First things first I think Eclipse needed to do something like this. If you remember a few years ago Fujitsu Ten the parent company of Eclipse filed for chapter 11 (bankruptcy protection from their creditors) and this was probably a last resort to save the company. That is just my opinion.
The reason that most people say that "Big box" stores like Future shop, Best buy and so on are "s" is because they are able to buy HUGE volumes from manufacturers so they get better pricing first off. They also rely on sheer volume in alot of cases, buy a deck for $100 and sell it for $109. Most independants like myself can't even buy that same deck for the price that they are retailing it for. This type of strategy works when you sell volume like they do.
I guess there are a few reasons people get upset over this kind of thing, like shops that are Eclipse dealers currently and had to do fairly substantle buy ins to open an account and now FS because of the buying power it has, can undercut any price that dealer has. Also for some city independant stores who rely heavily on walk in customers for their business, may see a decrease in traffic. I myself am kind of sad to see it because Eclipse was always one of the more niche lines in the industry.

I guess those are some reasons that people say that FS is a "". Myself, I could really care less what FS does cause the lines I carry are not big enough to go into FS, and the stores around me do not have install bays, so bring on the deck installs!!!! [img]graemlins/beer.gif[/img]

 

Yup. I love it...

I've wanted to try an Eclipse HU for a while, now I'll be able to get one for a fairly good price. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

 

If it's a good product I don't care who sells it as long as you get it for a fair price and the service and warranty are reasonable. Lots of big retailers sell all kinds of high end stuff, if you can buy a $10,000.00 plasma from them why not a $1000.00 HU. If you are into sound competitions and want to support that end of the industry then buy from the guys who sponsor them. I don't compete, so for me price and warranty are paramount.

 

was fujitsu ten ever good??

 

You can cut FS up all day long, but they have AMAZING warranty plans that are not very expensive at all, and they don't have smart staff. The other day I took a pair of speakers glued the woofer to the VC and took them back and said they seized, walked in showed the lady, she comes back with a new set in the box and that is that.

Another experience I had when I first got into car audio I had my snow brush in my trunk, knocked a hole through my RF woofer, took it back, they realized it was physical damage and still gave me a new one no hassle. Show me a local dealer that will do this for you?

I'd never do this to a dealer because they are usually honest people, but the large stores they don't care, they'll send you on your way with a new piece of $300 kit just to see you come back.

 

^^^I concur.

Also its not really a commentary on the employee's intelligence, but more on the fact that they get paid 12/hr to work there, and have no vested interests, as salespeople, generally.

FS or BB isnt going to fire someone for making an exchange, if they follow store procedure, so why would a 21 yr old kid at FS part time go through the trouble of dealing with you when you're obviously a scumbag and not worth the effort.

On the other hand, an independant is trying to put food on the table and his/her only means of profit and thus of money in hand are through sales, so exchanging a bogus warranty item that will end up costing the shop money is a little different when your kid's lunch depends on it.

Grow up.

 

OH.... and as far as Eclipse goes.

If you are with a company in business,strictly operating it as a BUSINESS and not being really involved with the HOBBY side of the business... your main goal is to make money.

Eclipse will get more $$$ from their FS/BB contracts or whatever than they will ever get in ten lifetimes from independants, and whether that is right or wrong ethically or conscience-wise, is unfortunately besides the point.

Obviously there are exceptions, but the bottom line is the bottom line, and the 'niche' company that gets 10 million in sales from 1 big box is doing business 'better', in a strictly technical sense, than the 'niche' brand that has to supply and service 150 independant stores to get the same amount in sales.

Just the way our world works, money wise, like it or not....personally I do NOT like it, but I do recognize it and you're really forced to accept it, nowadays.

Like the poster 'veeman' says above, if you are into this hobby as a HOBBY...then by all means. But the fact is that the 'average' car audio customer, an 18-24 year old single male with plenty of disposable income and no real interest in anything, hobby wise, but a nice sounding car and ease of purchase and use, will always wander into the big box store, because right off the bat it is seen as a 'better deal' for the customer, right or wrong.

There is a reason FS has tht whole 'same day install' type deal (at least the one by my house does)....and also a reason that MOST of their install areas dont do any sort of custom work...it is the McDonalds-ization of the hobby, period.

 

um when are they comming to FS,i just checked there site and i didn't see any Eclipse [img]graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]