How long it takes you to do installs?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=53367
Printed Date: May 14, 2024 at 1:44 AM
Topic: How long it takes you to do installs?
Posted By: godd dan it
Subject: How long it takes you to do installs?
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 1:44 AM
How long does it take you to do installs? I just want to see what/who im competing with and to see if im doing good. Im talking about as soon as you open the product out of the box and no half ass installs. Alarms? (Familiar with the car).......takes me about 30-45 mins. Alarms? (NOT familiar with the car).......takes me atleast an hour or so because I need to figure out how to tear the car apart and use the test light or meter. Head Units? (Familiar with the car)......15 mins or more......it could take a long time depending if you have to tear the dash apart like the cavalier. Also, depends if you are using harnesses or not. Head Units? (NOT familiar with the car)........30 mins or more........and again...it all depends. Ive also done rear view cameras and tv/dvd players and they usually take hours. Also, everything listed above depends if its factory installs or aftermarket. Ok now you guys?....I bet some of you take your time if you get paid by the hour. Lol
Replies:
Posted By: overworked2
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 1:57 AM
When does time taken come into account compared to quality of install done? The only time I have ever rushed an install through is during Rattle Battles, where two teams are supplied a car, audio gear, wood and tools Audio gear usually consists, HU, a 4channel amp, a 2 channel amp, main speakers and 1 or 2 subs... Team with the highest SPL wins, even they are races...although you do only have 48 hours to from arrival to drag. You are in a customers car doing the best you can, you do not rush it, thats when mistakes happen. But if you must know...You are slow ------------- Check all advice given with a meter
Posted By: audifive
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 2:57 AM
i dont care how many times i have done a car, i will meter every single wire at least once. you say you can install in 1/2 an hour, but i test my install for 45 minutes on top of the hours it takes to solder it in. i can take my time because i get paid hourly, but either way there is nothing worse than a pissed off customer coming in with a sh-tty install from an installer that rushed and now i have to trouble shoot it. i have seen rem start wires tangled around the brake pedal from rookie installers. So in my opinion, i dont care how long it takes me, because it takes twice as long to take a car apart and do it again, so i make sure the first time that the customers do not come back for the wrong reasons. my point is...take your time and make sure it is right the first time
Posted By: ss-installer
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 8:09 AM
i get paid by the job so the faster i work the more money i make....NOT. its messed up when you make $500 on monday and spend the rest of the week troubleshooting. paying customers have to wait on you troubleshooting installs you messed up yesterday.
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Posted By: Francious70
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 9:15 AM
For my personal car it will take a lifetime. For someone else's car, it depends on what I'm doing.
Paul
Posted By: specialauto
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 10:04 AM
all depends man.. make, models and what your putting in...
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Canadian Auto Sound
Starting Installer
Posted By: Asmodeus
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 10:37 AM
I get paid on commision so yeah the more I do the more I make....But I am not going to sacrifice quality for quantity anyday... I will not do something to a customers car that I wouldnt do to my own....I test my systems thoroughly before I let it out the door, I always check connections twice...After all the precautions I take I can get a HU in about anycar within 30-45mins.... I have yet to have to troubleshoot a simple system (Sub / Amp / HU install) I am very thourogh(sp) when I install because I HATE having to go back into a car...Plus the Customers piss me off... -------------  Making the World A Louder Place
Posted By: imstrange
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 11:50 AM
how many times do you get paid for the job? _________. only once ; call perry mason; 'cause I rest my case.
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dont be one
Posted By: thepencil
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 2:11 PM
Reading through the post I think the position most people have taken is pretty clear. If quality work and reputation matters to you consider taking the extra time of doing it right the first time. I can put in an alarm and starter with all the safty pin and wire in a certain vechile in less than half hour. I am the slowest guy at my work. My other colleague can do it in less than 25 minutes. Will we? Of course not! Why? Remember one thing in this business. New of a bad install that you did speads like wild fire. ------------- Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. 
Posted By: 5150azn
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 4:26 PM
I've seen 6month custom install consisting of a 2 day alarm install. That brain was so hidden we weren't even sure the guy installed the darn thing.
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Tell the Snap-On guy I'm not here!
Posted By: nam-eci
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 4:42 PM
Hi all, I'm a mobile installer, I fit in the street in the rain, snow 'n everything. My Times vary From 5min heads to 3hr Alarms, it totally depends on the make & model of the vehicle & Alarm + the installation environment. But I agree: 'Best to take your time & do it right!' - I've c**ked up once or twice & had to pay out of my own pocket for recovery. I was cutting through carpet with a blade, I had No idea the dumbass maufactures had ran a rubber fuel line through the car-under the carpet! But thats a whole new debate!
Posted By: godd dan it
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 6:31 PM
You guys are all right. It depends if you want to do a good job or not. If you take your time, logically you should have a better turn out than if you rushed through something. But once I have the car memorized by heart, than its a pretty fast install. I dont bother to check the wires with a meter if I already have them memorized and if worked on the same car alot of times. But I will check to see if the alarm works properly when im finished. Thats how I do it and I never had a problem.
Posted By: chrisAWD
Date Posted: April 07, 2005 at 9:15 PM
sorry, off topic but, i love your tagline there about snap on AZN
Posted By: stang351w
Date Posted: April 07, 2005 at 10:02 PM
just to jump in here, i agree with the previous mentiond that who care if you can do it in 20 min or not, because if you have to spend the next hour triyng to find out what's wrong then you cut into other things. i have no settime for a HU install, i'll be the first to admit, i'm slow, anywhere from 15 min to an hour (never honda civic si) but when i wire it together, all wires are solderd, taped, and heatshrunk and befor the vehicle is put back together i test the cd player to make any corrections then, after it's installed i double check what i removed and set the clock and in most cases i'll wip down the dash. as for remote starters...after reading some of those posts i don't dare say my time, hehe, anywhere from 30 min to 2 hours depending on if they want the door locks done and trunk release. but onces it's done it's done right and i've almost lost my wires because i blend them into the factory as much as i can
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