damn it! i went to a car audio shop today, in so. cali, to ask about installing 3-way components in my doors. he told me how it would be nearly impossible or at least very difficult and suggested i buy some mb quarts. me, wanting a system asap, decided ok, y not, lets check it out. also, not knowing anything about mb quarts, took his advice and got some POS DSC216 speakers in my front. the whole time we were talking, i was speaking in terms of focal utopias, and MB Quart Q's. i figured those were large and hard to install, so the DSC's were the next best thing. got them in, and heard it...thought they were a bit better than stock, but less than what i had anticipated. turns out, when i get home, the DSC's are Quart's crappiest model that sells for 85 bucks on Ebay. im gonna go yell at the guy tomrorow. if he doesnt offer me some sort of apology and refund of some sort, i will post the name of the shop and to the best of my abilities, bring the downfall of his business. moral of today, dont buy things impulsively.

G35S 6MT
Technosquare ECU
350Z Springs & Struts
6-wire ground kit

 

You said they sell for 85 bucks on e-bay, hoe much did you buy them for?

 

i believe 150. im going to buy a set off ebay to return to the shop. anyone know if the its safe to get the speakers online?

G35S 6MT
Technosquare ECU
350Z Springs & Struts
6-wire ground kit

 

i believe that the retail price of the dsc216s are in fact 150. by purchasing them at a retail store, you are going to pay more than if you bought them online. i still don't understand how the shop screwed you over. unless they specifically told you that the qsds wouldn't fit in your car. but why would they try to sell you a cheaper item...

 

There's a difference between a retail markup and a gouging $65 markup on an $85 product. I usually expect up to 15% at a reseller, but that profit margin (76%!!) is somewhat embarassing for the shop.

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

Um retail audio has at least a 100% markup on it. No surprise there. And buying off ebay will not get you a warranty, since you're not buying from an authorized dealer. Focal Utopia 165W's run around $1100 in stores, but you can get them on ebay for around $510.

I think you need to realize that companies are out there to make money. And pretty much ALL products sold at retail outlets are going to be at list or msrp price.

-------------------------------------------
Ivory Pearl/Graphite coupe
Clear corners-intake-exhaust

*coming soon*
Focal Polykevlar Powers, PG Titanium amps, PG Titanium subs

 

I agree with that. There aren't too many retail markets where the markup isn't at least 100%. Car audio is definitely no different. When they sell stuff 50% off they still at least break even.


Russ

Black w/willow, 6MT Coupe, nav, aero, V1, & TVs all up in the headrests.
Jax, FL

 

Jesus tapdancing Christ... If everyone's marking up 100%, then I don't think they realize that eventually (HOPEFULLY), a sensible competitor will come into the marketplace and put them all out of business. Has no one heard of arbitrage here? I refuse to believe that overhead, insurance, and sales markups can equal 100%. Is the audio industry just extra good at screwing people over? Is their customer base just that mentally deficient?
You get a manufacturer warranty whether or not you buy from an audio store, but even for their "additional" warranty, you have to pay over MSRP. What gives here? I have more than a friend or two in the reatil industry, and their profit margins border on razor-thin on some electronics items. Have the laws of economics completely failed us?

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

PS- Ebay I don't care about. Not authorized reatailers... well, some are, but you know what I mean. Look at mysimon.com, etc. and you can find prices much closer to acquisition costs. Why would people not do this?

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

yea! People get screwed over all the time! I have a place that does a really nice job! I got some custom boxes done! REAL NICE! Its called Creative Audio(tell him that Edward with a G35 sedan sent you there and he might give you a good deal) They are great ppl i think! THey do import cars!!

 

so uhh, where is this place ur talking about g35lin?

and as for the shop i went to, they are not like al and eds or circuit city. its a small shop. they told me they are an authorized dealer, and thus have the best prices i will be able to find on MB quart products. on ebay, the item i saw, is selling for no more than 100 bucks and they also are an authorized dealer for MB quart. so warranty and all.
i think mostly i was pissed that the SOB would disrespect me and IMO "look down on me". how dare he put that kind of crap in my G. and as if just cause im young (not thaaat young) all i care about is loud booming bass. i freakin listen to mozart and his buds 75 percent of the time for crying out loud.

G35S 6MT
Technosquare ECU
350Z Springs & Struts
6-wire ground kit

 

You all make me laugh. I have been in the audio video business for 25+ years. No-one, repeat NO-One makes 100% mark up. The very most ANYONE makes is 40% max (unless it is big name car speakers then mark up is 50%) if the item is sold at full retail. When I say everyone- that means Best Buy, Circuit City and all the local specialty shops. Now video is another story. Any item that has to deal with video, mark up is 5% to maybe 15%. It is a tough business.
99% of the manufacturers don't sell via the internet unless it is Crutchfield, Best Buy or Circuit. Yet you see everything on the net at vast deals. Alot of that is factory seconds and refurbs. You will NEVER know if what you bought is a refurb or second. If you buy through the internet via an unauthorized dealer, the MFG can and will deny you warranty coverage. Most internet sites state they are authorized, but 99% of that is BS. Take a minute to call the MFG and ask if internet site XYZ is authorized to sell their product. I my business I hear of one of our cleints getting screwed by internet "deals" every week. Last week a guy said he could get 2 plasma TV's for less than I paid for them. I said go ahead. He gave an internet site his credit card number and authorized them to charge over $ 12,000.00 for what he thought were plasma TV's. What he got were 2 pictures of plasma TV's. I went to the site and the wording was tricky, but he got what they advertised. Again that is worse case scenareo, and I see it all the time. Please, just be careful.

Also, you went to a dealer for advice and recomendation. He needs to make a fair profit so that he can be in business and hopefully advise you again.

If the speakers retail for $150, then actual dealer cost is $80 to $85 plus inbound freight. If you paid $150 did he install them free? If so, you got a fair deal, and Quarts are good speakers. Price means nothing in speakers. Some cheaper speakers sound better than the more expensive ones. You DID listen before you bought. . . right??

On big name car speakers (Infinity, Polk, Alpine, Pioneer, Kemwood) mark up is 50%. So if it has a MSRP of $150, cost is $75. Give the retailer a "fair" profit; that item could be bought for $116.00.

Again, 100% mark up is simply BS!!!

BillR

 

Thank God... Sounded like price-fixing in the audio industry, which a) is illegal, b) completely not possible on such a ridiculously large scale. Hooray for the laws of economics.

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

creative audio
ask for Ryan Uchida
15421 Carmenita Rd. Unit P
Santa Fe Springs, Ca 90670
562-623-0777

 

actually, the 150 did not include installation...which was freakin so simple a 15 year old could have dont it. he charged me 200 for the speakers and install. and i will take your advice and check if this place i found is an authorized dealer.

G35S 6MT
Technosquare ECU
350Z Springs & Struts
6-wire ground kit