From: fitchitt@wam.umd.edu ()
Subject: Re: Lying to save a buck (was Dealing with Dealers)
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 15:42:13 GMT

In article <RSLAU.92Aug11175824@tarazed.usc.edu> rslau@usc.edu (Robert Lau) writes:
>On the original thread, I've never had to lie to a dealer to get a good
>price and I've only had to pay MSRP once.  The way I see it, is
>haggling for $50 off a $1000 item, or $25 off a $500 item worth my time
>and energy?  Definitely not.  And besides, if you don't walk in with an
>attitude problem, they'll throw in at least that much worth of free
>misc stuff (wire, connectors, etc) if they do the install or on a large
>purchase.
>

We are in different worlds, my budget precludes me even THINKING about letting
(paying) for installation. That is if I want{to get even mid-way decent stuff.

Although I can't believe that anyone has ever STARTED at MSRP,	I thought
MSRP's were sort of like a "joke" or maybe the "lets say its $500 instead of
$400 so they'll be really happy with the $400...

Which seems to be what they are doing in most cases....

>I've been going to the same dealers for the past 10 years, they know
>me, I trust them, they make a reasonable profit, I get a reasonable
>price, everybody sleeps well.  If the dealer is going to lie to you,
>why deal with her?
>
>In article <1992Aug11.185314.770@wam.umd.edu> fitchitt@wam.umd.edu () writes:
>
>   I agree with this, bring that Crutchfield and other Mail order catoluges
>   (usually older ones too, cause dealers never seem to have the "newest" stuff
>   available)
>
>Quite the opposite.
>
>If Crutchfield carries something that the dealer doesn't already have,
>GO ELSEWHERE!  Crutchfield by no means carries the latest and greatest,
>in fact, they only carry middle-of-the-road, average consumer stuff.
>$300 head units, $100 speakers, decent stuff that sells easily and
>quickly...  They carry an occasional high-ticket item, but at much less
>of a discount than the mass-market stuff.  Any reputable shop will have
>the latest toys weeks or months before Crutchfield or other large
>chains like Short Circuit City.
>
>If you're in the market for a mid-priced head-unit or something that's
>been on the market for a year or so, then yes, the large chains will
>most probably have a better price than a small shop.  In this case,
>bringing the ad is a great idea.
>
>The audio scene in SoCal (and any other metropolitan area) is much too
>dynamic for a nationwide chain, it's the local dealers who maintain
>close ties with Alpine, Phoenix Gold, etc, who get the latest stuff...
>
>-- 
>Robert Lau - Systems Programmer, Unix Systems     213-740-2866
>--  University Computing Services                 Internet: rslau@usc.edu
>--  University of Southern California             Bitnet:   rslau@uscvm
>--  1020 W Jefferson, LA, CA  USA, 90089-0251     UUCP:     ...!uunet!usc!rslau

Ah... to be on the W. Coast. Maybe someone can point out good shops in the
MD/PA/Del (especially Delaware) area that are current. I have never seen a
place out here that didn't carry "older stuff" I'd like to say I could be
in the market for the kind of names you guys throw around, but I mostly do
budget stuff, I look for a deal and try to get by with solid componets and
decent installation.

I spent $250 on a Clarion 9772RT, Its no Alpine or CD Changer, but its the most
expensive item in my setup. I'm hoping to do more with my current speaker set
up but I have the drivers, don't know where to put 'em.

In any case, to sum up my offering to this thread, I'm too poor to even
consider the dealers, as they cost WAY too much for the stuff I can afford, and
I too hate to deal with the haggling, its too ridiculous what the MSRP's are
so I let the "free market" lower prices on stuff I need for me... I also
try and buy used stuff when possible.

Newsgroups: rec.audio.car