Occasionally, prospective clients ask us why we charge what we do to install products in their vehicles. These questions get presented in many different ways. Usually, the customer has a friend or relative who “used to install,” “is an electrician” or “knows about this stuff.” There probably are some amazing do-it-yourselfers around who can indeed install the product for less. Before you let someone work on your vehicle, though, ask yourself: Does this person have all the tools, training, skills and resources to do it right the first time? Let’s look at a few of the reasons why our installers are some of the best in the area.
Training And Accreditation
Barry Barth leads our installation team. He has attended some of the top installation and technical training facilities in the world and holds the MECP Master’s accreditation. What does this mean for our clients? He sets the standards for our installation processes based on industry guidelines. More than that, he understands how modern vehicle electrical and electronic systems work, and how to integrate products with them.
Experience
Knowing how to install requires experience in many different disciplines. Electrical knowledge is, of course, crucial to working on vehicles, but installing is much more complicated than that. Today’s installers need experience with and skills in computers, upholstery, woodworking, mechanical engineering, acoustics and – most importantly – troubleshooting. New vehicles constantly present new challenges. Figuring out how to take the car, truck or boat apart without damaging anything to do an install properly and safely can be challenging. Our technicians have these unique skill sets and more.
Support Resources
The manufacturers we deal with support us. Their training allows us to understand all of the features of the products we sell, but also how to maximize the performance of those products. This education means that we can make audio systems sound better, because we install, configure and tune them better. The same goes for remote starters and radar detectors – how they are installed directly affects their reliability and performance.
Accountability
What happens when your friend tries to install a new radio for you and, when the work is all done, your vehicle’s Check Engine light is on? Dealerships charge a diagnostic fee of at least $100 to figure out the problem. What if that friend inadvertently damaged a BCM or ECU? Those can be cost than $1,000 or more to repair or replace. Our installation team knows how to prevent these issues. In the unlikely event something goes wrong, we fix it. Can your friend offer that?
In the long run, saving money means choosing the right people for a job. The installation team members at Prestige Car Audio & Marine are experts in their field. We do each task once, and we do it properly. Next time you are interested in an upgrade to your vehicle, drop by our shop in Metairie, Louisiana. You can contact us here if you have any questions.
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