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

 

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.

 

is this for sure?

 

I was told by another industry rep/forum member today and Yes i confirmed it today with Alpine. It was official yesterday.

 

Its not like Alpine hasn't been in Best Buy for a couple of years.
Its only a matter of time til it hit the Future Shops.
I mean BB owns FS anyways.

 

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.

 

^ 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

 

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.