Battle of the stores.. hey more power to you guys, I personally have had nothing but bad experiences at either store. It took Circuit City over 8 hours to install 4 speakers in my 350Z.. talk about incompetence. Oh, and the Best Buy installer advised me of how to wire a car with a factory amp to bypass it a few years ago. Yeah.. he was way wrong. I've learned to build and custom install everything I do lol. And 99% of the time, you can find it cheaper elsewhere. Just my $.02

 

Well first off as for hiring an fool off the street Best Buy did that to me, threw me right into the install bay with ZERO training. I knew a lil bout car audio and and they let me work on ____. When I started at Circuit City first thing they did was sit me down and had me doing training, both on the computer and with a manager shadowing. They also made me take the MECP (89%). Best Buy didn't even offer that to me. I don't think that its better install practices, I think that smart harnesses and solder is a lot better practice then Crimp Caps. And if you think they hire anyone, they have been on a firing spree for managers breaking rules. Oh and something about MECP being based off Circuit City's practices...

Your right about the Alpine. Circuit City dropped them because there was no profit in them. The Products were already priced high so Circuit City wasn't making money on it.

"In 2001 Audiovox Electronics Corporation, (a wholly owned subsidiary of Audiovox Corporation) purchased the assets of Code Alarm and a new subsidiary, Code Systems Inc. was formed. The strong financial backing of Audiovox will allow the Code Alarm brand to continue in the tradition of excellence, which has been our hallmark. "
http://www.codl.com/profile.html
(BTW CA just came out with brains half the size of the previous models, makin it like bigger width wise then a credit card. )

The current Managers at AM are top notch. Even the Store Manager is an ex Roadshop Manager. BTW the AM store is at 126% Effecienty and opperates on the points system. Best Buy didn't when I worked there. It was in place but not used.
Come down to AM and call the staff crack head to thier faces. See what happens. Don't think that im all Circuit City happy, like I said I worked at Best Buy, there is a reason I dont and half my friends from there don't anymore. So next time you care to insult me or my co-workers, think before you type.

 

Actually Im not trying to battle anyone because both Best Buy and Circuit are far from great as whole when it comes to what they do. There are flaws with both companies and most of them are exactly the same. To say one is better than the other based on products they carry is strictly opinion.

Did you drop your car off to Circuit to have your speakers put in? Usually CC doenst take appointments in this area, only drop offs so if that store was busy its very possible it took them that long to put your 4 speakers in. What if the installer hadnt worked on a 350 before? Would you want him to take his time and not break anything or would you want him just hacking away, not caring whether or not something broke or was wired wrong?

Out of curiousity, what car did you ask about a rewire and what did they tell you? Did you pay for advice on how to rewire it? didnt think so. I personally dont give out advice on how to do ANYTHING install related because that is what the installer is there for. They arent tech support, if you want that call the 1-800 number that came with whatever product you bought to put in. Alot of customers view this is bad service but would you call a car dealership and ask them how to rebuild a rear end if you bought the parts there?

 

I know Chris. He offered me the Roadshop Manager position when he was put there. I turned him down several times before he stopped calling me about it (at Best Buy no less). The reason I asked if your store had gotten itself together is that I know Chris was in charge of changing things there and I know he is capable of doing it. He told me he had gotten a guy from Salisbury to head up the dept and that should mean good things since Salisbury always had their act together when I was there. Dont get all upset and e thug on me... I just simply asked if your store was running well again because it hasnt in the past. Im not trying to challenge you, really. I could try and challange you by saying that your efficiency #s are BS because your budgets are based on nothing at that store since the reconstruction of the hours there but I wont, I just asked how that store was doing. Calm down man, its just best buy and circuit. Neither of us own the companies and theres no reason that we should argue over it. Seriously though, if I came up to your store and called you a crackhead what were you really planning on doing? Thats a pretty childish thing to say to someone.

Its interesting you say that Alpine was priced high and that CC wasnt making money on them, the markup was still the same for the most part across the board with comparable models.

Thanks for the info on Audiovox, ill remember it. Who proctored your MECP test to you?

 

Yea the dudes name is Tommy, he talked to me first then Chris interviewed me, they said they had been threw a couple guys who couldnt hack it. They said they didn't just think I might be able to do the job, but that I would. Tommy is smart as ____, knows what he is talkin about. We do have one guy there who already has a SIL and has been there longer then I have. I take pride in my work, couple of my predisesors didn't and they have been removed. Apparently one guy didn't know how to use hand tools (got the boot). I have a bad taste in my mouth of Best Buys because of the managers. I think I stepped on someones tose there cause before I applyed at CC. I applyed for the computer dept which was understaffed. The manager came up with excuses on why they wouldn't hire me, and as I shot each one down she came up with another. oh you weren't a good worker, oh you dont have any experience with computers, oh you don't have any sales experience, oh you don't have any sales experince with computers, oh the positions been filled. This left both me and my buddy who I was trying to work with ____ed off cause they were 7 people short. and from what I was told but not supposed to know was the car audio manager bad mouthed me.

Only reason I knew that bout Audiovox was that we had a tech session the other morning with a guy from code alarm, accually the tech support installer that if you needed help and called a number you talked to him. He was taking gripes and giving suggestions. I can't say I have done alarms or remote starts. Never learned how. But I will say this. At BBY the farthest they let me get was a couple of CD changers. At CC for being there a month, I do Amps, subs, DSR, speakers, and HU constantly. Better learning enviorment and teachers.

The MECP was on the computer at CC, part of the required e-learning. First time I took it I got a 69 and the manager was like go home, I don't have anything for you to do. So I have a Basic Installer MECP Study Guide, went home, studyed it, came back and passed. But I don't know if I am completely MECP certifited. Something I would like to be ASE and MECP. Already am a ASE Certified Service Consultant.

Like I said. Best Buy and I parted on bad terms. Nothing against you

:-D

 

Good to see that youre not mad at me. I didnt want that man, I just thought Id educate you a little bit about CC. It has its up and downs just like Best Buy. The most important thing is that YOURE happy with where youre working.
What Best Buy did this to you? Glen Burnie? Columbia maybe? That sucks. Do you remember the managments names?
To answer your question you are not MECP certified. You took the online practice test that Circuit has incorporated into their "E Learning" which Im sure youre famaliar with by now. God, I remember taking that crap, took forever. My neck still hurts from looking at the computer screen for so long. To be MECP certified you must have a licensed person by MECP give you the test. They offer is every third tuesday or thursday of the month I think it is in northern Va in case you wanted to take it on your own. If you got an 89 on the practice test, chances are youll pass the bronze level no problem.
Alarms and RS are pretty easy. Youll pick them up in no time as long as you PAY ATTENTION to what youre actually installing and how it works versus just making sure you got the right wire hooked to what. It will probably surprise you how simple they really are when you learn them. Learning enviroment is key, and it all depends on what kind of store you work in. Ive seen good and bad at both companies.
I think Ive seen your xB parked outside of CC. Its Black Cherry right? I live 3 minutes from your store but I never go near AM. Maybe Ill stop by and say whats up if I see your car there. Who should I ask for?

 

Damn I guess I was late for the party huh? Anyways as for Circuit City and Alpine... as of Dec.31.04 Circuit will no longer be carrying the much respected brand and BestBuy did get the account. To my understanding Alpine dropped Circuit not the other way around. Reason being is that Circuit drop the ball in presenting Alpine as one of the premier brands in car audio. from what I hear BestBuy will be stocking all of alpine's line up from the V-Power to the V12 amps...from their Type-E to Type-X
and so on. dunno if all of it will be displayed but definitly alot better than Circuit special orders...took me 3 weeks to special order a Alpine CVA-1004 for a customer. circuit city really drop the ball in carrying merchandise too. First we lost a great deal of products in our line up...i.e. Kenwood, DEI, MTX Thunder Series, and now Alpine.

As for the soldering and crimping methods...which one is better? answer: its all about the installer. no matter if you solder or crimp if the installer is just there for a paycheck its would still be a crappy install. CC and BB install millions of headunits each yr and yes you do hear horror stories about both companies, why? because they're both national retail stores.



As for MECP Certification...e-learning does not count...maybe certified as a circuit city installer!

just my 2 cents!

 

Well this whole post started with is Dual good.. well not really. You get what you pay for. As for Alpine and CC, we are dropping it and we will be picking up Eclipse. Why is this I do not know but who cares. How do I know this I know a bunch of people in the purchasing department up in corporate. And now to the debate for CC vs. BB installers. I know for a fact that both are good and you will come across bad installers and a bad install bay as a whole, hey it happens. I managed at both and CC gives more training as a whole to their installers. The arguements could go on forever, so lets just drop it and go on loving out Scions.

 

yeah...it appears that my thread got "hi-jacked"...but its all good. just glad i did it. i was going to get it, but thought the smart thing to would be to ask "ya'll"...glad i did!!!

:twisted:

 

your welcome...lol

 

I used to work at Best Buy as sales and Install, 1. Dual Sucks & 2. Alpine will not let Best Buy carry full line, only the low end stuff. Best Buy is decent, but as a coporation, the 12 volt industry, (soon to be 48 volt) is not at the top of their list. Just my .02

 

actually word from corp here at bb is that we will be getting the v12 series and atleast up to type r in speakers,

 

Not to be rude but I find it funny that you used to work for Best Buy and youre going to say what is and what wont be carried through BB. I just gave 1 of the two guys in charge of Mobile corporate a phone call, and yes we will carry a large lineup of alpine, the same as CC did..

 

I am close friends with a GM of the local store, and we talk about this stuff often. i now work for a local custom shop. But thats cool if BB carries the v12 line. I left BB 3 months ago, mostly because we weren't allowed to do any custom work, and the money was less. no hard feelings taken.

 

I happen to be related to someone who is some sort of a manager at one of the local BB....so I am an expert on all things best buy
And, I have a little story :

Went to his store to buy a hu and alarm for my xb. Paid for the hu, alarm(some viper alarm), installation costs, and extended warranty. made an appt for later in the week. Two hours prior to time to take the box in for install, an employee of the store called to say that someone called in sick (actually a few people were fired..but doesn't really matter) and I would have to reschedule. Rescheduled for next agreeable day and time.

Arrived early for 2nd appt and was told by install bay that they had: no record of either appt and although they were not even busy at the time, couldn't install the ____ because no one ordered the parts needed for either install.

I couldn't believe it as I even asked my relative to ensure that they didn't cut corners on the install as the car was only 2-3 weeks old. I could only imagine what would have happened to a customer not related to an employee. Got my refund and went"across the street" to cc.

Got the same hu and a similar feature laden code-alarm installed for about $130 less.

Of course, the code-alarm is a POS and will have the brain switched out the next time I get a chance to take it in.

End of story- The best buy employees were incapable of walking ten feet to the install bay to coordinate appts, and cc sells ____ty alarms.

Both places suck.

 

425 Brain? A lot of people complain to Code Alarm bout the brains. The tech dept told us about this and to quit sending in brains. Cause we complain about them too. Apprently its not the brains but something the installer did. What exactly is wrong with the brain ?

 

Best Buy does not carry the mounting kit in stock normally, that is probably why they couldnt do your HU. The person you might have dealt with probably couldnt do alarms... its common unfortunately.

 

yup- the 425 brain. The alarm wouldn't unlock doors consistently. Example: if I hit the unlock button once, the driver door was supposed to unlock. Twice= all the doors.
The doors wouldn't always lock as they should have. The alarm would also go off for no reason(that seems to be fixed as it was set too sensitive)
The alarm would also give the 4 chirps or whatever indicating that someone was jacking around with the car while I was away. = I was right there and it wasn't being tinkered with at all.
Now the current problem: The alarm would not disengage after hitting unlock/disarm button. Often would take 2-3 times to disarm(mind you, I've replaced the battery in the transmitter a few times and did not seem to work)

Other times, it would not arm as It should. I am always within ten feet when trying to arm or disarm. The techs at cc said that if I had any more trouble with it, they would replace the brains as they do have problems with them from time to time.


The installer at the best buy was actually able to install alarms(or so he claimed) but didn't have needed parts for the car. I can actually accept that and am ok with it, the biggest problem is that my time was wasted as I looked forward to getting the work done. There is no excuse for not being able to communicate within such a short distance.
Seriously, the guy who sold the alarm and hu and extended warranty, and installation(all of which I paid full price for, as any other customer would) also "scheduled" my appt for install. BTW- the install bay door is roughly 10-20 feet from the mobile electronics dept. If there was to be any concern for availability for parts or scheduling, it could have been addressed right there and then. I told the salesguy what I was driving and after explaining what a Scion was, where is came from, and who makes it, he was able to stick his head in install bay to find out what parts were needed. He came back, said it would take x number of days for them to come in and then put me down for the appt time.

When I went for the second appt and after hearing all of the good news about being f*&ked in the ___, the install guy told me that the mobile electronics was not supposed to be scheduling. Thanks so much, a lot of good it did for me. I got about a dozen apologies from the install guy but nothing else. The install supervisor didn't really seem to care and wasn't concerned that I was going to return $800 in purchases because two depts who were practically living together in the same one-bedroom apt couldn't figure it out.

 

Well tell the Circuit City Tech to call the 601 number he should know. On the not having the parts, what parts are needed. Brian? I don't think the Scion has a transponder but I could be wrong, if so all you need is a transponder bypass. I was hookin up a 425 earlyer till my manager kicked me out. He was liek GO HOME! That what I get for workin at 10pm :-D. When I worked at Best Buy, the floor would call the bay to schedual appointments, at CC either its first come first serve, or there has to be a special arrangement.