Buying new on Ebay vs. Dealer?

[letchcore 10+ year member]

I have been into Car Audio since 94'. Back when ebay wasent even around and forums hadent even started. These days I find my self struggling to buy at the retail shops when most stuff is half off on ebay. At the same time I like to support the local shops and definatly like getting a warrenty. Its hard to resist ebay prices when if the first one goes bad you still saved enough to buy another for the same price you can buy at the dealers.

What are your guys experience with this?

What recommendations/tips do you have?

Thanks,

Mike

Click to read more...

 

[GAM3OVR 5,000+ posts]

Some of the ebay users with a little more $ will give you a warranty //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Bass Addict 10+ year member]

main thing to look for is how much positive feedback seller has.i recently bought the 08zx1000.1 for $285 shipped from dis_sound.and it was factory sealed.with 1 yr warrantee. that seller has no negative feedback.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

I have been into Car Audio since 94'. Back when ebay wasent even around and forums hadent even started. These days I find my self struggling to buy at the retail shops when most stuff is half off on ebay. At the same time I like to support the local shops and definatly like getting a warrenty. Its hard to resist ebay prices when if the first one goes bad you still saved enough to buy another for the same price you can buy at the dealers.
What are your guys experience with this?

What recommendations/tips do you have?

Thanks,

Mike

have cash or credit card in hand and see what your local dealer can work out for you.

 

[letchcore 10+ year member]

I am kind of confused as to why the sellers on Ebay are so much cheaper? Is there really that much margin?

 

[99grandprixGT 5,000+ posts]

I am kind of confused as to why the sellers on Ebay are so much cheaper? Is there really that much margin?

shops have allot of overhead cost to cover. vs the guy on ebay

 

[fatboyracing 10+ year member]

your in nashville looks up (bills wholesale we will hook you up

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

I am kind of confused as to why the sellers on Ebay are so much cheaper? Is there really that much margin?

they do not have any overhead like a shop does. Alot of the power sellers get items sideways at near regular distributor costs without actually having to stock an item. Hence why sometimes they sell what they do not actually have....

 

[letchcore 10+ year member]

But what I dont understand is all of the manufactures go out of their way to say they dont authorize online sales? Then how are the online dealers getting the products? Diamond Audio, Rockford, JL......

 

[Horsemanwill 10+ year member]

look for threads labeled transshipping. that'll explain how they are getting the products. for cliff notes it's from dealers who are selling it out the back door to make more money when they have contracts taht say they can't.

 

[shaneb 10+ year member]

Let me give you someplace to read.

Within this wonderful story, are several other links, that I highly recommend for anyone buying online. Buying online is okay. But buyer beware //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif.

This is just fruitful research for the consumer lol...

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=364973

 

[letchcore 10+ year member]

After reading this I am even more confused. To me this is something the manufactures are going to have to do a better job at. The dealers on the internet must be getting the products from authorized dealer that is unloading them to move inventory. Otherwise they are being stolen off trucks. I really doubt that the sellers with good reps are doing this.

Today I went to a JL dealer and they didnt even have any JL subs hooked up to hear. Very few amps too. If thats the case there is no point the traditional dealer.

Mike

Let me give you someplace to read.Within this wonderful story, are several other links, that I highly recommend for anyone buying online. Buying online is okay. But buyer beware //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif.

This is just fruitful research for the consumer lol...

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=364973

 

[It Hertz 10+ year member]

Most online sellers that are selling NEW are not authorized to sell the products they offer. They have purchased them from "Dirty" dealers that are greedy and trying to pad their wallets, or they will find shop that are barely hanging on make the an offer that is hard to refuse and bingo the deal is done. (now Manu's that watch their dealers will notice things like this and track the serial numbers, and yes can be done even if it is remove from the outside casing.) they will also buy old stock form dealers last years models ect. (this is how you end up with bait and switch problems) you also get "former dealers" selling off the inventory they still have. (I personally think w/ these shops the Manu's should buy all NEW unopened product back to prevent the ebay problem but alas does not happen enough it at all).

Yes, it is the manufacturers responsibility to take care of this and some do a very good job, others do not try at all.

Letchcore,

Here is another way to look at it. yes ytou can buy a product on ebay or webstore for close to half the price. but when it goes bad you have to HOPE you can find another one for a similar price bcuz there is no warranty (or buy two out of the gate) also hope they work when you get them. If you buy one from your local retailer he will have the warranty to protect you if anything goes wrong. he is also there if you have questions or need advice or help... most often your ebay seller or web store are no help after the sale.

Also if something does go wrong who do you get to diagnose the product before you know you need to replace it???? take to your local shop??? don't expect them to be overly excited to help you out, as you would be getting this service for free if you had just shopped with them to begin with. and they will charge you to diagnose the issues.

To comment about the dealers not having products to demo... you will buy from an online seller???? how did you demo their equipment? over the phone??? most independent dealers are reluctant to demo products now days, they will either have demo vehicles that will give you a better experience anyway or their customers have faith they will get them the best products for their needs. If you are will ing to buy one line then you really do not need to demo the product you were prepared to buy it anyway. I run a very small shop that does little for actual retail sales we do mostly high end custom builds and have no demo boards. Our customers know we only sell good products so they are comfortable with what we think will work best, they do sometimes have their own ideas and we always listen... and will work with them to get them what they are looking for performance wise.

the other side of this aspect is that some products (higher end) these products are too expensive for a small shop to demo as once they are used they are hard to sell, and most of these items are bought on the reputation of the product and or the brand.

Hope this sheds some light on your options.

If you like I can get some names of great independent shops in your area that you can look into.

thanks,

Bryan

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

The dirty dealers basically by MILLIONS of dollars worth of product (or at least close to that) and get it at a far better price than a normal dealer or in some cases better than a distributor would get it for. They get it at a good price and dump off at a small profit what they cant sell retail. Why??? Less cost of goods = more profit from what they do sell at the retail level. It should be pretty apparent that there is a market for sideways gear.

 

[BlurredVision 10+ year member]

I understand your problem. I go to a shop and see a setup I like for 2-3K and you can buy it online for 6-7 hundred. If you by locally you usually get good warranties. I know most of my local shop specialize in a few select products and offer between 3 to 5 years worth of warranty. You cant beat that.