well, i left circuit city after 2 wonderful years. i am now working for a local shop called "Roberts Mobile Electronics and Enhancements" here in louisville. they are a nationally recognized stereo shop, and, after two days there, i know why.
at one point in time today, there was a brand new Porsche GT, a brand new range rover, two newer lexuses, a 96 porsche, and an 07 avalanche in the garage.
we install about 2 of the K40 radar detectors a day, most recently on a Ferrari F430 or something like that that they also put around $20,000 of equipment into.
anyway, the shop is amazing, i'm by far the youngest guy that works there. there are a couple of guys that have been installing for 15+ years.
it's awesome.
-UK
p.s website is outdated by a few years but it shows you some older cool stuff
www.robertsaudio.com
Replies (12)
ttocs on 05/9/2006 20:36:20
I walked into the same thing in scottsdale a couple of years ago. I was use to the farm trucks just like yerself, take a 6 x 9 out, put in a 4 way(they sound better with budweiser!). I walked in and they pulled out 2 bmw M8's(only 1500 imported to the us) that had k-40's,and pulled in a cerrera 4 turbo. They had all the porche tools and like to give me hell.
"Run this power wire!" Sounded easy enough and after 15 mins of tryin things I gave in and asked for help.
"ya gotta pull the headlight out?!"
Of course, I alwaus do that when running power wire for the amp.... And of course that requred a special tool and they gave me more hell 10 mins later when I came back.....
Day two "I can't get the fusebox open on the Rolls Royce. I can see it, I can see the fuses, it will not open???"
Day three-This day was a victory for me when after 10 mins of lookin I found the door handle on the Ferrari, and opened it myself!
Day four I almost crapped myself when I saw the price they charged for a deck, 4 speakers and an amp in that porche, $1700 labor........
Time to step up your game, now you get to really start learning stuff. Make sure you are meeting their standards of work, have them double check you from time to time to make sure they are happy. You probably have the same type of customers we do in that they are not even going to really look at the bill before they throw the AMEX at it, but if they see one little stupid thing, you will hear about it. Another good thing about this type of clientelle is that they like to tip, and generally pretty well. A good way to get in with the shop is to use the tip to buy lunch for the shop, works every time.......
The shop I started at went under a few years back, and I was picked up by the shop down the street.
http://www.soundwerks.com/
lessismorespl on 05/10/2006 10:20:55
I have been in that shop before, a big come up from CC for you. That is a very professional shop and they do some of the best work in KY. Best of luck to you....I think you will enjoy the experience and professioanlism of that shop. I was very impressed when I was there.
less
swez on 05/10/2006 10:43:12
Welcome to the Elite installer's paradise. Now, you are the small fish in a small pond. This gives much opportunity for huge professional growth and larger financial returns too.
Way to go UK... nice to see a bright up and comer on the board. Looks like you, ttocs and Less will have many new stories to share!
Swez
UKinstaller on 05/10/2006 21:36:23
i have learned so much stuff these past three days!! example, at CC, we always dropped headliners to install overhead tv's. at roberts, they looked at me like i was crazy. i have seen the guys there have overheads mounted in around 30 minutes in brand new escalades and land rovers and stuff. it's amazing.
i worked on a 1976 mercedes 450sel today. it was HORRIBLE to work on. to get to the ignition wires, i had to remove the glove box and passenger kick panel to get to the wires that were incredibly high up in the dash. not to mention, the 12V wire was covered in very thick, old red tape. it sucked, but it was a great learning experiences.
-UK
ttocs on 05/11/2006 05:30:59
hahahahahahahahaha, yup the old mercedes are always great......
MrBrownstone on 05/11/2006 12:29:28
Glad to hear you are stepping up to the plate in the install world. You should get to do what a blonde does--get to see the best back seats and under dashes in the world!!
:-)
ttocs on 05/11/2006 23:54:57
I would have traded my high end shop for my old farm truck shop today........ Had a fairly easy install in a '96 Z3, deck and 2 and an amp. Everything was great until I had to get the wire from the back seat to the package tray(where the top folds into). I couldn't run my wires through with out taking the piece on the very outside off, and it would not come off untill every other piece behind the seat was out. After taking almost every screw behind the back seat out, I found a way to run my wires safely. This was a long and painfull process as I had to keep the top up, and try to fit myself sitting backwards in the seat and trying to get my upper body into the package tray to see all the screws to take out(5 different types to keep track of)....... Mounting the amp was not much better, imagine trying to fit a 185 lb man into the trunk of the iddy biddy gocard of a car. MY BACK IT KILLIN ME...... I finally get it all tied up, tuned and buttoned up after a long afternoon and have the shop lead take a listen, he agrees it sounds good too.... I pull it around and am thinkin THANK FREEKIN GOD THAT GERMAN POS IS FINISHED.
Now, the owner/manager/pain in my butt is a very thorough person. We know that we cannot send anything out that is not ABSOLUTLY perfect as it will not make it out of the lot, and we will have to fix it no matter how long it takes..
With this in mind we are already very proud of our work and want to send nothing out that isn't perfect. This car sounded fine so I was very suprised when the owner came in and said that the drivers mid was not playing. I agreed as there was only a tweeter in the door, and a mid in the kick, there was no mid in either door playing.... The customer was right there, I didn't want to make a scene so I gladly took the keys and said that we would have it fixed in a second, with a WTF look on my face at don, over and behind the customer so she couldn't see.... pulled it around, sounded just fine to me and the lead when he came by to ask why it was back. Don came back and said he could hear a difference between the two doors, and that I must have not hooked up the 2" mid that is in the door, next to the tweeter. I had no idea that there was a mid in the door, the gill is so dark and small it didn't look like there was a 2nd speaker in there. I mounted my amp in the same place that the factory amp was, and hit the factory wires right there. After tearing the trunk apart again and testing another 20 wires, we found the 2 sets we needed and wired them up. It did make it louder, I don't know about better but it made don happy... I know the lady didn't point them out to him, but he knew and if it meant we had stay an extra hour to make it perfect for him, we would have to do it. yup, welcome to the big time.... You too will oneday miss the days of taka 6 x 9 out, and put a 6 x 9 in, custom work being the dynamat you were able to talk them into adding on...
In all honesty, he is a pretty cool boss as I make my own schedule and he will actually get in and get his hand dirty. There are times when that is a bad thing but............
MrBrownstone on 05/12/2006 11:37:15
I think you forgot, END RANT at the end of that post :-)
My old friend bought a 1990something Benz, and there was no easy conduit to run all the wires. Ended up doing a CUSTOM install, when a Standard install was in place. I feel for ya.
It's like Car companies are purposely making it harder for aftermarket installers to make a living by making their installs so exotic, we need to get highly involved in replacing a simple set of components.
Have you seen the dashes on the 2006/7 Accords? They look like those round mercury ones...only larger! You know, the ones with the climate control, defrost, and the traction controll built in it.
Glad I got out of installing altogether....but I do miss the backache :-)
swez on 05/12/2006 18:48:19
Mang, that is what I call going the extra mile to satisfy your boss and customer. You earned this back-ache pal! Now, go home jump in the hot tub and pour yourself a stiff drink. Repeat as needed and then crawl into your bed for a long night of well deserved rest. Then, get back up a repeat the whole process this weekend...
Glad you're a shorter guy. I cannot imagine a 6'3", 225 lb guy, doing work like this all day long. (even it payed $25.00/hr.) Nooo thank you!
Swez
ttocs on 05/12/2006 22:24:08
and the saga continues...... Today she returned as her alarm was not working properly. I installed a couple of alpine alarms, but it has been 8 yrs or so since they got out of security, BMW's use alpine alarms... From the little bit that we could remember about them it was not arming because it still senced a sensor was tripped, tellin it that there was a door open. I checked all connections and places that I tapped screws to see if I hit a wire, but everything looked good. I tore down the glove box to get to the brain and started checking wires. After 3 hrs of troubleshooting, the hood pinswitch had gone bad... I never came close to this area and I am sure it is just one of those things that happened to happen the moment I backed it out of the bay. After I fixed that, The owner/boss said that he had been talking to the lady, and she wanted to add a sub, and rear speakers, again to this oversized go-cart... This of course meant that I had to change a bunch of wires to that it would do what they/he wanted it to do. I MILKED THIS THING ALL AFTERNOON....... The high today was just over 100. The shop only has space indoors for 3 cars, and a covered area for another two. Besides this bimmer we had 2 boats(I hate boats!), and really really nasty van that I didn't want to touch(reminded me of my grandmothers basement.... I'll take the back pain indoor in the AC rather then the same pain outside mixed in with a little smell and alot of heat in the sun any day of the week.
Its funny that I like this and told him I would be in fer 2 more days next week....
End rant, fer this week..... I'll take it out on the trails tommorow SMILE
swez on 05/14/2006 21:37:55
Seems like this week was pretty much a wash out mang.
Me thinks the fickle finger of fate, was pointed straight at you for a few days huh? Hate those kind of days.... I have had a few in a row too.
Cheer up, things could be worse,
Swez
PS That last time someone said that too me, I cheered up and sure enough... things got much worse. SMILE
ttocs on 05/15/2006 11:55:51
the way this morning is starting I don't need any help........
at one point in time today, there was a brand new Porsche GT, a brand new range rover, two newer lexuses, a 96 porsche, and an 07 avalanche in the garage.
we install about 2 of the K40 radar detectors a day, most recently on a Ferrari F430 or something like that that they also put around $20,000 of equipment into.
anyway, the shop is amazing, i'm by far the youngest guy that works there. there are a couple of guys that have been installing for 15+ years.
it's awesome.
-UK
p.s website is outdated by a few years but it shows you some older cool stuff
www.robertsaudio.com
Replies (12)
ttocs on 05/9/2006 20:36:20
I walked into the same thing in scottsdale a couple of years ago. I was use to the farm trucks just like yerself, take a 6 x 9 out, put in a 4 way(they sound better with budweiser!). I walked in and they pulled out 2 bmw M8's(only 1500 imported to the us) that had k-40's,and pulled in a cerrera 4 turbo. They had all the porche tools and like to give me hell.
"Run this power wire!" Sounded easy enough and after 15 mins of tryin things I gave in and asked for help.
"ya gotta pull the headlight out?!"
Of course, I alwaus do that when running power wire for the amp.... And of course that requred a special tool and they gave me more hell 10 mins later when I came back.....
Day two "I can't get the fusebox open on the Rolls Royce. I can see it, I can see the fuses, it will not open???"
Day three-This day was a victory for me when after 10 mins of lookin I found the door handle on the Ferrari, and opened it myself!
Day four I almost crapped myself when I saw the price they charged for a deck, 4 speakers and an amp in that porche, $1700 labor........
Time to step up your game, now you get to really start learning stuff. Make sure you are meeting their standards of work, have them double check you from time to time to make sure they are happy. You probably have the same type of customers we do in that they are not even going to really look at the bill before they throw the AMEX at it, but if they see one little stupid thing, you will hear about it. Another good thing about this type of clientelle is that they like to tip, and generally pretty well. A good way to get in with the shop is to use the tip to buy lunch for the shop, works every time.......
The shop I started at went under a few years back, and I was picked up by the shop down the street.
http://www.soundwerks.com/
lessismorespl on 05/10/2006 10:20:55
I have been in that shop before, a big come up from CC for you. That is a very professional shop and they do some of the best work in KY. Best of luck to you....I think you will enjoy the experience and professioanlism of that shop. I was very impressed when I was there.
less
swez on 05/10/2006 10:43:12
Welcome to the Elite installer's paradise. Now, you are the small fish in a small pond. This gives much opportunity for huge professional growth and larger financial returns too.
Way to go UK... nice to see a bright up and comer on the board. Looks like you, ttocs and Less will have many new stories to share!
Swez
UKinstaller on 05/10/2006 21:36:23
i have learned so much stuff these past three days!! example, at CC, we always dropped headliners to install overhead tv's. at roberts, they looked at me like i was crazy. i have seen the guys there have overheads mounted in around 30 minutes in brand new escalades and land rovers and stuff. it's amazing.
i worked on a 1976 mercedes 450sel today. it was HORRIBLE to work on. to get to the ignition wires, i had to remove the glove box and passenger kick panel to get to the wires that were incredibly high up in the dash. not to mention, the 12V wire was covered in very thick, old red tape. it sucked, but it was a great learning experiences.
-UK
ttocs on 05/11/2006 05:30:59
hahahahahahahahaha, yup the old mercedes are always great......
MrBrownstone on 05/11/2006 12:29:28
Glad to hear you are stepping up to the plate in the install world. You should get to do what a blonde does--get to see the best back seats and under dashes in the world!!
:-)
ttocs on 05/11/2006 23:54:57
I would have traded my high end shop for my old farm truck shop today........ Had a fairly easy install in a '96 Z3, deck and 2 and an amp. Everything was great until I had to get the wire from the back seat to the package tray(where the top folds into). I couldn't run my wires through with out taking the piece on the very outside off, and it would not come off untill every other piece behind the seat was out. After taking almost every screw behind the back seat out, I found a way to run my wires safely. This was a long and painfull process as I had to keep the top up, and try to fit myself sitting backwards in the seat and trying to get my upper body into the package tray to see all the screws to take out(5 different types to keep track of)....... Mounting the amp was not much better, imagine trying to fit a 185 lb man into the trunk of the iddy biddy gocard of a car. MY BACK IT KILLIN ME...... I finally get it all tied up, tuned and buttoned up after a long afternoon and have the shop lead take a listen, he agrees it sounds good too.... I pull it around and am thinkin THANK FREEKIN GOD THAT GERMAN POS IS FINISHED.
Now, the owner/manager/pain in my butt is a very thorough person. We know that we cannot send anything out that is not ABSOLUTLY perfect as it will not make it out of the lot, and we will have to fix it no matter how long it takes..
With this in mind we are already very proud of our work and want to send nothing out that isn't perfect. This car sounded fine so I was very suprised when the owner came in and said that the drivers mid was not playing. I agreed as there was only a tweeter in the door, and a mid in the kick, there was no mid in either door playing.... The customer was right there, I didn't want to make a scene so I gladly took the keys and said that we would have it fixed in a second, with a WTF look on my face at don, over and behind the customer so she couldn't see.... pulled it around, sounded just fine to me and the lead when he came by to ask why it was back. Don came back and said he could hear a difference between the two doors, and that I must have not hooked up the 2" mid that is in the door, next to the tweeter. I had no idea that there was a mid in the door, the gill is so dark and small it didn't look like there was a 2nd speaker in there. I mounted my amp in the same place that the factory amp was, and hit the factory wires right there. After tearing the trunk apart again and testing another 20 wires, we found the 2 sets we needed and wired them up. It did make it louder, I don't know about better but it made don happy... I know the lady didn't point them out to him, but he knew and if it meant we had stay an extra hour to make it perfect for him, we would have to do it. yup, welcome to the big time.... You too will oneday miss the days of taka 6 x 9 out, and put a 6 x 9 in, custom work being the dynamat you were able to talk them into adding on...
In all honesty, he is a pretty cool boss as I make my own schedule and he will actually get in and get his hand dirty. There are times when that is a bad thing but............
MrBrownstone on 05/12/2006 11:37:15
I think you forgot, END RANT at the end of that post :-)
My old friend bought a 1990something Benz, and there was no easy conduit to run all the wires. Ended up doing a CUSTOM install, when a Standard install was in place. I feel for ya.
It's like Car companies are purposely making it harder for aftermarket installers to make a living by making their installs so exotic, we need to get highly involved in replacing a simple set of components.
Have you seen the dashes on the 2006/7 Accords? They look like those round mercury ones...only larger! You know, the ones with the climate control, defrost, and the traction controll built in it.
Glad I got out of installing altogether....but I do miss the backache :-)
swez on 05/12/2006 18:48:19
Mang, that is what I call going the extra mile to satisfy your boss and customer. You earned this back-ache pal! Now, go home jump in the hot tub and pour yourself a stiff drink. Repeat as needed and then crawl into your bed for a long night of well deserved rest. Then, get back up a repeat the whole process this weekend...
Glad you're a shorter guy. I cannot imagine a 6'3", 225 lb guy, doing work like this all day long. (even it payed $25.00/hr.) Nooo thank you!
Swez
ttocs on 05/12/2006 22:24:08
and the saga continues...... Today she returned as her alarm was not working properly. I installed a couple of alpine alarms, but it has been 8 yrs or so since they got out of security, BMW's use alpine alarms... From the little bit that we could remember about them it was not arming because it still senced a sensor was tripped, tellin it that there was a door open. I checked all connections and places that I tapped screws to see if I hit a wire, but everything looked good. I tore down the glove box to get to the brain and started checking wires. After 3 hrs of troubleshooting, the hood pinswitch had gone bad... I never came close to this area and I am sure it is just one of those things that happened to happen the moment I backed it out of the bay. After I fixed that, The owner/boss said that he had been talking to the lady, and she wanted to add a sub, and rear speakers, again to this oversized go-cart... This of course meant that I had to change a bunch of wires to that it would do what they/he wanted it to do. I MILKED THIS THING ALL AFTERNOON....... The high today was just over 100. The shop only has space indoors for 3 cars, and a covered area for another two. Besides this bimmer we had 2 boats(I hate boats!), and really really nasty van that I didn't want to touch(reminded me of my grandmothers basement.... I'll take the back pain indoor in the AC rather then the same pain outside mixed in with a little smell and alot of heat in the sun any day of the week.
Its funny that I like this and told him I would be in fer 2 more days next week....
End rant, fer this week..... I'll take it out on the trails tommorow SMILE
swez on 05/14/2006 21:37:55
Seems like this week was pretty much a wash out mang.
Me thinks the fickle finger of fate, was pointed straight at you for a few days huh? Hate those kind of days.... I have had a few in a row too.
Cheer up, things could be worse,
Swez
PS That last time someone said that too me, I cheered up and sure enough... things got much worse. SMILE
ttocs on 05/15/2006 11:55:51
the way this morning is starting I don't need any help........
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