Q: How many years have you been in the industry?
A: 15
Q: How many years have you been MECP certified?
A: 11
Q: How long did it take you to become a MECP certified Master Installation Technician?
A: 14
Q: How has becoming an MECP Master Installation Technician impacted your career?
A: I had been interested in taking the step for many years. The "push" that I needed came from my decision to open my own store, Adrenaline Autosound. I knew that it would be something that I could leverage and use in my marketing. I am the only individual in my state who holds Master certification and it seems to have some real impact from a marketing standpoint. So far, things are going very well, and many of my clients are relieved to learn about my credentials. Sometimes that can make all the difference in a client’s decision on where to do business.
Q: What do you feel are the big challenges facing the industry?
A: It has become increasingly difficult for consumers to differentiate between true value and the perceived value that has become so common place in the industry. True value is something that the consumer will feel good about for the long term. This can be obtained by doing business with a specialist that operates with the consumer's best interest in mind and is an authorized dealer for the products that they represent. The consumer can rely on expert recommendations and can drive away with true solutions to their needs. The perceived value that I am referring to is that which looks like a good value at the time of the purchase (typically lower price), but then a short time later the consumer realizes that it was not such a good value after all. This may be due to a number of reasons but some of the more common ones are: no warranty on the product due to the retailer not being authorized to sell the product (transshipped), or the solution not actually meeting the consumer's needs very well (improper qualification due to lack of expertise). The market has been flooded with perceived value. The Internet provides easy access to enticing prices on a large number of products in our industry. Educating consumers on the many benefits of doing business with a specialist who can provide true value can be challenging.
Q: What do you feel are the big challenges technicians face while working in the install bay?
A: Integration into newer vehicles is one of the big challenges facing today’s installation technicians. OEM integration, while perhaps a new buzz word, is nothing new to this industry. Integrating into OEM systems has always been and always will be a part of aftermarket mobile electronics installation. It's really all about keeping in tune with current technology and evolving along with it. I believe that during the next several years we will see a significant shift in the industry. It is becoming increasingly important for technicians to possess an understanding of all aspects of integration as well as how to improve sound quality in OEM audio systems. Retailers that do not embrace the importance of this evolution, and ensure that their technicians are receiving the training necessary to function profitably, are going to struggle.
Q: What are your comments about other installers who feel like the certification does not apply to them?
A: I simply ask them to look at it from a marketing perspective. Whether it's the store's marketing, or their individual ability to market themselves to current or future employers (potentially increasing pay potential or job security), marketing is one of the easiest to understand benefits of certification.
Q: As a result of your certification, do you feel you have job security or better job prospects?
A: Yes
Q: Do you actively promote your Master Installation Technician Certification to your customers or retail audience? If so, how do your customers perceive you and your certification?
A: Yes, it makes many customers feel more comfortable leaving their vehicle in "good hands."
Q: What is your favorite tool and why?
A: At risk of sounding cheesy... my MECP Master Installation Technician Certification. No other tool can give me as much leverage from so many different angles. I also must mention another extremely powerful tool that I use on a regular basis, The 12volt Insider Forum ( www.12voltinsiderforum.com ). I highly recommend it to any serious member of the industry who wants to contribute in a positive manner to the improvement of our industry.
Q: What do you think of our terminology change from “Installer” to “Installation Technician”?
A: "Technician" has a connotation that attaches a greater level of respect to the title.
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