"Jim McCartan" <cmccart1@nycap.rr.com> wrote in message
news:b4daba42.0401221159.31a4cd5c@posting.google.c om...
> > 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?
>
> 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??


Keep in mind that the extra $100 might also include other things (aside from
car specific accessories as mentioned above). This might be exchanges for
defective parts (if the alarm brain goes dead for no apparent reason 2
months later, the shop who you got to install it, will probably charge you
labor to remove the item and bypass it while you mail it off for repair, and
do without while if you bought the alarm from the installing shop they might
swap the brain in 1 day for no charge with one from their stock).

Make sure you know exactly what you are giving up in order to save $$.