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#1
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Installing alarm myself
Went to 3 different car audio places to get quotes for an alarm on my
1999 toyota tacoma prerunner.... I am sorry, but 200 - 250 bucks for a basic alarm with keyless entry is insane. How hard is it to install and program these things? Is it like some sort of industry trade secret? I am a network engineer and have been for 5 years and my wife is a software engineer so I figure we can figure this out... Need special tools or anything? And of the quotes prices, I wonder how much of that is for the actual unit? |
#3
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you are right, too complicated... but still, that still seems like alot
of money... the cheapest place in town offered a unit which I GUESS was called "K9"... of course I am used to names like Viper and Python... so I was wary |
#4
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would you really trust the installers that work at the
CHEAPEST PLACE IN TOWN?? wrote: you are right, too complicated... but still, that still seems like alot of money... the cheapest place in town offered a unit which I GUESS was called "K9"... of course I am used to names like Viper and Python... so I was wary Nothin wrong with some of the K9 models, there are many good alarms other than Viper. But the most important thing may be the installer... Be carefull. Eddie |
#6
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Here is a good question for you....
How much do you charge/make per hour? as a "network engineer" A $50 per hour shop rate is INCREDIBLY cheap. Compare what Toyota's shop rate is to work on that truck. Or any aftermarket mechanic on Toyotas. A breakdown on a $225 alarm install. Alarm cost $100.00 Labor cost $50 per hour for 2.5 hours ......$125.00 How about all the other little things that cost? The shops warranty? Or how about the shop itself! (ie rent?) Then there's FICA matching, Unemployment, Insurance, etc etc etc. After paying for the equipment, labor, and being open..... I bet the net profit on you is around $65. (using viper costs) What I consider INSANE? That this industry sells our stuff/labor so cheap! I am a network engineer and have been for 5 years and my wife is a software engineer so I figure we can figure this out... |
#7
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I charge, on a contract job, about $150 per hour...
you are right, good point... ill save up the cash and let a pro do it... Masterson wrote: Here is a good question for you.... How much do you charge/make per hour? as a "network engineer" A $50 per hour shop rate is INCREDIBLY cheap. Compare what Toyota's shop rate is to work on that truck. Or any aftermarket mechanic on Toyotas. A breakdown on a $225 alarm install. Alarm cost $100.00 Labor cost $50 per hour for 2.5 hours ......$125.00 How about all the other little things that cost? The shops warranty? Or how about the shop itself! (ie rent?) Then there's FICA matching, Unemployment, Insurance, etc etc etc. After paying for the equipment, labor, and being open..... I bet the net profit on you is around $65. (using viper costs) What I consider INSANE? That this industry sells our stuff/labor so cheap! I am a network engineer and have been for 5 years and my wife is a software engineer so I figure we can figure this out... |
#8
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The way I figure it, start sweet talking. That is the one method that always
seems to work. Eddie (I don't mean to pick on you, I just now know that you are an installer. Please don't take offence), you can't tell me you've never had an asshole like me come in and want everything for nothing. A dealer will usually at least meet me half way. wrote in message oups.com... Went to 3 different car audio places to get quotes for an alarm on my 1999 toyota tacoma prerunner.... I am sorry, but 200 - 250 bucks for a basic alarm with keyless entry is insane. How hard is it to install and program these things? Is it like some sort of industry trade secret? I am a network engineer and have been for 5 years and my wife is a software engineer so I figure we can figure this out... Need special tools or anything? And of the quotes prices, I wonder how much of that is for the actual unit? |
#9
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Kirby wrote:
The way I figure it, start sweet talking. That is the one method that always seems to work. Eddie (I don't mean to pick on you, I just now know that you are an installer. Please don't take offence), I love it when people pick on me ;-) you can't tell me you've never had an asshole like me come in and want everything for nothing. A dealer will usually at least meet me half way. Sure, I have had lots of asshole customers, I might say the assholes are my favorites, they are more of a challenge to me than most customers. Our shop is in one of the richest neighborhoods in the country, I get a fair share of assholes with fancy cars, I feel very satisfied when I am done with their car and they are happy... I have been installing since 1974 and in that 30+ years there are only a handfull of customers that werent happy (verbally), and were too big an asshole for me to satisfy... When folks want something for nothing do they really? If you can get the install cheaper at the fleamarket parkinglot, its pretty easy for me to show them our shop, and our tools and our test gear and usually our expertise and installers confidence with their car overcomes the need to cheapness... Afterall what kind of expertise can you find in the fleamarket parking lot...??? I can show folks what they are getting with an install from us, if nothing else our confidence will usually win them over... Folks feel better leaving thier car to someone sure of themselves than with a flea market kid. If folks still want something for nothing, then they get nothing... Eddie |
#10
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"Eddie Runner" wrote in message ... Kirby wrote: The way I figure it, start sweet talking. That is the one method that always seems to work. Eddie (I don't mean to pick on you, I just now know that you are an installer. Please don't take offence), I love it when people pick on me ;-) you can't tell me you've never had an asshole like me come in and want everything for nothing. A dealer will usually at least meet me half way. Sure, I have had lots of asshole customers, I might say the assholes are my favorites, they are more of a challenge to me than most customers. Our shop is in one of the richest neighborhoods in the country, I get a fair share of assholes with fancy cars, I feel very satisfied when I am done with their car and they are happy... I have been installing since 1974 and in that 30+ years there are only a handfull of customers that werent happy (verbally), and were too big an asshole for me to satisfy... When folks want something for nothing do they really? If you can get the install cheaper at the fleamarket parkinglot, its pretty easy for me to show them our shop, and our tools and our test gear and usually our expertise and installers confidence with their car overcomes the need to cheapness... Afterall what kind of expertise can you find in the fleamarket parking lot...??? I can show folks what they are getting with an install from us, if nothing else our confidence will usually win them over... Folks feel better leaving thier car to someone sure of themselves than with a flea market kid. If folks still want something for nothing, then they get nothing... Eddie Do you still do installs Eddie? If so, where are you located? |
#11
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Yes, I still install... Im gettin old and starting to slow down a little
but Im still in the bay nearly every day... Were in Houston... Eddie Been installin since 1974 Sean Scott wrote: If folks still want something for nothing, then they get nothing... Eddie Do you still do installs Eddie? If so, where are you located? |
#12
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"Eddie Runner" wrote in message ... Yes, I still install... Im gettin old and starting to slow down a little but Im still in the bay nearly every day... Were in Houston... Eddie Been installin since 1974 That is a bummer for me, heh, I'm in Columbus, OH. Sean Scott wrote: If folks still want something for nothing, then they get nothing... Eddie Do you still do installs Eddie? If so, where are you located? |
#13
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On 2005-01-03, Eddie Runner wrote:
Nothin wrong with some of the K9 models, there are many good alarms other than Viper. But the most important thing may be the installer... Be carefull. Sorry for coming in on this one late, but which alarms do you recommend, Eddie? I've got an Avital in my 98' Civic and love it. Because I liked that one so much, I bought another Avital (diff model) for my 2001 Ford but couldn't stand it but am now looking to put one in my wife's car and am looking at different manufacturers. Her car doesn't have keyless entry right now -- will most modern alarms provide the functionality? Shane |
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