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

[Johnny2Bad]

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.

Maybe, or it might just be who you deal with. Mainstream shops may balk.

Most places have something like a stock car track nearby ... buy a ticket, watch the race, and note who sponsors cars or advertises in the program, etc as far as mechanical work goes. Then call them monday morning and ask.

Chances are they do good work and they will be fine with it, but you can up your chances by talking to people at the track as well.

For what it's worth, I do both ... install my own stuff, and have it installed if it's something I feel is too important to risk. But, I bring the parts to the shop.

What mechanics hate is re-doing a bad customer install, or getting called up when it's been self-installed and it doesn't work. Know your abilities and have the right equipment on hand, but know when to say no to yourself. If you decide to pay for shop work, let them do the whole thing, start to finish.

For the parent question, substitute "HT installers" for "mechanics" and "shop work" for "an A/V installer" in that last paragraph.

 

[highfigh]

Maybe, or it might just be who you deal with. Mainstream shops may balk.

Most places have something like a stock car track nearby ... buy a ticket, watch the race, and note who sponsors cars or advertises in the program, etc as far as mechanical work goes. Then call them monday morning and ask.

Chances are they do good work and they will be fine with it, but you can up your chances by talking to people at the track as well.

For what it's worth, I do both ... install my own stuff, and have it installed if it's something I feel is too important to risk. But, I bring the parts to the shop.

What mechanics hate is re-doing a bad customer install, or getting called up when it's been self-installed and it doesn't work. Know your abilities and have the right equipment on hand, but know when to say no to yourself. If you decide to pay for shop work, let them do the whole thing, start to finish.

For the parent question, substitute "HT installers" for "mechanics" and "shop work" for "an A/V installer" in that last paragraph.

I sell and install A/V now, but I did car stereo for a long time and was also a marine mechanic- I have no problem fixing other peoples' screw-ups and none of the people I know who do things for others do, either. It takes some different problem-solving skills and a few diagnostic tools but overall, it's not that bad. A mechanical part may beed to be installed to some spec but once it's in, nothing more is needed. With A/V equipment, there's often a lot of setup needed. If a lot of mechanics don't want to install customer parts, it's because they can't make any money on the part sale. Also, parts fail and you'd be surprised by how many people will want the shop to give them a break on the labor when their part does.

 

[highfigh]

There's a reason price lists have 'Confidential' at the top- it's so dealers can make money and not have the crap beaten out of them because a PO'd former employee told everyone who will listen that the equipment costs a small fraction of the selling price. This has made it almost impossible for a small dealer to make ANY money, let alone a decent profit. The prevailing attitude that "They may make money on these, but not from me" has created a bargain basement atmosphere and because of that, a lot of people are leaving the industry and at some point, that will include me.

There's no difference between a dealer wanting to make a profit and anyone who wants to have some money left over at the end of the month. Throw us a bone, please. And none of that Beggin' Strips crap, either!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

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

You should buy it from an installer if you can't install the componenents yourself.