Uglypedro
CarAudio.com Newbie
How do I approach the owner of the shop that did my install to voice my displeasure with the work done, as well as what I was charged, without it becoming confrontational? A little background: I knew it was going to be a difficult install, otherwise I would have done it myself (i've done it before, other than going from single din to double din). I wanted a full install, including a double din (requiring a rather expensive dash kit (400)), and a 4 channel amp actively driving component speakers in the front doors and flush mounted tweets in the A pillar. I supplied the HU, dash kit, amp, and speakers. I did extensive sound deadening in the doors and floor.
My major mistake was not getting a written estimate. When I picked it up, a couple days later, I was hit with a $2100 bill!! The owner and installers had gone home, so I didn't argue with the secretary. The shop does a lot of high end work...they carry Morel and Zapco, and does custom work including fiberglass fabrication. I've seen a ferrari, a new corvette, and a 68 camero having a fully fabricated dash installed. So there's no question about their abilities. The bill stated they did 11 hours of work @ $160/hour, along with some necessary parts. Seems like a lot of hours for what was done. The amp required Symbilinks and I only had one. I was told they asked the local Zapco rep to bring one. He didn't. Talking to the installed on the phone. he said he'd "make it work". I still don't know how you run 4 drivers out of 4 channels with only a single Symbilink. The tweets are only a couple of inches from the bottom of A pillars, so that the drivers side tweeter is pointing directly at the side of the instrument cluster from about 6 - 8 inches away. Maybe if they'd tuned the system (which i'd asked for, but not mentioned in the bill), I'd feel better, but the HU's quasi-DSP wasn't touched. No TA, no equalization, and the crossover on the amp was used, instead of the digital one in the HU. And the rear inside door panels weren't reinstalled correctly...they're still loose.
That's why I'm afraid of it becoming confrontational...there's alot to complain about. If I was happy, I'd still think I paid way too much, but I wouldn't say anything. But 2100, with that list of complaints?!!? How do I approach this?
My major mistake was not getting a written estimate. When I picked it up, a couple days later, I was hit with a $2100 bill!! The owner and installers had gone home, so I didn't argue with the secretary. The shop does a lot of high end work...they carry Morel and Zapco, and does custom work including fiberglass fabrication. I've seen a ferrari, a new corvette, and a 68 camero having a fully fabricated dash installed. So there's no question about their abilities. The bill stated they did 11 hours of work @ $160/hour, along with some necessary parts. Seems like a lot of hours for what was done. The amp required Symbilinks and I only had one. I was told they asked the local Zapco rep to bring one. He didn't. Talking to the installed on the phone. he said he'd "make it work". I still don't know how you run 4 drivers out of 4 channels with only a single Symbilink. The tweets are only a couple of inches from the bottom of A pillars, so that the drivers side tweeter is pointing directly at the side of the instrument cluster from about 6 - 8 inches away. Maybe if they'd tuned the system (which i'd asked for, but not mentioned in the bill), I'd feel better, but the HU's quasi-DSP wasn't touched. No TA, no equalization, and the crossover on the amp was used, instead of the digital one in the HU. And the rear inside door panels weren't reinstalled correctly...they're still loose.
That's why I'm afraid of it becoming confrontational...there's alot to complain about. If I was happy, I'd still think I paid way too much, but I wouldn't say anything. But 2100, with that list of complaints?!!? How do I approach this?
