Fair? (Stereo install fee)

[Oscar0421]

I have a buddy that is installing a new kenwood cd player, JL IB sub, kenwood 5 channel amp and two extra polk speakers in the swim deck. He will have to make holes for the sub and the two 6.5 speakers. I asked him how much he was going to charge me and his reply was "that he likes to take care of his friends and that I could pay him what I think is fair." My question is what do you guys think is fair?

Thanks ahead of time for the replies.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

Well I would probably charge $50 for each hole cut. Probably $40 for radio... and $50-$100 for amp depending on how far the wiring is. I would say $300 is a good buddy deal. Just make sure you don't mess anything up lol... and double and triple check measurements and depth clearance for speakers.

 

[Julian]

I hate it when they say that! If I'm doing something for a friend, its free. If I wanted them to pay, I'd be very clear on how much and give them an invoice....so easy for money to f up a friendship.

I think I'd say..."I have no clue on what is fair and haven't gotten a quote on this from anyone....so please tell me what would make you happy". That way if he says $5000, you can say...."WOW....that was more than I was expecting" and if he says "$50", you can give him $150 and know he's happy.

 

[djetok]

Buy him a t-shirt that says will work for beer and give him a 12 pack

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

I hate it when they say that! If I'm doing something for a friend, its free. If I wanted them to pay, I'd be very clear on how much and give them an invoice....so easy for money to f up a friendship.

I think I'd say..."I have no clue on what is fair and haven't gotten a quote on this from anyone....so please tell me what would make you happy". That way if he says $5000, you can say...."WOW....that was more than I was expecting" and if he says "$50", you can give him $150 and know he's happy.

This is actually great advice. I went off what I charge for side-jobs. Could always tell him to get a quote and charge 25-50% off the quote. Of course it comes down to how good of friends you are. I have friends that I will not charge to do anything, and they will help me with anything the second I need it. I have other friends I am not so close with - they get a discounted price lol.

 

[Oscar0421]

I hate it when they say that! If I'm doing something for a friend, its free. If I wanted them to pay, I'd be very clear on how much and give them an invoice....so easy for money to f up a friendship.

I think I'd say..."I have no clue on what is fair and haven't gotten a quote on this from anyone....so please tell me what would make you happy". That way if he says $5000, you can say...."WOW....that was more than I was expecting" and if he says "$50", you can give him $150 and know he's happy.

I agree. I feel like its a lose lose situation. I don't know much about install rates. If I dont give him enough I lose a friend.

 

[robert843]

I agree. I feel like its a lose lose situation. I don't know much about install rates. If I dont give him enough I lose a friend.

This depends is he doing the full install or are you helping him. Is he supplying all the wiring or are you covering those things. I have done several of these and if its a friend who is willing to help and learn I give them a list of supplies needed they get them and them we do the project and I do not charge for labor. Now on the other hand if they are not planing to help or even being there they are getting charged a rate based on supplies and how long I think it will take to do. I just helped a friend change his oil and spark plugs on his ski and I gave him the list of items and told him when he had that stuff to let me know and we would do it so he did and taught him how to do it so he can do it on his own going forward but I would never charge a friend who was willing to learn and help.

 

[Oscar0421]

He said he believes it will take about 5 hours. I am providing everything and will help for half the time. I have kids soccer games and thats the only reason I will only be helping for half of the time. And he can only do it this weekend.

This depends is he doing the full install or are you helping him. Is he supplying all the wiring or are you covering those things. I have done several of these and if its a friend who is willing to help and learn I give them a list of supplies needed they get them and them we do the project and I do not charge for labor. Now on the other hand if they are not planing to help or even being there they are getting charged a rate based on supplies and how long I think it will take to do. I just helped a friend change his oil and spark plugs on his ski and I gave him the list of items and told him when he had that stuff to let me know and we would do it so he did and taught him how to do it so he can do it on his own going forward but I would never charge a friend who was willing to learn and help.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

Sounds like you guys are tight on time... in that regards I wouldn't take the project.

 

[robert843]

He said he believes it will take about 5 hours. I am providing everything and will help for half the time. I have kids soccer games and thats the only reason I will only be helping for half of the time. And he can only do it this weekend.

If you will be there assisting for 2.5 hours and he will be doing 2.5 hours on his own then I would go this route. 2.5 house billed the normal $100 and hour shop rate is $250 but the friend rate should be half of that and I would say $125-$150 for his 2.5 hour alone time is fair just depends how good of friends you are. Also throw in some of his favorite adult beverage of choice that always smooths it over.

 

[octavio3311]

This depends on how good of friends you guys are.
True friends don’t charge - they drink beer and do it together.

 

[ThatJeepGuy]

This depends on how good of friends you guys are.
True friends don’t charge - they drink beer and do it together.

If you can't help then it's $100 per hour. My work is good but my off time is nearly priceless

 

[CraigAR]

I would charge around $600 to do that job. Now if it was for a friend that didn't help or helped some or even helped the entire time I would still charge them at least $150. Your talking about free hand cutting in large holes, you can get a 5" hole saw for the others but still a lot of people can mess those holes up. If I'm doing the install it's going to be right and perfect. From the wiring, soldering and heat shrink to mounting the speakers. There is a lot of time involved in doing boat stereo to make sure things are done right the first time and be done with it. Just my $.02

 

[swatski]

I wasn't going to join the debate, but heck. I thought $300 would be a kind of a low-ball offer, but okay if its a friend and he is wanting to help some.
To do it right (and clean) is not trivial.
I say $300, that's what I would offer. I would not offer less if I liked the guy and wanted to stay friends. Alternatively, you could pay him for the time, but it would have to be about $100 per hour for this kind of service, so no way you would come ahead.

 

[robert843]

My only comment on paying a friend in full for shop time is do not do that. If your going to pay him full shop rate respectfully decline his help and go pay a professional to do it. The reason I say that is if you have issues with the install later on it could cause hardship on the friendship again and if you paid full rack rate you are going to want him to fix it. At that point you are better off to pay a stereo shop to do it at least then if there is an issue there are no problems going back to them and saying hey you messed up fix it. Just my 2 cents if your going to pay full price.

 

[Betik]

In this situation, I would say. Please charge me your "average" rate and use our friendship as an exchange for doing a good job.
I believe that friends come with benefits, but no strings attached.

 

[bronze_10]

friends come with benefits,

Friend with benefits! I hope we are still talking about a stereo install!

 

[Mainah]

Do custom stereo installs really cost $100 an hour these days? Is that just boats or cars too? No way the young person doing the work is getting paid anywhere close to that.

I have never charged a friend a dime to help them out. They have always taken care of me in food and beverage later that day. Same for the other way around.

I have however hired friends in a unique circumstance. My finished basement flooded when one friend had just lost his job and another was in between seasons on his business. Both very good friends that would come bail me out of jail across the country if ever needed. This was different though. I would be working my day job while they were doing the demo, cleaning, drywall, trim work and flooring over the course one to two weeks. We agreed on a fair hourly cash rate and I left them my credit card for any materials that popped up. We are still good friends today.

Hiring friends can work in special circumstances but I believe it is something to be avoided in general. Same goes with neighbors. My experience is that when you lend a hand to a good person it will come back around to you.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

Do custom stereo installs really cost $100 an hour these days? Is that just boats or cars too? No way the young person doing the work is getting paid anywhere close to that.

I have never charged a friend a dime to help them out. They have always taken care of me in food and beverage later that day. Same for the other way around.

I have however hired friends in a unique circumstance. My finished basement flooded when one friend had just lost his job and another was in between seasons on his business. Both very good friends that would come bail me out of jail across the country if ever needed. This was different though. I would be working my day job while they were doing the demo, cleaning, drywall, trim work and flooring over the course one to two weeks. We agreed on a fair hourly cash rate and I left them my credit card for any materials that popped up. We are still good friends today.

Hiring friends can work in special circumstances but I believe it is something to be avoided in general. Same goes with neighbors. My experience is that when you lend a hand to a good person it will come back around to you.

$100 is about the going rate for custom labor. My old lead installer cleared over $70k doing just car installs. Charge is more when it comes to boats, and even more when you drive to them. Even for side jobs I do for cash, I won't come out for anything less than $50, but depending on the job I usually average $40-$60 an hour.

 

[Betik]

dam!!! I went to grad school for nothing