> Found a shop in my neighborhood that installs car alarms. To install a
> Viper 560XV (remote start + alarm) they charge $350. This is if you
> bring your car and they pull their parts off the shelf.
>
> I went online an found the same alarm for ~$140 + $10..15 shipping.
> The same shop charges a $100 flat fee for installation. Now if you add
> up 150 + 100 = 250 as opposed to $350. As George W. put it, "The man
> is doing fuzzy math".
>
> I can understand margins, markups, whatever, but it's $100 extra!
> Makes it unjustifiably expensive for a 97 Civic. Is there something I
> am missing? Is it safe to buy an alarm off the web and simply bring it
> for installation?
>
>
> Thanks!

Why not. I buy off the net all the time. The shop might balk at
installing the same thing as they sell but usually not. Also - did
you check the Alarm Co. web site to see if you need any kind of
security bypass or other extras??

Good luck