InstallCard...anyone tried it?

[robiac]

I'm about to install new speakers, but don't have the time/patience/know-how to do the amp. I was looking at Crutchfield.com and noticed that they sell InstallCards:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-uMYI0i...421003&o=p&a=0&cc=01&avf=N&search=installcard

Anyone used this service before? $75 sounds reasonable for an amp install. Opinions?

 

[haaswyk]

I'm about to install new speakers, but don't have the time/patience/know-how to do the amp. I was looking at Crutchfield.com and noticed that they sell InstallCards:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-uMYI0i...421003&o=p&a=0&cc=01&avf=N&search=installcard

Anyone used this service before? $75 sounds reasonable for an amp install. Opinions?

sounds like a rip to me... your paying one company to hold your money that you would normaly just give to another company ...

why not just pay them directly?

 

[robiac]

sounds like a rip to me... your paying one company to hold your money that you would normaly just give to another company ...

why not just pay them directly?

I need to contact local install shops before I make a decision, but to answer your question, it's not a rip if the price is competitive. You also get the peace of mind that the work will be done at a pre-determined price (none of that "Sure we can do that, but you won't find out how much it costs until we do the job" kind of thing)...

 

[badboyeee]

It says it doesn't cover any "modifications" that your local installer may charge you for.

 

[sndsgood]

most shops have a set price for things like a standard radio or amp install. and if they are unfamiliar with your car i wouldn't take it to them to begin with. when u pull up they should know what it takes and if they are unsure they should let u know before they ever touch your car.

 

[robiac]

OK thanks for the tips. I'll skip the card and work directly with a reputable shop.

 

[chuyler1]

Go to a shop that specializes in car audio. Stay away from Circuit City and Best Buy if you want it done right.

 

[haaswyk]

Stay away from Circuit City and Best Buy if you want it done right.

cicuit city and bestbuy installers are Mcdonalds workers that couldnt figure out the fry cooker .... i would never trust my car to them ... anyone that graduated from joe's shop of car fixin class of march will never touch my car ...


sorry ive had problems with them

 

[haaswyk]

to give you something to think about ... my wife bought a brand new VW jetta
we took it to bestbuy and bought her a system ... all new door speakers.
a sony sub setup 4 channel amp for the mids and they are like we can install it for free today ...

and for me i was like sure ... i dont have to do it and it gets done today why not.
now .... if you have ever installed anything stereo you know you should disconect the battery first.
if you have ever played with a new jetta you know how much of a pain the battery is to get to ...
they installed the amps and speakers ... with installing the speakers they cut the area around the speaker to make it fit ...now it rattles
they bolted the amps to the back of the rear seats with the wires hanging everywhere ... even tho i told them i wanted the amps under the seats..

and to top it all off they conected the battery backwards ...
yup blew many fuses ...didnt get the car back for 3 days ... and they still say its not there fault!!

after looking at the install closer they didnt use gromits on the power wires ... they used some bad self taping screw into the floor for the ground ... and the amps are now falling off beacuse they didnt screw them into anything but fabric .... thanks guys!
(hand)

 

[sndsgood]

sounds like the install was worth what u paid for it nothing in life is free. it seems like people today don't even realise there are car audio specific shops out there. they assume b.b or c.c. is the only place they can go. that or it's just the cheap factor. most people dont realised you get what you pay for.

 

[chuyler1]

When you are dealing with products that are new or labor services, the market dictates, you always get what you pay for.

Labor is not cheap unless the person doing it is un-experienced and un-trained. When labor is free, you are truely dealing with the bottom of the barrell, unless you are doing it yourself (well not in all cases).

If you were making $5/hr as an installer at Best Buy, would you take the time bundle wires neatly and use grommets every time you passed a wire through metal? The people that get paid that kind of money can't even remember to hold the ketchup on your burger. You can't expect them to remember something like installing the amps under the seats instead of mounting them to the seat like every other customer.

 

[haaswyk]

When you are dealing with products that are new or labor services, the market dictates, you always get what you pay for.

Labor is not cheap unless the person doing it is un-experienced and un-trained. When labor is free, you are truely dealing with the bottom of the barrell, unless you are doing it yourself (well not in all cases).

If you were making $5/hr as an installer at Best Buy, would you take the time bundle wires neatly and use grommets every time you passed a wire through metal? The people that get paid that kind of money can't even remember to hold the ketchup on your burger. You can't expect them to remember something like installing the amps under the seats instead of mounting them to the seat like every other customer.

no i expect more from a worldwide company like BB and CC they offer free installs as a way to make people purchase there products ... they put there name on the line with every install ... i myself will never use there installing services again ... and i make it a point to tell everyone about the bad work they did ... allso they had to pay for the dealer to fix the fuses and reinstall everything the way i asked them to in the first place ...

 

[robiac]

So back to the original topic...(InstallCard):

I called a couple shops and the breakdown is pretty much the same...

- roughly 2 hours to install the amp
- $70/hour labor
- I supply everything (including amp kit)

So I'm looking at roughly $140 for the install...seems steep to me. Anyone else? The InstallCard deal looks much better...

 

[badboyeee]

So back to the original topic...(InstallCard):

I called a couple shops and the breakdown is pretty much the same...

- roughly 2 hours to install the amp
- $70/hour labor
- I supply everything (including amp kit)

So I'm looking at roughly $140 for the install...seems steep to me. Anyone else? The InstallCard deal looks much better...

Seems kinda pricey to me. I'm gonna try to learn how to do my own install. That way I'll be happy and make sure things are done right the way I want. I won't be able to blame anyone for a crappy install. Not only that, I will save money and learn more about my car.

 

[sndsgood]

so if everyone is charging 140 and someones going to do it for 70$ don't you think they'd have to cut some corners somewhere to make any money???


most shops are probably charging u a bit more because u didnt buy any equipment there.




best buy could care less about the quality of their car stereo shop. their known for selling appliances and tvs not for installing audio.

 

[mp5jeff]

140 to install an amp and you provide the wiring? jesus i need to start charging people to install car audio s***...id make a killing =), by the way it takes me roughly 25 mins to install an amp and get the setting right and run wires(at least that how long it took my last install on my step bros car)

 

[chuyler1]

Does that include properly terminating all wires, pulling the head unit and running a turn on lead from the back, running RCAs down the opposite side of the car, and possibly installing a LOC? You got it easy for subs installed in the trunk but don't forget some people run speakers off amps too...which (if done right) requires running speaker wire through the door jams. This alone can take 25 minutes per door.