Cursed US E-tailers
04-20-2006, 12:37 PM
#1
Cursed US E-tailers
Just cost me a Zapco, Focal and Eclipse deal. Not only did the guy come into my shop and spend an hour with me, he then went on line and bought everything out of the US for a fraction of the price that he could have bought it for here. Things in this industry need to change, like pronto. Either that or we small indipendents are also going to have to start using the same E-tailers as our warehouse. So a $1K profit margin is out the window to the e-tailer now. We get his install sure, and the customer is going to get hammered on install instead of the nice labour cap that I give a customer when they purchase through us. I reaaaaaaallllllly hope that something is wrong with his speakers or Zapco Ref1000.4, that would just make my day.
So what do you think the distributors of the respective lines are going to do for the guys who are building the line for them in a case like this? What can they do? Not much at all sorry to say. As much as I like my reps, it is not their fault, but something needs to change in order for the market to continue in Canada. This is the 4th customer this month that I have lost to the E-tailer in the US, all over price. They could care less about warranty etc. Total garbage. Now I have had to use them as well as my distributor could no longer get a speaker to warranty for my customer as it was discontinued. This led me to purchase my first set of speakers from IndoAudio so as to be able to provide a replacement set of speakers to my customer. I could not change to any other type or size of speaker, so options were limited. At the end of the day though, after all the shipping and etc, I see first hand at why people shop in the US market. The price is what matters the most to the people that work hard for their money.
Comments guys?
So what do you think the distributors of the respective lines are going to do for the guys who are building the line for them in a case like this? What can they do? Not much at all sorry to say. As much as I like my reps, it is not their fault, but something needs to change in order for the market to continue in Canada. This is the 4th customer this month that I have lost to the E-tailer in the US, all over price. They could care less about warranty etc. Total garbage. Now I have had to use them as well as my distributor could no longer get a speaker to warranty for my customer as it was discontinued. This led me to purchase my first set of speakers from IndoAudio so as to be able to provide a replacement set of speakers to my customer. I could not change to any other type or size of speaker, so options were limited. At the end of the day though, after all the shipping and etc, I see first hand at why people shop in the US market. The price is what matters the most to the people that work hard for their money.
Comments guys?
04-20-2006, 12:45 PM
#2
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 649
Thats why I work at future shop now.Yes! I sold out.
04-21-2006, 08:17 AM
#3
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,649
There's no way to 100% control this. But I know with us, we have developed strict conditions we want in place with our manufacturers to try and combat this sort of thing. And it has been pursued and a few times caught and strictly dealt with by the manufacturer. I don't think you can 100% eliminate it but depending on the brands you have in store, you may find things to be easier depending on who you deal with. All I can suggest is to inquire with your distributor as to the policies in place for this sort of thing and if they don't make you happy, time to switch brands to something else that causes you less headaches.
Last edited by TomK; 04-21-2006 at 08:20 AM.
04-22-2006, 09:19 PM
#4
I love when customers buy a peice on ebay then come in to get it installed and it doesn't even work. They'll always say "you sure it's hooked up right" or "maybe there's a switch..." Like we only do these for a living, so i don't know.
04-23-2006, 12:13 PM
#6
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 649
Originally Posted by Number 2
I love when customers buy a peice on ebay then come in to get it installed and it doesn't even work. They'll always say "you sure it's hooked up right" or "maybe there's a switch..." Like we only do these for a living, so i don't know.
04-23-2006, 02:51 PM
#7
I gotta love that every problem regardless of alarm, starter, audio, radar, etc can be customer diagnosed as "must be loose connection". How long did it take you to think of that Mr. Customer? I actually got to see a "Loose connection" problem. Bypass module harness came unplugged from the unit after the VW dealer did some ignition work on a vehicle.
04-23-2006, 05:29 PM
#8
Blame pioneer, sony, kicker, audiobahn, JVC etc. they're dumping a lot of product as year old demo's right now on ebay.
Pioneer is dropping a LOT of product, speakers, HUs amps, etc for pennies on the dollar on ebay right now
Pioneer is dropping a LOT of product, speakers, HUs amps, etc for pennies on the dollar on ebay right now
04-23-2006, 07:45 PM
#9
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 459
Every industry is dumping product right now. Clothes, computers, car stuff...
E-bay has proven to be a better solution to monetary returns than the regular liquidation guys.
The large liquidation guys pay $0.01 to $0.15. E-bay is about $0.5-$0.65 return on the dollar.
Liquidation is a great business to be in if you got hookups, liquid cash and a lot of *****.
E-bay has proven to be a better solution to monetary returns than the regular liquidation guys.
The large liquidation guys pay $0.01 to $0.15. E-bay is about $0.5-$0.65 return on the dollar.
Liquidation is a great business to be in if you got hookups, liquid cash and a lot of *****.
04-24-2006, 01:24 PM
#10
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,692
i think that you need to do something that sperates you from the internet store. Why would a consumer buy from you when it is available online
1) cause you offer him service to the products you sell
2) cause you give specific assistance specific to his vehicle
3) cause you will take care of all his problems if any occur
4) cause you will offer him a relationship that will benefit him in the future
and if that doesnt work...then it is him that has a problem. If you offer him the service and he doesnt want it....then he will have fun sending it back and forth for warranty and any other issues. you can't beat an intenet price. i dont think you lost this guy in the first place....you never had him to start with and you are upset about it.
1) cause you offer him service to the products you sell
2) cause you give specific assistance specific to his vehicle
3) cause you will take care of all his problems if any occur
4) cause you will offer him a relationship that will benefit him in the future
and if that doesnt work...then it is him that has a problem. If you offer him the service and he doesnt want it....then he will have fun sending it back and forth for warranty and any other issues. you can't beat an intenet price. i dont think you lost this guy in the first place....you never had him to start with and you are upset about it.
