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Why is that as humans we always take the cheapest way out which always turns out to be the more expensive way in the long run. It never fails that there is always someone who knows someone who knows someone that can install it cheaper than the local car audio shop in town. Next thing you know you are cruising down the strip and the smoke starts rolling out from under the hood at first it is light smoke; next thick smoke begins to roll out. As you proceed to find a place to pull over you notice there is smoke filling the cab of your ride. Two hours later you are watching your prize possession roll away on a flatbed wrecker burnt to a crisp. The fireman explains that it was caused by a power wire that was not fused and grounded out somewhere inside your vehicle. Here you are without a ride and the guy that installed it well, he forgot to tell you he didn't have insurance to cover your toasted ride and your insurance company wants receipts from were the system was "Professionally installed". I think the most important aspect of mobile electronics is finding the right retailer and building a relationship with them. In this issue I would like to cover some good rules to go by when choosing the right retailer to purchase your new equipment from and then have it installed. Every corner you look on, these days there is a sign with big letters " Car Audio". But whom do you go to? Who do you trust to work on the true love of your life, your $10,000 truck with $20,000 in accessories? Well hopefully I can answer that for you. Here are my 10 commandments of choosing the right car audio establishment.1) Always look in the phone book. These ads are not cheap usually meaning that the guy with the bigger ad is a bigger establishment. This is not always true but it's a good place to start. Give them a call. Find out how long they have been in business and what products they sell? 2) I thought I was going to need a sling blade and leaf blower to get in the door from all the weeds and trash in the parking lot. If the parking lot looks like a mess then that's probably what your install is going to look like. 3) "Hello and welcome is there something I can help you find today". I feel if the person helping me is not kind and courteous then no you can't help me, except to help weed-eat me a trail to my car so I can leave. 4) Always look around and listen to how the salespeople are talking and treating the other customers. I know you can't please everybody all the time but one person every now and then would be good.
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5) You want to pull my ride in there? All I need is a nail or screw in my $500.00 a piece 22" tires. Ok so they are 16"s but I keep them clean. Look at the install bay if it's filthy and business is slow then that should send up a red flag to yea. Now if they are slammed to the gills then yea you can expect a little mess. 6) M.E.C.P (Mobile Electronics Certification Program) certification is important. This tells me that the installer has taken the time to learn his or her job and that certificate hanging on the wall proves it. 7) I can see the love, look at a picture book of some installs that the installer working on your vehicle has done. All good installers are proud of their work and usually capture these works of art in picture form. 8) Shop around. Never take the price you see beside the radio as a set in stone price. All good shops will work with you on the price if you are buying a lot of equipment from them. But don't expect or ask them to discount labor, then you are asking for trouble. Most installers get paid commission and when they get cheated on an install price you end up being the one cheated in the long run.9) Gee why is that everything you sell for some reason is on back order? By the way why is it that your most expensive amp is only $99.99 for a 1000 watt amp? That is a sign of a shop that is in trouble. We live in a now world and when I decide I want a new radio I want it now not 3 to 4 weeks. Remember you get what you pay for. 10) You need my car for how long just to install a radio? I personally believe that most basic installs should be same day. Now if there is custom work involved that's a different story. A radio and some new 6x9's that's is not an all day job. Custom work is an art form and I believe you should give your installer the time that is due them. Leave the dude alone don't call every 20 minutes " is my car done" let them call you. (Installers will love me for this one)11) That was awesome dude. Did you walk away from there with new friends and a warm cozy feeling if not then don't go back. O.K. so that was 11 who's counting when it comes to saving you headaches and the pains of a bad install. The bottom line is professionalism and customer service. Well until next month and remember if the windows aren't shakin' you've been takin'. Ben Husser
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