I think the theory is that AVAD will leverage their national presence to attract some of the big builders trying to convince them they will get some sort of uniformity of product in their houses across the nation. I think they plan to have a dedicated staff to accomplish this. There advantage over you and me is that after they complete a sale they don't have to go back and order product schedule installs etc. ie they can concentrate just on sales. I think this approach will miss most of the smaller, high end custom builders which is our bread n butter.

I think you all should meet with your local AVAD member before you kill the B2D program. After spending time with my local AVAD rep it is clear to me that most of you don't have a clue. WE (in general terms) are not getting it done on our own. The numbers speak for themselves. AVAD has spent two years compiling data meeting with dealers, builders and manufacturers and developing trainings. They have hired the best trainers in the business to teach us. They invested their own money to do this so why shouldn't they ask to be compensated. The trainings alone are worth the fees. AVAD has helped me grow my business. I'm offering more catagories and making alot more money. Do yourself a favor and talk to your favorite AVAD member. You'll be glad you did. I know I am.

as previously stated...it WILL be good for some, not for all...

I just cancelled an order today for MK speakers because I can't wait 8-10 weeks (lag time I'm told by my AVAD rep). Niles has supposedly screwed up the last two orders we've placed, and I wouldn't sell H/K to Amar Bose, which coincidentally I can get Blose (and am heavliy pushed to do so) at my local AVAD shop, where I can get many other "CUSTOM INSTALL" products as well.....

I can buy Prontos for $60 cheaper elsewhere, and I can buy ScreenPlay Projectors for 100, 300, and 500 cheaper from another distributor...

I can get several Philips, RCA, and panasonic lines CHEAPER at Best Buy than I can at AVAD.

So it seems they are already making their extra research money on me.

Further, MACEY JONES, total posts ONE, I think it is YOU that needs to get a clue, at least on HOW TO READ!! If you had one, you would realize that most of us posting about this HAVE had long investigative conversations with our AVAD reps, as we have CLEARLY announced here.

Also, most of us don't have a history of coming out quite that harshly "don't have a clue" quite that quickly, when we were quite so new.

Welcome aboard, though...hope you don't get flamed too bad.

avdude

P.S. If YOU work for AVAD, then I would love to hear more from you, as maybe you can explain D2B in a way that the THREE presentations (trying to make sure I heard right) I attended at CEDIA, and the two hour pitch from my local AVAD rep, didn't. After all, I'm all for making money, and maybe I HAVE missed something.

This message was edited by avdude on 11/18/03 23:44.

AV Dude: Don't blame AVAD for M & K speakers on a ten week backorder. Although a great speaker line, they occasionally have a back order issue. Usually, however, it only happens on days of the week that end in Y.

Fred,

I realize this, and I don't blame AVAD for that. Fact is though that in this particular case (and it's one of MANY) I ordered the speakers three weeks ago, and it was only when I CALLED looking for the missing speakers that my AVAD rep told me about it (yesterday).

And they don't offer a comparable line...I can get Polk (ok, but the customer did not want polk) or Blose...that's it.

avdude

Try finding the rep for Triad speakers, it won't solve this problem but if you need a "good" line of in walls (I liked M&K too) these are worth looking at.

Got Triad!

In fact, the platinum in-room LCR's are gonna smoke the s-85's we had spec'd anyway....

avdude,
I feel your pain, I have had many of those type of mess-ups as well. I believe we deal with the same branch. It once took 39 days to complete a $4500 wire order. 3 weeks to get an RA# on a component, The list goes on.

On another note, when are the servers back up??

gerald

Thanks for the affirmation...now I know I have a clue!

Servers...dunno...some sort of power supply things w/Jaws in CT...no idea now what or when....

Drop me an e-mail please...I'm curious about something...e-dress in my profile is fine!

avdude

Anybody see the latest issue of Custom Retailer?

There's a blurb in there about the AVAD D2B program and guess who's the project manager?

That's right, everbody's favorite AV hired gun: Frank Wright.

I like Frank, but boy does he get around. Last year it was T2. Maybe Bose is on the horizon?

Just thought this was an interesting development.

Don't you mean Frank WHITE? Nice guy but you think he'd cut those damn bangs... he pushes em up off his glasses at least once every 30 seconds!

This proves the amount of money that AVAD is going to put into this thing because you know Frank don't come cheap. I'm a bit disappointed that the post never came from their head of the program... supposedly he was going to set all of us straight with the "straight from the horses mouth" story... maybe he feels we're a tough crowd?

RHM9,

maybe it was Macey Jones, and I was to harsh?

avdude

AVdude it wasn't me and you weren't too harsh. I have been out of the Country since the day after my 1st (as you so quickly pointed out) post. I was doing a job for one of my clients. I'm not an AVAD employee, just a loyal fan. These guys have helped me a great deal. Yes, I know in some cases I can find better prices. Okay in most cases, but to me the support I get way out weighs the extra few points I pay. I sat in on a Frank White D2B session and all I can tell you is the dude is awesome. You're right about one thing for sure, he really should see a barber.