Anyone have any experience with Best Buy Installations?

[caedmon]

I'm thinking of using best buy to install my PIE FRD-AUX, extra cigarette adapter, and monster charger as I have absolutely no experience with car stereo installation. Anyone have any experience with best buy car audio installations? They're only charging me $30 for the whole installation and since I'll already be out a good chunk of change for the iPod, adapater, and charger, saving money is a good thing right now.

[chinhster]

I think it's just going to vary with the installer.

I bought an HU from there and had it installed for free. I got it back a couple of hours later and had no problems. Looked fine to me. I could've done it myself but since the install was free, why not.

[ajgonzales]

i would never let best buy touch anything in my car.

[barrettd]

I would agree that it depends on the personnel. If you're really concerned, try and find someone who's had that shop work on their car. I've had plenty of stuff installed at Circuit City without a single problem, but I know plenty of people who just refuse to let chain stores touch their stuff. It's all about the individual doing the work.

Is the $30 install going to give you a clean look, with the cigarette adapter hidden from view, or is the guy just going to pull out your head unit and plug the wire in? If it's for a hidden install, I'd spend the $30.

BD

[caedmon]

ajgonzales: Any reasons to back up this resentment or is this more of a general "OMG! Best Buy sucks!" knee jerk response?

BD: The guy I talked to at BB seemed to know exactly what I was looking for. I mentioned that I wanted the power outlet behind the dash and that since both of my 12-volt adapters currently are "always on" he would tap into a power source that turned on/off with the car's ignition so I wouldn't always be drawing from the car's battery. Since the other stores are quoting me $60-100 to install this seems like the best bet so far.

[barrettd]

Originally posted by caedmon
BD: The guy I talked to at BB seemed to know exactly what I was looking for. I mentioned that I wanted the power outlet behind the dash and that since both of my 12-volt adapters currently are "always on" he would tap into a power source that turned on/off with the car's ignition so I wouldn't always be drawing from the car's battery. Since the other stores are quoting me $60-100 to install this seems like the best bet so far.

If it were me, I'd do it for the $30. I'd love to see pics once you get it done.

BD

[ajgonzales]

Originally posted by caedmon
ajgonzales: Any reasons to back up this resentment or is this more of a general "OMG! Best Buy sucks!" knee jerk response?


three of my friends have worked at best buy (not in the car audio dept. though) and they've told me that their installers are bad and are careless. one friend had a sub and amp installed by them simply because it was free. i took a look at it and it was pretty sloppy so i re-did it for him.

[barrettd]

Originally posted by ajgonzales
three of my friends have worked at best buy (not in the car audio dept. though) and they've told me that their installers are bad and are careless. one friend had a sub and amp installed by them simply because it was free. i took a look at it and it was pretty sloppy so i re-did it for him.

I can do most of the stuff myself, with help from Crutchfield's kits/harnesses, but amp installation just scares the heck out of me. I'm going to check out a local stereo installation shop before going back to CC, just to see if they can do it better/cheaper. I didn't have any problems with the CC install on my last amp, but it was certainly expensive.

BD

[MuzakMan]

I had my system installed by them. I bought all the stuff separately, as Best Buy didn't have the stuff I wanted, then they installed it. Great job, very clean. Once, the speakers had a very small short. They fixed it no questions asked, and if I ever sell my car, they will switch all the old stuff back in for free.