Advice on quote from car audio shop

Such an Ignorant post...

Most "Professional Shops" use the same harnesses you would get from Crutchfield.

Most Hack shops also use the same harnesses you would get from Crutchfield.

If the harness is available, I guarantee you that 99% of "Professional shops"/Hack Shops would rather use a harness rather than chopping your factory harness (which includes taking the time to figure out whats what).

Somethings have to be hard wired, that means cutting/splicing or soldering will be involved.

That being said, Just because a shop cuts/splices or doesn't use a Crutchfield harness..Doesn't mean you'll end up with an issue.

You are basically trying to shit on every shop that isn't the Online Retailer known as Crutchfield.....


I just cut and soldered this Mosconi DSP amp(mounted in factory amps location) into a car....
It could easily go back to stock, but like most vehicles it never will....

 

The shop is going to do it at the dealership before I even pick up the new truck. I’m getting a barebones 4x4 trd OR with absolutely zero options and discounted $3200. The majority of new trucks are $3-6k more than mine with all the options, etc. On top of that I’m getting a really good deal. They’re giving me $27,000 trade-in for my 2016 that I paid $28,600 for new. The way I look at it I’m getting one $1200 option that I actually care about unlike all the other new “Technology stuff”. It’s all going to be rolled into the $12,000 loan I’m going to have on the truck. I’m good with paying a bit to have it done. got two young kids <3 at home eating into my time and other things I want to do with it immediately like paint correction and ceramic coat.
I may not even do a sub. Have to hear it. I don’t need much bass.
*Plus haha, this slips it by the wife that I’m spending unnecessary money on a new truck that I don’t really need. Only live once

 

And let’s not forget, for lots of people, Their time is worth more than their money. For example, if I can go to work and land one new client, or close one big deal, I just paid for this whole install and save myself a whole day of work.

 

I’m personally not in that boat, I would rather do the work myself, but I also was trained professionally on car stereo installation so, that’s kind of my thing

 

I always do everything myself. This will be the only thing I’ve paid for. I installed cruise control on my last truck which was a base regular cab 4 x 4. I’d say that was significantly more difficult because at the time, the ones from the Mexico Plant weren’t pre-wired for a cruise and there was much less information available about how to do it. I have a business that has surprisingly picked up since Covid so I’m OK with paying the $550.

 

The installer said that he is going to leave all the factory connections so that down the road I can plug and play back to stock. I asked about the kicker key 200 instead of the 180. He said he would put the 200 in instead for the same price. Charging $200 for it. Crutchfield is charging $250. Also cut me a break on some of the tax.

 

the only thing i say is either borrow or have someone correctly tune and set your gains on the amp or you wil deff regret it for life...

 

Wow. Is that what it costs? Spend your dollars on better equipment and diy

 

I don’t think that’s a bad price for installation professionally. Me personally would agree with some others on here. I’d put that $550 toward an upgrade of speakers and/or get a better dsp/amp combo and noico sound deadener for that labor although I’d say it’s a fair price. $550 though would upgrade your components quite a bit. The doors take maybe a half day if you run new wire from amp. Very simple install but I’ve read your responses and it’s your money and your truck so do what makes you happy

 

Had the kicker key amp and kicker KS components put in by a professional shop. The guy who put it in broke the connector for the windows then tried to glue it with some crap. Had to have the whole door wiring harness replaced. They covered it because it was all done By the shop through the dealer. Now, my question is anyone else who has done professional work, what should be my expectation of a professional job? Before having it done I definitely asked and was told that they would not be cutting into the factory wiring. I also mentioned using a T harness for the amp connection. In my non-professional opinion, the doors are not as big of a deal as how the amp was spliced into the wiring. Although I do wish connections were used on everything instead of cutting into the wiring at all. See pics

 

I would expect them to at least use heat shrink and not electrical tape on the connections. I would not be happy with that “professional” install, but then again I’m super ocd so maybe my expectations are higher.
I’m not sure if they make harnesses for the amp and the speakers, but if there are that would seem like the way to go. The shop probably avoided using them to cut costs on their end

 

I believe you wouldn't be asking the question (what should my expectations be?) if you didn't already have concerns. Look, you know what you expected based on the conversations with the shop pre-install. You don't need any of us to validate your expectations. If the installer failed to deliver what they described (and not what you assumed), have a conversation with them. As long as you handle it on a business level (the job, nothing personal), you'll know 10 seconds in how professional the shop is.

If not satisfied, don't hesitate. The longer you wait the longer you'll just live with it.

 

I agree. Electrical tape is not what I would call professional either. Just wanted to make sure that what I thought was not being over the top. They do make connections. The speaker connections that would avoid splicing would be $16 on Amazon. I would think they could get them for cheaper. I think the amp connection might have been a little more expensive because it involves putting together two connections if I’m remembering correctly. I would not have minded paying a little extra for this. And I made that clear.

 

True

 

As a former professional installer, this is garbage. The fact that you mentioned a t-harness and the shop didn’t order the part (or have you order it) and use it tells me they don’t care about doing a decent install and they are focused on time. This is work that your buddy would do in his driveway for a case of beer

 

There are no harnesses on this quote. You getting them all for free?

I get that everyone’s time is valuable but I also strongly believe in maximizing what I get for the money I do spend. A self installed $1100 will go so much further in terms of quality than what you have in this quote. For less than the price of labor you could have Mille PRO up front.

 

Estimate looks fair to me.

I spent about $1300 on my sound system. Rockford Fosgate speakers and tweeters all around, audiocontrol LC6I line out converter, Pioneer 5 channel amp, and Kenwood Excelon Sub. Cost covered parts, warranty, install labor, some sound deadning, and a little more minor electrical work.

 

Haha, Tell me what you really think.
After posting this I spoke to the owner. He assured me that he was going to go over all of it with a fine tooth comb tomorrow. He said that the wires are soldered on and can be easily removed if I ever want to remove everything. I made it clear that I had concerns. I don’t know, it’s done and works good so I guess I’m not going to say too much. Live and learn. As others have said I guess I should’ve just done it myself.

 

Unfortunately I think a lot of people think “professional” means quality, when really it just means someone is doing it for a living. I’d be pissed if that’s what I got from a shop.

 

Did everything work when you picked up the truck? What prompted you to take the head unit out?

Sounds like the "professional" install was to make sure it works. Not how it looks. Weird how they used butt connectors and then used electrical tape. This shop sounds lazy and not to concerned about reputation.