major retailer horror story ($$#$$%)

[expo5.0]

i'm not gonna name the major retailer that did this install here today (but i will if you im or email me). i will say that they are one of the higher end places in the twin cities area and are a part of a national chain that i know has stores as far away as Denver (although under a different name- and that may be a hint for some of you as to which place this is)

anyways, i had an appointment to do a amp bypass this morning in a fellow explorerforum members truck when i found a few other problems with the install that needed to be addressed (not to mention the fact that they wanted $50 dollars to do the bypass)

1. he has a rockford fosgate he2 15 subwoofer and a rockford fosgate power 500x 4 channel amplifier. this was the route they had suggested because it was cheapest... why wouldn't they recommended a mono amp capable of 500 watts into 2 ohms (which would power his dual 4 ohm sub nicely)? 4 channels are always more expensive than a comperable mono amp.

2. to hook up this 4 channel amp they sold him very expensive monster cable twisted pair rca's. then as soon as the rca went out of site they used female ---> 2 male connectors that couldn't have cost more than 5 cents each to branch the signal out into "4 channel"... makes perfect sense in a way except that the amp is switchable so that it can accept 2 channel inputs.

3. they didn't notice that the signal from the hu wasn't of high enough voltage to fully power the amp so i had to add an equalizer (to act as a line driver) in order to get the full power from the amplifier

4. and this is the one that is the icing on the cake (the rest are sort of bad) but this one is enough to make you want to puke. they sold him a 150 dollar subzero box for his 15 and they did this (look at the picture) despite the fact that it had a built in terminal cup.


my theory is that they sold him the 4 channel amp so they were then stuck running each voice coil off of a seperate bridged channel of the amp. then when they got out to the install bay the box only had one terminal cup so they didn't know what to do... the results are horrendous--- and this is from a place that claims to be the best in the state. they even do lots of fiberglass work for their customers who have the $$$$- can we say pile of bondo?

 

[expo5.0]

he told me that after he got it installed he wondered why it was blowing saw dust out of the port...

 

[metalhed]

It's pretty gross, but really not that surprising. Most of the staff/installers don't really know a whole lot about what they're doing. Most of the managers/asst managers just get a 2yr degree in business and hop on anywhere that will hire them. Which can yield some pretty nasty results.


I've never had a good experience with audio shops.. One shop told me I'd be better off with 2 subs that cost $120 a piece ($50 off thezeb or ebay) over my one sub that cost $300+ ($300+ off thezeb or ebay).. It was B stock, stuff sitting around. They try to sucker people into buying that stuff, and feed you all this BS about how things need to be wired differently and it's best to let them take care of it.

If I didn't know any better, I could have walked out of there $500 poorer with a system that had less than 1/2 the quality of what I had before I went in.


I think the only sort of redemption they might have is those free booklets about different car audio manufacturers. Makes for good stool literature.

 

[IAmTodd]

That is just sick. Even my beginner job on my audio system was waaay better!! You have to wonder what they were thinking drilling holes in the box!?

 

[expo5.0]

this place is perceived as being better than best buy and circuit city (and probably is) lol


so do you think he should be able to get a new box for free? of course if he does it will be for sale since he is now ready to get a properly installed system with a properly tuned and built box

 

[Alec]

Geez, paid good money to have it rigged up like that when I could've done it for free

In my experience it's always better to go to a small local shop or
"garage" audio shop than chains for installs.

 

[mknott4]

Thats my X and my system in those pics and of course my horror story lol. All I can say is Watts Up customs has my business for life not just because the work he did was through and through but you cant get that kind of non bullshit and not rushed service anywhere else. The worst part about the whole story is the fact that I am sure many other systems have been hideously installed like mine was and their owners will never know. Thanks again to Watts Up Customs and I think that before anyone goes to a (best Buy, Audio king, Cicuit City and whatever else) store they should check out watts up and get it done right the first time.

 

[expo5.0]

lol- actually everyone should just find a little guy who will do it right near them or learn to do it themselves. i think its really a shame how low quality the general level of work is at the chains and i just wanted to expose a little example of it and maybe make someone else think before they chose the big place rather than the little guy or diy. this is by no means the exception to the rule, rather in my experience it is the rule. i know that back in high school when i worked for another major chain store (i won't mention here) that i was a fool and really had no idea what i was telling people to do. anyone who is reading this is a member of this forum and knows where to go to get the right answers (albeit you will have to sort through some bull to find it and learn who to listen to on what topics) it is all here for you to use- use it and avoid wasting your $$$

thanks for the compliments and confidence Mike (Mknott)- i can't wait to do all the stuff we're gonna do to your x. i can see it now with a lot of the stuff we talked about today.

 

[KPT]

My box doesn't have any terminal cups, just holes I drilled, stuck the wires through and caulked.


I hate this box anyway, I threw it together in 4 hours in 100 degree Memphis heat. Was only supposed to be a test box but I've used it for a year now.

Many large retail chains do suck though. I bought my alarm at best buy and had them install it cause I was feeling lazy, I've had to take the truck in twice now for two different issues with the alarm.

 

[expo5.0]

hey- caulk is one thing, drilling a hole and then leaving it open is another

 

[B94Sport]

Stuff like this is why I always tell people to take the time to learn it themselves, or have a friend help them... I never trust those places.

 

[97Sportrac]

Dude... post the name of the retailer here... these dumbasses are so stupid that they deserve to lose buisiness.

Is that 16ga wire they used to wire the subs? Those guys are dumb****s to do that. I'd go at LEAST 12ga for something like that.

 

[expo5.0]

yes the 16 guage wire that is supposed to be carrying 250 watts to each voice coil is another thing thats not so great and can definitely be included in the list of errors.

i have 10 gauge running to the subs in my own system with similar power numbers per voice coil (and therefore wire)

 

[expo5.0]

i got a new and better one- guess which retailer is responsible for this one?

 

[88vert]

Could it be Best Buy?

 

[expo5.0]

hell, your right

 

[88vert]

I have seen some of there work first hand.I just bought a new MP3 player last month and they broke the trim ring and cut up the cage getting my old clarion out

 

[AnabolicFrolic]

Why would u pay for the work if yer sh..stuff came out looking like that?
When i pay an installer (I only use small local shops) i expect to not see any wire tangled up, and to have all wiring cleanly routed and tucked away.
If i went to pick up my car and saw anything but that, i would tell em to fix and not pay until the issues were addressed.

 

[88vert]

My girlfriend took the truck down there,I was at work

 

[expo5.0]

well i think the owner of that vehicle learned her lessen. stay tuned for updated pics.