Audio Quote
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Last edited by Sonic drk; May 26, 2020 at 10:48 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 411
From: Somewhere in the middle of Kansas
That makes the price even more ridiculous. That's one thing about our local shop. He is happy to install your gear and fair priced about it. That's not a fair price, IMO.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 388
Likes: 38
From: Madison CT
I know a lot of shops don't like to install gear that they haven't sold you. One of the best independent installers I know of has a policy that if you are providing gear - part of the budget goes towards bench testing everything. The point being if it's not a new piece of gear with a warranty and he doesn't find out there is a problem with it until he's done a lot of work and installed it, it costs more time and possible rework than just checking it all out up-front. Many other installers just take the "we won't install your gear" approach.
Given what you are saying you want - I think you're in a good position to just gather the gear and install it yourself - then pay someone reputable for tuning. I know of one shop on the west coast that I could recommend without a doubt, but looks like he's about 7 hours from you. Regardless, Bing and his team at Simplicity In Sound does phenominal work and I doubt it would be this expensive
Given what you are saying you want - I think you're in a good position to just gather the gear and install it yourself - then pay someone reputable for tuning. I know of one shop on the west coast that I could recommend without a doubt, but looks like he's about 7 hours from you. Regardless, Bing and his team at Simplicity In Sound does phenominal work and I doubt it would be this expensive
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 13
From: east norriton pa
man, i need to increase my prices....fyi, my labor is almost half that, had my own side business installing since 2003...and just about all my customers are word of mouth. I don't advertise, nor am I trying to sell on here, just giving you some info from someone who does this.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 520
Likes: 89
I know a lot of shops don't like to install gear that they haven't sold you. One of the best independent installers I know of has a policy that if you are providing gear - part of the budget goes towards bench testing everything. The point being if it's not a new piece of gear with a warranty and he doesn't find out there is a problem with it until he's done a lot of work and installed it, it costs more time and possible rework than just checking it all out up-front. Many other installers just take the "we won't install your gear" approach.
Given what you are saying you want - I think you're in a good position to just gather the gear and install it yourself - then pay someone reputable for tuning. I know of one shop on the west coast that I could recommend without a doubt, but looks like he's about 7 hours from you. Regardless, Bing and his team at Simplicity In Sound does phenominal work and I doubt it would be this expensive
Given what you are saying you want - I think you're in a good position to just gather the gear and install it yourself - then pay someone reputable for tuning. I know of one shop on the west coast that I could recommend without a doubt, but looks like he's about 7 hours from you. Regardless, Bing and his team at Simplicity In Sound does phenominal work and I doubt it would be this expensive
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 388
Likes: 38
From: Madison CT
Combination of both. Easily tested or not that's still time that needs to be taken and factored into the price. You're still probably talking about several hours worth of work to test a full system end to end in addition to needing to have a test bench set up. Just because the light on an amp turns on does not mean that it is functioning correctly. The more complex the system, the more risk of a problem. These days I don't think the margin is that high on the gear. Regardless I'm sure it pales in comparison to what they get for the install.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 41
Likes: 6
Combination of both. Easily tested or not that's still time that needs to be taken and factored into the price. You're still probably talking about several hours worth of work to test a full system end to end in addition to needing to have a test bench set up. Just because the light on an amp turns on does not mean that it is functioning correctly. The more complex the system, the more risk of a problem. These days I don't think the margin is that high on the gear. Regardless I'm sure it pales in comparison to what they get for the install.
A lot of things can be said in hindsight, but a lot of times when you get burned once or twice, most shops will adopt a policy to not install customer supplied gear.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 411
From: Somewhere in the middle of Kansas
Back in my brief tenure in retail car audio, we saw it ALL the time where a customer brought in a used amplifier purchased 2nd hand, assumed functional, & after installation found to be D.O.A &, naturally, the customer assigned blame to the installer.
A lot of things can be said in hindsight, but a lot of times when you get burned once or twice, most shops will adopt a policy to not install customer supplied gear.
A lot of things can be said in hindsight, but a lot of times when you get burned once or twice, most shops will adopt a policy to not install customer supplied gear.
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 630
Likes: 355
From: "Sweet Home" Alabama
Taking into consideration the average intelligence level of an audio installer beyond their “installation knowledge”, I am 99.5% sure the outrageous labor amount is a mathematical error, and a very humorous one at that because it also shows the LACK of attention to detail.
On that point alone, the lack of attention to detail I would not do business with that shop, imagine what other details are not reviewed when working on an audio installation. I spent several weekends looking for an audio shop that I was finally comfortable with because I would never attempt to do the install myself.
On that point alone, the lack of attention to detail I would not do business with that shop, imagine what other details are not reviewed when working on an audio installation. I spent several weekends looking for an audio shop that I was finally comfortable with because I would never attempt to do the install myself.