^ Sounds like you were dealing with a ****-ant shop to begin with.

IME - In My Experience.

I don't fault people for bringing in their own gear. Not like anything I have in my car I can go get off the sales floor I just let them know that if I put in their gear and it doesn't work, they still pay..

 

I had all second hand sub & amp installed by a local shop in Ottawa, Shamus Customz. James, the owner was very upfront and addressed some of the issues discussed here. We agreed that if the equipment is defective, I would pay for the time. I trusted him and his installers rep.

Everything worked like a charm and I left with a positive experience which was really refreshing given the previous two attempted installs on my Prelude by another shop which I will leave nameless.

I've been back a couple times to buy / install a Kinetik 600, lowering kit and fix-up a complete hack wiring job by another Ottawa 'shop' referenced above. I don't do a load of mods on my car, but when I do, my first choice will always be Shamus...

However, this could also go both ways from either a shady customer or a untrustworthy shop.

 

Concepts on Wheels installed my Kenwood Amp that I bought off eBay ... so, I don't know what this guy is talking about.
And way back when, these guys were rocking a hard reputation ... so, they shouldn't have even seen an 01 Alero in their shop lol

Yeah, this guy is talking .
I even brought in an additional amp that I wanted tested, which they did free of charge.

Haha, that's even funnier, so it's not even like USED equipment. It's just bought ELSEWHERE equipment. Wow, what a tard.
Hey, I guess the shop knows what it's doing if it's still in business

 

very true about customers, and shops. I was up front about where i got my gear from, told the store manager flat out it was from Rob @ Forbidden Audio on Vancouver Island, and that my sub and paired amp were my own from my last endevour in car audio...like i said i don't blame the audio manager, its his co-worker/boss(idk which) that was a McRoyale with cheese. But it also made me learn more about car audio and my car's electronics so... i guess i came out for the better.

 

At my shop we will install customers own product, however we inform them if their product is defective we still have to get paid for the install. I also agree with Dukk we do not install certain remote Starters or alarms, nothing but problems.

 

that makes sense to me, all i wanted done was the amp wiring kit, i could even hook up all the wires and wire the subs up im just not comfortable running wires under my carpet. if the amp were to blow i wouldnt hold him accountable for it.

 

I will install used gear...sometimes I will bench test the equiptment right in front
of the customer and tell them up front that I warranty the install only
..when a used peice breaks down and the install is not at fault it's the customers
responsibility to cover the repair bill or replace the equiptment

if the customer comes back with a problem and any of my installation is tampered
with the warranty is void....this is something I have had to do only 3 or 4 times

as far as the remote starts go...most people are just to damn lazy to read the
programming sequences for the remote....most of them show up with the alarm
stuck in Valet mode and think it's my fault

 

^ Exactly.

*ring-ring*
"Good afternoon, install bay, how can we help you?"
"You guys installed my alarm and it's all scewed up, it doesn't work!!!"
"What does it do?"
"Nothing! You guys screwed it up!!"
"Do the doors still lock and unlock?"
"..yeah.."
"Is the red light on solid all the time?"
"..yeah.."
"Then it's in Valet mode"
"Well, how the hell did it get like THAT?!?!?!"
"Well, on most alarms pressing both buttons at the same time will do it. Look in your manual..."
*hangs up*
"...moron."

 

They are everywhere..... we get 2-3 calls a week for this and 2-3 visits a week for the same. We just disconnected a remote trunk release for a older gentleman this week. He had inadvertently opened his trunk without realizing it and overnight it had rained really hard. His trunk could have doubled as a aquarium the next day. Inadvertent button pushing is the culprit in most cases, followed by button mashing and then at the end, sheer stupidity (the guys who complain loudly about things being our fault).

 

WOW. I thought I was the only one getting these calls....lol. At least once a week.