Good vs Bad installations?

[Stav]

Hi all I need some feedback.I am a car phone /electronic installer here who works in my my own business.
What points do installers overlook when working on your car that ticks you off and why?

I am asking to keep in touch with my quality assurance.

[TheSneakiness]

Make sure everything was left like they found it. IE: don't steal from your customer.

The last install I got done, I was missing two CD's.

[XPcoupe]

Make sure the car come back cleaner then it was before. customer always look for marks and scuffs. stripped wire ends stuck in the carpet is not a good look.

[b2tf]

Definately cleanup. The guy who did my handsfree kit was flawless, came to me, did the job and did it perfectly, exactly how i asked.

But cleanup is a big thing, been in peoples cars before that have had work done and sometimes they are filthy. Not a good impression, especially for someone like me who makes sure their car is clean ALL the time. Last thing I want to see is bits of wire or cable or tape or junk floating round in there.

Another one is making assumptions - "oh i couldnt do it the way you wanted so i did it this way instead". That makes me see red (hasnt happened to the Focus yet thank God) because if i tell you how i want the job done, thats how i want it done! its not an invitation to do it your way.

[Stav]

Sometimes it is not practical to do it exactly the way the customer wants. Placing a no holes bracket in some place is physically impossible.I explian this to the customer so they are informed why it cannot be done. If something can be done I always do it and keep them happy.

Like everyone said, a proper cleanup job,

Also:

Proper looms made that closely follow stock wiring looms, not wires just running all over the place
No twisting of wires together/electrical taping to join 2 wires together

There my main 2 biggies. Mates when they come to me about how they got a stereo and paid 200 to "professinally install" it, first thing i look at is under the dash, not the brand of speakers or how loud it is.etc.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by useless

Sometimes it is not practical to do it exactly the way the customer wants. Placing a no holes bracket in some place is physically impossible.I explian this to the customer so they are informed why it cannot be done. If something can be done I always do it and keep them happy.

Yep and thats no problem. Explaining it is good. Whats NOT good is just going ahead and doing it anyway.

[RED_EL_XR8]

I'd suggest some good clear photos in both handout and website form, of each of the various mounting options for popular vehicles, .

I find one of the biggest frustrations is the customer having no knowledge or interest other than to order a kit and fitting. Then as installation begins they decide on all manner of weird locations etc.

A picture is worth a 1000 words in providing customer information of what you are providing..

[Mike Gayner]

I install RT radios, CBs and phone kits for a living. There's nothing worse than customers who want the thing mounted, for example, on the dash next to the glove box but don't want any holes drilled. Alot of people just don't think about things like that.

[niko]

what do u do wen the cars a pig? u cant waste your time to cleanup a mess thats clearly not yours?? not just light mess that can quikly be fixed up

[Stav]

Originally Posted by RED_EL_XR8

I'd suggest some good clear photos in both handout and website form, of each of the various mounting options for popular vehicles, .

I find one of the biggest frustrations is the customer having no knowledge or interest other than to order a kit and fitting. Then as installation begins they decide on all manner of weird locations etc.

A picture is worth a 1000 words in providing customer information of what you are providing..

This is true..but before you know it everyone is taking credit for my work and copying.

So guys ..presentation and cleanliness seems to be a recurring theme here...

[RED_EL_XR8]

Originally Posted by useless

This is true..but before you know it everyone is taking credit for my work and copying....

Watermark your pics, look for the solutions not the problems. :evil_laug

Good pics dont have to give away all your secrets, besides a good bracket is a bracket you cannot see lol.

[XD-Machine]

strafield treated my dash a bit to harsh,and the radio wasnt even flash at the end of the job.
so my i say
-treat every car like a show car
-spend the extra time to do a good job, i rather pay more for a better job
-clean up

[Stav]

Originally Posted by RED_EL_XR8

Watermark your pics, look for the solutions not the problems. :evil_laug

Good pics dont have to give away all your secrets, besides a good bracket is a bracket you cannot see lol.

True....i do some mad work out there...its worth it to do.People can then ring and say package x!!! This way they will know what they are getting and pricing. Better get the digital camera clicking

[Peuty]

If you run new wires, please, please, please tape them up to look like a stock wiring loom.

Oh, and what everyone else said.

[Stav]

Originally Posted by Mike Gayner

I install RT radios, CBs and phone kits for a living. There's nothing worse than customers who want the thing mounted, for example, on the dash next to the glove box but don't want any holes drilled. Alot of people just don't think about things like that.

Yes many point and say"yes here will be fine"...Nope no it wont...theres an airbag behind it!!HAhahah gotta laugh mate or well go mad.

[DOC]

Originally Posted by useless

Hi all I need some feedback.I am a car phone /electronic installer here who works in my my own business.
What points do installers overlook when working on your car that ticks you off and why?
I am asking to keep in touch with my quality assurance.

Quality is always good, but before you get to work on the car would not a list of testimonials (SP?) on your site ( + copies in a travel folder ) from happy customers help ?

I would want to know even before letting someone loose on my car and they were about to pull about all of the wiring they were good at what they do.

[JADED6]

You certainly don't have to clean peoples mess, some may even like it but definitely don't add to it.
JB hi-fi do quality installs but seem to think it's fine to leave off cuts of wire everywhere on the floor.
Surely 20 seconds with a dust buster wouldn't hurt.

[Rmyers]

One of my main upsets is when they forget to put screws back in, or even when they use the screws in the incorrect spot (eg using a screw that was meant for the centre console and used to hold the dash facia in).

Also clean up and neat wiring and connections is a must...

[Stav]

Well I am doing all of these things...I must be on the right track. But what can I do to be extraordinary in my field?

[Velociraptor]

Of course I expect everything to work but if the cleanup isnt up to scatch there will be no more work from me or my freinds.

[RED_EL_XR8]

Originally Posted by useless

Well I am doing all of these things...I must be on the right track. But what can I do to be extraordinary in my field?

Extraordinary you say!, Mad Stav the Phone kit Guy, perhaps.

How about an online presence for those hard to get accessories, the no drill brackets, phone to audio interfaces, custom antennas, power window closers, all the top shelf bits.

I've searched high and low and those sites I've found that have tried have produced mediocre efforts thus far. There is an opportunity waiting there.

Sell you custom brackets to the DIY market and other installers. You cant climb under every dashboard. : And you know just how hard some of us have had to scour to get the stuff.

[Stav]

Originally Posted by RED_EL_XR8

Extraordinary you say!, Mad Stav the Phone kit Guy, perhaps.

How about an online presence for those hard to get accessories, the no drill brackets, phone to audio interfaces, custom antennas, power window closers, all the top shelf bits.

I've searched high and low and those sites I've found that have tried have produced mediocre efforts thus far. There is an opportunity waiting there.

Sell you custom brackets to the DIY market and other installers. You cant climb under every dashboard. : And you know just how hard some of us have had to scour to get the stuff.

Theres an idea!!

[RED_EL_XR8]

Originally Posted by useless

Theres an idea!!

We can discuss idea royalties at a later date. lol