Car Audio - Buy One Place, Install Another?

NullUnit2000 · 09-23-2003, 11:22 AM

So I'm a few months out from gettting a new car and have started specing out a sound system. I went down to Best Buy and picked out a bunch of parts, head unit, amps, speakers etc. (btw, I have no intention of buying there, I was just wanted to see what's available and play with the buttons and knobs.)

So I got home with my list, and as I suspected, I was able to find everything I had seen at BB for 30%-40% less from online retailers. My concern is, if I buy all my parts online what's the best way of getting it professionally installed, without them getting all bent that I didn't buy the stuff from them?

Thanks for the info!

Nija · 09-23-2003, 11:45 AM

I've never done it with Best Buy, but what I did was buy a head unit and then take it to a local car audio shop and they installed it in a hour for $40. I would assume the same would happen at Best Buy.

In fact I was just talking with a girl here at work and she bought her headunit at CC and had it installed at BB and she said she didn't have any problems (other than getting in and out in a day)

ski · 09-23-2003, 12:04 PM

You might want to ask around for opinions about getting it done at BB or CC. In Pittsburgh, everyone tends to stay away from BB because their installation group is very impersonal (you don't get to see them do it), as well as the horror stories of extraneous cosmetic damage (scratches) the BB staff accidently puts on. I've found most CC's I've been to, their open installation ship leads to them welcoming you to watch an installation (if it's quick and you have time), which has always led me to go to them! YMMV... A mom and pop store is a good bet in most cases if you can't decide.

Good luck!

attgig · 09-23-2003, 12:46 PM

CC has free installation of a head unit right now....if you buy it from them

djradam · 09-23-2003, 01:08 PM

i haer best buy in my area does good work, but i'm sure other places are different.

i personally would recommend you do it yourself. what car are you looking at? that's a big thing to consider. i think my grandparent's old ford taurus has a HUGE radio area, if you know what i'm talking about. some new cars still have the standard din size which makes installation a LOT easier. i've seen come cars that have the radio unit and air controls on the same 1 piece panel, so if you got that, good luck... i don't think best buy or cc would have it easy.

another thing with buying online is warranty. i know alpine says it does not honor warranty when bought from someone who isn't alpine certified. you pretty much need to buy it in store. but like you found out, you save money. the head unit i'm looking for is $500 in store, and 370 shipped online. i might just get it online and if i have any problems, i think i know how to work my way around it

but if at all possible, try to do yourself. you might be able to grab a wiring harness for your car model to the brand of head unit, which would be nice.

bachviet · 09-23-2003, 01:52 PM

Why would you buy car stereo equipment from Best Buy anyway? I would buy them through other dealers online for cheaper and have them installed professionally. Many shops will install equipment for you even though you don't buy from them. They make more money installing equipment than selling them.

NullUnit2000 · 09-23-2003, 02:52 PM

"(btw, I have no intention of buying there, I was just wanted to see what's available and play with the buttons and knobs.)"

ski · 09-23-2003, 03:07 PM

One more thing that might help ya NullUnit --

I bought my head unit and got it installed by Circuit City...
Later I bought an amp for my subwoofer from a different store, a brand that CC doesn't even carry.

They were able to help me with my amp problems and even hook up the RCA cables to the back of my head unit for free. That said, I think Circuit City's policy on working with equipment that they didn't sell worked out for me... hopefully for you too if you go that road!

attgig · 09-23-2003, 03:40 PM

or install it yourself =)

i did it last week...was a piece of cake =)

djradam · 09-23-2003, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bachviet
They make more money installing equipment than selling them.

seriously, goes for computer equipment too ... i like how places have signs saying to install a cd-rom drive it'll cost $20-$30. damn, i wish i could stand there and say i'll do it for 10 and i'll be done in 5 minutes

djradam · 09-23-2003, 10:24 PM

true ... i guess

for an inexperienced person that would be the case. newer things tend to be match the color of wire. but then again, you also need to tools to perform the job.

WhiskeyPapa · 09-24-2003, 12:16 PM

I have reached a point in my life where installing my own aftermarket stereo is not "fun" anymore. Even though I have the tools and the ability - I'd gladly pay someone $100 or so to do it for me.

Renski · 09-26-2003, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DarkFury
Personally, if I have my own car audio to have installed, I wouldn't go to Best Buy. I'd go to Circuit City instead... they have a better "lifetime" INSTALL warranty (i.e. if a wire comes loose and shorts... they will fix it. But if the radio dies due to "natural causes" that of course is not covered).

Best Buy's car audio area leaves MUCH to be desired in the few that I have seen... I wouldn't trust either of my vehicles to them.

I would have to agree Circuit City is better of the two. But I go to Al & Ed's if I were to get my audio done.

attgig · 09-26-2003, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kb0wwp
I have reached a point in my life where installing my own aftermarket stereo is not "fun" anymore. Even though I have the tools and the ability - I'd gladly pay someone $100 or so to do it for me.

I'm not there yet...
I'll do it for $95

09-23-2003, 11:22 AM	#1
NullUnit2000 Lieutenant Commander Join Date: May 2000 Location: SF by way of OC Posts: 586	Car Audio - Buy One Place, Install Another? So I'm a few months out from gettting a new car and have started specing out a sound system. I went down to Best Buy and picked out a bunch of parts, head unit, amps, speakers etc. (btw, I have no intention of buying there, I was just wanted to see what's available and play with the buttons and knobs.) So I got home with my list, and as I suspected, I was able to find everything I had seen at BB for 30%-40% less from online retailers. My concern is, if I buy all my parts online what's the best way of getting it professionally installed, without them getting all bent that I didn't buy the stuff from them? Thanks for the info! __________________ ------------ -NU2K

09-23-2003, 11:45 AM	#2
Nija Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2001 Location: City of The Dead Posts: 13,552	I've never done it with Best Buy, but what I did was buy a head unit and then take it to a local car audio shop and they installed it in a hour for $40. I would assume the same would happen at Best Buy. In fact I was just talking with a girl here at work and she bought her headunit at CC and had it installed at BB and she said she didn't have any problems (other than getting in and out in a day) __________________ "Nija is the dark soul of gotapex. We don't like to talk about him." - LPMiller

09-23-2003, 12:46 PM	#4
attgig Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: the burbs of baltimore Posts: 11,924	CC has free installation of a head unit right now....if you buy it from them __________________

09-23-2003, 01:52 PM	#6
bachviet What's Da Pho*? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SoCal (714) Posts: 13,296	Why would you buy car stereo equipment from Best Buy anyway? I would buy them through other dealers online for cheaper and have them installed professionally. Many shops will install equipment for you even though you don't buy from them. They make more money installing equipment than selling them. __________________ Dell Dimension 9200 \| Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz) \| 4x1GB DDR2 \| 256MB nVidia GeForce 8800GT Dell Studio 17 \| Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHz) \| 2x2GB DDR3 1066MHz \| 1GHz ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Intel P4-C 3.0GHz \| ECS 865PE-A \| 3x512MB PC3200 \| 128MB PNY GeForce 6600GT

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09-23-2003, 12:04 PM	#3
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	You might want to ask around for opinions about getting it done at BB or CC. In Pittsburgh, everyone tends to stay away from BB because their installation group is very impersonal (you don't get to see them do it), as well as the horror stories of extraneous cosmetic damage (scratches) the BB staff accidently puts on. I've found most CC's I've been to, their open installation ship leads to them welcoming you to watch an installation (if it's quick and you have time), which has always led me to go to them! YMMV... A mom and pop store is a good bet in most cases if you can't decide. Good luck!

09-23-2003, 01:08 PM	#5
djradam Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: metro detroit, mi Posts: 930	i haer best buy in my area does good work, but i'm sure other places are different. i personally would recommend you do it yourself. what car are you looking at? that's a big thing to consider. i think my grandparent's old ford taurus has a HUGE radio area, if you know what i'm talking about. some new cars still have the standard din size which makes installation a LOT easier. i've seen come cars that have the radio unit and air controls on the same 1 piece panel, so if you got that, good luck... i don't think best buy or cc would have it easy. another thing with buying online is warranty. i know alpine says it does not honor warranty when bought from someone who isn't alpine certified. you pretty much need to buy it in store. but like you found out, you save money. the head unit i'm looking for is $500 in store, and 370 shipped online. i might just get it online and if i have any problems, i think i know how to work my way around it but if at all possible, try to do yourself. you might be able to grab a wiring harness for your car model to the brand of head unit, which would be nice.

09-23-2003, 02:52 PM	#7
NullUnit2000 Lieutenant Commander Join Date: May 2000 Location: SF by way of OC Posts: 586	"(btw, I have no intention of buying there, I was just wanted to see what's available and play with the buttons and knobs.)"

09-23-2003, 03:07 PM	#8
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	One more thing that might help ya NullUnit -- I bought my head unit and got it installed by Circuit City... Later I bought an amp for my subwoofer from a different store, a brand that CC doesn't even carry. They were able to help me with my amp problems and even hook up the RCA cables to the back of my head unit for free. That said, I think Circuit City's policy on working with equipment that they didn't sell worked out for me... hopefully for you too if you go that road!

09-23-2003, 03:40 PM	#9
attgig Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: the burbs of baltimore Posts: 11,924	or install it yourself =) i did it last week...was a piece of cake =)

09-23-2003, 10:24 PM	#11
djradam Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: metro detroit, mi Posts: 930	true ... i guess for an inexperienced person that would be the case. newer things tend to be match the color of wire. but then again, you also need to tools to perform the job.

09-24-2003, 12:16 PM	#12
WhiskeyPapa Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: 45° 11' 35" North Latitude, 95° 8' 37" West Longitude Posts: 3,427	I have reached a point in my life where installing my own aftermarket stereo is not "fun" anymore. Even though I have the tools and the ability - I'd gladly pay someone $100 or so to do it for me.

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