This is straight from Zon's website.

"Qualified ZON dealers must maintain a showroom system in an environment regularly displayed to potential customers."

Then I read about how they just setup Crutchfield.

What a joke!

That BS went on With Kenwood too.

A lot of changes going on over at ZON. I hear they are looking moving to a distribution model.

jcmitch

We are in the process of dropping kenwood as the last 3 jobs we have done with it has had problems...receiver loosing audio, dvd players not reading discs, entre's not responding or losing data

Kenwood used to be decent stuff....all the sovereign stuff is beginning to be of lower quality lately

Who cares if it is on Crutchfields? I wish every product I sold was on Crutchfields. They sell everything at MAP/full retail.

As far as the showroom thing, do any of you guys actually take that seriously? Every company says that. Maybe 1% mean it. The rest are happy to take an order.

This message was edited by QQQ on 08/31/04 16:32 ET.

Cool QQQ, I just purchased the Zon system from Crutchfield, When can you be over to install it? Also What are you going to charge me? What is your charge per hour?
My electrician told me his guys could install it for only $20 an hour and they assure me it will only take 2 men 2 days 32 hours to install it. So can you match my electricians rate of $640.00?

When can you come over again?

[Link: crutchfield.com]

If you are trying to compete with the electrician then an eval of the business plan is needed.

Let the electrican install it. I have larger sales to take care of. Just because you bought an item from someone else doesn't mean I'm going to install it.

CresNet - Labor rates are the same as any other project. Time and materials is how this will be billed ! I'm sorry, I'm not an electrician so I will not be able to match. Sorry!


Dave


Edited for typos and clarity.

This message was edited by DavidatAVX on 08/31/04 23:00 ET.

My point exactly, But as QQQ said, he would like all the gear he sells available through Crutchfield. So if that is the case what are you going to sell then?

Also they are working with two national installation groups whom have over 10,000 installers right now. So now why would you want the product you sell to be available there again???

From QQQs post I gathered that IF the items were sold at MSRP that would be fine. Dealers give a 1% discount and take out the shipping charges ........ the B&M dealer shines !

Dave

Ok I post the same question back to you. I just purchased a 4 room Zon system, how much will you charge me to install it. Keep in mind that Crutchfield already supplied me with the Polk Audio speakers, audio controller, amplifier, router, input modules, an installation kit, Niles emitters and the rough in kit.


[Link: crutchfield.com]


So AGAIN HOW MUCH ARE YOU GOING TO CHARGE ME? The Crutchfield certified national contractor just down the street from me said he would meet or beat my electricians quote of $640.

AM I MISSING SOMTHING HERE? Can anyone please tell me why I would want the products I sell to be avaiable through Crutchfield???????????????????????????????????????????????


Merchandise Subtotal (includes your FREE items) $5,407.80
Special Offers -$1,480.80
Alternate shipping options will be available during checkout.
Free Shipping
Order Total $3,927.00



Shipping is FREE, also they discounted the price off the MSRP -$1,400.00

Exactly. The point is simple. If you can't compete against Crutchfields you better close your doors. Crutchfields is like the Sony showcase stores - they only sell everything at MAP/retail (except for closeouts). If custom installers could ony be so lucky to have Crutchfields as the only point of comparison for consumers all of us would be laughing all the way to the bank.

Impaqt and I have talked about this many times here. If you are worried about a customer purchasing a system at Crutchfields and having an electrician install it you need to take a serious look at your business plan and/or sales skills. Why does anyone even worry about losing that type of sale in the first place? That customer has done you a favor because they are Not the customer you want to be targeting anyway!

And if it is the customer you want to be targeting, then stop moaning and groaning about the competition and just hand the jar of vaseline to the customer, bend over and enjoy it for all its worth.

This message was edited by QQQ on 09/01/04 01:01 ET.

i think the point was if internet retailers are selling at map or retail then we are less likely to get clobbered with the old, "can you match the price?"

EVERYONE REPEAT AFTER ME. " I AM NOT A BROKER OF MATERIAL AND LABOR!!! I AM A SOLUTIONS PROVIDER!"

AMEN.


When I used to work in retail we would keep a copy of Crutchfields behind the counter to show people how our prices were competitive with mail order. Like I said, if only we could be so lucky...

I'll send that customer to the two cubby old guys in a pickup that I noticed at lunch. "Southern Audio" . Older gents needing some extra cash and that kind of install is just for them.

Better yet, I'll send him over to a competitor who cuts labor by 1/2 on jobs. Sends his guys home at 40 hours. Training is well,,,,,,,,,,, I'm sure one(1) of his guys might be reading this.

Gloves are Off! That owner told me on the phone. I almost fell over laughing!

M___! I'm stlll having fun with that one! LOL!

Dave

First why can't you guys answer the question.

Second, I make it a point that I DON'T sell anything that you could find in Crutchfield, I am surprised at the response from dealers who do sell items in Crutchfield such as Zon. "Oh it is no problem" they only sell for msrp" Keep telling yourself this.

So by your responses it would be ok for them to sell other traditional custom installation items right?

Well guess what? The two nationally contracted installation companies that currently count over 10,000 installers are training on lighting control, and automation. They already do Sat, and Security. last year they did over 500,000 jobs. Bestbuy installed 28,000 custom theaters last year.

The reason I am posting this is because I give a sh*t about this industry!! I have seen too many friends that have closed up shop just in the last two years.

Are you two really going to sit there and tell me you can see this?

Open you eyes guys!