I think one of the better ways of saying it is this:

Car audio salesman are just like car salesman. You never really can trust them and they may even know less about what your bying then you do.

Id much prefer talk to the "installer" out back in the garage then the goofy "knit wit know it all" trying to sell me the equipement at, what usually is, a rip off price here in Canada.

Someone hit it right on the head earlyer in the thread, I can install all my stuff myself and I cant stand talking with the guys at most shops... I'll go for the lowest price.

If I knew nothing and couldnt do my own stuff, then I kick around the local shop and learn all sorts of things that dealers/selesman will try and feed me to get me to buy there stuff over other shops stuff.

**I do know not all salesman are like example above. However, I can safely say that there are a lot.

 

Dereck, the best advice I have for you is to pay attention to how the business side of FS runs. This is the same thing that I did for 8 years before I went and started my own store. NOw for AAAAAAA - I too understand what you say, there are way too many bonehead salespeople in this industry and even more at the other end of a computer or phone line. But chances are that at a specialty store, you will find the good knowledgeable salesperson. The day that you get burned by an e-tailer is the day that you will search out a good specialty shop. Sometimes the best price is not the best deal.

 

Unlikely, since usually the savings justify simply bying another one. The price gap is just that huge.

 

Very likely, you as the consumer only hear about it now and then. I as the retailer hear about it every other day.

 

Not to mention that information on how to install, what to buy how to wire and such is much more commenly availble on the net, through forums,FAQS ect, then it use to be.

The info and knowledge of installers isn't only limited to installers and there shop anymore. Now any joe that has internet can look up and get pretty much all the info he wants from experts on forums like this one.

You can get the UNBIASED** info and tips for free here isntead AND then go some place else to get the low price..all within a few clicks (And of course with the use of trusty old comon sens).

Heck you can even get free trouble shooting and box design. And the info here is more then likely going to be right..if someone makes a mistake (like we often see), then someone more knowledgeble will most likely chime in with the correction. thats something you wont see in a shop, whatever the guy says, is what he beleives and thats that..if you dont know any better you will beleive blindely to.

**Unbiased in the way that the people here have nothing to gain by helping you.

 

Close but no banana, I as a dealer am glad to help out anyone who comes in my door. I also repsond regularily on a couple of forums to those that need information and advice, just like you mentioned above. It all comes down to how the shop is owned and managed, and I'm proud to say I have a pretty good crew working for me. Sometimes they don't have all the answers, but I am only a phone call or e-mail away. There are some very good shops in this industry, maybe few and far betwee, but nonetheless, they are there.

 

I'm pretty sure I know the shop you went to, and I've gone in there myself many times, and have a good feel for the staff. yes, they will "turn away business" if the customer is being too demanding, and they will always give you the lowest price they can. From their point of view, if you're taking a "I'm in this for the best I can get, and I don't care about your business" stance, then you're more likely to try to screw them later on something, and they don't need that hassle. Yes, they could make money from repeat business, but they could also lose even more money because a customer is trying to get all they can get for free, or screw them on warranties etc. If they could go lower, than they would, but if they're going to lose money over the deal, then they can't do it. did you ask if they had a car they could loan you while they did your install? a fair number of shops do, and if it's the one I'm thinking of; I know that people I've talked to who've dealt with them have gotten a loaner from them while their install was being done.

Again, if it's the shop I'm thinking you went to, I've never had bad service from them, and always found them helpful, IF the customer is willing to be helped, and to help them out. I've seen them take over $200 off of the price of a system for a friend of mine, but their markup on JL isn't that much, because they have to compete with other retailers, and e-tailers, so if they can't give you the price, they can't give it to you.

 

Here is my take on e-tailers:

E-tailers sell product.

Stores sell an experience.

For those of you that like to take exotic vacations...think about what you are buying.

I buy my products from people.

Adam

 

dereck for one i am a very pro shop canadian person and i will pay more money for somethingif im supporting my local economy
this is something that alot of people don't seem to get or understand
alot of people shop on price
i have been running a sucessfull business which i started on my own and have run on my own for 20 years now
what i don't like about f.s and b.b. as i said is they get back door deals and then give the **** away for nothing
this is the same thing alot of online stores will do as well
this make me look bad as well as it erodes the value of the product
you may not see it that way but i do
as i said kenwood cd players for $99
as in for not competing you can try that but i would say most of your bread and butter is with the entry level stuff
then when you sell it to somebody for $169 and then you customer see it for $99 you don't think that your customer is not going to be a little erked
as a retailer you can try and nuture a different market but customers will always check prices and compare no mater what kind of service you provide
i had a guy who works at a major car dealer that buys lots of radio's for customers
he came in after boxing day with a radio for me to put in guess where he bought it not from me
he drove 3/4 of an hour to buy a mp3 radio 149 at guess where f.s. you know why i charge more than $150 and he knew it
even though my service is good enough to send all his customers too
as in anything on the other side of the fence you have a different view and few understand it