Good day gentleman,

The CEA is now offering memberships to consumers. The members will be called Consumer Technology Enthusiasts (CTEs), will take part in beta testing, with insider access to the industry, and some are being invited to CES. Here’s an article with the information. http://www.electronichouse.com/article/cea_invites_consumers_to_ces/

what d you guys think aqbout this ?

What’s the difference? The new people in charge of many major companies and positions are already amateurs at best. (emphasis & sarcasm are to be added here)

Thanks Losboskie… Give me a call.

Dave

I think it is a good idea actually.

I think we as integrators get enamored with new products, or features on products we sell and install.  We also tend to favor brands that support us and are easy to maintain, not a bad thing in itself, but also overlook some of the weaknesses of the products as trivial.

I think we need the unbiased fresh look of our potential customers to be expressed and heard by the manufacturers.  It allows them to make products for consumers and not the integrator.  I’m not advocating circumventing our channel, I’m just saying that if we offer products that are unique to our channel AND specifically targeted at market data from consumers themselves, we may find ourselves in a righteous position.

If there are dues involved, which it sounds like there are, the only people that will be willing to pay are early adopters and technology enthusiasts who want the prestige of early product release and are willing to help the industry cut its teeth on new ideas.  I can’t see how it would be a bad thing.

Honestly, aren’t we seeing issues now with products developed for consumers (iPad) gaining ground over products made for the channel (Crestron, AMX touchpanels)???
Sure we can say well, iPad can’t do . . .but we’ve already seen that many consumers respond with a loud “Who Cares?”  Why continue to push things that go against people’s natural instincts to buy them?

Let the CEA create these CTE’s to give industry feedback from consumers for features and usability, and temper that with integrator feedback on service, support, and installation and you may just get a product line a cut above the rest, that sells itself, through our channel.

Mark C

Losboskie,

Thanks for posting this, but you didn’t give your take.  Feel like sharing???

I agree with you Mark but I wonder how serious is CEA about it; I mean how much promotion will it recieve?  a also curious , will it benefit me to necome a CEA member now? AND IF SO HOW ?
I would like cedia to consider something similar , i feel sometimes all cedia is is a badge on peoples website . They need to see what they can do to help make the integrator a name brand like the plumber and electrician. I think its a good idea and im curious to see where it goes.

So, there is only good news in this. 1. Why not allow motivated and interested consumers more to share in their social networks? 2. These new CTE members are perfect for focus groups, usage testing, pre-launch marketing and more. For member companies this will lower the costs associated with these kinds of important market activities. We have seen way too many products “beta tested” on consumers only to be found lacking or in need of redesign. Any help on this should thrill member companies 3. It is core to the CEA mission of “promoting the consumer electronics market”. Why are consumers part of that? While this may not work, there is little downside and potentially many benefits. For those doubters the point is that CEA is an industry association. It is made of volunteers so what it does is up to them. Skeptics should get involved rather than throw stones as the point of the CEA benefits all in CE. If you don’t like what they do, get in and change it. You will generally find involvement gets a whole lot more value than it cost.

@los
You are right, CEDIA needs to change arounsd a bit.  A trade show and a couple good trainings sprinkled in the course minutia they have now, is not worth the membership at this point, IMO.
How many “CEDIA” install jobs have you been to that are botched?  I’ve been to quite a few.  It really means little to the consumer in being able to accurately predict how good the firm’s delivered product will be, and that is sad.

Mark,
Not only do I agree with you, but I refuse to send CEDIA another dime for membership for myself, or for any of my installers. I too have seen way too many, “CEDIA Certified,” botched installations. 

This organization started out trying to do the right thing, but has been side tracked by greed. Anyone with a checkbook can freely print the logo on their business cards and websites. Not to mention, CEDIA was flawed from day one from a marketing standpoint… It’s a horrible name that’s acronym needs to be explained to John Q. Public.

With all of the money that’s been collected by CEDIA over the years, it’s far from a, “Household Name,” such as, “THX or Dolby.” Even American Express uses the slogan, “Membership has its privilege’s.”

How & when did we lose ours?

Do you think because the CEA supports all channels, including retail, that its CTE program will have more prestige and clout, therefore have legs?  Or will the $1000 membership be the kink in the works that makes it fail?  Do any of you belong to a personal hobby club that costs $1000+ bucks a year?  I haven’t in a long time (since the kids).  They get all the “club” dollars right now.

Mark,
You can get a lifetime membership in the NRA for $1,000.00, or chose a $35.00 per year plan. I assure you from experience, that anyone that can afford the disposable $1K income to join into any organization, the NRA is the best money spent. The only thing we have explosive in this industry is hooking up any Carver/Sunfire amp to any speaker with a 4 Ohm load.

Let’s take it a step further… If I pay the $1K for CTE dues, is my voice/vote more important than others?  This sounds like another Debra Smith type, “PARA,” organization which promises a stronger voice, education, and influence. Just like CEDIA, it goes nowhere. The money only affords the self appointed executives of these organizations the ability not to get into the trenches and do an honest days’ work, while at the same time collect a paycheck and vacation at the members’ expense.

Stop feeding the charlatans! This site is free and has a huge audience. You don’t need to spend money to speak your mind on CE Pro… The only dues is, “growing a pair,” and stop being afraid of being politically correct.

To all dealers:  WE HAVE THE CHECK BOOKS, THEY HAVE THE BOXES!  Only an idiot can’t see whom has the ultimate power & influence.

There is no, “wizard,” behind the curtain!

Dave Stevens - 30 October 2010 01:26 PM

Mark,
Not only do I agree with you, but I refuse to send CEDIA another dime for membership for myself, or for any of my installers. I too have seen way too many, “CEDIA Certified,” botched installations. 

This organization started out trying to do the right thing, but has been side tracked by greed. Anyone with a checkbook can freely print the logo on their business cards and websites. Not to mention, CEDIA was flawed from day one from a marketing standpoint… It’s a horrible name that’s acronym needs to be explained to John Q. Public.

With all of the money that’s been collected by CEDIA over the years, it’s far from a, “Household Name,” such as, “THX or Dolby.” Even American Express uses the slogan, “Membership has its privilege’s.”

How & when did we lose ours?

I was a Cedia member when I first started in the Ci industry. I tought it was needed so ppl would respect me and look at me as a true pro.  thought they would help me in learning the biz so i took some cedia clases and got my ‘CERTIFICATION’’ I wish someone had informed me that all this was a waste of time and money . I would have joined my chamber of commerce at the start instead. I will say tis ALMOST NOBODY WHO I HAVE SOLD A SYSTEM TO EVEN HAS A CLUE WHAT CEDIA MEANS!  its sad the present themselves as the org to be in when they d nothing for us but fill their pockets wit our cash and in return give poor marketing articles written by ppl like or including Debra Smith with her uber basic marketing aproach .  am serious to Mark and Dave ; I would love to start a mastermind group of sorts with you guys and maybe include other fellow forum ppl or even the editors Tom Julie wha do you think? Its time we start helping ourselves and stop wasting time and money to those idiots!

Losboskie… Count me in!

P.S. Sorry I haven’t been able to get back to you, but once again we had a builder who was supposed to give us 2 weeks prior notice before sheet rocking, and got one of those famous late night calls that they were starting in 24 hours.

Dave Stevens - 01 November 2010 07:56 AM

Losboskie… Count me in!

P.S. Sorry I haven’t been able to get back to you, but once again we had a builder who was supposed to give us 2 weeks prior notice before sheet rocking, and got one of those famous late night calls that they were starting in 24 hours.

Not a problem ,  know the feeling . We will talk soon!