Buying audio online from the USA -- mistake?
12-14-2003, 09:45 AM
#52
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 278
Tyler, Im not sure on that, but back when I worked at a local shop here, there was considerable mark up on car audio and accessories. Certain brands had more than others, but there is enough for a shop to make a decent profit. Im not saying that everyone should buy online or what ever, I totally believe that you should buy locally and support the scene in your area, but when you can find a significant deal, such as I did when I bought my JL 653 components, which were listed at $1099 here, and I bought them off a dealer in California for $510 w/ shipping (Canadaian) that would say it all as to why we buy online wouldnt you???
The guy that I deal with is a good friend of mine and is also the Assistant Manager of the shop I purchaced the mainstay of my gear, and he out right told me that there was no way he could even try to match that price even at his cost.
I know dealers up here have to pass on the buck into their pricing so they can cover duty, shipping,taxes and labor costs, but like I said if you can get a better deal obviously you will pay less, before you pay more. Everyone here would do that, and you cant tell me that you wouldnt.
The guy that I deal with is a good friend of mine and is also the Assistant Manager of the shop I purchaced the mainstay of my gear, and he out right told me that there was no way he could even try to match that price even at his cost.
I know dealers up here have to pass on the buck into their pricing so they can cover duty, shipping,taxes and labor costs, but like I said if you can get a better deal obviously you will pay less, before you pay more. Everyone here would do that, and you cant tell me that you wouldnt.
12-14-2003, 10:05 AM
#53
Yankee
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 385
Originally posted by Orion_95:
i can tell you first hand. There is not alot of markup in car audio, or most electronics for that matter anymore.
i can tell you first hand. There is not alot of markup in car audio, or most electronics for that matter anymore.
Even if the markup is there, it doesn't bother me(well, I get fabulous prices from them anyway, but when I first started going there, I was paying full price like everybody else), because they do have expenses, and keeping inventory can be quite expensive. That sub that somebody buys today may have been on display for 4 months. The shop has already paid for it many months ago.
The online places have some serious advantages:
not keeping inventory(in many cases)
very low overhead compared to a brick and mortar
volume...it is much easier for ikesound to make $30 on a head unit, for example because they can sell maybe 50 of them a day. A small shop may not sell 50 decks in a week/month/or more. You have to make the margin that you can.
12-15-2003, 01:30 PM
#54
Guest
Posts: n/a
When I talk about problems, I mean warranty type stuff. I am not trying to force anyone to shop anywhere, I am just trying to let people know the risks. I was the first one on this thread to mention that internet may be risky, every other post up until mine was pro internet so I thought I would give an alternate viewpoint. For example on the product shipped from California with the 1 year warranty from the retailer.
1. Does the retailer do the actual service work, or do you send it to them and they send it to a repair depot (obviously not back to JL)
2. How much of a hurry are they going to be in to get service done, especially knowing you will never be able to go there and confront them face to face if they ignore you.
3. what happens to that product in 1 year and 1 month? You now have to track down your own repair shop (unauthorized of course, ince JL nor it's Canadian distributor will touch it) and pay out of pocket to have it fixed.
Yes there are deals to be had on the net, just be sure that you aren't shooting yourself in the foot later don the line.
I must be above Dukk, he is only a false audio god, I'm now the SUPREME AUDIO GOD, all bow before my greatness [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
1. Does the retailer do the actual service work, or do you send it to them and they send it to a repair depot (obviously not back to JL)
2. How much of a hurry are they going to be in to get service done, especially knowing you will never be able to go there and confront them face to face if they ignore you.
3. what happens to that product in 1 year and 1 month? You now have to track down your own repair shop (unauthorized of course, ince JL nor it's Canadian distributor will touch it) and pay out of pocket to have it fixed.
Yes there are deals to be had on the net, just be sure that you aren't shooting yourself in the foot later don the line.
I must be above Dukk, he is only a false audio god, I'm now the SUPREME AUDIO GOD, all bow before my greatness [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
12-15-2003, 07:01 PM
#59
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 276
Originally posted by Chadxton:
I guess I wasn't too explicit when I was posting as to why I never pay brokerage.
I live 20 minutes from the border, so what I do is have my stuff sent to a receiving/storage place and pick it up when it arrives. Then I declare it myself. Works beautifully. Sorry if people couldn't get why I don't pay more than taxes, haha. [img]smile.gif[/img]
I guess I wasn't too explicit when I was posting as to why I never pay brokerage.
I live 20 minutes from the border, so what I do is have my stuff sent to a receiving/storage place and pick it up when it arrives. Then I declare it myself. Works beautifully. Sorry if people couldn't get why I don't pay more than taxes, haha. [img]smile.gif[/img]
