it will also be LESS THAN $100 as well. Finally, we have inventory from Detech, and Triad on hand and are looking at closing those products out so we are offering them at the closeout price of $100 per device while supplies last. If you are interested call us at 513-772-5594 or send me an e-mail at tjrohn@hotmail.com.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Mike (happy) [Edit] Date Posted: 08/ 1/07 5:17pm My husband and I had these alarms installed (next to our cheap store-bought ones)and then had a fire in our furnace room. Guess which alarm didn't go off? The store-bought one. Never heard a peep out of it, even though we had changed the batteries shortly beforehand. The Masterguard alarms alerted us, we both got out safely. Kind of hard to put a price on that. Seems to me fireman are good at putting fires out, not getting people out of a house before they succumb to smoke inhalation. I have alot of respect for firefighters, but like all people in all lines of work, it is a good idea to stick to what you know (putting out fires) instead of trying to discount what an expert in another field knows (in this case, alarms that save lives). As far as the alarms not being networked -- Usually, if one fails, they all fail. Also, I don't know if the rep lied to you or not. I wasn't there. However, the Masterguard rep we boght from was very informative and his customer service was second to none.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Tom the Cat (slap happy) [Edit] Date Posted: 08/ 1/07 6:53pm I can't believe and will not, most of what I've read. The crazy, weird, silly, and foolish thing is that people go to the internet for information. Clap your hands if you know what "the internet is unregulated" means. For all people know I could be posting all of these. Matter of fact I put one on here 2 years ago in Chicago, 2 this year in Boston and 1 the other day from NY. You see I'm really a doctor who has lost a loved one to a fire. My alarms failed. Read my article on CBS News to verify. I sued and won. Now I'm more wealthy than I was before, being a doctor and all. Oh yeah we charge sometimes 1,000.00s of dollars for medicine that costs very little to make, even after all of the R and D has been paid for. People in the United States don't have health care. Wait I'm a Master dealer, I mean Master Guard Dealer. No i mean i'm a person who went to a dinner for free, no I mean This guy (girls make great sales people) twisted my arm. He came to MY HOUSE (Where I'm in charge) and offered me fire alarms and they cost money and I couldn't say no, I mean It was my house and all, but people always get their way on my turf. I've graduated from a very good public college and was shocked when I studied Capitalism and really understood how our great county was working. Yeah I know go get a job making this alarms at a factory and never see your family. Pay half of your wives paycheck for child care. Or go to school for over 7 years and become a doctor like myself. The truth is who are all these people on here. Are they reallllly people or are they a software program. Don't we all need jobs or do all of us want stuff cheap. OH, I get it, we are going to get something realllllly great for 5-30 dollars. I mean a 500.00 bill only costs so much to make. and somtimes that can cost us 8-10 hours of our life. I love door to door sales (people) Hey can anyone tell me where to find Girl Scout Cookies on E-bay. Or can anyone tell me where to get the cleaner I bought from a door to door sales woman for 60.00 and It really worked. I spent 61.27 on stuff from The local piggly wiggley trying to get my deck stain I sprayed on my house off. If you are still reading this buy the alarms, its only money and the proceeds go to a good cause. Those free meals sure are expensive for someone. OH, it allows some resturants to make money and their employees (who cheat on taxes owed our country, ie the t.i.p.s) I do know a man who ones a Master Guard Dealership and he is a great guy. I met him at the church he never goes to. And last week he mowed my lawn for me because I owed him money. He didn't sue me for not doing my job as a doctor. Hi Bill. Whos Bill. Just some great guy who lives down by Mexico. Hey, lets all hire illegal workers to stand guard in our homes. Its early I've got to go. Wait the fire alarm industry isnt really regulated is it? Come to Michigan sometime I hear the GM and Ford employees are looking for work. or you can come out here to the West and work on the coal rush. Do fire alarms go off for smog. I guess that Master Guard one will, I mean it better I only costs an arm and a leg. By the way I just removed a leg yesterday. Used lasers and everything. You should see that bill. Bad insurance too. Hey why do we have to have fire insurance. By the way If you can guess who I am by firt name only I'll gladly give you a free dinner with a master Guard dealer herself. Or is it himself. This offer is subject to what people or one person posts on the internet only. Can I guess first. I'm only going to give away one free dinner so its first correct guess only. If you show up dressed like a homeless person more power to you. Is a homeless person posting this. This text is posted for fictional purposes only, very little in it is true and is in no way directed towards any one person or company. I reserve the right to void all correct guesses, because this is not real. I repeat this is for useless purposes only.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: SoSimple [Edit] Date Posted: 09/ 1/07 9:44pm TomCat, speaking coherently is a good idea... Everyone knows that is isn't such a thing as a FREE LUNCH, or a free dinner for that matter. It's that simple.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 09/ 2/07 12:54am Detectors MasterGuard sells are the same type of detectores found in stores. Your can not find a Master Optical and Heat Detector in the same unit. You won't find heat detectors for your home at Lowes or Home Depot. Yes, the alarms are expensive, the marketing plan is expenisve, the representative probably make a lot of money, but they are the only fire protection company who has never had a peson DIE or BURNED because it's alarms did not not. How go read the warranty disclamier in the smoke alarms found in the discount stores. You'll find it says the alarm protects half the people who have the alarm isntall in the home. I'll stick with what my freinds did and bought MaterGuard alarms and they were credited for saving his kids lives. That's what its all about. Not the dinner, not the price, not the salesperson, but the detection of a fire and getting UP and Out in Time.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 09/ 2/07 1:09am >CORRECTED: IMPORTANT READ ---- Detectors MasterGuard sells are NOT the same type of detectores found in stores. Your can not find a Master Optical and Heat Detector in the same unit. You won't find heat detectors for your home at Lowes or Home Depot. Yes, the alarms are expensive, the >marketing plan is expensive, the representatives >probably make a lot of money, but they are the only >fire protection company who has never had a person DIE >or BURNED because it's alarms did not work. How go >read the warranty disclamier in the smoke alarms found >in the discount stores. You'll find it says the alarm >saves HALF the people. Studies at Texas A&M on smoke alarm performance found the ionization detector had a probability of a fatality due to the failure to DETECT smoldering fires is 55.8% and 19.8% in a flaming fires. I'll stick with what my freinds did and bought MaterGuard alarms and they were credited for saving his kids lives. That's what its all about. Not the dinner, not the price, not the salesperson, but the DETECTION of a fire and getting UP and Out in Time.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 09/10/07 12:20am Cheap things are not good. Good things are not cheap.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: American (Stupid People Shouldn't Breath) [Edit] Date Posted: 09/21/07 12:17am For the guy who is going to record the MasterGuard presentation in his house and invite his neighbor (the Fire Chief) over the sit in the closet with him and masturbate, you guys need help. Maybe you should buy Clue and figure out who killed the professor. All this talk is great, someone should make a movie about this. If this MasterGuard company wants to sell good products and charge "lots of money" then so be it. By the way, what is a lot of money, is 1 or 2 percent of the value of you home worth it if it saves what you work everyday to have, oh and maybe the people living in the house. I used to sell mattresses down in newport beach, ca and the guy who owned the store would take the cost of materials and labor and times it by 10 to figure out the price. Seems like a scam right, what a jerk, he made 100 grand a month, had nice cars and two houses, he also made people happy everyday when they bought the expensive mattresses and so why should he stop. What about the real estate sales people, wow, scum of the earth, they get 5 or sometimes 6 percent of the sales price of the home they are selling, people get you guns and shoot them dead. I can't believe the government hasn't stepped in and used a strong communist slap to the faces for making so much money and cheating all those poor people that sold their houses. But wait the people that sold their house usually made lots of money too, they should have to sell the house for what they paid for it and not make money, it isn't fair, why should you be able to be happy and make a living in America, we should send all profits to china instead, Oh wait we are.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name (Let's put this in perspective) [Edit] Date Posted: 09/23/07 4:44pm As with every other "distributorship" program, the largest part of the sales price is the sales commission paid to every person in the "chain" from the top (the master distributor) to the bottom (the person who actually sold you the unit(s) and every person in between). This "commission distribution" takes the approximately $80-$100 that the Masterguard unit actually would sell for on the open market and inflates it to the astronomical prices actually paid by the purchaser. (Has any one of you ever purchased a Rainbow vacuum? The actual "cost" of the unit hovers probably around $350-$450, but the price you will pay for it from a Rainbow salesperson will range from $1700-$2500) Notice I used the term "open market". Masterguard and its brethren do not participate in an open market. Their chain of distribution is purposely kept closed, so as not to allow any competition. Have a look at any of their distributors' websites, and pay attention to the "opportunity" section. There you will find promises of wonderful incomes for part-time work. Now I do not begrudge anyone for attempting to make a buck, (I am a small business owner myself), but there is a difference between making a living and making a killing. The former is the result of diligent, honest effort, planning, and a bit of luck, while the latter is not much more than taking advantage of other people. I have perused a number of the Masterguard distributors' websites, and none of them mention anything regarding training for their distributors/installers. They say putting up the devices is "as simple as hanging a picture." Now, I've been in friends' houses, and seen the average person's picture-hanging skills on display. Let me tell you, there's a very wide range of competence in the field. In light of this, would you trust just anybody who's signed a distributorship agreement to hang these things in your home? I didn't think so. Also, there are numerous factors to consider when placing the devices, considering the home's layout, traffic flow, possible combustion sources, etc. Does anyone really think that signing the Masterguard distributorship agreement magically gives the distributor the knowledge and experience to place these devices in the optimum locations? Masterguard proponents make the claim as to "no lives lost" in homes that have had Masterguard devices installed. Considering the placement argument, is it just possible that the sheer number of devices (obviously contributing to a large-as-possible commission) used for the typical installation has more to do with their effectiveness than the performance of the devices themselves? I can assure you that I have a greater chance of having at least one alarm in 10 or 12 go off than if I had only 3 or 4 installed, be they Masterguard or any other model. The economics of the equation being what they are, perhaps the people who purchased the low-cost models at their local home improvement store bought them because they were inexpensive, and only bought 2 or 3, thereby inadequately covering their premises. As a statistical indicator, the "no deaths" statement is actually meaningless without greater knowledge of the overall status of smoke detector installations including all manufacturers, number installed in each location, placement profiles and many other factors. I believe that any person or company that operates as the Masterguard distributors appear to deserves to be called out on it. The use of high-pressure scare tactics, preying on the emotions of others in order to make an inordinately large commission puts these salespeople in a category lower than snails**t in my book. If as they claim, money is not important compared to safety, (a statement I agree with, by the way), why do they not accept a little less money and offer the devices at a more affordable price, thereby offering the implied safety to more people? Someone once told me that you can earn enough to afford whatever you desire, if you will only find a way to provide enough other people what they desire. Do it honestly, and with compassion for those "other people", at a fair, market-driven price, and you will have no shortage of opportunity. Let us keep working to put pressure on the Masterguard people and others like them to realize the inherent disservice their methods are doing to their potential customers. Perhaps then, if their products are really that much better than the others on the market, what is just and right and true will win out, and strengthen their position in the market. If that happens, everyone wins.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: WOW [Edit] Date Posted: 10/16/07 12:36pm you are an idiot. I wonder what competitor you work for.

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: heelomech@aol.com (quit crying about being foolish!!!) [Edit] Date Posted: 11/27/07 11:44am is masterguard pricey? Yes! are they less expensive than the competitors? In the long yes about half as much. MasterGuard saved the life of my family, myself along with my German Boxer who i brought back from Europe after the government sent my faimly and i there for four years. I had a Firex alarm mixed with Kiddy alarms throughout my home. I went to a dinner, my wife convinced me to purchase these alarms. Good thing i did. i didnt take down all the Firex alarms in the home, masterguard refused to put a smoke detector in the kitchen, just a heat detector. I didn't worry about it too much because i had a new firex alarm in it so i left it up. Cooking about 4 months after i bought masterguard i had a grease fire occur during a deep frying adventure of sticky fingers. The Firex alarm never sounded. The Masterguard alarm that was in my hall way did. Notified my wife and family that the stove had been left on. We quickly took care of the stove fire problem and exitted the home. Aired out the home and took down that crappy firex alarm and swear by masterguard now.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Eileen (worried) [Edit] Date Posted: 11/ 9/07 11:05am I need some good advice. This has been my experience with Masterguard: My husband and I are in our seventies. About four months ago, a neighbor invited us to a free dinner. It was all very vague and I remember thinking it had something to do with his wife's work. When we got there we were frigtened into agreeing to let the man come back home with us and examine our trailer. It was very late by the time he concluded his second presentation and all through it I kept asking him to stop because we were getting very tired. (He spent nearly two and a half hours with us!) He would not leave our house until he was finished. He continued to pressure us and argue with us, and I'm ashamed to admit that our agreeing probably had a lot to do with just wanting him to leave us alone and get out. He had everything up on the walls and ceilings before he quoted any prices. We ended up buying a package from Masterguard for almost $2000. It included three smoke detecters, 2 fire extinguishers, and one carbon monoxide dectecter. I live in a very small two bedroom trailer. Now, my husband has had to go into the nursing home and with my own high medical bills I can't afford to continue paying for these things. We don't own anything. All I have is a little social security. Somebody tell me how to get out of this mess, or tell me how to make them come get these smoke dectectors. They have been calling me everyday and being very angry and rude. Yesterday one of them said, "We're going to have to get ugly with you, huh? Coming and getting the detectors is not an option." My credit is shot already. Realistically, is there anything they can do to me if I can't pay for them? I (hopefully) will be paying off my trailer in about six months or so. Will they come after it? Any advice, please? And don't tell me I'm a stupid old woman, because I already know that. :) Thank you. :)

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name (Someone who knows) [Edit] Date Posted: 11/16/07 7:55pm Eileen, First of all, you are not a stupid old woman, you are simply somone who got into a situation that countless number of peolpe just like you have gotten into and had no idea how to get out of it. Don't feel bad it happens every day. The thing to do is to get out of the situation you are in. I have a few questions. How long ago did you purchase the alarms? Secondly where do you live? You can answer me at my e-mail address tjrohn@hotmail.com and I can give you some advice there, but rest assured all is not lost, you can get out of this situation. I hope to hear from you soon, and I will keep looking for your e-mail. Thomas

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name (Be Forewarned) [Edit] Date Posted: 12/11/07 6:22am I just sat through the "free dinner" (Upstate NY) on Sunday evening; followed by a high pressure sales pitch on Monday afternoon. They promised to give a free fire extinguisher, fire bat, and child finder decals when they came. I cut to the chase and asked how much money we were talking and pricey is an understatement. After I told the guy several times I wasn't buying anything today and he tried to tell me how much he and his company cared about us, he left without giving us any of the freebies. Now, I'm not out looking for a free dinner and a free whatever, but they shouldn't promise it and not deliver. I told the friends of mine who invited us to the dinner what happened and she called the local rep and read him the riot act. About 2 hours later the rep showed up at our home with the previously promised freebies. So, they did make good on their promise, but not until after we had to complain. In short, this is a very high pressure and high priced experience. Be real careful before you sign on the dotted line. A Concerned Fellow American

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Alive in Alabama, bu not b/c of Masterguard (too late to do anything about it) [Edit] Date Posted: 01/20/08 2:46pm Well I wish I had know all of this stuff several years ago. Yes, we went to one of those "free" dinners, got suckered in and now we own 2 heat detectors and 2 fire alarms and 2 fire extinguishers. Needless to say though, we went and was vulnerable to the presentation b/c several years prior to that we lost everything we owned and had it not been for our 5 year old daughter thinking that someone was smothering her and then yelled we would have all suffocated. But thanks to our Lord and Savior we are alive. So we bought the expensive devices and I am praying that what we have will give us some kind of warning if we were to ever need them. I'm also hoping that these are not the ones that have been recalled. Anyway, does anyone know how I can clean these? I know that they told us how but that has been many years ago and I can't find my paperwork. So if anyone knows please let me know. And if you know of any recalls please let me know what I can do to get in touch w/someone. Thanks, Cindy

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name (Someone Who Knows) [Edit] Date Posted: 01/22/08 6:34pm Cindy, First of all thank God you are still here to post this message. As for the cleaning,if you turn the black test switch to position 1 and if the alarm goes off, the unit is still working correctly. If you turn it to position 2 and the alarm goes off, it is not working correctly, try cleaning it first and if that does not stop it from going off, the unit is malfunctioning, and should not be trusted. Most Masterguard dealers give a full replacement 5 year warrantee and then a prorated 5 years of decreasing value. You can find out the date of manufacturing on the labels of the smoke alarm. If it is not too old you may have a warrantee issue. If you can't find out your original dealer contact Masterguard in Carrolton, Texas, the contact info is on their web-site. Now as far as the cleaning is concerned, they instruct you to take the unit off of the ceiling, remove the battery and fill up a sink of warm water with Ivory dish soap specifically. Competely immurse the alarm in the soapy water swishing it several times to make certain the soap gets into the sensing chamber to clean the optics. Then take the alarm and rinse it in clean warm water, no soap to rinse all the soap out, again dunking the alarm completely into the water and swishing it several times. Then just merely hold the alarm with the cover open and set it with the opening face down on a towel to let dry for 24 to 48 hours. Then replace the old battery with a new one and test the unit with the test switch on the cover. If it goes off with the test 1 and not test 2 then the unit is ready to be placed back on the ceiling. Please remember in your case to only do one alarm at a time so you do not leave your home and family unprotected while both alarms would be drying.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 2/08 10:32pm My husband and I attended one of those dinners, too. We invited the rep to our house the next day. We were surprised by the price, but I personally know of two houses that burned to the ground with families inside BECAUSE THE FIRE ALARMS DIDN'T GO OFF the way they were intended to go off. I trust Masterguard. I trust the information I've read about them. I am pleased with our purchase and I will defend Masterguard. We are both happy to know we have done absolutely everything we can to prevent anything bad happening to our children or to ourselves. We go to bed every night feeling safe. If you were given the statistics of two different fire alarms, and one had a better track record...wouldn't you buy that one, even if it cost a little more? What's wrong with the world today? My goodness. We put more stock in what type of coffee we drink or what brand of cell phone we use than we do in what kind of fire protection will save the lives of our children. Seriously folks. One alarm works some of the time, one alarm works every time. Which one do you want in your home?

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Scott [Edit] Date Posted: 03/13/08 9:05pm I have to say, we went to one of these dinners tonight. We were not told it was a sales presentation, and the guy giving the speech was a complete loser, with canned, prepared jokes and script clearly written to terrify dullards. I can't believe anyone falls for this nonsense. He lied repeatedly (claiming the informational video was actually on Dateline:NBC, for one thing), and lost his fake smiley facade at every interruption. During the presentation I looked up this page on my iphone and showed everyone at my table. We laughed while he tried his crappy direct marketing bush league nonsense. Good riddance to bad rubbish. You people who do this for a living, quit kidding yourselves. You're scam artists and you damn well know it. You prey on old people, scare them to death, and then charge an exorbitant fee after a high pressure sales pitch. I told everyone in the room about the Right of Recision, just in case someone is fooled by these creeps. Scott

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 03/24/08 11:32pm My mother, who is getting on in her years told me she "won" a "free" dinner with a fire safety presentation. I immediately smelled a rat, and decided to go along for her own protection. Every bad thing about Masterguard that has been said on these boards is 100% true, and clearly every proponent of the company is a shill. There's a link to an ABC news affiliate story on Masterguard with an undercover investigation about the con: http://www.abc15.com/content/news/investigators/story.aspx?content_id=a63c9634-af7d-4d24-b8d6-90bfb94789ef You can also find the article with video by entering "Alarming Prices" or Masterguard pricing into a search engine such as google. Do your research people, like these newspeople clearly have. Do NOT under any circumstances reward the Masterguard company's despicable business practices by purchasing from them. If you do go to the dinner the salesman doesn't attempt to sell on the spot (he saves it all for the high-pressure weardown in your home!) and gives no prices during the dinner so there is no pressure on the dinner itself. Do not agree to any time for a meeting, which he will ask for in the next 1-2 days so you won't have time to research (but which he'll say is so you won't forget). Alternatively, put down to a meeting time on the cards they give out for his earliest or latest convenience (our con-artist said 10 to 10, pick 10PM) and "forget" to show up. In this way you have cost Masterguard and the salesman the greatest amount of time and money for the least benefit. This will make it harder for them to make money off this scam since they are wasting their time on you. By doing this plan you are helping protect another victim, but I will admit this takes several hours to take this noble course. The best plan, of course, is to decline the free dinner in the first place.

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: One of the Safety Advisors [Edit] Date Posted: 04/ 2/08 10:17pm Did it ever occur to those that write all the negative words about Master Guard what they truly mean to say? Behind all of their smoke and mirrors stands little minds they believe that anyone that engages in the field of sales is either a liar or cheat or both and that every presentation about a product or product line is laced with some kind of catch. These same people have made it their life's work to discredit a company whose products stand second to none and provide a true service for the families that install them. It irks me when I walk into a home and one of these loudmouths chastise me and my product as being overpriced yet when I ask them how much they spent on a wide screen high definition entertainment center they beam not blush on how much they have spent for something that has no value other than keeping up with the Joneses! Being able to be alerted quickly should a fire break out in your home to escape unharmed is the very reason why many companies including MasterGuard are in business. There is nothing in that statement that can be construed as a "scare tactic"! The system can be afforded for as little as $43.00 a month and that is with "bad credit" Everthing in life has a price but their is no price anyone can put on saving a life!

[> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: Christine [Edit] Date Posted: 06/11/08 9:00pm Why do they only invite senior citizens to the dinner? What about the safety of the rest of the popluation?

[> [> Subject: Re: MasterGuard Author: No name [Edit] Date Posted: 08/29/08 11:24am >Why do they only invite senior citizens to the dinner? > What about the safety of the rest of the popluation? HUH ?