Do people normally pay for a car seat check? - Car Seat.Org - Carseat, Vehicle & Child Passenger Safety Forums

LP Mom · 11-03-2009, 02:30 PM

The one decent car check service in my area charges $99 a seat! I just need someone to double check my install. Ugh!

Maedze · 11-03-2009, 02:34 PM

Being a CPST is a thankless job.

It requires continuing education, travel, organization and time, generally on the CPSTs dime (very few of us work as salaried CPSTs). Although I work for 'free', some CPSTs do charge for the work.

jess71903 · 11-03-2009, 02:39 PM

Around here they don't. Have you tried to find individual techs in your area that might be willing to meet you?

LP Mom · 11-03-2009, 02:42 PM

Yes. The one tech I kind of like cannot meet me for 3 weeks.

wendytthomas · 11-03-2009, 02:44 PM

Did you contact the ones on here?

I don't charge when I do private checks, and the events I work are free to the public. Sometimes I get paid for them, sometimes not. I consider it a bonus to be paid, not a bummer not to.

Would you like to post pics of your installation here so we can look at it? That may tide you over the three weeks knowing that a bunch of eyes, if not hands, have seen it and checked it over as best as we can.

Wendy

LP Mom · 11-03-2009, 02:47 PM

I did check out the list of carseat.org techs. There is no one near me. I also PMd Darren and he suggested Safety Squad, which charges $99 a seat. I cannot pay that right now. Unfortunately, Naperville is too far from me. Here are pics of my install:

http://picasaweb.google.com/LPMomChitown/2009_10_31#

CTPDMom · 11-03-2009, 02:49 PM

Safety Squad does offer a much less expensive drive up service, it's $55. It's on their website if you want the info.

chickabiddy · 11-03-2009, 02:51 PM

I do not charge for checks, although once a mom gave me a few $$ because I'd driven to meet her and I didn't turn it down.

Having written that -- meeting with a good CPST on your terms (a time and place that works for you) is worth something. It's true that most of us volunteer, but that doesn't mean that a tech's time and trouble isn't worth anything. And sometimes it's true that you get what you pay for: this is NOT a commentary on skills or worth, but on availability. The tech who charges a fee deserves compensation for making her- or himself available sooner than three weeks.

LP Mom · 11-03-2009, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTPDMom

Safety Squad does offer a much less expensive drive up service, it's $55. It's on their website if you want the info.

Where is that? $55 is easier to stomach.....

wendytthomas · 11-03-2009, 02:53 PM

The XT looks good. How does it look on the Frontier side, and is it in independently of the Frontier (so if you take out the Frontier the XT is happy as can be)?

Are the straps at or below baby's shoulders?

The tech you want to meet with, do they know Radians and Frontiers? They're not exactly the easiest seats to install. So if they know the seats I'd definitely wait, rather than trust random techs who may never have seen or heard of either of those seats. But if Darren recommended someone, that goes a long way in my book. Just pricey.

Wendy

LP Mom · 11-03-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendytthomas

The XT looks good. How does it look on the Frontier side, and is it in independently of the Frontier (so if you take out the Frontier the XT is happy as can be)?

Are the straps at or below baby's shoulders?

The tech you want to meet with, do they know Radians and Frontiers? They're not exactly the easiest seats to install. So if they know the seats I'd definitely wait, rather than trust random techs who may never have seen or heard of either of those seats. But if Darren recommended someone, that goes a long way in my book. Just pricey.

Wendy

Thanks Wendy. I will make an appt with Safety Squad. I installed the Radian first and it does not move, but I am new to this seat, so I want it double-checked. The straps are slightly below baby's shoulders. I assume the Safety Squad people will know Radians and Frontiers. That was part of my concern. Thanks for your help!

wendytthomas · 11-03-2009, 03:10 PM

When you call them ask. If not, I'd wait. I'd hate to think what someone could do with a Radian and a Frontier if they didn't know what they were doing (rear facing tether and the long belt path come to mind).

Wendy

LP Mom · 11-03-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendytthomas

When you call them ask. If not, I'd wait. I'd hate to think what someone could do with a Radian and a Frontier if they didn't know what they were doing (rear facing tether and the long belt path come to mind).

Wendy

Will do.

P1ally · 11-03-2009, 04:50 PM

$99 a SEAT???????????

Holy....

Pixels · 11-03-2009, 06:22 PM

Can you flip the hook on the RFing tether, so that the opening is toward the floor? Sometimes gravity won't let you, and it will flip as soon as you let go. But with the hook toward the floor, there should not be twists in the tether or D-ring.

The only other suggestion I have is to put the forward facing child in the middle if the seats fit that way. The rear facing child is more protected from side impacts by virtue of being rear facing.

LP Mom · 11-14-2009, 09:00 PM

OP here with an update. I took my car to a Safety Squad station today to have my XT SL install checked. Tom, the tech who I think trained Darren of carseat.org, helped me. He said I had done a great job with my install. Woo-hoo! Still, we took the car seat out and re-installed it. Nothing will move that thing now. It is beyond rock solid! I just want to thank everyone here who helped me with all of my Radian questions. You all rock!

wendytthomas · 11-14-2009, 09:28 PM

Excellent! You're supposed to take the seat out every time, so don't feel bad that he did that. That way the tech checks it for cracks, missing items, harness threading, etc. as well as some seats need to be removed to check the dates and model number for recalls. So it sounds like a great check! You got quite a compliment. :-) I have told precious few parents that they've done a good job.

Wendy

LP Mom · 11-14-2009, 09:36 PM

I was beyond proud!

11-03-2009, 02:30 PM	#1
LP Mom Carseat Crazy Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 203	Do people normally pay for a car seat check? The one decent car check service in my area charges $99 a seat! I just need someone to double check my install. Ugh! __________________ My Xmas Toddler 12/06 in Britax Frontier My Winter Baby 1/09 in a Radian XT SL

11-03-2009, 02:34 PM	#2
Maedze CPS Technician Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Invisible, but right behind you Posts: 5,469	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? Being a CPST is a thankless job. It requires continuing education, travel, organization and time, generally on the CPSTs dime (very few of us work as salaried CPSTs). Although I work for 'free', some CPSTs do charge for the work.

11-03-2009, 02:39 PM	#3
jess71903 CPS Technician Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 722	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? Around here they don't. Have you tried to find individual techs in your area that might be willing to meet you? __________________

11-03-2009, 02:42 PM	#4
LP Mom Carseat Crazy Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 203	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? Yes. The one tech I kind of like cannot meet me for 3 weeks. __________________ My Xmas Toddler 12/06 in Britax Frontier My Winter Baby 1/09 in a Radian XT SL

11-03-2009, 02:44 PM	#5
wendytthomas Moderator - CPS Technician Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 8,124	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? Did you contact the ones on here? I don't charge when I do private checks, and the events I work are free to the public. Sometimes I get paid for them, sometimes not. I consider it a bonus to be paid, not a bummer not to. Would you like to post pics of your installation here so we can look at it? That may tide you over the three weeks knowing that a bunch of eyes, if not hands, have seen it and checked it over as best as we can. Wendy __________________ Wendy Piper, 7/26/02, 45.75", 41.75#, GN, Parkway, RSTV Laine 9/16/09, 22", 9.5#, TFP, Safety 1st Avenue 2004 Audi A4, 2001 Nissan Xterra

11-03-2009, 02:47 PM	#6
LP Mom Carseat Crazy Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 203	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? I did check out the list of carseat.org techs. There is no one near me. I also PMd Darren and he suggested Safety Squad, which charges $99 a seat. I cannot pay that right now. Unfortunately, Naperville is too far from me. Here are pics of my install: http://picasaweb.google.com/LPMomChitown/2009_10_31# __________________ My Xmas Toddler 12/06 in Britax Frontier My Winter Baby 1/09 in a Radian XT SL

11-03-2009, 02:49 PM	#7
CTPDMom CPS Technician Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 623	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? Safety Squad does offer a much less expensive drive up service, it's $55. It's on their website if you want the info. __________________ Come one come all to stir the pot, When we're done we'll have a lot, More than enough to share with all, Be their hunger large or small. To learn all about our soup please click and join here!

11-03-2009, 02:51 PM	#8
chickabiddy CPS Technician Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3,154	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? I do not charge for checks, although once a mom gave me a few $$ because I'd driven to meet her and I didn't turn it down. Having written that -- meeting with a good CPST on your terms (a time and place that works for you) is worth something. It's true that most of us volunteer, but that doesn't mean that a tech's time and trouble isn't worth anything. And sometimes it's true that you get what you pay for: this is NOT a commentary on skills or worth, but on availability. The tech who charges a fee deserves compensation for making her- or himself available sooner than three weeks. __________________ CPST and Mama to a 7-year-old, 48" and 52# girl riding mostly in a Monterey in a 2006 Kia Optima and sometimes in a Turbobooster in a 2001 Subaru Legacy wagon.

11-03-2009, 02:53 PM	#10
wendytthomas Moderator - CPS Technician Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 8,124	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? The XT looks good. How does it look on the Frontier side, and is it in independently of the Frontier (so if you take out the Frontier the XT is happy as can be)? Are the straps at or below baby's shoulders? The tech you want to meet with, do they know Radians and Frontiers? They're not exactly the easiest seats to install. So if they know the seats I'd definitely wait, rather than trust random techs who may never have seen or heard of either of those seats. But if Darren recommended someone, that goes a long way in my book. Just pricey. Wendy __________________ Wendy Piper, 7/26/02, 45.75", 41.75#, GN, Parkway, RSTV Laine 9/16/09, 22", 9.5#, TFP, Safety 1st Avenue 2004 Audi A4, 2001 Nissan Xterra

11-03-2009, 03:10 PM	#12
wendytthomas Moderator - CPS Technician Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 8,124	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? When you call them ask. If not, I'd wait. I'd hate to think what someone could do with a Radian and a Frontier if they didn't know what they were doing (rear facing tether and the long belt path come to mind). Wendy __________________ Wendy Piper, 7/26/02, 45.75", 41.75#, GN, Parkway, RSTV Laine 9/16/09, 22", 9.5#, TFP, Safety 1st Avenue 2004 Audi A4, 2001 Nissan Xterra

11-03-2009, 04:50 PM	#14
P1ally Car-Seat.Org Benefactor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 275	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? $99 a SEAT??????????? Holy.... __________________ Gavin 9/06 in a Safeguard, Nautilus, and ERF in True fit

11-03-2009, 06:22 PM	#15
Pixels CPS Technician Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: N'boro, MA Posts: 3,327	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? Can you flip the hook on the RFing tether, so that the opening is toward the floor? Sometimes gravity won't let you, and it will flip as soon as you let go. But with the hook toward the floor, there should not be twists in the tether or D-ring. The only other suggestion I have is to put the forward facing child in the middle if the seats fit that way. The rear facing child is more protected from side impacts by virtue of being rear facing. __________________ Melissa, CPST and Mom to DD, 18mo, 21 pounds 10.5 ounces, 30.25 inches (16 mo stats) Radian65, RadianXT, ComfortSport, TrueFit

11-14-2009, 09:00 PM	#16
LP Mom Carseat Crazy Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 203	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? OP here with an update. I took my car to a Safety Squad station today to have my XT SL install checked. Tom, the tech who I think trained Darren of carseat.org, helped me. He said I had done a great job with my install. Woo-hoo! Still, we took the car seat out and re-installed it. Nothing will move that thing now. It is beyond rock solid! I just want to thank everyone here who helped me with all of my Radian questions. You all rock! __________________ My Xmas Toddler 12/06 in Britax Frontier My Winter Baby 1/09 in a Radian XT SL

11-14-2009, 09:28 PM	#17
wendytthomas Moderator - CPS Technician Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 8,124	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? Excellent! You're supposed to take the seat out every time, so don't feel bad that he did that. That way the tech checks it for cracks, missing items, harness threading, etc. as well as some seats need to be removed to check the dates and model number for recalls. So it sounds like a great check! You got quite a compliment. :-) I have told precious few parents that they've done a good job. Wendy __________________ Wendy Piper, 7/26/02, 45.75", 41.75#, GN, Parkway, RSTV Laine 9/16/09, 22", 9.5#, TFP, Safety 1st Avenue 2004 Audi A4, 2001 Nissan Xterra

11-14-2009, 09:36 PM	#18
LP Mom Carseat Crazy Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 203	Re: Do people normally pay for a car seat check? I was beyond proud! __________________ My Xmas Toddler 12/06 in Britax Frontier My Winter Baby 1/09 in a Radian XT SL

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