good car audio shops - becoming a thing of the past?

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

Keep doing what you're doing and don't ever let your local competition drag you down, either morally or by cutting prices or your quality of work. New vehicles are getting more difficult to work on, and that isn't going to change. There will always be the market segment that's hung up on price, but if you can get them in your store and prove you're worth the higher prices, people will bite.

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

car audio = consumers are mostly kids with big dreams and little to no money

home theater = consumers are mostly middle aged with a fair amount of disposable income

Focus on HT as that is where the $$$ is....

 

[ace_800 5,000+ posts]

The problem in my area, Tucson, is that these premium shops do shit work as well and could give a rats ass about your "quality" you want. I can do almost everything except build the box. I had one box built for 2 SA8's in which the premium shop didn't know how to do the length of the port even with the specs from Sundown. Most of the premium shops I've seen are just out to take advantage of people that don't know what they are doing and have terrible customer service.

 

[3kgtAudio 10+ year member]

My attitude stems from the fact that I abhor the concept that two human beings must be regulated by "rules" before they are allowed to do business with each other' date=' in a capitalistic society, of all things.
So when I read stuff like "you should not get anything at dealer cost unless you have blah blah blah", it upsets me because it implies the concept above.[/quote']

General public getting stuff at dealer cost kind of defeats the purpose of a dealer don't ya think? You claim to be entitled to it, yet you fail to see the business sense that you are not. Dealers put in the time to research, train, and use their experience to offer products to the public, and support them in the future, and that's why a legit BUSINESS is entitled to dealer cost. Your paying for a service along with the product. You cut out all of the profit then that dealer isn't there any more leaving you left to fend for yourself, and let me tell ya, MFG's are not as kind to consumers that install their own stuff and go around dealers.

There are terms set forth by every manufacturer and agreements you sign before you can even become a dealer of said product. Small dealer signs up, advertises at too low of cost and then gets punished by MFG maybe even dropped. Big distributor on the other hand lets everyone off the street buy at cost and they don't get punished, Good thing however, with most manufacturers will not give you warranty support if you don't buy from an authorized dealer, which you can't exactly ***** about if you go around dealers to 'grey' markets to buy product. Focusing too much on saving a buck blinds you from the truth.

 

[3kgtAudio 10+ year member]

The problem in my area, Tucson, is that these premium shops do shit work as well and could give a rats ass about your "quality" you want. I can do almost everything except build the box. I had one box built for 2 SA8's in which the premium shop didn't know how to do the length of the port even with the specs from Sundown. Most of the premium shops I've seen are just out to take advantage of people that don't know what they are doing and have terrible customer service.

Send them up here! Streamline Audio Video - its just me and my business partner and we both have 20+ years under the belt. Were not a flashy shop that trys to wow you with pretty lights and fancy cars. We just are 2 simple guys who know what were doing.

 

[3kgtAudio 10+ year member]

car audio = consumers are mostly kids with big dreams and little to no money
home theater = consumers are mostly middle aged with a fair amount of disposable income

Focus on HT as that is where the $$$ is....

yes.

 

[Ahmed Johnson]

If there is a portion of the world's economy that still retains some semblance of capitalism, it is indeed the consumer electronics industry. What is called capitalism today is more often than not, mercantilism and all too often, it's salted heavily with socialism and fascism... especially in the west.
There is a phenomena that stems from free market capitalism called creative destruction and what that means is that as technology improves, that which is old gives sway to that which is new. We see examples of creative destruction in history, such as the introduction of the automobile and the subsequent destruction of the horse drawn buggy industry.

Were the buggy manufacturer's angry that the horseless carriage changed their modus operandi? Most of them were. After all, these noisy contraptions were taking their profits. But what if, rather than complain and lobby the state, they had actually sat down as honest entrepreneurs and thought out some way to compete rather than complain? Well... some of those companies would now be auto manufacturers who had been in business since the early 19th century. But we don't see those companies, because they bItched and complained instead of conforming to the progress of humanity.

We see this same creative destruction at work today with the record industry, who's executives have become accustomed to raking the lion's share of an artist's gross earnings. Were those executives overpaid in 1989? Probably not. But with the technology we have at our disposal today, anyone can produce and market their art for next to nothing with only an inexpensive computer, an internet connection and some due diligence. So for sure, those guys are overpaid today. And for sure, they are dying a slow and necessary death in the marketplace.

As for car audio, I don't like to install stuff that people buy from other sellers but if I don't, I alienate a large portion of the market. So what do I do to save that business and keep my profits? I don't have a retail location that costs me $6000.00 a month whether I sell a head unit or not. I don't commit to buying volumes that, if I don't meet my sales, force me to buy new product when the old hasn't moved. I don't spend money on expensive advertising media that is, like the record industry, in the throes of death and, I don't complain that things aren't the way they used to be.

And what I do is, act as more of a car audio consultant than a suit and tie salesman. Sell the the knowledge I have to people who want to pay for it and, not be angry with the people who don't want to pay for it.

Church!

 

[bbeljefe]

Church!

Pardon me?

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

Anyone wanna chime in and give me some tips/hints when starting my own online car audio business, later wanting to expand to a store.

 

[Staynlean 10+ year member]

Anyone wanna chime in and give me some tips/hints when starting my own online car audio business, later wanting to expand to a store.

Well, you're a knowledgeable guy. From what I can see you know the industry and know it well comes down to your business ethics.
Given you can start your own business, or so I understand that you have the means to, it's going to come down to how much work *you want to put into this.

I see you as the type of person that can and will be able to step up to this challenge.

My Dad has. Even a small business owner since he was 20. He's very successful however he dedicates his life to it. Working 50hr weeks and on call every night for emergency problems. I respect his work ethic and he's made me into the person I am.

It can be done, with your knowledge and experience it seems that all you need now is to make the dedication. Good luck Aus friend, give me an invite to your future shop and I will do everything in my power to come help you out for a few days. (Srs)

*Edit, I'm a bodybuilder. Any chance you've ever heard of Zyzz? I will be blown away if you know what I'm talking about...

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

thanks very much Staynlean, sorry I have no idea what Zyzz is unfortunately, is it like some sort of Jacked product or sumfin for gaining mass and bulking up. I love my car audio and audio in general and am wanting to start my own business due to this fact, but all the audio stores in my area have closed down due to no demand (including the one I was employed at for 7 years)

ALSO if ya ever cometo Aus send me a PM

 

[Staynlean 10+ year member]

thanks very much Staynlean, sorry I have no idea what Zyzz is unfortunately, is it like some sort of Jacked product or sumfin for gaining mass and bulking up. I love my car audio and audio in general and am wanting to start my own business due to this fact, but all the audio stores in my area have closed down due to no demand (including the one I was employed at for 7 years)
ALSO if ya ever cometo Aus send me a PM

**** strait I will man, if I ever make it to Australia again I will certainly hit ya up. Zyzz was a young bodybuilder in Sydney, he passed away in 2011. He's all over the net, google it real quick too see what I'm talking abt.
Man I'm battling this front stage in my truck right now. I spent much money and am left with a sound that is less than the factory system and the front stage is amped too. So disappointed. I'm in such a bind over this.

What's your take on amping tweets? For the situation I'm in, they are WAY too harsh even at -3db. Should I just put them back on uh power and run my new 6.5's active, I think the passive crossover is hurting them. They sound empty, and echo like they are needing more power.

It's terrible and I spent a lot of time adapting the doors over to 6.5's.

 

[des343 10+ year member]

I am current owner of a car audio / home theater shop in AZ, we have always focused on quality and value, I have never cared that some dude on craigslist is underbidding me by a huge margin, and we had a good deal of success and tons of happy customers over the years. However, It has been a disturbing trend in the last year or so in regards to the car audio side of things, there have been several 'hack' shops popping up all over the place, killing the market totally. We are competing against shops that are making $20 on a deck install(including the deck), $75 on a remote start installation, and no regard to quality or customer service, yet people go to them in droves! And yes they are hack shops, I have seen and fixed their work many times. They only care about moving product and getting that sale and having you in and out as quickly as possible.
However, in the home theater side of the business we have been very successful, and we find that customers prefer quality and recognize that hiring an experienced tech that can give them a top notch job is worth a few extra bucks. So naturally, we have been focusing our efforts in that arena.

Here is my take on it, the average car audio consumer seems to think in regards to car audio that they should always choose the best deal - they do not see the value of experience and paying someone who is a true skilled professional, who charges based on what they need to make on a job. A 'fair' price is not paying someone pennies to do a skilled labor job, and quite frankly car audio and security is a fairly complex field, quite a bit more so that people realize.

Bottom line, as a shop, I simply will not dip down to where we are barely scraping by just to get jobs in the door, I feel like I cannot offer a quality service at that level, I personally would rather throw in the towel than conform. And let me say our prices are very reasonable, but we are constantly losing bids to these 'hacks'. It ***** to say this, and I see other real deal shops around going through the same thing, many of them close. So IMO, if this trend continues by some point the 'old school' or good shops are going to be gone.

So, I know this is a car audio forum, and most people here are going to be a little better educated in regards to what it really takes to do a good job, and what a fair deal is, but any other pro's out there feel the same way? Is there really no need for us anymore and are people truely happy with mediocre service? Hack shops and the home of the $1 dash fire have really de-valued this industry. Is the lowest possible price always going to be the winner at the end of the day?

Anyways, thats just my rant, I love cars and love to work on them, but it just doesn't pay the bills anymore.

In my area the shops are absurd on prices. Also they **** complete dirt work. No one has any REAL customizing skills. But heres the thing man I'm not saying your as bad as the shops around here on pricing and I'm sure you do much better work i have to go hours for a legit shop or I'd consider legit..anyone in Michigan lmk otherwise!

Anyways in today's economy do you honestly think people can afford to spend 1500 dollars (on a cheap side) for subs (probably going to be kickers or alpine r/s range), box, amp, install, and such I know shops with a legit dealer liscebds and authorized get GREAT discounts for it so much there should NEVER be (for example 180+ dollar tag on a single type r which is what I see in my area) at least AT LEAST match on line pricing. Idk man unless it's a complete custom job a basic instal fir an experienced installer should be cake...like people around here try to charge like 3-500 dollars JUST for a box for 4 12s...hell I once had 4 12 inch w7s I didn't even have 400 dollars invested in.

Idk I have a lot of gripes about the audio world and hobby truthfully but I just love the bass! So I deal with it but at the same time it has stopped me or slowed me at doing a lot of stuff I've been wanting to.

Like j said tho that my opinion I could be a little off maybe it's just a thing in my area...

 

[des343 10+ year member]

General public getting stuff at dealer cost kind of defeats the purpose of a dealer don't ya think? You claim to be entitled to it, yet you fail to see the business sense that you are not. Dealers put in the time to research, train, and use their experience to offer products to the public, and support them in the future, and that's why a legit BUSINESS is entitled to dealer cost. Your paying for a service along with the product. You cut out all of the profit then that dealer isn't there any more leaving you left to fend for yourself, and let me tell ya, MFG's are not as kind to consumers that install their own stuff and go around dealers.
There are terms set for

th by every manufacturer and agreements you sign before you can even become a dealer of said product. Small dealer signs up, advertises at too low of cost and then gets punished by MFG maybe even dropped. Big distributor on the other hand lets everyone off the street buy at cost and they don't get punished, Good thing however, with most manufacturers will not give you warranty support if you don't buy from an authorized dealer, which you can't exactly ***** about if you go around dealers to 'grey' markets to buy product. Focusing too much on saving a buck blinds you from the truth.

I agree with beatin..your already losing out on TONS of sales because people are getting on cl buying used or getting things cheaper online...I'm not saying don't make ANY profit but how bout not be so worried about profits and be more worried at giving the customer the BEST possible deal u can! This will make people happy keep them coming back, this will make people be more willing to have you do the install instead of trying to find someone cheaper..what makes you entitled to make such a profit off the equipment you know..ya labor sure that's where the money is at..

But it STARTS with getting people coming in to buy your products FROM YOU...

 

[des343 10+ year member]

Keep doing what you're doing and don't ever let your local competition drag you down, either morally or by cutting prices or your quality of work. New vehicles are getting more difficult to work on, and that isn't going to change. There will always be the market segment that's hung up on price, but if you can get them in your store and prove you're worth the higher prices, people will bite.

I'd be willing to spend more money paying a good installer to do a great job if I know they will do a good job it's worth a little extra but still not gonna pay out the a$$...now hardwear I have and never will buy from a dealer...prices are r stupid I know what the dealer cost is and it's balls cheap in most cases...and I already thing audio equipment is far overpriced as it is without any extra shop mark ups...make me happy on the price give me a good deal on the equipment and I'd have more of a sense of happiness, and loyalty towards someone hooking me up good it makes me WANT to help out the shop and pay them for my installation as well and I'd also have less of a gripe with a slightly higher install rate.