Best Buy Installer dress code?

I can't believe the pay is so low in the US here at our shop we are all on $18-20 an hour plus commision

Ah fair enough

I guess it's time for me to add my 2 cents too.  I too am an installer at bestbuy.  Been at my store since it opened in 02.  I am also the only person left between install and the sale floor that opened the store.  Back when we opened we had a great staff, everyone got along with each other and everyone knew what they needed to know to get the job done.  We had a great time at work, and our numbers were always tops in the company.  We went through some changes people got promoted, fired, and quit.  So we wound up with a completely new staff.  Of course no one knew really knew anything about the equipment, so it came down to me, still just a peon installer, to get everyone up to speed.  Well it only works when everyone actually pays attention and is willing to learn.  I've spent probably 50+ hours putting together papers on identifying cars with amps in them properly selling extra parts needed for remote starts and such.  Things of that nature.  Of course no one pays any attention so I get at least a dozen calls a day about if this car has an amp, what has do be done to put an overhead in a vehicle.  I have to turn my cell off on my days off anymore just so I don't end up with another $150+ bill.  Oh and heaven forbid I have to stop by work to pick up some tools.  I have never been able to get out without spending at least an hour having to explain how to do something to one of the other installers.

The other thing that aggrivates me about this place is the apparent complete lack of anyone really caring about carfi and install.  We always seem to be the redheaded stepchild of Best Buy.  It seems to me that the big wigs would rather pay the probably $100000+ in yearly damage claims than actual proper training.  Case in point, we had a home theater/mobile  installer training this past summer.  I wound up going for the whole day since my car is the biggest and has navi.  The home theather end of the training was very informative and interactive.  So we break for lunch come back for the modile end of it, and I was expecting something along the lines of the morning.  Nope, had a couple of vendors trying to explain how their products worked and how they would make the customers lives easier.  Ended up we, the installers, were correcting the incorrect information the vendors were stating.  Yeah Best buy prides themselves on the whole MECP certified installers ok sure.  The probelm is that it's just a piece of paper.  It means the person is good at memorizing and taking tests.  The best buy certification is a good idea, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.  You can print the exam, fail it, print it again with the correct answers, and ace it 2 weeks later.  Not that I've done that, though I do know some who have.

I could go on and on for hours, but I'll stop now.  I'll probably end up losing my job over this, but I guess that's life.  Don't get me wrong I love my job.  I love the expression from a customer when their car remote starts for the first time.  I lke the look in the kids face when he cranks the system I put in for the first time and his friends are jealous.  I absolutely love doing something for a customer that other shops say can't be done.  Especially when they go show the shop and I get a call from them asking me how I did it.  Yes there are customer's that will not let any one other than me work on their cars, but don't all installers have people like that?  Well I guess that's it for my rant now.  Oh since I noticed that there is someone from corporate on these boards, to make your job easier should you decide to can me.  I work at store 475 in brick.

everything that cntrylvr79 said, ditto for me. store #036, independence, mo.

*cough cough* Why you bring me up for?....Whats funny is that I fought that thing like a act of congress trying to get that raise that I wasnt even supposed to get.

I agree,managment does need to stick they're heads into our world and see what should or should not be changed.Maybe when they come back there we can ask for help,"Hey...lean in that car and yank that yellow loom outta there"......I'd love to see someone airbagged,ha

sS

hate to keep this *off topic* but nouseforaname, after that new switch and mobile sales/DI/and Wireless merge, we're trying to get all the guys crosstrained and bringing a few of em back to the bay to see how we actually do things,that might help up out a little bit around the X-mas season so we can get a few other guys prepping harnesses and simple kits an cages while we run from car to car....another thing I'd like to add having a display w/ factory speakers vs aftermarket speakers to show the comparasion is a great idea....I wont take credit for that....thats BazzGazm, just a great idea to toss around.

sS

best buy dress code at my store is strictyl inforced. if i come out from under a dash and my shirt is untucked and a manager sees it they say some thing about it.

As far as best buy politics yes i agree with what other have said they suck. but you can learn to deal with them. E-compasses are the dumbest thing ive ever had to do working as a installer or mechanic basicly they have nothing to do with what my job is. the last e-compass i took was the mp3 to car test and it was over products that our store doesnt even have in stock. this being the blitz safe adapters im not sure if we are just waiting for them or what.

Our bay hasnt recived parts (crimp caps, zip ties etc etc) in over 2 months. we are waiting on the orders and its to the point we dont have the items to do the install at the higest quality due to not having things we need.

best buy install is a good place to learn the basic skills needed to really get into this industry. ive been with best buy for almost a year and this is my last week because im feed up with the crappy hours, bad pay, same day installs,along with a few other things ive noticed at least at my store. I know the same day installs are some thing we have to do but when you have a full schedual book and are maybe even double booked with one installer covering the bay, same day drops are the biggest pain in the ass ever and should not be mandatory or at least done at some kind of profit for the company. I think if best buy wants to keep its installers longer and not have the turn around on people in the bay they will eventualy need to pay their people better and create a system that gives each installers a constant amount of hours. My hours jump + or - 10 hrs every week it seems.