Installers Vs DTV ( Pay deductions with more demanding work load and higher expenses)

DelawareDTVInstaller said:

I am a sub contracted Directv installer. I am independently liscensed and insured, as well, I am also SBCA certified. I began about 5 yrs ago. Installation paid as followed: 1st Ird $60.00 2nd Ird $20.00 3rd Ird.....etc.. Now we are paid $45.00 for the 1st and $15.00 per each additional. We are now also charged $5.00 per ird not connected to a land based phone line.. Directv Terms and Conditions states that we must only connect when ther is existing connections with in 25 ft. of each reciever. However, if a c.x has no phone service we still are charged $5.00 per ird. Also as we all know the price of fuel has not leveled for some time now. Our expenses and pay decreases and deductions are ridiculous. To top all of this off DTV wonders why we do not put fourth the extra effort to make all c.x's happy. How can we continue to professionally install for these companies if were are going to be paid as poorly as we are...Also....DTV does not take the time to explain to their customers that installation is not entirely free un-less it is within the basic installation guideliness....All for now

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I am a Commercial Satellite/Comunications contractor out her in California. I have been in the business since 1984 and the Big Dish TVRO days. I long ago decided that I could never make a decent living on these types of installs. I was once an authorized Dish retailer and at the time the money was in programing commisions and the install was just a giveaway.
I charge more on a one hour commercial servicecall than they offer for complete multi-room install. My current service rate is $60.00hr including travel and we have a 2 hr min ($120.00). I do install some commercial DTV systems for hotels and such but they mostly understand that they get what they pay for and appreciate quality work and also require that all installers be fully licenced and insured contractors. Any fully qualified installation contractor is a fool to work for less.
What has ruined the small home dish market is that just about anyone with a pickup can get a job as an unlicensed subcontract installer with little or no experience. The stated value according to DTV for a basic install is $199.00 but they do not pay anywhere near that to there installers for labor. In the end its a matter of consumers not being willing to pay the true value of a quality install and DTV just wants to get it installed as cheap as possible so they can sell there programming.