SHOP OWNERS=cameras?

[chopshop]

So I have the opporunity to put a web came into my shop and stream the shop live on the web.

I thought it would be good for me to see what was going on when I am on the road & good for our long distance customers to see their cars being worked on (or what is being worked on at any time)

BUT wondering what others may have to say about this..... :question:

[awr68]

My first thought is that it might show the world too much....don't want theves to see whats in there and when you aren't working!

But it would be cool to see what you eat for lunch! :lol:

[chopshop]

My first thought is that it might show the world too much....don't want theves to see whats in there and when you aren't working!

But it would be cool to see what you eat for lunch! :lol:

LUnch? Who east lunch?lol

Im actually thining it might help for me when I am on the road more- hvaing the guys know I could we wacthing at any time might be cool ...BUT being anle to have people see whats happening was the 2nd reason.
I know it takes a lot of bandwitdh to do so not sure...

[bulldogchevy]

Hey i put cameras in my shop 8 total more for keeping an eye on things going on.But i have a two floor shop,it is never nice to watch whats going on when not there or look back to see what was going on or not going on.

[bret]

I have found that if I have to micromanage my people to that level, if I feel the need to watch them that closely...I have failed to hire the right people. Shame on me.
And if have time to review the video to see if something has gone on while I wasn't watching...shame on me again. Spend your money on better people...or better work processes.

[RECOVERY ROOM]

I agree with Brett,I know shops that tried it,did not work,lost all his people because they felt they were not trusted.

[rwhite692]

I did cams but only for security around the house and shop...no employees for me to monitor...I have the Panasonic BL-C131A webcams. Did a lot of reasearch on this before deciding to go w/the Panasonic units...The beauty of the Panasonic webcams is that they come with FREE web hosting forever from Panasonic, so that a static IP address where you have the cameras installed isn't needed. Most people with high speed connections (DSL or Cable) do not have a static IP address, so this is an important consideration.

I can pan/tilt/zoom each camera and get audio as well, all remotely. Pretty cool to be in Taiwan and check the cams and "oh, look at that, the UPS guy is in my driveway..." Each camera becomes much more versatile when you can pan/tilt/zoom it remotely, so you don't need as many cameras.... In addition I have some of the cams set up with the motion detection on and as soon as they sense motion they start sending emails to me with photos...so even if a theif, etc was to smash the camera, it's too late, the pics are already in hand. (Of course you would need to be fortunate enough to catch recognizable faces, etc...)

I have been through the experiment with the "X10" type cameras, while they may work for some folks, IMHO there are several reasons why they are as cheap as they are.

[chopshop]

I have found that if I have to micromanage my people to that level, if I feel the need to watch them that closely...I have failed to hire the right people. Shame on me.
And if have time to review the video to see if something has gone on while I wasn't watching...shame on me again. Spend your money on better people...or better work processes.

I trust them- thats for sure - but sometimes they play when the boss is away- and its usually when I have a deadline.

thanks for the input :thumbsup:

[racebuicks]

I thought about this very thing for my shop. However i was told a story about a shop that did this and the customers were watching freaked out as they saw their car being disassembled and worked on. And since they really didnt know what they were looking at it really got bad when the phones lit up "WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY CAR!!!???" So just think about all this as well as the above stuff too. It can happen. I still would like to figure out away to do it myself. Good luck!

[chopshop]

Damn! Never thought of that aspect- I was thinking client would like to watch them being worked ontoo, but you are SO RIGHT that most would freak when quaretr panels came off and we saw what was really underneath!!!LOL

[jimbo]

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY CAR!!!???"

Why is there BONDO on my car!!!

[lhkustoms]

I have web broadcasted cameras setup in my shop for security reasons and so I can watch the guys when im away all employees play a little when the boss is away but some a little to much which is why I have 1 less employee. I do not let my customers view cause I cant always be on the phone explaining things :)

[chopshop]

I have web broadcasted cameras setup in my shop for security reasons and so I can watch the guys when im away all employees play a little when the boss is away but some a little to much which is why I have 1 less employee. I do not let my customers view cause I cant always be on the phone explaining things :)


is it a site you can give people access to it?Of have you just not told your clients you have the access?

I really think watching the staff os a good idea - or justy to let them think yu are - sometimes if people think you are watching - they are more apt to be doing the good stuff and not the bad.

Dont get me wrong here- my guys are great gys- but ultimaely its MY business so I want to know whats going on when Im not there- we will see...

[pacificustoms]

You should look into a monitoring system that AT&T has, a very affordable system, easily expandable and they also have motion detection to send you emails or even photos to your AT&T cell phone if you have their service. It's also a monitoring service so for security reasons you have the peace of mind someone is watching when sensors go off. You can also log onto their website and view the video coverage live to watch your guys if thats how you choose to spend your time. It may be something to look into.