United States Autosound Competition International

Novice Contributor Joined : 03 Jul 2007 Posts : 86

I know it has prolly happened to a few of you, but this is the first time its happened to us.

A while back, we became authorized dealers for...well, we will call em CompX (a well known 'good' brand). Well, we were meeting quota and doing pretty well w/ this brand. The our rep tried to set up up w/ all their wire/acc stuff. We already had a good supplier for wire and such so we declined.

About a month later, I was driving to walmart and noticed "CompX" banners in another local shops windows. I though...um...WTF?

We had our area locked...and now there is another shop 7 tenths of a mile away on the same road carrying one of your major brands.

CompX offer little to nothing to help, refuse to take back the BNIB inventory we have in stock. Then set up the other shop the SAME week they offered us their wiring/acc lines.

And since there is another shop right down the road selling the same stuff as us...we are having a hard time selling the product.

So...what would you do?

-Sell out of all the current CompX stuff at deep discount to get rid of it?

-Keep it on the shelf and sell at normal price...but have it take up space in the back where you could have your new/better brand...and at the same time have cost in the items that could be used for other purchases??

What are some more of the details? From what you have stated so far, I think I would dump the brand.

Keep it if you're still makin money off of it. Internet sales make it a little hard to sell from brick and mortar these days. Even if you are the ONLY local dealer.
_________________
John Roberts

Team Maxxsonics
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2007 Int. Pro 3rd place
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USACI Competitor Committee Rep for the Mid-South
501-276-0536

fornicate comp x and get a new brand
_________________
J. J

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2604492

FIRST DUAL ALTERNATOR COBALT SS/SC

Guest

dump it

unfortunately this is a problem cause by free enterprise.
we(the dealers want restricted lines) and the manufacture's executives who could care less about car audio just want to sell more so they look good with no regard for the long term effects it is having on our industry.
the manufactures do not care if it is sold online
the only thing they care about is sales volume
never believe anyone that says"we keep our product off the net"
a. because they can't
b. because it is their job to give you the snow job

if a dealer wants to have an exclusive line then have your own line produced.
you must have a considerable investment and do all of your own marketing. so the little guy gets the shaft again.
look a treo . they can sell it in thier store and know that they will never be undersold by the internet.

if anyone thinks that a manufacture cares about you then wake up. this is business and it stinks. you must never stop showing people that you can do it better and if you can't get a new job.

speaking of jobs.............hummm..... iam starting a new thread

Basic Contributor Joined : 20 Sep 2007 Posts : 19

We had the same happen to us only instead of the rep wanting to add wire and acc to us he wanted more volume so he added a store a few mile down the road in an area of where the most of our sales for that line came from. His excuse was he needed more volume in that area because of home office. now that our sales of that brand has almost gone away he is trying to threaten me to sell more of his line or they are going to pull it from me. I just giggled and asked for them to take back the product that I had in stock and they refused. They say want more support from the dealers but where is the suppert from the manufactures.

I am surprised that wal-mart isnt selling caskets. Dump it.
_________________
TEAM S.P.E.A.D.
1999 GMC YUKON
/////Alpine
Focal
Audison
JL
220 amp Stinger Alternator and wiring
2 Stinger 1500 batteries

/////Alpine / Arc ks300.2 x 2/ OZ Matrix elites 6.5 x2/
Arc ks1000.1/ Arc FD10D2D X2/ Optima yellow top/
Kicker wiring/ Chevy S10

Wally did!

They sold hundreds of 6 foot tall real wooden caskets during Q3.

As for CompX, they violated the contract with your store if they promised exclusivity. CompX probably told your competitor they have exclusivity in your area. They cannot be trusted. Sadly, they would do the same thing again, even to your competitors. Dump them.

Yes Dump them. Had similar situation here. Manufacturer rep open dealer next to me. End up the other dealer can't hang with me, he end up going out of business. Now the Rep is kissing my pooter. Don't let the brand sell your customers. You sell yourself to your customers, Let them know why it is better to shop at your store. In NYC it is very competative, Stores are very close to each other. I see stores come and go, but I am still here. Do rite to your customers and in the long run it will pay off
_________________
Kumar
Infiniti Competition
Broken Silence C.C.
2008 Mod 1001-2000
2007 World Finals Mod 0-1000 162
2006 World Finals Mod 0-300 158.2

http://www.myspace.com/infinitisound
http://www.nesoundoff.com

Novice Contributor Joined : 18 Nov 2007 Posts : 145

i understand why you guys are not stating the name brands ,but as a car audio retailer being in the same boat as several of you ,i really want to know which brands and where this is happening . if you would rather pm me the info that would be great . our store gets solicited with brands every month being that we are one of the better stores in our area . the problems you are talking about is a huge problem with specialty stores . it has happened to me with Diamond Audio six years ago . we were supporting the whole line and never paid late .i called the factory ,president etc of Diamond and they could care less . i know the 16k a year wholesale wasn't that big but wtf . just as you guys have described . it has turned out for the best for us though . good riddance diamond .
_________________
McCain Mobile Audio Inc.
n2stereo since the 80's lol
member of the 160 db club

Novice Contributor Joined : 18 Nov 2007 Posts : 145

Novice Contributor Joined : 03 Jul 2007 Posts : 86

Well, the company that screwed us is MTX/Mitek.
To hell w/ em now though.

We picked up DD and Clarion to take MTX's place.

Couldn't be happier...other than the fact that we are now having to get rid of all our MTX stock, cheap.

I hear u. That is a good replacement. Congrats on the new lines. Best of luck
_________________
Kumar
Infiniti Competition
Broken Silence C.C.
2008 Mod 1001-2000
2007 World Finals Mod 0-1000 162
2006 World Finals Mod 0-300 158.2

http://www.myspace.com/infinitisound
http://www.nesoundoff.com

Novice Contributor Joined : 18 Nov 2007 Posts : 145

doesn't sound like mtx is ever a line i want to consider .
congrats on the new lines .
_________________
McCain Mobile Audio Inc.
n2stereo since the 80's lol
member of the 160 db club

burn the other shop down
_________________

IN LOVING MEMORY OF CESAR "BASSHEAD" CHAPA
ILL MISS U BRO
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