Complaint Review: Masterguard

 MAINTENANCE After your smoke alarmhas been in operation for a period of time or if it was installed prior to the completion of all building construction, your device may have becomemore sensitive due to dirt build-up in the smoke alarm's optic sensing chamber which could cause nuisance alarms or could cause activation fromsmall amounts of smoke build-up. If this should occur, following this simple washing procedure will restore your smoke alarmback to its original condition. For further information, regarding frequency of cleaning and testing, refer to NFPA 72, NFPA, Batterymarch Park, Quincy,MA 02269. NOTICE: FAILURE TO FOLLOW FULL CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THIS SMOKE ALARM. DO NOT REMOVE ALL SMOKE ALARMS AT THE SAME TIME FOR CLEANING. 1. Turn off electrical power to the smoke alarm. 2. Rotate smoke alarmcounter-clockwise to remove it fromitsmounting plate. 3. Unplug the connector fromthe back of the smoke alarm. Do not remove the wire connection. 4. Select three (3) standard size wash buckets and fill themeach with one gallon of normal tap water (distilled or de-ionized treated water is recommended as a final rinse if water is extremely hard in your area). 5. Add 1/8 cup of Ivory dishwashing liquid to the first bucket of water and allow it tomix thoroughly, then place one dirty smoke alarminto the soap water mixture until it becomes completely covered or submerged. NOTICE: IF THE SMOKE ALARMS ARE EXCEPTIONALLY DIRTY, YOU MAY WISHTOFIRSTWIPEOFFANY EXCESSDIRT BEFOREWASHINGUNIT SO AS NOT TO DIRTY THE WASH WATER TOO QUICKLY. DO NOT open smoke alarm for cleaning. IF SMOKE ALARM IS OPENED DURING CLEANING,PRODUCT WARRANTY BECOMES VOID. NOTICE: ONLY IVORY DISHWASHING LIQUID IS TO BE USED. OTHER BRANDS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED AND MAY CAUSE YOUR SMOKE ALARMTOMALFUNCTION. 6. Allow smoke alarmto soak for approximately 10minutes (longer if extremely dirty). Then agitate for 5 or 10 seconds to flush out any remaining dirt left inside smoke alarm's housing. 7. Remove smoke alarmfromwashwater and transfer directly to one of the first rinse buckets containing clear water. Again, allow smoke alarmto become completely submerged, agitate oncemore for 5 or 10 seconds to remove soap residue. 8. Finally, transfer smoke alarmto your second and final rinse bucket, repeating method found in Step 7, then remove smoke alarmto a clean dry area for a period of 48 hours to allow it to thoroughly dry. NOTICE: SMOKE ALARMS ARE TO BE AIR DRIED ONLY. DO NOT PLACE DEVICE IN OVEN,MICROWAVE OR USE AHOTAIR BLOWER TO ACCELERATE DRYINGTIME. THIS COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TOYOUR SMOKE ALARM.

If the product is that good why would it only have a 3 day return policy. My parents and Aunt have just purchased the product. $5000 between the two of um, and getting the run-around on returning this over priced product. Probably have to take um to small claims court, or file a class action lawsuit against um. Will keep updated you on the outcome. 

Today is the first time I have read the reports on here about Masterguard.  I am writing to try and clear my name.  I am not afraid of telling you who I am.  My name is Zane Gray and I used to live in Lehi, Utah.  I am available to be reached at zgray007@hotmail.com.  I did not pretend to be someone else and write a "report" under a false name.  I am not the coward that did this.  As far as I know, the person that wrote this "report" is a customer that has some serious issues.  I stand behind what Chris Roberts wrote.  To be clear, I have NEVER worked for Masterguard.  I am a consumer of Masterguard products.  One of the rebuttals from John Hopkins (is this a real person?) was directly pointed at me.  If you have a beef with me, then please contact me.  This is a forum for people to say that they agree with the post or that they disagree with the post, not a chance to take a stab at someone that has nothing to do with the company in question.  I am not scared to post my REAL NAME and my REAL EMAIL ADDRESS.  John, send me an email and let's talk.  As far as Masterguard goes, read what Chris Roberts wrote and do your best to make an educated decision.  As for me... I go to sleep every night with Masterguard alarms above my head and I wouldn't have it any other way.  Just like anonymous posts, Rumors are cowardly.  I highly doubt that "John Hopkins" from "America" is a real person.  If you are, then call me.  I want to see your drivers license with your "name" on it.  You are exactly what Chris was describing when he wrote his response.  I have not been in hiding.  Everyone that works with Masterguard has my email address and if they want to know anything about me they can contact me at any time.  The fact that many of them have chosen to spread rumors makes them the same as what Chris talked about...cowards.  I fully support what Chris wrote.      

This wreaks of a "known" person that USED to be associated with this reputable company.  This person was "caught with HIS hands in the cookie jar...  EMBEZZLEMENT"  of "epic porportions"!!  DO NOT give credance to this nonsence.

I have found that the warranty is unsurpassed on these alarms, and am EXTREMELY pleased with the product, the way it is presented, AND the LIFETIME warranty!

Just because this individual HAS been busted with  HIS hands in the cookie jar, and is facing PRISON time, does not constitute truth.  DO NOT be fooled by the JOKER!

Masterguard, WFFS, and affiliates have been above board and very open about their business, where on the other hand,this individual is scrupulous at best.  BE WARE!

I learned a GREAT deal more than I had ever realized about home fire safety by attending this seminar.

To:  Larry (Phoenix, Arizona):

Please take notice that MasterGuard, LP (MasterGuard) has initiated an action in the Superior Court of the State of Arizona, in the County of Maricopa, entitled MasterGuard, LP v. John Doe a/k/a Larry (Phoenix, Arizona) and Jane Doe, husband and wife, and ABC Associations I-V, and assigned Case Number:  CV2010-050299 (the Arizona Action).  In the Arizona Action, MasterGuard has served a Subpoena Duces Tecum on Xcentric Ventures LLC, the company that owns and operates this website, to obtain your contact and identifying information.  MasterGuard seeks this information in connection with false and defamatory statements you have posted on this website.

Arizona law requires that you be provided notice of the subpoena via the same medium that the false and defamatory statements were originally published.  You have a right to file and serve an anonymous response to the subpoena.   You may also contact the Arizona court and/or hire an attorney to object to the subpoena.  If you intend to file and serve a response to the subpoena, please do so or notify us of your intent to do so on or before April 2, 2010. 

If you would like a copy of the Subpoena Duces Tecum, you may contact us at:

Stephen J. Womack, Esq.

Scheef & Stone, LLP

14555 N. Scottsdale Rd., Suite 310

Scottsdale, Arizona 85254

(480) 302-3704

I am Vice President of Marketing for MasterGuard, L.P. Since 1971, MasterGuard has been and still is a legitimate company. We are not a scam. Unfortunately, the internet has fostered the publication of defamatory statements by persons hiding behind a cloak of anonymity, such as the person who wrote this report.

Since 1971, authorized MasterGuard dealers have sold millions of our products and served hundreds of thousands of homeowners with warranty and service issues. Nearly every week, we receive letters from satisfied customers crediting our products, education and Dealers with saving the lives of their families from home fires. Our lifetime fire replacement warranty provides them with peace of mind and free replacement of their product.

The so-called report in question is inaccurate. The dollar amounts quoted by the anonymous author are grossly inaccurate and show that he or she is uninformed and has made assumptions that can and will be proven to be misleading. The report also does not take into consideration the value of pre-sale, point-of-sale, and post-sale services provided by trained MasterGuard dealers, services that do not accompany a product purchased online and delivered by mail. It is true that some commercial-grade smoke alarms and other products can be purchased online. Would you know how and where to install such products? Would you know how to hard-wire smoke alarms so that they have two sources of power? Would you know what to do to interconnect smoke alarms so that if one alarm in the house sounds, they all do? Do you know where the applicable fire code recommends the installation of heat alarms but not smoke alarms in your home? Do you even know what a heat alarm is or how it works? Do you know that a single-station mechanical heat alarm (sold and installed by authorized MasterGuard dealers), which requires no source of power, cannot be purchased at retail from any vendor? The package prices offered by authorized MasterGuard dealers include professional installation of all the products, as well as personalized instruction in how to use, test, and care for the products. A complete package generally includes smoke alarms, single-station mechanical heat alarms, combination smoke/heat alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and other products professionally installed (and hard-wired if possible) in locations throughout the home required or recommended by the applicable fire code. A product purchased online, which arrives in a box in the mail, is not accompanied by such services. And if you need service or assistance, your MasterGuard dealer will come directly to your home to provide it. If you have a problem with a product you purchased online, customer service may consist of email responses to emailed questions.

Our high quality engineering, manufacturing and research and development have set us apart for nearly four decades. We do not attempt to build a cheaper fire alarm we attempt to build a better fire alarm. For instance, our stand-alone smoke alarm can be completely submerged in water with soap to clean it. There isnt another stand alone smoke alarm on the market that can withstand this type of field maintenance. The United States employees of Gentex do build this alarm for us and exclusively for us. Our product replacement warranty is 25 years plus a 2 year unlimited replacement warranty for a total of 27 years. If a consumer decides to return his or her smoke alarm simply because it is time to replace their detection under the 10 year replacement required by the NFPA, then we replace it. The men and women who staff our service department work diligently to provide above and beyond quality service to each customer.

For this coward anonymously to defame our company and anonymously make false accusations against the four decades of our employees showing up every day for work is a sad statement about our country. If we are a scam, we are not very good at it. If our company is a scam, I for one should not continue to show up for work every day and do my job.

Do not let this uninformed person, hiding behind a cloak of anonymity, prevent you from making an educated decision. Before you were introduced to the MasterGuard products and the awareness that our presentation brought to you, you likely had no idea that you needed quality products for fire detection. You had probably never thought about fire drills in the home or you didnt know if your fire extinguisher was charged. You may have been in the huge percentage of homeowners with disabled smoke alarms because the inexpensive models that came with your home had false alarmed. Worse yet, your home was built before code required you to have smoke alarms in your bedroom and our Dealer brought that to your attention. And you probably did not have single-station mechanical heat alarms (requiring no source of power) installed in locations in your home recommended by the NFPA model fire code. The cost of not knowing these extremely important facts is proven by the thousands of people who lose their lives in our country every year.

In 40 years, MasterGuard has never been informed that a single life has been lost as a result of the failure of a MasterGuard fire alarm to work as intended. We are proud of that record and we would not have it but for the professional installation, service, and educational work of authorized MasterGuard dealers, who determine what products are needed in what locations and professionally install them. Our number one goal is to save lives through education, high quality early warning fire alarms and proper placement by factory trained independent authorized Dealers and their Safety Advisors. In fact, if you compare our pricing to any commercial fire alarm installer, we will be at fair market prices. In fact, we often outbid our competition.

Make no mistake, we do not compete with the big box store alarms made in Taiwan. Those alarms have a purpose. They protect people who cannot afford to do better. In our country, we offer public transportation as well as Volvos for purchase. The public transportation will get you there, but the Volvo offers more. If you have attended an awareness seminar, you will have been informed about the other options.

Some MasterGuard products are indeed manufactured for the company by original equipment manufacturers, under our specifications and in the United States, leaving the manufacturing plant bearing our trademarks. Some of our products are exclusively manufactured for us, such that they can only be acquired from authorized MasterGuard dealers. In fact, we have just reached an agreement to become the exclusive distributor of new technology that offers the most effective waking alarm ever listed by U.L. It is our commitment to continue to bring new and innovative alarms to market.

This uninformed anonymous posting is ugly. It is not true and we have retained legal counsel to pursue appropriate legal action, including action that will identify the person who posted this report consisting largely of false and defamatory statements intended to harm our company and authorized MasterGuard dealers throughout the country.

The internet is a great tool and I use it every day. However, my 12 year old son can type one word into his computer and see graphic images and words that his mother and I would never want him to see. The internet is still the wild, wild west and unfortunately, it offers a breeding ground for cowards like the poster of this report. There used to be an ethical requirement of truth before freedom of speech was allowed. MasterGuard products and services are expensive, but that does not make us a scam.

Thank you for reading this rebuttal. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me at 972-393-1700 or look us up on the world wide web at www.masterguard.com and contact us via email. Unlike the anonymous poster of this report, I am willing to put my name and phone number with my statements.

Chris Roberts, Vice President, MasterGuard, LP