How to get job installing car stereos?

[Well Whoop De D 10+ year member]

Recently I have shown a great interest in installing car stereos. I have installed my own recently and a few in my friends cars. How would I go about getting a job installing them at like a Best Buy, Car Toys or something like that. I heard they make really good money. Just experince? Just full out an application? I

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[Brock 5,000+ posts]

a good start would to take the MECP certification test...you need AT LEAST that to get a job installing.

 

[Gauntlet 5,000+ posts]

You don't need MECP certification to work at Best Buy or Circuit City. At least when I worked there about 3 years ago you didn't. They just gave me a test asking basic questions on installation, like where to run wires, how to make connections, really easy questions. Then I got "trained" for a week, which was just me watching other installers work, and that was it. This is the reason why BB/CC installers usually ****. But if you want to get a good job at a real shop, a MECP certification is a usually a must. Get the study guide (http://www.ce.org) and read it front to back. The certification test is straight from the guide and nothing else.

 

[Matador 10+ year member]

i wana get one too, a job that is

 

[Brock 5,000+ posts]

BB here requires mecp certification...but the installers still ****...

 

[_MstANg_ 10+ year member]

MECP certification? where do you get a test to take at? anyone got more info on this?

 

[Brock 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by _MstANg_ MECP certification? where do you get a test to take at? anyone got more info on this?

http://www.mecp.com

 

[Gauntlet 5,000+ posts]

BB probably changed their ways since I worked there...i'm sure they got sued or something and were forced to change....back then the installers were HORRIBLE. I saw some truly terrible things. People not grounding amps, people wiring ground and power wires into the same distribution block, people turning gains all the way up, people not disconnecting the battery, and letting the power wire touch metal and completely drain the battery, etc. etc.

 

[Brock 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by Gauntlet BB probably changed their ways since I worked there...i'm sure they got sued or something and were forced to change....back then the installers were HORRIBLE. I saw some truly terrible things. People not grounding amps, people wiring ground and power wires into the same distribution block, people turning gains all the way up, people not disconnecting the battery, and letting the power wire touch metal and completely drain the battery, etc. etc.

shit...sounds like a mess...they arent that bad here, well from what Ive seen when I go in there to get a wire harness or something...

 

[RangerMan Premium Member]

Basically, just hang around your local shop, do odds and ends for them and learn the business...then go from there.

 

[Well Whoop De D 10+ year member]

How much do installers usually make an hour? Just a general range.

 

[Gauntlet 5,000+ posts]

^^ Depends on where you work and the difficulty of installations you do. Best Buy paid me 8.50....

 

[Well Whoop De D 10+ year member]

$8.50?!

I'm getting paid 15 at my job right now! I thought they made at least $20 an hour.

 

[Gauntlet 5,000+ posts]

It's Best Buy....what do you expect?

 

[MikeofTulsa Moderator]

exactly......i know several installers.....and they charge anywhere from 40/hr on up to 100/hr depending on the install.....