Ever get the feeling like it's kinda shady?

[hornedfrog1985 5,000+ posts]

I bet it's something like 7/1 car audio shops go out of business. I don't know why that may be, but I know why I don't shop at them.

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

They have to make their money though. I'm friends with a couple shop owners and owning a shop isn't always the most profitable job.

 

[SomeGuyDude 10+ year member]

To me the problem isn't installation. I will gladly pay a shop to professionally install all the equipment because I know if I did it even with a guide handy and two friends to help I'd end up burning everything to the ground.

The problem is that they have lackluster equipment and then really go out of their way to sell you crap that's not going to really make you happy, but it's all they carry. They'll charge MSRP plus markup, leaving you with a $1500 system that's actually worth half that.

My thinking is amass the equipment on your own, then get it pro installed (and don't ***** about price when you do since they're not making any money off sales).

 

[anj46907 10+ year member]

To me the problem isn't installation. I will gladly pay a shop to professionally install all the equipment because I know if I did it even with a guide handy and two friends to help I'd end up burning everything to the ground.

touche.

i would be found in a pool of my own blood trying to change a fuse:wow:

its not that bad.............but i must say im not the most crafty person:crap:

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

Some shops are highly shady. But, you have to keep in the back of your mind of all the expenses they have and the little sales that most of them ever get. The internet sales are really hurting their profits.

 

[BennyLava]

Some shops are highly shady. But, you have to keep in the back of your mind of all the expenses they have and the little sales that most of them ever get. The internet sales are really hurting their profits.

It's that competition that they are getting from internet sales that will hopefully drive them to offer better gear, at better prices. After all, why buy online if you could have the same thing installed that day, for roughly the same price? I would say screw online shopping if I could get that kind of deal going. I mean obviously you would be paying a little more for installation, and the shop's bills and all that, but at least it would somewhat resemble what you can order online and install yourself (or have installed). Right now, as many other members have said, they offer low end stuff, and high end prices. At least offer high end stuff, if you are going to have high end prices. I know it's hard to compete with a warehouse that has little to no bills cause the stuff just sits on a shelf till it gets shipped out, but maybe they could try. The car audio place I used to work at (called Pendeltons), the boss said you kinda had to haggle with the suppliers to get the best deals. Maybe that's what some of the shops need to do... get on the phone and start haggling?

 

[SomeGuyDude 10+ year member]

It's that competition that they are getting from internet sales that will hopefully drive them to offer better gear, at better prices. After all, why buy online if you could have the same thing installed that day, for roughly the same price?

To be honest if I owned a shop I wouldn't really deal in parts at all. Maybe if the customer really wanted me to, and even then I'd charge them cost. The real money's to be had in installation.

Every shop I saw in Florida that was making any money did it because they could customize your setup amazingly. The one owner had an SUV of some kind (it's been years, I don't remember that well) with I think six 12's in a straight-up NASTY fiberglass enclosure. They charged a pretty penny for work, but the stuff they did was sick. Not surprisingly, the dude was doing very well last I saw.

It's the shops that make most of their money on retail markup and consider "installing" to be "throw the box in your trunk and tape up a few wires" that can go slag off. If you're making money by foisting sub-par products at top-level prices, then you're doomed to fail.

 

[Tehgregzor 10+ year member]

I got kicked out of an audio shop when i was 18.. I went in to a lil shop to browse and just get a feel for their prices.. all they had was power acoustic, entry level Fusion, Jensen.. and lower level kenwood subs and HU's... so dude is tryin to sell me their 800watt fusion package for $800..
and i tell him I already have a system.. he is askin what amp i have.. I tell him Memphis Mojo 2000D.. he goes "No, memphis dont make 2000 watt amps, and the Mojo is a sub" i Try to tell him the amp is a older model with the Flaming M logo and all that "Noo he says, they only make PR and Mclass amps" Whatever.. then he asks about my subs.. I tell Him 2 Resonant Engineering SX 12s.. He says I should get some high end subs for my Memphis amp.. he goes "i THINK YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS NEW BRAND WE'LL BE GETTING... ITS CALLED RE AUDIO!" //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif I try and tell him i have RE Audio, resonant engineering.. he's like "No way, there arent even ant dealers in West TN" i go on and explain I got em online and for under $500 a set... He's like "yeah maybe the SR series.. yu would want a SE or MX or a higher line" I tell him i have SX 12s and he is arguing "No way, those sell for $400 EACH, and handle 1000w each, you must be thinkin about the SR series... by this time i get pissed and tell him he is a dumbass in front of his manager... we have words and he threats to call the cops.. Im screamin in the store that he is a fckin retard and all they sell is garbage as he dials on the phone:furious:

Where you at in West TN?