so i decided to do my audio right and so far i have a pioneer head unit, the ipod interface, kicker 6x9's, infinity 4x6's, a pioneer mono amp for a 10" kicker sub, and a 4 channel alpine amp to power the 4 speakers. Just to get all this installed with wires and all, BEST BUY quoted me at $588.72 BEFORE tax. is that stupid or what? what are your guys' opinion? i didn't buy their warranties for the products yet because they said if you dont get it installed by them, it doesn't cover much. I know everywhere is different, but from your experience ( i know some of you work for car audio stores) what should i pay to get all this installed?
Do it all yourself. Its harder, but a LOT cheaper.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tristatetuners.com
IGOTBANNED.NET
OceanStateDubs.com
done EVER let best buy install ANYTHING in your car.
car audio noob since 1984.
that makes perfect sense after seeing those prices. so would it be worth getting their 4 year extended warranty if i dont have them install it? it sounds like they are only going to back up their stuff if they install it
also, i live around dayton/cincinnati ohio area. does anyone know of a good place to get it installed? i will post in the regional forum as well, but since i already have this one started, i will try here as well.
thanks for all your comments and suggestions.
if you're buying stuff from them, then chances are they're an authorized retailer. in which case manufacturers warranties will apply.
car audio noob since 1984.
Rich Grayo Jr. wrote:done EVER let best buy install ANYTHING in your car.
Some of the install techs I've come across are actually pretty good. My roommate paid to get his system installed at a local Best Buy, and they did an awesome job of getting it done, and cleanly. No wires, no mess, no problems at all. They let us check everything out during the install, commented about the car, and basically just chilled and talked to them..
But it really depends on the place.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tristatetuners.com
IGOTBANNED.NET
OceanStateDubs.com
^^ sounds like they were an exception. most best buys i've ever been to hire high school kids with no experience, and the quality really lacks.
car audio noob since 1984.
Str8edgez24 wrote:Rich Grayo Jr. wrote:done EVER let best buy install ANYTHING in your car.
Some of the install techs I've come across are actually pretty good. My roommate paid to get his system installed at a local Best Buy, and they did an awesome job of getting it done, and cleanly. No wires, no mess, no problems at all. They let us check everything out during the install, commented about the car, and basically just chilled and talked to them..
But it really depends on the place.
yeah sounds like you got lucky, you should see some of the horror stories of my friends that got their stuff installed there
---
600 bucks for labor and materials? that's not that bad for a shop price really. Go to a REAL shop and get a quote, it may even be higher then that.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Offical dealer for the following-
SOUNDSTREAM
DB LINK
DB DRIVE
PANASONIC
GARMIN
ROSEN
SCOSCHE
XE DESIGNS
SOUNDGATE
PAC
LITEGLOW
Eh, it's pretty labor intensive work, though it's not hard, you could do it easily yourself if you have the time. The speakers are easy, runing the amp and speaker wires is a real pain in the ass though.
honestly like stated above it's nott hat hard the hardest part is running the wires just pop ur carpet retainers off n run the wires first get the harder part done and out of the way the rest is a cake walk.
Rich Grayo Jr. wrote:done EVER let best buy install ANYTHING in your car.
Order some meatlovers pizza and a gallon of kool-aid and heck I'd do it if you were in my area.
Well first off, coming from experience, NEVER let bestbuy touch your ride!!
Second, just because you didn't pay them to install it, doesn't mean that they can deny warranty reapirs(EXTENDED MAYBE)
tHIRD, buy me a case or two of beer, give me a couple hours, and i'll have all the @!#$ wired up and hidden!
144db@38hz! It hurts so good !
your not going to get quality work at any type of best buy or circuit city type store. anyone with any real talent would be off working at a true audio store. installing speakers in our cars isnt that labor intensive. an hour for the headunit an hour for the fronts hour for the rears an hour for the amp and sub. at 50 bucks an hour that only about 200 bucks, figure in another 100 for wiring. now for your amp and sub if they get creative then the price can start skyrocketing but chances are slim of that at best buy. chances are they were figuring in $100 for the wiring harness for the radio which u dont need.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sndsgood/ https://www.facebook.com/#!/Square1Photography
thats true. I will go to a local audio shop and see what they quote me and i will let everyone know how much of a difference the price is
im sorry but i actually work at best buy and im a very good installer!....i dont care what any of you say i can out install 95% of you on here!!!! not bragging but the reason i work at best buy is less headaches....they are really over pricing you by like 100 bucks. I would say try it on your own but still get the warranty (if something blows you should be able to exchange it no problem). BTW not all best buys have bad installers!!! plus i never have a problem getting my paycheck and its always on time.....the discount is nice too =)
sndsgood wrote:your not going to get quality work at any type of best buy or circuit city type store. anyone with any real talent would be off working at a true audio store. installing speakers in our cars isnt that labor intensive. an hour for the headunit an hour for the fronts hour for the rears an hour for the amp and sub. at 50 bucks an hour that only about 200 bucks, figure in another 100 for wiring. now for your amp and sub if they get creative then the price can start skyrocketing but chances are slim of that at best buy. chances are they were figuring in $100 for the wiring harness for the radio which u dont need.
i agree that you wont get very high quality work from the store itself (this goes for best buy, future shop, circuit city, etc.). but as for anyone with real talent working for a real audio store? best buy IS a real audio store, they also pay better than most other places. In fact, one of the best installers i know works there. I personally dont shop there, but thats because i tend to stick with one place, and i already have a small car audio store that i like to deal with.
If i were you i would definitely just go ahead and try it myself, the biggest pain in the ass is running the wires, other than that its fairly easy. And any problem you run into, generally any installer (online OR at a shop) will listen to the problem and try to tell you whats wrong
As for their warranties, f**kem. its amazing the reasons they will come up with to avoid honouring a guarantee they sold you
its really a shame that being stupid doesn't hurt more
Do you have the wire harness. kit. and amp wires? If not., the shop where I work at you are looking at about $600. That includes everything with a lifetime warranty on the install. However we wouldnt warranty the products b/c you didnt purchase them from us. If you do have all of the wires and kits I would recommend doing it yourself. There are enough of us on here that if you ned help and actually listen you will have a overall nice clean install. It may take you a little longer than another shop to do it but 1. You will have the knowlegde to do it again. 2.you will feel alot better about yourself and your work you are doing. I would agree with alot of the others and say dont take it to BB or CC. I know here they would have your car here for about 6-7 hours for a job that shouldnt take more than 2-2.5 hours worth of work.
Some people just dont have the time to deal with installing some of the items in the car. Its not saying anything bad about those people, but if you one of those or are reluctant about doing it yourself, I would find a local shop that deal with only car audio. Feel them out and ask to see pics of other installs. Look at the quality of work and ask lots of questions. Remember this is your baby and your money.
illdwes . wrote:im sorry but i actually work at best buy and im a very good installer!....
Then you are very rare. Typically they do hire young kids that don't care about the quality of their work. The remote starts I have had to fix in the past, which came from the store in Pittsburgh, were thrown in as fast as possible using scotch-locks, no tape on anything, and one zip strip.
You are not going to find very many professionals in the industry that have respect for that chain.
^CLICK ME TO SEE HOW I BUILT EVERYTHING^ How To in Interior Forum
hey man i understand where your coming from but im 25, MECP certified and take great pride in my work....The real reason i work at BB is because i got tired of getting screwed over by local shops with pay issues... plus i dont like putting on running boards, front guards and such....IM a wiring guy! I just wish i learned how to tint before i left my last local shop
Hell if you were in my area id do it for you for Pizza, Mt. Dew and a couple food stamps!!
RIP JESSE GERARD.....7.11.87/1.25.08(sunfireboi)
You have received a forum warning:
Warning: Don't ever wish harm On an Ohio state player you Douche canoe...
Expires: Sunday, October 10, 2010 6:47 AM PT
illdwes . wrote:hey man i understand where your coming from but im 25, MECP certified and take great pride in my work....The real reason i work at BB is because i got tired of getting screwed over by local shops with pay issues... plus i dont like putting on running boards, front guards and such....IM a wiring guy! I just wish i learned how to tint before i left my last local shop
my post wasn't meant to say that their isnt a single good installer at the box stores. but as said the majority of them out there arnt that good. mainly for the reason that 95% of the work is typically going to be putting in your standard deck with your standard kit and standard wiring harness and replacing door speakers. and if your a wiring guy thats great, i hate wiring.
kevin, im sorry but my opinion is that best buys and such arn't real audio stores. they are mega retailers that are doing audio just because its getting them money. if audio starts dying down and electronic chess starts picking up big time chances are the installers will be gone and they will start selling electronic chest sets. to me a real audio store is a store dedicated to selling audio only. just like i wouldnt consider kmart a real gun store even though they do sell guns, or wall mart being a real car modyfying shop because they happen to sell some neon lights.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sndsgood/ https://www.facebook.com/#!/Square1Photography
I'm really picky since i don't even trust audio stores that carry anything sony.. i only trust places that carry one or all of the following bands: Focal, JL, Pioneer Premier, Audison...the list could continue, but those are my top 4
and the fact that Best Buy now sells Alpine, scares the @!#$ outta me for their quality lol.
Thrice . wrote:I'm really picky since i don't even trust audio stores that carry anything sony.. i only trust places that carry one or all of the following bands: Focal, JL, Pioneer Premier, Audison...the list could continue, but those are my top 4
and the fact that Best Buy now sells Alpine, scares the @!#$ outta me for their quality lol.
ummm k. Yeah thats picky, lol.
