Car audio industry before ebay/e-commerce

[thegreatestpenn 5,000+ posts]

How was accessibility of car audio equipment before all this e-commerce (especially ebay) started jumping off? I was just curious on the effect the internet has had on the business side of Car audio, would probably be a nice article to write in a mag (if it hasn't been written already). I hope this isn't a repost, if it is, //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/banghead.gif.8606515f668c74f6de0281deb475b6fd.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/reposthorse.gif.368c1dbb9d02cacf5006b3ed421cde0e.gif

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[Ignatowski 5,000+ posts]

a store.........

the web has pretty much destroyed many buinsess as well as created new ones

 

[W8 a minute 10+ year member]

How was accessibility of car audio equipment before all this e-commerce (especially ebay) started jumping off? I was just curious on the effect the internet has had on the business side of Car audio, would probably be a nice article to write in a mag (if it hasn't been written already). I hope this isn't a repost, if it is, //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/banghead.gif.8606515f668c74f6de0281deb475b6fd.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/reposthorse.gif.368c1dbb9d02cacf5006b3ed421cde0e.gif

My honest opinion...

I think it sucked before the internet.

*Everything was overpriced.

*The lack of information was astounding and manufacturers/retailers used it to their advantage.

*No one even considered the fact that 2 companies might use the same build house and sell the same product under different names.

*You couldn't even buy Rockford Fosgate around here until 1987 or 88 and they were major players back then. Not a single local shop carried them and if you inquired about it they looked at you like you were a moron. Now you can get any product you ever wanted on the internet even if it's never been distributed in the United States.

*Back then we were willing to pay $400+ for components and now we know we can just buy them from Peerless or Vifa for $100.

I can think of a million other reasons but there's not enough time.

 

[PatFitz9 10+ year member]

as with any other sales industry, I think the internets helped the consumer while consequently trashing the small business owner.

specifically for car audio... well you see all the "guess what my local shop said this time" type threads. obviously they don't know, or don't want to know about products other than what they carry. Also, this gives the opprotunity for companies like Fi, SI, etc to sell their products at a great price.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

While it facilitates mine and several friends entry into car audio, it simultaneously hurts the industry.

Some think that once B&Ms are wiped out, the internet prices will increase. I do not buy it...and cannot find any evidence of an industry where prices increase...but we shall soon see. It will be an excellent case study.

Honestly, I think what the internet does the most is improve competiton among competitors...even if you throw out "internet pricing" and compare MSRPs. A local shop may carry 3 or 4 brands. SoundDomain (a previously authorized dealer who sold at legit pricing) carried a variety of brands and allowed me to compare the specs side-by-side. Although not perfect, they also had a small program that told me what setups would meet my application. Lastly, there are internet forums where I can learn about topics such as active processing, the benefits of sound deadener, nice instructions on how to properly terminate wires, etc.

Without the internet, I would be 'content' with a CD player and aftermarket coaxials from Wal-Mart...and maybe a Best Buy sub and amp. The access to information the internet provides a much greater listening experience than could be afforded to me as a consumer. Without the internet, it would be much more difficult to fact-check salesmen at local shops? I thought for years one could underpower a subwoofer because a guy at best buy told me so. How am I to know any different??