Archive for January 27th, 2010
Car Stereo Suppliers Raise Prices
January 27th, 2010 | 
Author: Car Stereo Suppliers Raise Prices
Most suppliers are attempting to pass the costs on directly to consumers while keeping retail margins steady so many are raising the actual minimum advertised price MAP on select products Infinity just announced increases on select speakers effective Aug. 1.
Rockford increased prices on a speakerbyspeaker basis which went into effect July 7 by 10 to 25 wholesale or up to 50 MAP. It raised prices on accessories by 2 percent to 10 percent.
JL Audio increased prices up to 5 percent or up to 100 on certain speakers which went into effect June 15. Marketing VP Manville Smith noted In a woofer you have an aluminum basket steel in the back and top plates copper in the voice coil plastics used in the cone which are made of oil derivatives. Copper is up 45 percent steel is up 60 percent aluminum is up 12 percent this year alone and was climbing the year before that and we all know how much oil has increased. And the price of oil directly affects the transportation.
MTX raised it Bassslammer and Coustic prices on July 1 while holding dealer margins steady it said.
Several industry members said Audiovox raised prices 9 percent on amplifiers and 10 percent on subwoofers but Audiovox did not return calls to TWICE.
Retailers said they are reluctant to pass on the increases as business is already down but they will be forced to do so eventually. Industry members also said that other suppliers are expected to raise prices when they introduce their 2009 lines.
About the writer: Justina Mathews writes issues that currently affect the performance car enthusiast. She also writes about issues that affect the street tuner industry as well as import scene lifestyle. She’s a staff writer for fuel systems.
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