Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Leykisminion" data-source="post: 4786425" data-attributes="member: 597056">A little into my background:I have about 5 years of legitimate experience and I am currently Advanced Certified (taking the Master test in 3 days).  I also know first hand the world of Best Buy and Circuit City, along with the independent realm.  I have done a lot in my short career; from 4.8 min deck installs and 1 hour overheads (clean work is #1. Don't mistake my speed for sloppiness) to custom fiberglass of most kinds. Cars from the simple 98 Ranger to the late 50's classics and the new German vehicles we all love so much.My Thoughts about MECP:Until a few months ago I felt that MECP of any level was a joke.  Before I was basic certified, there were guys I ran circles around who were Certified.  I basically got it for the money and didn't feel any better of an installer after.  The test was so **** easy. I got an over all 96% on the test scoring 100% in on of the areas and I scored the lowest in safety Ha Ha.  On top of all that I finished it in about 30 min.As of about the end of 07' I really focused on opening up my own business in the industry. Even then I didn't hold MECP in the highest regard.  Finally I realized having Master Installation Technician on my business card may be a good selling point. Especially given that there were only 86 in the country as of 7/3/8. So far as spending your own money to do it. It might be worth it to make Best Buy pay for it. (Oh there was a post some guy put about BB reimbursing him. There is a practice test on BB's Toolkit and when to pass with an 80% or better they give you a voucher code. No need to front money)  Given that you said it's hard to find an install job, here's why; MOST of the shops you go to(BB/CC/Independent) are going have the head guy/guys that think they know everything. This person just sees you as some smoe off the street who did a few mediocre installs in a cousin's or girlfriends car and now you think you know something.  Most of the time this is the case, ironically enough, but we'll ignore how retarded some of these guys are for now.  You have to realize that in any shop, even if they are reputable installers, they are looking for (on top of experience, etc.) someone they can get along with.  After all, you are working together in a confined area. Most installers need to take a gay joke here and there to survive, but that's also something they look for in a prospect.  There has been maybe 1 person out of the dozens who has asked me "Uh, you guys hyrin?" where I thought I could work with this guy. And I'm a very good judge of character.  My suggestion to you is, if you have a month or two to waste, get hired as a car audio sales rep.  Take the MECP test the first chance you get and then await acceptance to the bay.  If you can handle simple tasks a salesman should handle, like which GM vehicles need a battery terminal replacement for an amp install, then they will see you know your stuff and it should be downhill from there. As a final note on MECP: The installer is the real definition of the work they can deliver.  No test on paper or in the computer is going to give an installer insight on how to customize a bracket in a vehicle they have never worked on. Some people just have brains that put it all together in the way it should work.  I definitely think it's worth taking though. I have learned a lot from it but I don't think it is everything.  MECP, to me, is similar to the layers of the earth (or an onion for you Shrek nerds). It can take you pretty deep, but it's not the core of the mobile A/V industry. (write that down)  Oh and if this was too long of a post then you need to read more. Your attention span is that of a 5 year old</blockquote>

Verification

Top

What's new

Forum list