Somebody please Remind Me why I should buy all my components through my a/v installer

[den327]

Can anyone tell me why I should buy components from my a/v installer rather than buy them cheaper on the net?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I don't see reason why not to buy em cheaper If you install them yourself or your installer agrees to install them for you at price you agree.
However picking right for the environment and compatible parts is whole different issue...

 

[jamie2112]

Nope sure cant...........

 

[den327]

My installation company will only install using their products or the warranty on their installation is void. Basically saying they are a dealer for the products if they install it and it has a problem,now they have to replace it which costs them their time.

 

[BMXTRIX]

There are some very obvious reasons that you should buy from your installer, but not always why you should buy from a store.

A good custom installer should be able to provide you good gear which they have worked with and researched for quality. They will do everything - pick it up, unbox it, deal with trash, and warranty it for you. This is a value added service which is not something a store will give you and not something you will get online. That added convenience has a price associated with it which you can choose to pay, or not to pay.

But, should you choose not to pay it, and the installer shows up and finds that a component does not work, they won't uninstall it for free, nor replace it and get it running for free. The burden falls entirely on you and they won't have anything to do with errors you may make in your purchasing decisions.

That said, you should find that most installers have pricing which is fair and reasonable within similar pricing to what you may find in local stores. The hourly rate of the installers is typically going to be a 'professional' rate for a trained technician which is similar to what electricians, mechansics, etc. make and should be excpected.

If you are getting a low technician rate, then odds are good that they are making up that difference by increasing the profitability on the equipment they are selling you, which is a VERY common practice.

I know when I do business, my hourly rate is flat and I typically mark things up only about 10% above my cost (shipped) for the ordering time and effort which I don't bill for separately. It leaves my hourly rate a bit higher, but allows for people to save that 10% if they want to find the product elsewhere and deal with the headaches and hassles of making sure it is on site and ready for me when I arrive to install.

But, every install is different and every company and customer is different.

 

[highfigh]

Can anyone tell me why I should buy components from my a/v installer rather than buy them cheaper on the net?

If it's something the installer doesn't carry, don't expect them to know all of the little idiosyncrasies. For that matter, Don't even expect them to know all of the programming tweaks for brands they don't carry. Throw the guy a bone- it's hard enough to make a living when everyone wants the cheapest price- don't delude yourself that he's getting rich unless he's booked until next year, he gets everything done on time/near budget and he charges enough to actually make money.

If the guy is close, you're better off buying from him, IMO. Having an installer who specializes in certain brands is a lot better than someone who says they specialize in all brands- this makes them a generalist, not a specialist and besides, it's literally impossible to know much about all brands and models.

I don't guarantee the system's functionality if brands and models I sell are in it. Almost every single time I use existing equipment, something causes a problem. If it's a brand I know well, it's easier to find a solution but some stuff just doesn't want to play well with others.

Installation isn't a commodity, either. If you treat it that way, don't expect miracles. If you think the installer will want to do your job and you buy the accessories and parts online, guess again. We don't want to just be installers- we want to make sure the job goes well and when possible, we like to stage the system before it's installed.

 

[highfigh]

Ever try having a mechanic install your parts? They won't do it.

 

[zhimbo]

Can anyone tell me why I should buy components from my a/v installer rather than buy them cheaper on the net?

The counter-argument as I see it:

Generally, their pricing is part of an entire business strategy. If you're getting the service, the little extra you pay on each item is just part of the cost.

You shouldn't get talked into exotic cables or ridiculous items, but if you want the service, then pay for the service. If you're more interested in saving money, then do it yourself.

 

[Nemo128]

If you're not spending a certain amount of money, no professional will be able to make a discernable difference from your own work.

The worth of a pro is in the worth of your components. Just like you wouldn't pay for a professional calibration on a $100 24" SD CRT, you shouldn't pay for a professional installation on a $500 HTiB system used in a living room. As an example.

 

[highfigh]

If you're not spending a certain amount of money, no professional will be able to make a discernable difference from your own work.

The worth of a pro is in the worth of your components. Just like you wouldn't pay for a professional calibration on a $100 24" SD CRT, you shouldn't pay for a professional installation on a $500 HTiB system used in a living room. As an example.

I beg to differ- some people will try anything, whether they're remotely able, or not. You would be amazed, disgusted by some of the work some people have done, thinking they could do the job.

OTOH, CE Pro magazine has an annual article that shows bad wiring jobs and ridiculously badly wired racks. Considering the fact that these are usually done by pros, it's a sad indication of what some people think is good enough. It's not all "trunk-slammers, either. Some business owners just don't know what their people are doing, or how badly. Others apparently don't care how bad it is, as long as the check clears.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I beg to differ- some people will try anything, whether they're remotely able, or not. You would be amazed, disgusted by some of the work some people have done, thinking they could do the job.

OTOH, CE Pro magazine has an annual article that shows bad wiring jobs and ridiculously badly wired racks. Considering the fact that these are usually done by pros, it's a sad indication of what some people think is good enough. It's not all "trunk-slammers, either. Some business owners just don't know what their people are doing, or how badly. Others apparently don't care how bad it is, as long as the check clears.

This I can agree with wholeheartedly!

I run my business pretty close to a trunk slammer... Not really, but I do work full time and run my company part time, but I spent about 200 hours last year simply correcting $100,000+ installations to make them work properly. Not joking at all... I was paid about $20,000 to correct the work of another installer to simply recable and rewire and 'FIX' was should never have been broken to begin with.

Even then, I still ran into a brick wall with the system due to the extremely poor infrastructure established.

The quality of the gear does not reflect the quality of the installer, which is why there should never be any issue asking for references or getting them quickly. It certainly isn't my advertising which has gotten me work, but the good word of references and happy customers.

 

[highfigh]

This I can agree with wholeheartedly!

I run my business pretty close to a trunk slammer... Not really, but I do work full time and run my company part time, but I spent about 200 hours last year simply correcting $100,000+ installations to make them work properly. Not joking at all... I was paid about $20,000 to correct the work of another installer to simply recable and rewire and 'FIX' was should never have been broken to begin with.

Even then, I still ran into a brick wall with the system due to the extremely poor infrastructure established.

The quality of the gear does not reflect the quality of the installer, which is why there should never be any issue asking for references or getting them quickly. It certainly isn't my advertising which has gotten me work, but the good word of references and happy customers.

Someone I worked with at a car stereo store got into selling and installing home AV and control systems, including Crestron. I ran into one of his friends from high school, and they had been really good friends. He asked if I had seen the other guy and I told him that I hadn't, but heard he was getting a really bad reputation for starting jobs, taking lots of money up front and in progress but not finishing the jobs. The friend said, "Including me". The guy's younger brother had been working for him and he no longer will have anything to do with him.

Other than what I do with and for a friend who's also in the business, all of my work is repeat and referrals. It's hard to balance some jobs- you want more business but if you're busy, new customers don't want to wait. If you turn down new business, the repeats and referrals don't necessarily need anything, regardless of the fact that there may be many of them. Happy, or not- if they don't need anything, they don't need anything.

 

[audiofox]

Ever try having a mechanic install your parts? They won't do it.

Not true-many independent mechanics will do exactly that and have done so for me numerous times.

 

[highfigh]

Not true-many independent mechanics will do exactly that and have done so for me numerous times.

I can't think of a single one I have ever talked to, who would use a customer's parts. Might be a regional thing.

 

[westcott]

Not true-many independent mechanics will do exactly that and have done so for me numerous times.

My mechanic lets me provide the parts with the understanding that if it fails, he is not responsible.

Keep in mind, I provide the CORRECT parts!

 

[Warpdrv]

Bring your own steak to a restaraunt and ask them to cook it for you, see how far you get with that...

I think people are in business to make a fair dollar - if his prices are not fair then look elsewhere for a different co. IMO everything should be on the level where both the customer is satisfied with the price and the dealer/installer get to make some sort of profit. Unless of coarse this company has absolutely zero competion to keep his head out of the clouds.

 

[Alex2507]

Might be a regional thing.

Bring your own steak to a restaraunt and ask them to cook it for you, see how far you get with that...

Must be a regional thing ...

My mechanics will install the parts I buy as well but I think the OP might be best served by being even more like me. I like to buy the parts and install them myself and with A/V I'll go one further and like program my stuff on my own too but that's only because I'm so tight that I squeak when I walk.

 

[bandphan]

only because I'm so tight that I squeak when I walk.

Not whats been posted on the stalls

 

[Alex2507]

Not whats been posted on the stalls

I keep meaning to take your magic marker away.

 

[highfigh]

Must be a regional thing ...

My mechanics will install the parts I buy as well but I think the OP might be best served by being even more like me. I like to buy the parts and install them myself and with A/V I'll go one further and like program my stuff on my own too but that's only because I'm so tight that I squeak when I walk.

Be more like you? Oh, the horror!

I don't think everyone should charge the same amount- it's clear that not everyone has the same abilities and knowledge but the price will be what the market will bear. If labor becomes a commodity, there will be an exodus out of the industry like nobody has ever seen. Some people can install and connect this stuff but the inability of others is also obvious. Some people can figure out many things but some can't even hook up a VCR. The universal desire is to get things at the lowest price and that doesn't always get the best overall performance because someone always knows a better way to use or install something.

I do most of the work on my vehicles, too, but if I don't have what the job needs and it's prohibitively expensive for a one-time job or I just can't do it, I'll have someone else do the work. Sometimes, the time needed would cost more than having someone else do the work and that just makes sense to take it in.