Besy Buy Installation?

[LA_Monk]

I tend to be a bit cautious before allowing some place to mess with my car unless they have a solid reputation. Being that I have only lived in So. Cal for a short time, I dont know the area or local shops.

I was wondering if anybody could reccomend Best Buy as an installer or would I be better off to find a local shop for a bit more money. I have the Ski-Fi and am putting it in my new Honda Element...all I need is for them to run the antenae since the car has an AUX MP3 interface in the dash that I should be able to use for the Ski-Fi.

Anybody had them do a good job or bad job? I want to hear about both.

[wanderer1366]

I had Best Buy install my SkyFi, and I have no complaints about their work.

They custom fabbed a bracket for me, I have an 01 Cougar and there are almost no good places to use the stock mount.

If I sell the car, which I might do soon, they will reinstall it for free in the next car.

I believe that they also warranteed their work for the lifetime of the unit.

[Nickel II]

Go to the install section of the board and search on Honda Element, or go to the Element Club and search on XM. You should be able to run the antenna wire yourself with little concern. Save some dough.

http://www.elementowners.com/

[ajb2323]

[B18C_EJ8]

Above info is correct. Best Buy will un-install for free, but charge to re-install in another vehicle.

And yes, they do give you a lifetime warranty on the labor.

[dobbz]

I have had a lot of luck with Circuit City. They will also uninstall for free. I have heard reports of BB doing cable splices without soldering anything... but can't confirm this. This is the main reason I went with Circuit City, but I would look for recommendations for places in your town. Each store is different when it comes down to it.

[Guest]

I've had two friends that had issues with Best Buy. One of them had to take Best Buy to small claims court cause they drilled into his gas tank and damaged it when they were installing some amps.

My roommate took his new SUV in to have his Pioneer GEX-903 put in. They mounted the tuner unit to the back of the rear seats. So now when he folds down his seats to put stuff in the back the tuner is always in the way. Plus it's left exposed.

When I got my XM put in I went straight to Circuit City. No complaints.

[blackwatch]

its hit or miss there. i had best buy in sacramento install my pioneer xm unit in my old car. they ran the antannae along the passenger door seal, which leaked rain. for my new honda, i called the local dealership to see who they recommended and got the shop im using now. they are a little more spendy for their installs, but they do professional work.

[Jhon]

Like the last post said, it's hit or miss. Just like where you work, there are people that care and do the job right, and then there are those that don't. Just hope you pull the right guy or gal. I want to get one of those remote car starters installed in my car and I cringe at what can go wrong. I was going to have the dealer do it, but they send it out.

[00silverado5.3]

I got a new head unit and xm commander at the same time. Best buy cut me a deal on the install since i got both at the same time. They did a custom install for me and it was very nice. My experience was very good with best buy.

[Liquid Stranger]

Had Best Buy install my Pioneer 4400 XM radio in my 2001 Ranger back in April 2002; flawless and have had no trouble with it.
Talk to some people in your area about it.

[Jahntassa]

[Minardi]

I did my Pioneer install myself.
But I would reccoment Circuit City to anyone that plans to have it "professionally" installed. At least in the Detroit area, Best Buy stores always seem to be flooded, and the Troy Circuit City is usually pretty quick and is one of the top installers in the CC chain... or so the trophies say.

Reliable installs, and if you come in with a problem with your DSR install... they move it to the front of the queue.

Overall good experiences that I had in my previous XM install before the Pioneer.

and my friends are rather happy with the installs they had done there as well.

Anyways, yes they will remove anything they install free of charge but regular fees apply to reinstallation.

[JMurray853]

I really wouldn't say that Best Buy is good or bad, it all depends on the store and the quality that their department is putting into their work. I guess it even goes further to the individual installer and the pride and quality that goes into what he/she is doing. I mean, you could either get a really good installation done by someone who really cared about their work or you could get a horrible installation from someone who hated their job... and both of the people could work at the same exact store.

Ask around your area to see if Best Buy isn't too bad, and then also ask for a name... I work at Best Buy as an assistant manager and if you asked for a installation by a specific person, I would do anything in my power to make sure that person did the installation for you.