To have XM Radio (aftermarket radio) installed in two of my trucks?

I detest Best Buy but feel they may be better suited and experienced for the task.

Let me know your experiences with either.

I'd go with a decent local car stereo store. If you can't do that, then go to BB.

I haven't purchased anything from Circuit City in nearly a decade. I'm surprised they're still around, actually.

Best Buy has good installers. Just don't go on the weekends, cuz they're usually slammed on Saturdays. From personal experience, they get real lazy on Sundays and don't do more than one or two installs.

I would use a local car audio shop if I was you. But if you do not want to go that route I would have to say Circuit City. Only because I know they solder their wires together instead of just tape for a better connection. I don't know about Best Buy so I can't say anything neg. or pos.

Buy it from Amazon, get free shipping, then have a local stereo store install it. BB/CC are a bunch of amateurs for the most part.

Remember that guy who took his brand new Honda Civic to CC for some new stereo equipment and they ruined the wiring harness so bad it caused $12K worth of damage?

Click here for the full horror story...

which every shop you pick, make sure who the person is working on your car is MECP certified...

that is nationwide body that tests and certifies car audio technicians.

my feelings is that go to the bigger chains since if you move or travelling and something happens, you can go to the local one and get it fix there...

quote:

Originally posted by Rtflbk:
I would use a local car audio shop if I was you. But if you do not want to go that route I would have to say Circuit City. Only because I know they solder their wires together instead of just tape for a better connection. I don't know about Best Buy so I can't say anything neg. or pos.

WOuldn't you want to use tape in case you have to replace the unit in the future?...and don't car stereos come from the factory with the harnesses only taped together?

quote:

Originally posted by joshrunkle35:

quote:

Originally posted by Rtflbk:
I would use a local car audio shop if I was you. But if you do not want to go that route I would have to say Circuit City. Only because I know they solder their wires together instead of just tape for a better connection. I don't know about Best Buy so I can't say anything neg. or pos.

WOuldn't you want to use tape in case you have to replace the unit in the future?...and don't car stereos come from the factory with the harnesses only taped together?

I am not an electrician or a car audio expert, but every speaker I have ever looked at has the wires soldered together or too the contacts.

I know that all the Best Buy installers are MECP certified, or are required to get it, so I trust the work they do.

There is no CC around here, but years ago I was unhappy with the work they did on a simple car cd player install. Around here it is HH Gregg or Best Buy and it's Best buy all the way hands down there!

Really depends on who is putting it in. I am sure both places have good and bad installers. Take a look at smaller shops in your area that do that work.

Best Buy always has A MECP certified installer. They are usually only one of the ten people that work there in that department, and are supposed to "supervise" each installer working for them. In reality, they are well meaning amateurs.

Buy it from Amazon, and then have a local shop install it. You'll be much happier when your system works well, and you don't hear pops and cracks in your stereo every time you turn on your turn signal.

IMHO BB over CC, but frankly I think they both suck.

quote:

Originally posted by apf383:
IMHO BB over CC, but frankly I think they both suck.

I'm the opposite in my preference, given the forced-choice question; but I'm in complete agreement - no, fellatio is a good thing - they're both evil.

I hate best buy too. I always shop at circuit city whenever I can. That being said, XM is not hard to put in, so CC should do just fine. I got my XM radio installed at Best Buy because my girlfriends parents got it for me from there. I just sucked it up and had a good experience. Go with your gut feeling and move on afterwords.

Look for a local car stereo shop. Circuit City. Best Buy is full of crooks, stay away.