lawl local car audio shop owner is a d-bag

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

I think you'd be hard pressed to prove adding a hardware superstore chain to a small town would actually help the local Ace Hardware. Im not sure I see the logic behind "If there were no Lowe's, they probably wouldn't have gone to Ace, they would have just done without"... if they had decided to go out to Lowes to buy something, I dont see why its safe to assume they wouldn't have gone to Ace had Lowes not been there. And certainly there are many times when someone goes to Lowes who would ahve otherwise spent their money at the local mom and pop.

But, I agree with you in general, we cannot coddle certain businesses at the expense of others. It wouldn't be fair to the big stores OR the consumers (end result... higher prices and less competition). Stores and store owners who only think we must consider ways to control/choke this internet buying craze by legal means are mistaken, internet sales are here to stay. Look at the drastic rise in internet purchases every year at xmas time (when they really pay attn to these sorts of things), look at all the other industries out there embracing this new medium by which to reach customers, just look at the potential market expansions created by the internet... and you'll see its the path many companies will be walking if they wish to survive and be succesful in the future.

 

[CBFryman2 5,000+ posts]

The thing about local shops and how stupid some can be is, all it takes to get an install to be "good" for the ignorant customer is the ability to screw a sub into a box, putting a co-axik and a door, installing a head unit, and know how to hook an amp up. Customers will beleive what you tell them if you have a fancy show room and their cousin's friend 3 times removed heard that some guy got a loud system from you.

In a city where you have decent competition a shop like that wont last that long. In a city like where I live a shop like that is 10+ years running and not showing signs of business dieing down any time soon.

You may say all of this internet stuff is hurting Locals but Local shops arent having any problems. They charge $60+ an hour to do work no more complicated than a kid with down syndrome and a screwdriver could do and they are making 10% + profit on everything they sell. One of the local audio shops does home installations and charges over $80 an hour to come to yourhouse and do a standard installation of some prebuilt 5.1 dolby set up. They are not hurting.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I think you'd be hard pressed to prove adding a hardware superstore chain to a small town would actually help the local Ace Hardware. Im not sure I see the logic behind "If there were no Lowe's, they probably wouldn't have gone to Ace, they would have just done without"... if they had decided to go out to Lowes to buy something, I dont see why its safe to assume they wouldn't have gone to Ace had Lowes not been there. And certainly there are many times when someone goes to Lowes who would ahve otherwise spent their money at the local mom and pop.

Here's my logic. The local Ace hardware doesn't sell many of the same items we do. For instance, Lowe's doesn't sell ball bearings, screws by the lb, and many other specialty pieces. They can also make screen windows whereas we have to order them and 95% of the time they end up damaged. My comment is based on the fact that when we reccomend Ace, 80% of the people have neither heard or it, nor know where it is located. I assume they would either do without or drive to another big box chain. By reccomending the mom-and-pop, we are giving them business are we not.

Also, Ace was in our town longer than Lowe's. Many customers said, I am glad I don't have to go to Lowe's/HD 45 minutes away in Nashville, now I can go to Lowe's here. Ace was already there.

Why didn't they shop at Ace rather than driving 45 minutes to Lowe's? Well, as I mentioned we don't sell the same products or the customer would rather shop at a big box than a small store. Personally, if I need help, I go to a mom-and-pop, if I don't want to be bothered I go to a big box or the internet.

 

[Railrocker 10+ year member]

Ok I understand local shops have to make their money. I enjoy going to local shops and discussing car audio with them. But what are consumers supposed to do when they can get it cheaper somwhere else? Just pay the extra 60% because we really like the guy who owns the shop? That doesnt make any sense. Whats he going to do for me.

Its like walmart, I absoulutly fuggin despise them cause they have ran two good grocery stores out of our town but I still shop there. Why? Because it makes better sense for my family thats why.

Im sorry this is the way large corporations and the internet has made small business in this country but the shops that stay open are going to have to start doing something creative for marketing.

I think they were just used to being the only way to buy equip. so they quit trying

to sell. I know there are good shops out there but the ones around here will bold face lie to you about a product. Most of the guys in there are college kids looking for a part time job and know nothing about car audio. I try to talk to the installer but hes always busy.

Just my .02

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

The thing about local shops and how stupid some can be is, all it takes to get an install to be "good" for the ignorant customer is the ability to screw a sub into a box, putting a co-axik and a door, installing a head unit, and know how to hook an amp up. Customers will beleive what you tell them if you have a fancy show room and their cousin's friend 3 times removed heard that some guy got a loud system from you.
In a city where you have decent competition a shop like that wont last that long. In a city like where I live a shop like that is 10+ years running and not showing signs of business dieing down any time soon.

You may say all of this internet stuff is hurting Locals but Local shops arent having any problems. They charge $60+ an hour to do work no more complicated than a kid with down syndrome and a screwdriver could do and they are making 10% + profit on everything they sell. One of the local audio shops does home installations and charges over $80 an hour to come to yourhouse and do a standard installation of some prebuilt 5.1 dolby set up. They are not hurting.

The internet is just exposing the massive markups on electronics.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

If you have customers that have never heard of Ace Hardware I'd wager those customers do not own a TV. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

Especially during football season ~ those ads with John Madden are on every 12 minutes seemingly....

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Ok I understand local shops have to make their money. I enjoy going to local shops and discussing car audio with them. But what are consumers supposed to do when they can get it cheaper somwhere else? Just pay the extra 60% because we really like the guy who owns the shop? That doesnt make any sense. Whats he going to do for me.Its like walmart, I absoulutly fuggin despise them cause they have ran two good grocery stores out of our town but I still shop there. Why? Because it makes better sense for my family thats why.

Im sorry this is the way large corporations and the internet has made small business in this country put the shops that stay open are going to have to start doing something creative for marketing.

I think they were just used to being the only way to buy equip. so they quit trying

to sell. I know there are good shops out there but the ones around here will bold face lie to you about a product. Most of the guys in there are college kids looking for a part time job and know nothing about car audio. I try to talk to the installer but hes always busy.

Just my .02

I have heard many arguments about how Wal-Marts driving down prices improves the economy as a whole. Think about how expensive things were before Wal-Mart. I don't shop there often because it is too crowded for my tastes but still. I am glad wal-mart exists to keep everyone's prices low.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

If you have customers that have never heard of Ace Hardware I'd wager those customers do not own a TV. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif
Especially during football season ~ those ads with John Madden are on every 12 minutes seemingly....

I think they have heard of it. They didn't know where it was, not that it is hidden or anything but it is on the non-big-box side of town. They zoned against big-boxes.

 

[Railrocker 10+ year member]

I have heard many arguments about how Wal-Marts driving down prices improves the economy as a whole. Think about how expensive things were before Wal-Mart. I don't shop there often because it is too crowded for my tastes but still. I am glad wal-mart exists to keep everyone's prices low.

I agree it makes sense for the consumer but do you know that walmart has meetings in their stores specifically designed to run other businesses out. That just aint right lol

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I agree it makes sense for the consumer but do you know that walmart has meetings in their stores specifically designed to run other businesses out. That just aint right lol

We meet everyday about trying to run home depot out of business. How we can be more productive, better customer service, lower our prices and our costs, etc, etc. We are competing with HD, not holding thier hand.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

I agree it makes sense for the consumer but do you know that walmart has meetings in their stores specifically designed to run other businesses out. That just aint right lol

Domino's Pizza has meetings on how to demolish Papa John's and Pizza Hut into nothingness.

Most long-lived car dealerships have meetings regarding how to eliminate X, Y, and Z competition.

Wal-Mart has nowhere near a monopoly on meetings such as that //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[ga12r 10+ year member]

The internet is just exposing the massive markups on electronics.

I am intersteed to know what you are calling a massive markup? What markup do you consider to much, or a rip off? I enjoy hearing what you guys have to say, It allows me to give my customer better answers/service.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I am intersteed to know what you are calling a massive markup? What markup do you consider to much, or a rip off? I enjoy hearing what you guys have to say, It allows me to give my customer better answers/service.

I would say 40% is a massive markup. Ironically, many of the products we sell are around that range.

I would expect to see a 20% markup, depending on the product. I expect a higher markup on supplies, but a lower markup on drivers, amps, etc.

But sometimes internet sells for 1/2 the price. That means there is atleast a 60% markup.

 

[sundownz Pro Seller]

I would consider 40% to be a low markup at the retail level. Alot of wholesale products that I am familiar with (car and house keys for instance) receive a 100 - 500% markup at the retail level. Retail stores have alot of overhead to pay for, so they generally have higher markup than the wholesaler, in my fields of experience anyway.

 

[ga12r 10+ year member]

I would say 40% is a massive markup. Ironically, many of the products we sell are around that range.
I would expect to see a 20% markup, depending on the product. I expect a higher markup on supplies, but a lower markup on drivers, amps, etc.

But sometimes internet sells for 1/2 the price. That means there is atleast a 60% markup.

20% and lower on drivers amps etc would shut us down in a few months.