Some advice, am i getting ripped? New deck and speaker advice.
 

Hi all, new here..

Looking for audio for my 07 focus. I have done some research and decided to use the local shop. Highland Audio.

It was recommended on a focus forum i post on to use:

A half decent deck, ie:?> not 99 dollars. Spend at least 200.
2 new front door speakers and forget the rears.
A 2 channel amp to power the fronts.

(sub, box and amp for sub to be purchased later)

So off i go to the shop. Highland came highly recommended. He set me up with a Kenwood MP235 (new this year) and Fusion 572 speakers for the doors. The harness and dash insert. This came to 450.00 tax in, installed. He also told me not to bother with the amp for the doors cause i wont need for my purposes. Im ok with that i guess. I did tell him I was on a budget.

Heres my dilemma, I got searching on the net... I found that deck for like no more than a 100USD avg price and as low as 80CAD. I found the speakers for like from 60 to 100CAD. This is all internet pricing and does not include shipping or potential taxes and dutys.

I have no problem with markups. I guess im just really uneducated. Am i overreacting?? Should i get a refund (i paid for the stuff but no install till monday.

Please some help heh heh.

Mark

Realistically, by the time you add in shipping, duties, and all that fun stuff, your probably looking at at least 300 canadian anyways. Include into the fact that 450 includes tax, installation, and the harness and dash kit, is it really worth saving maybe a hundred bucks to get minimal if any warranty, and doing everything yourself? Honestly, if it was me, I would just pay a little extra to get the guranteed warranty and workmanship. I am a big online/diy kinda guy (mostly cause the shops up in my area rape you whenever possible), but it seems like you are getting a pretty good deal, and I'm in favour of supporting local shops (the good ones at least).

I wouldn't quite say ripped, but you did overpay a bit. If the shop guarantees their work and have a good reputation, I would say that is an ok price. All the shops in my town do horrible job (I have seen many of their "installs" and a 2 year old with a crayon could do better, Futureshop actually does the "best" installs that I have seen people pay for, but I could still do better than them.) Unfortunately, all the places in my area have ridiculous markups, one example, At one of the few shops here, they wanted $1200+taxes for Alpine Type R 12", no amp, no box, no free install. They are the only alpine dealer here, but I can get 4 of those for that price brand new (5 if I got them on ebay)! Another store quoted me $600 on a kicker 12" compvr.
It's just dumb what shops will charge you here.

audio stuff in the states is soooooooo much cheeper then canada, dont know why. IT JUST IS!

If you click the search button and type the smart words in you will find out why US pricing is cheaper.

Thanks for the replies so far...

Heres my invoice breakdown...

KDC-MP235 Headunit 199.00 installed
Fusion 572 5x7 Door Speakers 125.00 (15 per door to install) 155.00
Harness 18.95
Insert Kit 21.95
All plus tax.

I retract the ripped statment... its to strong a word to define this post. Over paying is what i mean.

and df.dima, ya ill use my smart words and check that out.

Those prices are not too bad. Remember service cost money. And they are there to provide you with it. If there is a problem you simply head back in and get it solved.

Stuff is definitely much cheaper in the US. A coworker of mine went down to Seattle a month ago, got his system put in for under a grand US, same system quote (only difference was a slightly less powerful 4ch amp) was another $400 from a car audio shop in Vancouver (he didn't tell me which one he went to in Vancouver). He didn't pay any duties because he didn't declare it, and he was in Seattle for a wedding.

I wouldn't call that overpaying.

Headunit is 100 USD, speakers are 70 USD lets say.

So 170 USD, you're going to pay at least 20 bucks shipping per item.

So 210 USD, which is 252 CAD. Taxes bumps that to 290.

Now, a deck install is usually around 45 bucks + parts, speaker install I'm not sure, but I'd say at least 40 bucks?

So, 85 labour, and another 40 for the harness and dashkit when you go to get your install.

290 + 125 = 415.

Maybe I was a bit high on estimating a few things, but we're talking about saving 30-80 bucks, and getting no warranty and additional hassle.

:rolleyes:

You know what I hear is even cheaper? Stealing.