I never have been to the finals no. Matter of fact, I haven't been to an audio contest since 1987 Alpine Car Audio Nationals in Anaheim. $15.00 per hour labor is that the going labor rate at shops on the east coast? Not sure about there, but I pay my installers more than that. Not sure how a shop could make it on $15.00 per hour. Surely not building boxes...
Yes thats what they charge i am sure that there are some that are in the 25.00-30.00/hr in pittsburg etc. maybe its just where you are located that it is so expensive I lived in MD and everything was higher. who knows.
Thats no bueno, where I live, like leaving alot of cash on the front seat, thise amps and speakers are to visable, just asking to be ripped off. IF YOU CAN SEE IT IT WILL BE STOLEN.
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When I worked in the car audio industry (1988-1991) we charged $40/hour for custom work. If they're only charging $15/hour now something's drastically changed in the last 15 years.
Those rates are very low, at least by So Cal standards. Most shops, and that would include the likes of Best Buy and Circuit City charge a minimum of $50/hr. Most reputable shops will charge a minimum of $65/hr, custom labor typically being more than that. The average rate for an installer in So Cal is probably around $15-$20/hr, and i have seen even Best Buy installers make closer to $30/hr based on experience.
A $15/hr rate seems too low to me, but depending on where you are it may be fair. The reality of the industry though is that of quickly eroding margins on products, and a general shrinking of reputable shops. This means that there is a greater focus on labor than product, and the labor is an increasing portion of the bottom line. I can tell you that in So Cal, $7.50/hr wouldn't hire you a 16 year old kid with no experience, and even "trainees" get paid more than that.
This along with the fact that very few people can do custom, and fewer than that can do good or show quality custom work translate to higher labor rates.
There are a number of shops in our area which charge upwards of $100/hr in labor, yet run thriving business, based on location and quality of work.
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Plum Crazy previously said:
Well I see what you are saying no doubt, What this store does is he pays the guy 7.50 to install and takes 7.50 for the store they have been in business since 1985, and I have been using them since 1986 they do excellent work like I said in the past we made it to world finals and was points champion for our region. I am sure the cost of living is more in NM which would increase the rate for sure.
I'll have to get me those or something close to it.
I paid $650.00 just for a Thunderform 2x10 enclosure for behind my seat in my F150. I love them, sounds nice and all, but this is a much more difficult product to produce and worth it.
My Thunderform enclosure has the amp - 200w I believe - 'built-in" - I guess for people who are not really into a booming stereo it would be nice to see a sub/amp unit combined that simply replaced the stock sub/location .... something better than the wimpy stock sub/enclosure but not overdone .. hope that makes sense. This, mostly because places to put an amp are kind of scarce.
FJCruiser - STOCK sub enclosures seem to go for close to $500 on Ebay ... so .. if you could make just a stock replacement but BETTER for say $800 that was simple to install (like stock) it seems you could sell a lot. Many FJ folks will want to keep that left side open for an air tank, extinguisher, etc.
You already have a great product, but if you could set up a "stage 1" "stage 2" kind of a deal. Stage 3 could be the whole shooting match.
This has to be the nicest subwoofer box I have ever seen ... what is the best (value for the money) sub that can go in here and what is a good under-seat amplifier to drive it? I think this is the one for me. Not too crazy about putting the amps opposite in the back, but just under the seat, out of the way ...
... the only negative about these nice enclosures is that the FJ interior plastic is cheap and looks bad in comparison ...
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