lawl local car audio shop owner is a d-bag

[ga12r 10+ year member]

I suppose I see the issue a little more clearly now:
If you install someone else's stuff, you have no idea of the quality or if it is what the cover says it is. You take a gamble. Even if it is not your fault, you will still get the blame. I still think buying large quantities to sell some over the net and some at the store is the way to go. You get the volume discount, thus allowing your shop to be more flexible with pricing and margin. I know folks already do this, I just think it is a good idea.

Yes, but selling online and in the store, you wont be authorized for long. Most companies have a Minimum Advertised Price(MAP) that autorized dealers have to stick to. Just to let you know the MAP on a 12L7 is 399.95. How many do you think I could sell online at that price:eyebrow: . I cant even advertise locally for less than that(I can sell for less once the customer is in the door), the other kicker dealers in the area would be on the phone with stillwater as soon as they seen the ad .

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

Yes, but selling online and in the store, you wont be authorized for long. Most companies have a Minimum Advertised Price(MAP) that autorized dealers have to stick to. Just to let you know the MAP on a 12L7 is 399.95. How many do you think I could sell online at that price:eyebrow: . I cant even advertise locally for less than that(I can sell for less once the customer is in the door), the other kicker dealers in the area would be on the phone with stillwater as soon as they seen the ad .

Explain Crutchfield then.

2 B&M stores + selling online (all at retail pricing) and they manage to do okay...

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

Explain Crutchfield then.2 B&M stores + selling online (all at retail pricing) and they manage to do okay...

reliablitly and customer service. Crutchfield will go out of their way to help u if somethings wrong with ur order. Plus u can call them and they help u explain how to install stuff. Only reason I can't get my brother to get stuff for cheaper elsewhere.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

reliablitly and customer service. Crutchfield will go out of their way to help u if somethings wrong with ur order. Plus u can call them and they help u explain how to install stuff. Only reason I can't get my brother to get stuff for cheaper elsewhere.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif I knew that. I've spent scads of money with Crutchfield through the years for just those reasons you listed. I mentioned them because of :

Yes, but selling online and in the store, you wont be authorized for long.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[kngadrok 10+ year member]

If you'll have a closer look you'll find that the majority of 'bad press' given to B&M dealers on this board as well as so many others is due mainly to their attitude rather than their pricing.The all-too-common vehement statements that the products they sell are the Be All, End All of car audio and any other brand consideration is an exercise in lunacy.

Does JL make quality gear? The answer is inarguably yes they do. Are they without a doubt the best thing going? Well, duh. Of course they aren't. But most of their retailers would certainly have you believe that this is the case.

Outside of that the lack of overall knowledge that is too easy to find in your average B&M shop (as well as entirely too common in most Big Box stores) is simply maddening for those of us that actually have a clue regarding most things dealing with aftermarket mobile A/V gear. Someone whose job is pertaining to audio sales/installation/implementation not having the faintest idea about what they're talking about is more than enough to send me elsewhere when I'm looking to drop some coin on a purchase.

Easily I will admit there are exceptions to this rule but sadly it is the case more often than not nowadays.

All very good points. I must say that I am very fortuneate to have a local shop that is the exception rather than the rule. I did have to look around to find them even though they have been right down the street for that last 15 years.

You are correct, the biggest problem is with the lack of knowledge that local shops exhibit, but there are good shops out there you just have to look hard and do your research.

 

[ga12r 10+ year member]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif I knew that. I've spent scads of money with Crutchfield through the years for just those reasons you listed. I mentioned them because of ://content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I dont think it is fair to compare Crutchfield and a small B&M like mine. Two diffrent worlds. It took crutchfiled a long time to get were they are, they were the kings of mailorder before the internet. I dont have the Millons to invest in trying to go that route:uhoh: . If I called stillawater today and said " I would like to sell authorized online and in my store" I think they would laugh at that. The list of authorized online retailers is pretty small.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Yes, but selling online and in the store, you wont be authorized for long. Most companies have a Minimum Advertised Price(MAP) that autorized dealers have to stick to. Just to let you know the MAP on a 12L7 is 399.95. How many do you think I could sell online at that price:eyebrow: . I cant even advertise locally for less than that(I can sell for less once the customer is in the door), the other kicker dealers in the area would be on the phone with stillwater as soon as they seen the ad .

I am still curious how come this MAP deal isn't considered price fixing and a violating of antitrust. MAP is anti-competitive and should be against the law IMO.

Would you lower your prices if there were no MAP. I assume MAP is there to protect B & Ms from competition.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I dont think it is fair to compare Crutchfield and a small B&M like mine. Two diffrent worlds. It took crutchfiled a long time to get were they are, they were the kings of mailorder before the internet. I dont have the Millons to invest in trying to go that route:uhoh: . If I called stillawater today and said " I would like to sell authorized online and in my store" I think they would laugh at that. The list of authorized online retailers is pretty small.

I think that is kicker being stupid, not you. Give it time. If kicker and various other brands that think this way do not see what's happening, they won't have a chance.

 

[ga12r 10+ year member]

I am still curious how come this MAP deal isn't considered price fixing and a violating of antitrust. MAP is anti-competitive and should be against the law IMO.
Would you lower your prices if there were no MAP. I assume MAP is there to protect B & Ms from competition.

A delar can sell below map, just not advertise below map. If you look at kickers online authorized dealers you will find that they dont have prices on thier websites less than map. But they can have that "you must place the item in your cart to see the price" this allows them to bypass MAP, so does price matching. Personally I believe its BS. I cant put in the local paper or on TV ads anything like that. Im limited to just saying stop by to see our low prices. I still have to list MAP in all ads.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

A delar can sell below map, just not advertise below map. If you look at kickers online authorized dealers you will find that they dont have prices on thier websites less than map. But they can have that "you must place the item in your cart to see the price" this allows them to bypass MAP, so does price matching. Personally I believe its BS. I cant put in the local paper or on TV ads anything like that. Im limited to just saying stop by to see our low prices. I still have to list MAP in all ads.

Right, I figured that much out based on the audiojunkies website. What I can't figure out is the reason behind MAP. I figure MAP would be there to protect B & Ms, but it looks as if B & Ms don't like it either.

I wonder how our local B & M advertises sales then.

 

[ga12r 10+ year member]

Right, I figured that much out based on the audiojunkies website. What I can't figure out is the reason behind MAP. I figure MAP would be there to protect B & Ms, but it looks as if B & Ms don't like it either.
I wonder how our local B & M advertises sales then.

Your locals B&Ms may have noone to report them to the maufacturer, if you dont get caught you can do ity all you want.

I think laws should be passed to keep internet sellers from just killing small buisiness, it is already hard enough for SB with wal-mart and home depot and Lowes. But i guess internet hurts high dollar electronics sellers like me more than anyone because of the ease to ship small high dollar items(furniture and appliances not so cheap to ship). One thing that sucks is online sellers can sell with no taxes, no matter how low I sell I have to charge the customer taxes.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

I went to a local B&M a while back. They sold Focal, so I started talking to the guy about some high-end stuff. The guy started out in the usual way, talking down to me like Im some schmuck off the street without a clue, when clearly he was talking out of his ***. By the end of the 20min discussion he was the one doing the listening, not me. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif At some point he said 'wow you know alot about this stuff, looking for a job?'. I wasn't looking, but it made me sad it was so easy to discover the owner of one of the most exclusive shops in the area was so ignorant of the industry he calls his profession, and that aparently his employee base is so awful he has to ask ramdom customer if they want work, simply by showing they are knowlegeable enthusiasts.

One thing about car stereo, it seems to have the highest percentage of know-it-alls.... who are in fact actually idiots.... of any industry known to man. Except maybe for career politicians.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

One thing about car stereo, it seems to have the highest percentage of know-it-alls.... who are in fact actually idiots...

Home audio has it beat.

By far.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Probably true.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Your locals B&Ms may have noone to report them to the maufacturer, if you dont get caught you can do ity all you want.
I think laws should be passed to keep internet sellers from just killing small buisiness, it is already hard enough for SB with wal-mart and home depot and Lowes. But i guess internet hurts high dollar electronics sellers like me more than anyone because of the ease to ship small high dollar items(furniture and appliances not so cheap to ship). One thing that sucks is online sellers can sell with no taxes, no matter how low I sell I have to charge the customer taxes.

Wal-Mart and Lowe's used to be one store small businesses as well. They had to compete against the likes of Sears and Woolworths, Montgomery Wards etc. They had a niche market and expanded. Lowe's used to deal primarily with contractors. It wasn't until the late 80s it is what it is today. As for shipping, in the early part of the century, Sears could ship a house. (I have magazines to prove this)

What kind of laws would you reccomend to prevent competition? Perhaps communism? I know that isn't what you mean as you are just trying to protect your business.

Furthermore, Lowe's gives the local chain more business too. A consumer may go without a product because Lowe's/ HD doesn't carry it. We say, "We don't have it but Ace hardware might" If there were no Lowe's, they probably wouldn't have gone to Ace, they would have just done without. Oftentimes, we have to give directions to the local mom and pops. We actually need mom-and-pops for small pieces and fittings to accompany the larger pieces we sell. I don't think Lowe's is in the business of destroying mom and pop as some make it out to be.