Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

For a decent car audio shop anymore?? Jesus. It really is sad that these people own and/or work at these places and have no clue what they're doing or saying. I just called 3 shops for something EXTREMELY simple...a sealed box for 2 12's around 1.5-1.7 per chamber. The first place I called said he didn't even know if he had a sealed box in the place (how do you not know?...look around) and that he's got plenty of slot-type boxes. The second place said he's never even heard of a sealed box being that big. So I just said ok thanks and hung up. The third place said that anything over a 1.2cuft/sub in sealed is just overkill and you will not hear a difference. Yes..he said "you will not hear a difference". WOW! This is all without him even knowing what sub is being used. He said with that size you're getting into ported box sizes.

Anyone else have these occurrences with local shops? As a senior in Petroleum Geology, and finals in 2 weeks, I don't have the time or tools to build a sealed box. I know its super simple, and I've already built a ported box..but that was while I had time. I just wanted to buy something cheap to try it and see if it really did sound a ton better like IHC and everyone said. Guess I'll just wait and stick them in my ported box for the time being. Ugh...sorry, that's just sad and thank god I won't be installing/buying anything from these shops.

Ya know, its the same shit as these subwoofer box companies that do NOTHING besides make sub boxes and somehow forget to include what tuning frequency their ported box's are at, or what the cuft. is. HOW THE HELL DO YOU FORGET THAT!

...Maybe I need to eat a Snickers

shawn_vick

haha you wont hear the difference, wow not eavn asked you what sub you have. up here in toronto nutting helps i asked a guy how much to build a amp rack in my spear tire with a 4ch install he wanted 1800

NetDiver

Pretty much the same thing here in SoCal. Majority of places don't know what they're doing. Some are knowledgeable, but don't care. There's only one shop in the Valley, that I trust with my car, and people there are "up to date on technology", but they're expensive. So like with everything else, if you want to get it done right, you have to do it yourself.

I hate cars

That's pretty much what I get around here. Most of them are less educated than the internet guys yet they have this elitist attitude to top it off. I'm all for supporting small business and an actual shop over an internet shop but with the way these businesses are run it's no surprise many of them are going away.

Petroleum Geology, huh? I know a lot of people in that field.

carologist

I know that you are looking for something bigger than this box but if it is for testing the Price might be right?

2x12" 1.25' per chamber for $90

http://www.rtboxes.com/hatchback-sealed-770/

and you won't have to deal with idiots.

To get what you want you will most likely have to do it your self....

djtsmith007

iTrader: (1)

I had a shop try to tell me there is no difference in chambered sealed and non-chambered...then they tried laying my own technical engineering terms on me to convince me....hahaha

Only asked them to build to the box because i didn't have the time to.

jda123

There is more BS on the net than there is in the shops, but the forum is much broader...

You can get some good help around here if you are a "good" customer. If you just want some stuff here and there, then you can buy supplies, but are mostly on your own... and at a cost of full retail. I had one shop tell me that I had to "pay to play with the big boys."

Do it yourself - the only way to go. A word of caution, once you start doing stuff yourself, you won't stop... you will find out that you can do just as good of a job, or better, than the dealership too. Today, a sub box, tomorrow a timing belt.

Hi There

It's truly horrifying that someone calling themselves an installer would call 1.6 cubic feet "too big" without knowing anything about the sub, or not be able to derive the enclosure size from the sub's specs, or indeed, not know that 1.6 for a 12" sealed sub isn't all that much to begin with...there are plenty of subs out there that use this much and more in their suggested enclosure designs.

But I have sympathy...modern shops, in order to make money, must focus on either cookie-cutter mentality or charge inordinate prices for the work they exert...they have to account for tax, insurance, store overhead, etc. Just look at that Elite Audio tv show: A lot of the work they call "elite" is what I would deem "mid-grade" and they get tons of $$$$$ and recognition for it. Their focus, just like any middle-of-the-road shop, is on turn-around. Get it done in a few days and get it the **** out.

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

I agree with you, but if you don't know what you're selling..what's the point of even having a shop. I would have had one built or bought one right then if they would have said "yeah, we can easily build ya one", etc

I worked at Best Buy my freshman year, in the car audio department (I know...I know.. haha), and you'd be amazed at how many people have NO CLUE what they're doing there. I know a helluva lot more about home audio/video than I do car audio, and I would see my buddies completely blowing sales and/or screwing the customer over because they didn't know what they were talking about. It's sad! That's why I research almost anything I buy nowadays. Takes more time but greatly benefits me in the end

I hate cars

How's your project coming along?

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

so you know how they work lol




but yeah most shops nowadays are about the $$$, and making it, and hiring cheaper people; compared to doing custom work (which takes skill)(which VERY few people are willing to even pay for compared to just buying a box)

adsoldschool

Feeling your pain... I worked for an install shop back in college, mostly sales, but I saw how he ran the shop and the installers were amazing. I got spoiled to how it's supposed to be done. The owner never let a car out of the bay without personally inspecting the install and tuning. Every zip-tie on the looms were spaced evenly, every screw lined up alike... Now that I don't have time to do my own, I had an install done at one of the few remaining independant shops...ugh. I've been back 4x and its still not right. All the good guys have been put under by the box stores, and let's face it, forums like this referring DIY's to bargain buys on-line, instead of keeping it local.

jda123

To be fair to the shops, most hobby-based small businesses usually fail. I am not offering excuses for them, but perhaps an explanation. Also, with hobby based businesses, what used to be passion and excitement for the hobby become just another job and the people become dulled when immersed in it every day.

There is no better way to ruin a hobby than to make it a business.

adsoldschool

There is no better way to ruin a hobby than to make it a business.[/quote]

Not if you're a beer taster or porn star ...

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

Not if you're a beer taster or porn star ...[/quote]

DeathMetal

iTrader: (2)

You can hop over to caraudio.com...plenty of reputable guys there that can do it for ya.

DiamondJoeQuimby

iTrader: (2)

To the OP, is it too much to ask? No. You just have to search them out anymore.

I work at a shop that has been in business since 1967. Same family owns it. I have been doing it professionally for 12+ years. Started as an installer, moved to sales, now on the management side of things.

The rate of change in this industry is staggering. Most people who got into it as a hobbyist profession are out of it because they didn't make the commitment to keep up with the changes in the market.

Problem is, a lot of shops hire just any kid off the streets to answer the phone or work the floor (or work the bay) and they either don't know, don't care or both.

To get good service and a knowledgeable person you need a real professional. Someone who is still passionate about what they do and have the experience to back it up. Problem is, most of the older guys are burned out, don't care and didn't keep up with the times, so it is really hard to get good service in this industry anymore. And honestly that goes all the way up to the manufacturers. There are more than one "big boys" out there that I honestly question how and why they are still in business.

Point is, don't give up on us all. You may just have to dig a little deeper to find a good shop. That said, when you find someone who knows what the hell they are talking about don't balk (too loudly) at their prices. I am confident that I know quite a bit more than most. There is a lot that I don't know and there are a lot of people that know a lot more than me, but I'll at least try to learn if I don't know. I really try not to be pretentious or conceded about it but I should know more. That is why I am a professional. So when you seek my advice or knowledge, expect to pay for it. That happens in every other field. I spent a lot of time learning what I know and doing what I do. Oh and by the way, I have a mortgage, car payment, a kid and I like to eat and I don't do this for fun. I do it to put food on the table. The fact that I enjoy what I do is a perk.

I hate cars

[/quote]

I know a few female porn stars that don't particularly care for it.... Never met and don't care to meet any male porn stars lol but I bet it would be different.

DiamondJoeQuimby

iTrader: (2)

And now that I think about it...I am a volunteer tour guide for a brewery and get paid in free beer...so yeah...

<-----pretty charmed life

jda123

The service level with any hobby-based small business will be back up when more people have more expendable cash - demand will drive competition that will drive service.

LiveFrom323

Hey Netdriver, If i may ask whats the name of the shop you use in the valley?? Im trying to find a good spot to install my headunit??

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

Already a member there and DIYMA. Just figured I'd search local to help out the community first ya know.

I'm not giving up on people/shops. Matter of fact, my mom owns a small business so I know how things work. There's one decent shop here in Norman, and the owner is very knowledgeable! The workers are somewhat, but I'd only want the owner working on my car. There's a few shops in the Oklahoma City that are also very knowledgeable. One of them is the place that sells Massive/DD/Morel/etc, and the guy working there said "damn, I haven't heard anyone talk like that in a long time in here", referring to me auditioning speakers and talking to him about stuff. He knew his stuff and it was good to finally talk with someone that knew something other than big brand names, etc. Point is, there's still really good shops/people for this stuff out there, and you're right...you just have to find them. Good post Diamond

You win at life