Mobile Dynamics
01-16-2009, 03:43 PM
#11
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Posts: 313
The internet and big box killed what the industry used to be. Now business is getting back to how it was way back when.. small-er sized specialist shops.
Too many DIY posts on every automotive forum with too many threads about " how do I hook up my radio" and the all too common "I bought this harness off the internet and I don't know wha these 3 wires are for..etc." I see way too many firehazards on wheels at my current job. Thus far in the remote starter season I've had to repair 13 jobs done by DIY'ers or shops that have no business touching car starters.
Too many DIY posts on every automotive forum with too many threads about " how do I hook up my radio" and the all too common "I bought this harness off the internet and I don't know wha these 3 wires are for..etc." I see way too many firehazards on wheels at my current job. Thus far in the remote starter season I've had to repair 13 jobs done by DIY'ers or shops that have no business touching car starters.
Why is this one of the ONLY industries to give away what we know for nothing, and expect things to be okay ??
I truly think that this year will be the year that all the small "crap" shops...and guys that dont really focus on the Car Audio industry will go away....too many shops got complaicent in their daily businesses.....and lost focus on what it takes to be successful.
I had a very good year in business last year, when a lot of reps were complaining about biz being down....but i focussed on my dealers, and what the dealers needed to do to keep people coming in the doors.
The guys that did that well...had the best results.....period !!
The guys that did the same old same old....had the same old results or worse.
The industry needs a good kick in the ***....to give us ALL a reality check...and make us get back to doing what we did 6-10 years ago, when this was a good gig to make money in.
01-16-2009, 06:14 PM
#12
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Big Box have no respect nor idea on how Car Audio or Service work......Race to Zereo.......hmmmmmmmmmmm makes you wonder why Panasonic got out of the Mobile Audio gig huh???
01-16-2009, 06:44 PM
#13
I know a few shops that have had record best years and many others that are on life support. The successful shops are specialized and focused as to what they carry. Most will carry 1 big name (Pioneer, alpine, Kenwood, Eclipse) and a few lesser known lines to aoid competing directly with the big box stores. The industry as a whole isn't dying, The market is getting smaller, but car audio is going back to it's roots more and more with the small independant specialty shops coming out ahead.
01-16-2009, 09:05 PM
#14
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I am glad to see it turn that way.......Big Box should have help but like I said.....Race to Zereo
01-17-2009, 11:13 AM
#15
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^ seems to be your favourite phrase...
01-17-2009, 12:38 PM
#16
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Isn't that what happened?
Circuit City just fell because of it..........Guess they won huh? They had the lowest prices.....so focused on moving boxes they forgot that they were in it for money. Guess the banks didn't forget huh?
Circuit City just fell because of it..........Guess they won huh? They had the lowest prices.....so focused on moving boxes they forgot that they were in it for money. Guess the banks didn't forget huh?
01-17-2009, 01:41 PM
#17
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time to get rid of the FREE install, or install included.....
for some of these outfits PROFIT is a dirty word.....how about PROFIT or CLOSE !! ??
On the Custom Home side.....we charge for programming, setup and install...but for some reason we want to give away our labour on Car Audio.....dumb, dumb, dumb !!
...cant wait until the BIG BOX guys start doing Custom Home...and start giving FREE installs on that too....dont think its a reality ? If you said the same thing 10 years ago about Car Audio....likely you would have said no way too...!
for some of these outfits PROFIT is a dirty word.....how about PROFIT or CLOSE !! ??
On the Custom Home side.....we charge for programming, setup and install...but for some reason we want to give away our labour on Car Audio.....dumb, dumb, dumb !!
...cant wait until the BIG BOX guys start doing Custom Home...and start giving FREE installs on that too....dont think its a reality ? If you said the same thing 10 years ago about Car Audio....likely you would have said no way too...!
01-17-2009, 07:42 PM
#18
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I think it all went to hell about seven years ago......if my memory is working right. Free install on Alarms for 199.00......I remember when a "Basic" alarm labour was 110.00 for what came in the box, we use to charge for S/K, L/F, PDL, H/P, T/P, T/R etc...... we use to bill out 250.00 labour for a 'basic alarm, starter kill, light flash and keyless, the alarm itself was extra..............NOW a customer comes in and gets the alarm, install, lights, kill, keyless for 280.00 hmmmmmmmmmmmmm yeah smart move!!!!!!
break down labour only and you are looking at a 70 short come........WOW, geeeeeeeeee then the Boyz wonder why they can't get staff that won't mess up a car in three weeks of "training"
break down labour only and you are looking at a 70 short come........WOW, geeeeeeeeee then the Boyz wonder why they can't get staff that won't mess up a car in three weeks of "training"
01-18-2009, 11:06 AM
#19
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IIRC it wasn't the Big Box that introduced the free install. In the Vancouver area it was Beamriders and A&B. Both of these retailers have now gotten exactly what they deserve - A&B is gone and BR is back down to a single hole.
Hell, FS - that evil big box that I believe YOU still work for RAISED their install rates this year..
I have a friend doing very well with an independent shop in spite of an evil big box being in his back yard. A good dealer will do well, a dealer gets what they deserve..
Hell, FS - that evil big box that I believe YOU still work for RAISED their install rates this year..
I have a friend doing very well with an independent shop in spite of an evil big box being in his back yard. A good dealer will do well, a dealer gets what they deserve..
01-18-2009, 02:50 PM
#20
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Yup, here we go again.......Yes I work for FS like you do as well last I heard or did that change, again.
Yup FS rasied there rates.....BUT if you "read" my post I said "I think it all went to hell about seven years ago"...............hmmmmmmm
YOU should know that there have been some "changes" with FS and BBY and now we are seeing those changes bleed down. As far as who started the "free installs" that really be anyone guess, what I was trying to say is that why does a Big Box compete with a indy?? FS has Nation wide coverage, Beam Riders do not, if FS is suppose to be better, then why lower yourself down to the gutter??? We should have NEVER played that game, BeamRiders and AB may have gotten what they deseve but it cost the Big boxes way to much in the end as well, no more car shows, no more trips, no more perks......You think Rob is going to build another car this year for FS???? I think not!!!!
Yup FS rasied there rates.....BUT if you "read" my post I said "I think it all went to hell about seven years ago"...............hmmmmmmm
YOU should know that there have been some "changes" with FS and BBY and now we are seeing those changes bleed down. As far as who started the "free installs" that really be anyone guess, what I was trying to say is that why does a Big Box compete with a indy?? FS has Nation wide coverage, Beam Riders do not, if FS is suppose to be better, then why lower yourself down to the gutter??? We should have NEVER played that game, BeamRiders and AB may have gotten what they deseve but it cost the Big boxes way to much in the end as well, no more car shows, no more trips, no more perks......You think Rob is going to build another car this year for FS???? I think not!!!!
