MisterDeadeye
10+ year member
Bannned
Most, if not all, of the "audio shops" around here are exactly like you're talking about. They like to think they are smarter than everyone else enough to take advantage of everyone, but they eventually sell out.
The audio shops that last are the ones that are "good", unless you're in a community that doesn't know what the internet is.
The audio shops that last are the ones that are "good", unless you're in a community that doesn't know what the internet is.
- Thread Starter
- #3
My community doesnt. They think i need a capictor they are the best....... Im gonna stand out and get a battery i only know like 5 people that are good audio guys. Her is one of thems utube threads he loves 18's.
YouTube - jesseadkins187's Channel
He is probbaly the most intelegant audio guy i know in real life only problem he works night shifts so can never talk to him //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif
YouTube - jesseadkins187's Channel
He is probbaly the most intelegant audio guy i know in real life only problem he works night shifts so can never talk to him //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif
keep_hope_alive
Premium Member
Acoustics Engineer
there is a difference between the salesman and the installer. salesmen don't need to know how it works, just how to sell. the good ones know both installation and sales. installers need to know how it works. i talk to both, if the installer won't talk to you, don't let them touch your car. at a minimum, they should be willing to discuss mounting and wiring options. the shop should have a photo book of installs, to showcase their work and talent. if the pictures are all old, you know that the good installers have left.
shops get a lot of people who think they know what they are talking about because of stuff they read on the internet and stuff their friends say. the staff know more about the product they sell than you do, so keep that in mind.
most issues are situations where there is a lack of mutual respect. people get combative and defensive easily, and it can be difficult to have a civil conversation once someone has felt challenged.
no one is perfect. some shops will bash gear they don't sell, then a year later they sell that and say it's awesome. i've caught shops in that situation before. i've lived here in the QC most of my life. i've been going to the local shops for almost 20 years. we had four decent independents and a few big box stores (American, Ultimate, BB). now we're down to two independents and two box stores. one of the independents, Solar Vision in Davenport, IA is excellent. great staff, good installers, and they have been there the whole time doing a good job. the owner and staff used to be active in IASCA and always hosted events. i have brought that shop over $10k in retail sales through my recommendations and installations. when possible, i buy from them and i get a warranty and local representation, and the price is always cheaper than authorized online.
the other shop has a bad rep because they higher HS students in order to get their friends on board. they sell decent stuff, but their staff are difficult to talk to. I've auditioned Focal K2P there and somehow they made them sound distorted and just terrible. i don't send people there.
Both stay in business due to remote starts, tinting, and other vehicle accessories. Most people around me just want lots of bass, no music, and no money. For a shop, it's hard to justify spending a lot of time on SQ installs when no one is willing to pay for the gear or install.
car audio knowledge comes from experience. sure, you can read what other people say on a forum, but until you try it and understand what is actually happening, you're only repeating what you've heard... which isn't knowledge.
most of the industry has supported the idea that capacitors solve voltage drop and are required with large systems. everyone on this forum believed that at one point and time. so none of us can mock others for thinking the same. if you can't present evidence and electrical calculations/explanations to support your claims, don't expect someone to believe you because you read it on the internet. the best evidence against capacitors is a calculation of energy storage and release (Joules). the internet is a place for misinformation as much as it is for information. i see a lot of incorrect statements made on forums, so you can't believe everything people say. if you want to know something, pick up a textbook on the subject and start studying. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif
shops get a lot of people who think they know what they are talking about because of stuff they read on the internet and stuff their friends say. the staff know more about the product they sell than you do, so keep that in mind.
most issues are situations where there is a lack of mutual respect. people get combative and defensive easily, and it can be difficult to have a civil conversation once someone has felt challenged.
no one is perfect. some shops will bash gear they don't sell, then a year later they sell that and say it's awesome. i've caught shops in that situation before. i've lived here in the QC most of my life. i've been going to the local shops for almost 20 years. we had four decent independents and a few big box stores (American, Ultimate, BB). now we're down to two independents and two box stores. one of the independents, Solar Vision in Davenport, IA is excellent. great staff, good installers, and they have been there the whole time doing a good job. the owner and staff used to be active in IASCA and always hosted events. i have brought that shop over $10k in retail sales through my recommendations and installations. when possible, i buy from them and i get a warranty and local representation, and the price is always cheaper than authorized online.
the other shop has a bad rep because they higher HS students in order to get their friends on board. they sell decent stuff, but their staff are difficult to talk to. I've auditioned Focal K2P there and somehow they made them sound distorted and just terrible. i don't send people there.
Both stay in business due to remote starts, tinting, and other vehicle accessories. Most people around me just want lots of bass, no music, and no money. For a shop, it's hard to justify spending a lot of time on SQ installs when no one is willing to pay for the gear or install.
car audio knowledge comes from experience. sure, you can read what other people say on a forum, but until you try it and understand what is actually happening, you're only repeating what you've heard... which isn't knowledge.
most of the industry has supported the idea that capacitors solve voltage drop and are required with large systems. everyone on this forum believed that at one point and time. so none of us can mock others for thinking the same. if you can't present evidence and electrical calculations/explanations to support your claims, don't expect someone to believe you because you read it on the internet. the best evidence against capacitors is a calculation of energy storage and release (Joules). the internet is a place for misinformation as much as it is for information. i see a lot of incorrect statements made on forums, so you can't believe everything people say. if you want to know something, pick up a textbook on the subject and start studying. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif
audioholic
5,000+ posts
not a moderator
A shop that charges you to answer questions? Now that's a new low for a local shop, and Ive heard some real horror stories over the years.
What part of Iowa are you in?
---------- Post added at 12:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:53 PM ----------
I'll have to stop by solar vision one of these days. Im in Davenport.
Same here. Use to be two shops (one went out of business).
The one that is left are total crooks. Would not even honor factor warranty for a Kicker amp they installed.
The thing I keep in mind is: I am into car audio as a hobby and they are in it to make money.
The one that is left are total crooks. Would not even honor factor warranty for a Kicker amp they installed.
The thing I keep in mind is: I am into car audio as a hobby and they are in it to make money.
audioholic
5,000+ posts
not a moderator
It is not the local shop's decision to void a factory warranty. That's why its a factory warranty. If you had a valid claim, you could have gotten the shop in a lot of trouble with Kicker by letting them know their local distributor did that.
RAM_Designs
5,000+ posts
SketchUp Master
I haven't checked out any local shops in years. There was one that I used to go to all the time just to hang out and kill time. The installer and sales guys were pretty cool, so I'd just hang out in the install bay and bullshit during my free time between community college classes. That was about 6-8 years ago though, and they have gone out of business since there(owner fucked everything up).
I went round and round for about 5 weeks with them.
They said they sent it to Kicker and Kicker would not fix it - cant remember why now. I never touched the amp and the shop said they would not replace it either. Amp was not blown but there was problem with separation between the 4 channels. Could send it a signal on any one RCA channel and get sound from all the speakers connected to the amp. Again, I didn't install the amp and the shop wouldn't replace the amp with a new amp or equal value amp. They did put a temp amp in and the problem was solved until they put the original Kicker amp back in.
That was the last dealing I had with a local shop and Kicker products. What really pissed me off was - I already dropped ~4K on complete system and install and they were acting like this over a $300 amp.
This was around 2003. It was a new vehicle and I thought I would get a clean install that would last a few years. I was wrong. I eventually just threw that amp in the trash with the ole one finger salute.
They said they sent it to Kicker and Kicker would not fix it - cant remember why now. I never touched the amp and the shop said they would not replace it either. Amp was not blown but there was problem with separation between the 4 channels. Could send it a signal on any one RCA channel and get sound from all the speakers connected to the amp. Again, I didn't install the amp and the shop wouldn't replace the amp with a new amp or equal value amp. They did put a temp amp in and the problem was solved until they put the original Kicker amp back in.
That was the last dealing I had with a local shop and Kicker products. What really pissed me off was - I already dropped ~4K on complete system and install and they were acting like this over a $300 amp.
This was around 2003. It was a new vehicle and I thought I would get a clean install that would last a few years. I was wrong. I eventually just threw that amp in the trash with the ole one finger salute.
I am in residential AV and automation and our industry is pretty similar. One thing that you guys have to remember is that this is your hobby/passion. This generally gives you an edge over the shops where the employees are at work... even though the work is fun... its work. As sad as it sounds... lots of people show up at work for a paycheck and could care less about the quality of their work. Then you have the know-it-alls who know very little. Their opinion is based on nothing and everything that comes out of their mouth is a lie or something they heard someone else say or just a wild *** guess that they will defend as gospel. Then you have some guys who show up to work to play and never put any real effort into what they are doing.
The next thing you gotta realize is that you guys have hours and hours and weeks and years to tinker with your gear. Those guys have a specific window in which to get the gear installed and configured. This will push them to only carry specific brands. It will push them to have specific ways to install the hardware. The mention of the capacitor above for example. This could be that the owner of the shop wants to make extra cash with capacitors so everyone is pushing them. It could mean that the owner of the shop truly believes they help for one reason or another. And finally it could mean the guy is a moron. An example for me would be that we always/only use Denon AV Receivers. Are they the best you ask? No. So why do i only use Denon? Because they perform well, they have products at multiple price points and because they can be controlled properly. My companies choice to use Denon might confuse some end users who think Onkyo or Integra is better but the reality is that the Denon is just as good and the fact that i am very familiar with the product means the installation will go faster and the end result will be better.
In the high end residential AV market you have guys who believe in $600 power cords for their amplifiers. Expensive discs made out of various materials to place under your speaker cables that supposedly improve sound. $100 monstercable HDMI cables etc. Lots of snake oil being sold even by reputable companies. As consumers you have to say NO when your BS meter starts going off and appreciate them for what they do right.
The next thing you gotta realize is that you guys have hours and hours and weeks and years to tinker with your gear. Those guys have a specific window in which to get the gear installed and configured. This will push them to only carry specific brands. It will push them to have specific ways to install the hardware. The mention of the capacitor above for example. This could be that the owner of the shop wants to make extra cash with capacitors so everyone is pushing them. It could mean that the owner of the shop truly believes they help for one reason or another. And finally it could mean the guy is a moron. An example for me would be that we always/only use Denon AV Receivers. Are they the best you ask? No. So why do i only use Denon? Because they perform well, they have products at multiple price points and because they can be controlled properly. My companies choice to use Denon might confuse some end users who think Onkyo or Integra is better but the reality is that the Denon is just as good and the fact that i am very familiar with the product means the installation will go faster and the end result will be better.
In the high end residential AV market you have guys who believe in $600 power cords for their amplifiers. Expensive discs made out of various materials to place under your speaker cables that supposedly improve sound. $100 monstercable HDMI cables etc. Lots of snake oil being sold even by reputable companies. As consumers you have to say NO when your BS meter starts going off and appreciate them for what they do right.
Buck
5,000+ posts
little alien on campus
Every shop that I've been to stinks, except for the one in my sig.
what part of iowa? i am in central iowa and the same problem is present here. I dont buy from a shop unless i need it right away. There are also a few guys that advertise custom installs and everything on CL but they call each other out on CL and i dont see why anybody would want to do business with them.
pelekeliko
10+ year member
Senior VIP Member
i went to a local shop in san antonio and asked to have an aero port boxed built. at first they had no idea what i was talking about, and after explaining to them what it was, he began to tell me oh we dont make those cheapy boxes we only make real ports. we dont use plastic with our builds.
smh.
smh.
pieper88
10+ year member
CarAudio.com Veteran
Iowa?
Whats your local shop? Where at in Iowa?
Whats your local shop? Where at in Iowa?
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