Is this worth what i paid for?

[macsdad 10+ year member]

I'm stuck on how he can't shop online because his parent monitor bank account, but he doesn't think they will notice that he spent 2k+ on this stuff. I would accept the offer from the fellow on here. As stated before, the best part about this hobby is when you install your own stuff and the sence of acomishment when it's done. It is really not that hard, the most difficult part is running the wires. Atleast that is what is was for my installs.

 

[d77543020 10+ year member]

i can understand his decision you have to have a certain passion or be broke to want to install yourself,i was forced to learn cause after buying equipment i had no more money left but soon after the installing part became my favorite thing to do,its about the same as my mechanic friends who love working on there own cars they rarely go into a shop but me i dont know **** about auto repair so im usually at a shop to get things done

 

[raptor727 10+ year member]

as stated already people like him are needed to keep local shops open so let him blow his money if he stays into it I bet he will do it on his own next time though

 

[dumple 5,000+ posts]

A do it yourself customer in my eyes is a money maker, they come in for a quote don't like it because its to much money they try to do it themselves then have their car towed in on a flat bed for me to fix their **** ups and the original problem. So by all means do it yourself.....

 

[cfox10 10+ year member]

as stated already people like him are needed to keep local shops open so let him blow his money if he stays into it I bet he will do it on his own next time though

Most people I see in the local shops here are there for competition, older adults, or women. I think it just seems intimidating to people

 

[anger 10+ year member]

get a prepaid card.

 

[Savstyle 10+ year member]

Parents monitor bank account but your about to drop 2.5k on a system that they think is a waste? I dont see a problem going to a shop and having them install the equipment. My problem is that someone is willing to help you install it and you would have save 1k easily. Wouldnt that be better in your parents eyes who think its a waste of money? Unless its the fact you dont want a guy from the interwebz handling your equipment or in your car. Also totally understandable. Either way welcome to a huge money ******* hobby. lol

EDIT:

Forgot to add, wish i had 2.5k to drop on a system. With that i could have an install that would give me eargasms every time i turned in up. Ahh the days when you didnt have responsibility.

 

[DARKHART 10+ year member]

So many here can't see the road for their own noses is in the way. Everyone is so quick to say "hey you're getting ripped off, install it yourself" but you fail to realize that everyone DOSEN'T have the knowledge, gumption or even desire to install it themselves. They want to take it and pay to have it done and enjoy it, simple as that. If a problem arises then they can simply go back and have it warrantied and roll on, no muss no fuss, problem taken care of in the same day in most cases. No having to de-install it, pack it up, ship it off, possibly haggle with online vendor, wait for a return on in some cases a refurbished item not new, then get it re-installed. How much time has now elapsed.

True story and I see it on a daily basis; customer came into the store Friday, said that he needed to get his Rockford P1 12's warrantied, ok cool no problem, I just need your name. Customer gives it and I can't find him in our system. Customer say "oh I didn't buy them here, I bought them online from Sonicelectronix", oh ok, well sir you will need to contact them to have them replace your subs. Customers says that Sonic told him to just bring them into any authorized Rockford dealer for warranty. People come on, that's about as bogus as it gets cause you all know that's just foul. What I did do though was work with the customer on a discount on a new pair of subs and had my guys go through his system and correct the mistakes in his install and properly setup his equipment at no extra charge. I'm pretty sure I gained a new customer for life here.

Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with being a diy'er, hell this industry was built by the DIY'er that came before us. What I do have a problem with is every time someone brings up going to a shop to have something done all the looney's come out the wood work about how EVIL shops are....get real. I personally do a lot of things for myself, I do most of all my own audio unless I'm just feeling lazy, I'm trying my hands at doing some of our home repair needs around the house but for the better part I hire a professional that's licensed and bonded cause if a mistake is made I want to be covered. I do simple things to my car (oil changes and such) but anything more I take it to a pro because I have no desire to learn it.

My point is this and I've said it many times before, this is the only industry that has nearly been wiped out by the "race to zero" and now you've got a large segment of people now believing that they know what pricing SHOULD be and what it SHOULD cost install this or that and now mouthing off.

I challenge any of you diy'er that are always popping off about buying online or having your buddy install it, to open a legit business, buy your product from the manufacturer's and distributors but SELL IT at internet prices and do INSTALLS at internet/diy'er prices. Pay ALL your stores bills each month, pay ALL your employees each month and still manage to pay yourself as well. Do all that and let's see how long you stay open! People there is a HUGE difference in doing installs in your backyard/garage for your friends and net-buddies while still living at home with mom and dad or even living own your and working a regular job and install for fun VS. doing this for a living and operating a storefront in the real world. The internet can't answer all of your questions and solve all your problems.....

 

[clickclickw00t 10+ year member]

I see a lot of my younger self in you kid, except my rents never monitored my bank accounts. That **** is private and always has been. Do they think car audio is a waste of time and money? ABSOLUTELY!!!!

I sat them down one day and said: look, I could spend my money going to the mall buying shirts for $50 like my friends do, or going out partying, doing drugs, etc. etc. Or I could be at home in the garage working on MY OWN PROJECT: learning, re-wiring, reading, etc, etc. They finally understood that car audio is not just having a car that is loud and annoys the neighborhood, it is 90% about the sense of accomplishment I get when I research, purchase, install, and troubleshoot all by myself. Now they understand and are happy they let me do it. Working at a shop part-time helps me pay my way through law school //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Anyways, you have 2 options:

1) pay exorbitant amounts of money and have someone else wire everything for you. everytime somethhing goes bad or something isn't working, you'll ahve to go back to the shop to have them look at it. You will have no idea what they used, if their work was good, or not.

2) take the time to research and figure out how to do it yourself. Save thousands of dollars, use that money for better parts or whatever you want. you will know what is in your car, you will know how to fix it, and you will feel good about yourself.

Just my opinion. In the end, it is what you make of it. I personally think that anyone with an 8th grade education can install a moderate system. At the shop I work, the owner's son (9 years old) can install an autostart all by himself, to give you an idea.