Alpine in FutureShop
03-20-2009, 03:54 PM
#1
500 Watt CAFz'r
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 923
Alpine in FutureShop
I heard and then prayed it wasn't true but it is 
For 8 years I guess Future Shop has been after Alpine and due to weak sales in the East they finally caved and allowed Futureshop the line.
Whats this mean for current dealers and independants in the current economy? discuss
For 8 years I guess Future Shop has been after Alpine and due to weak sales in the East they finally caved and allowed Futureshop the line.
Whats this mean for current dealers and independants in the current economy? discuss
03-20-2009, 04:18 PM
#2
I am sure the local shop here who sells it is not going to be any too happy, nor the install shop that they refer to as it is going to represent a drop in business for the both of them. For FS it is going to be the "new and best" line they have and this should mean they lose focus on the lines that they sell against me, that is a good thing for my store. Will it prove to be another Eclipse fiasco, if they treat the line the same way, definitely. I am still dealing with the local FS screwing their customers over on warranty of Eclipse equipment. Their customer has become my customer over it though.
03-20-2009, 05:14 PM
#4
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I was told by another industry rep/forum member today and Yes i confirmed it today with Alpine. It was official yesterday.
03-20-2009, 07:12 PM
#5
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its for sure....fs has been sku'ed fpr alpine for years....this should come as no surprize....i have sold alpine for 15 years and the line is as weak as its ever been and i see this as a desperation move on alpines part to move boxes becuase the line is a far cry from the likes of clarion and kenwood....alpine was our least profitable hed unit line......visions and fs can fighjt it out over 20 point deals for all i care....we will sit back and make 45 points on kenwood.......
03-22-2009, 01:26 AM
#7
Alpine is junk! It has a very high percentage of death. We installed a 505 today that wouldn't respond. We had to send the customer back to Visions where he got it on staff discount for cost plus...!
They should just let the name die.
They should just let the name die.
03-23-2009, 03:10 PM
#8
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Posts: 16,855
^ That's pretty harsh, no? I don't think there is a brand I have ever sold or installed that did not have the occasional DOA product 
This shouldn't mean squat for the indy shop carrying Alpine. Visions, A&B, AVU, and Best Buy have all sold Alpine for years. I see lots of indys carrying Pioneer, JVC, Sony, Clarion and FS has all of those too.
REally, what's FS probably going to do - bring in 3 or 4 headunits, the cheapest video deck, two amps, and entry speakers and subs? If an indy is surviving on this product, well then.....
Or be smart like Dave and Rob - focus on lines you don't have to compete on. A little tough with head units but still obviously possible.
Plus - as you all well know, those FS clowns can't sell anyway
This shouldn't mean squat for the indy shop carrying Alpine. Visions, A&B, AVU, and Best Buy have all sold Alpine for years. I see lots of indys carrying Pioneer, JVC, Sony, Clarion and FS has all of those too.
REally, what's FS probably going to do - bring in 3 or 4 headunits, the cheapest video deck, two amps, and entry speakers and subs? If an indy is surviving on this product, well then.....
Or be smart like Dave and Rob - focus on lines you don't have to compete on. A little tough with head units but still obviously possible.
Plus - as you all well know, those FS clowns can't sell anyway
03-23-2009, 10:56 PM
#9
Alpine in the last 3 years has been steadlily spiraling into flea market territory anyways. Continuously cutting featers, cutting quality on parts. Making everything an add-on in a desperate attempt to increase company profits. The shop I work at's return rate in the last 2 years has shot up with alpine...I would not be too suprised if Alpine files for bankruptcy protection since something like 75% of the companies total sales lies with car manufacturers for producing OEM equipment and tiny profit margins. Sales dumped over 30% with there being 30% less new cars being built.
03-24-2009, 12:24 PM
#10
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ive sold it for years and cant say that it has a huge breakdown rate.....but having said that......the navigation disaster with the "dock n roll" was laffable....and the 9887 is still the best deck on the planet for under 500........our biggest issue is with our rep...........i want tim turnbull back
