Heads up, CC dropping Alpine inventory YMMV

[HumblePie]

Circuit City will no longer carry alpine products and are suppose to start getting rid of inventory. All inventory must be gone by December 31st. This means some MONSTER deals are coming down the pipe and some CC's, like mine, have already dropped some prices. Was in there yesterday and they dropped their 300 watt mono subwoofer amp to $36 from $199. I also picked up the $399 alpine in dash player that does WMA and MP3's for $129.

I suggest checking out your local Circuit City and see what they have. Everything right now has been left up to the managers so you might want to check several in your area if you have them. They'll start corporate mandate prices next week on these for clearing out inventory and some stores just started early.

 

[Manzelle]

$399 player? That's like half of my car's value...maybe even like 70%...

 

[fluffyg]

mmmm picking up another sub for cheap would be nice
ill check it out when i have time

 

[ShowdOWN]

wow, im gonna have to check this out later.

thx

 

[VaG]

Originally posted by: Manzelle
$399 player? That's like half of my car's value...maybe even like 70%...

Well, I guess it's a good thing that he let you in on a little secret by telling you that he got a $399 player for $129. Which is actually only around 16% of your cars value.

 

[aphex]

they dropped their 300 watt mono subwoofer amp to $36 from $199

Happen to know the model #?

 

[BlueWeasel]

Wow, the Alpine MP3 player for $129 is smokin' hot.

I :heart: my Alpine MP3 headunit.

 

[HumblePie]

Yah, I used to work at CC for 2 years so know all the managers and the DM. That's how I got the deal a bit earlier yesterday. As far as the model number, I'll have to check when I get home. Haven't installed it yet since I picked it up yesterday. I know it's the cheapest of the Alpine headunits that play MP3's that my store had to offer.

As I said, right now, there is no obligation for your CC to start dropping prices on Alpine just yet. They will very soon though, next week initial price changes that will affect all CC's will show up. They will have to have all inventory cleared by December 31st. Period.

 

[Whiskyboy]

More or Less OT but... Does anyone have a magazine or website they can recommend that has objective reviews of car audio? I've been in desparate need of a replacement for my failing stock equipment, but I'm gun shy on buying this stuff because I don't really understand the functional differences between the $300 Kenwood deck and the $1000 kenwood deck. From what I've found on google searches and the like, all the 'reviews' appear to be industry prepacked bs with little comparison. Anyway, I'd appreciate the advice of ATers with the knowledge on this stuff.

Cheers

 

[Nick5324]

Interesting, might have to look into this

 

[SignalSoldier]

Anybody else verify this at your local CC's?

 

[VaG]

Originally posted by: SignalSoldier
Anybody else verify this at your local CC's?

You're not going to get any verification on this. He just said that he worked at CC for a couple years and knows the district managers and other managers.

 

[HumblePie]

which is why I posted it as a HEADS UP thread. The Amp IS on sale right now for $36 at my local Circuit City for any customer to buy. This stuff is suppose to go on sale VERY SOON. All of it. I am talking with in the week or two. Also, it's not going to be a BIG advertised special about it just yet either. It will just drop one day at the register. Like how the Gameboy SP's all dropped from $99 to $77 almost out of the blue. Same thing will happen with all that alpine stuff. Difference is, you guys reading this will have a heads up and might get something good early on. Instead of finding out about it after it's all too late.

 

[Carapace]

Originally posted by: Whiskyboy
More or Less OT but... Does anyone have a magazine or website they can recommend that has objective reviews of car audio? I've been in desparate need of a replacement for my failing stock equipment, but I'm gun shy on buying this stuff because I don't really understand the functional differences between the $300 Kenwood deck and the $1000 kenwood deck. From what I've found on google searches and the like, all the 'reviews' appear to be industry prepacked bs with little comparison. Anyway, I'd appreciate the advice of ATers with the knowledge on this stuff.

Cheers

Here

 

[PING]

this is really a hot deal news. finally, i can replace my accords cassette/radio. thanks humblepie :beer:

 

[VaG]

Originally posted by: HumblePie
which is why I posted it as a HEADS UP thread. The Amp IS on sale right now for $36 at my local Circuit City for any customer to buy. This stuff is suppose to go on sale VERY SOON. All of it. I am talking with in the week or two. Also, it's not going to be a BIG advertised special about it just yet either. It will just drop one day at the register. Like how the Gameboy SP's all dropped from $99 to $77 almost out of the blue. Same thing will happen with all that alpine stuff. Difference is, you guys reading this will have a heads up and might get something good early on. Instead of finding out about it after it's all too late.

If the amp dropped from $199 to $36 it's not a sale and there certainly won't ever be a BIG advertised special. 82% off the retail price at CC can only be considered a rock bottom clearance price.

 

[SlushieKen]

Not to crap on what looks to be a great deal, but this sucks... I spent 3 hours and called all the stores in my area (9 to be exact) about this. I asked each time for the Car Stereo manager so I think I got the right people.

Sifting through the responses:
5 stores insist that their prices on Alpine this week are already the best anywhere at 10% off, and if I can find better they will gladly match it. They seem to have no idea what I was talking about, and in all honesty treated me like an idiot (not the first time I been treated like an idiot lol! but it seemed they were pissed at me for even asking).

The other 4 gave me various responses ranging from:
'nothing here will be marked down more than normal, and what is left after December 31 will be boxed up and returned'
to
'When the corporate office marks these down, the managers know but won't tell anyone about it'

So how can I find out when they are marked down? Is this official? I am not looking to corner the market on discount audio, I am just in the market for an Alpine HU (have been for a month now), only 1, and this sale has perfect timing, if I can find a way to take advantage...

Signed, someone who is NOT friends with any CC managers.

 

[cyberia]

Originally posted by: SignalSoldier
Anybody else verify this at your local CC's?

I went to a local store and DID get a confirmation. The guy clearly knew what I was talking about. In fact, another person might have asked him the same thing a few minutes before I did. Unfortunately, he would not give me a specific date or the expected % discount. According to him, the price change should occur on a Sunday. So if I wanted to keep checking, it would make sense to check every Sunday and not in the mid-week.

They had "plenty of stock" of the specific item I asked about. I am wondering if it makes sense to get what you want now, and pricematch it later. I wish we knew if the sale would start within the next 30 days.

 

[Showtime]

Op, where are you located?

From one of my friends at CC it's a no go. The Alpine thing wont be decided for a couple months and getting a deal like yours is extreme YMMV. The CC car audio guys I know would buy all the remaining stuff for those kind of prices.

Anyways, I asked my friend to grab an amp and highend HU and a sub or 2 if they do start blowing them out. Bastird tried to sell me a HU for a "good price." Friends like these I don't need enemies.
I don't really have money for this junk but at those prices....

-show

 

[castun]

My local CC didn't know anything about it yet, or at least the guys working in the Car Audio dept. didn't.

Then again, I really hate the local CC, their Car Audio guys are complete morons. Last time I took my RF subs n amp in to get them to install it for me, they tried telling me that the amp was burned out, and they wanted me to take it back to BB and buy one of THEIRS for like $300. I took it home and it turns out that they didn't even install the ground wire properly. They tried putting a small screw through a big drilled hole, and it wasn't getting good contact. YMMV, but needless to say I won't be going back to mine for anything ever again.

 

[HumblePie]

I went to a local store and DID get a confirmation. The guy clearly knew what I was talking about. In fact, another person might have asked him the same thing a few minutes before I did. Unfortunately, he would not give me a specific date or the expected % discount. According to him, the price change should occur on a Sunday. So if I wanted to keep checking, it would make sense to check every Sunday and not in the mid-week.

As Cyberia said, it will be a go. My DM friend said many items starting Sunday will be added to the clearance section. The problem, is that the employee's DO KNOW about this and are more then likely going to hog everything. Only reason I even found out about it is because on Sunday nights, after my CC closes after 7 and kicks all the customers out, we have a big lan party in there and play some Halo on the big screens or whatever else we feel like

I KNOW how much it sucks to not get in on something big like this that is about to happen. If you guys don't want to believe it, then fine, don't worry about it. I'm just saying keep your eyes open and do random "price checks." Have them actually RING an item up. Many CC employee's are also completely clueless about the impending changes to the alpine prices.

 

[imported_MoNoGoAt]

Do you think we could pricematch though? I want to get a new head unit and possibly some new speakers. Think I could buy them now and pricematch, and if they don't go down I'll just return them (Won't install till I know I'm not paying full price). I could really use a good set of compnent speakers up front and some good 6x9s in back. Too bad the TypeR subs can't handle my amp

 

[Showtime]

Mono,
If you care about sound quality dont get the 6x9's and spend more on the front door components instead.
You may want some rear fill but most sound quality installs only run the front 2 way or 3 way separates and subs.

Op,
It may be regional, but my friend said his store is still receiving Alpine shipments. He knows what youir talking about but says it hasn't been finalized. We're in CA, btw. Hopefully the blowout happens and happens soon.
I could use those 12" subs to tie my over till I figure out what RE's I want and a new HU is always fun.

-show

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

Humble Pie......

I am still trying to figure out why in the hell you made this post. You sent me, and probably lots of others, scurrying to the closest CC. It was, of course a waste of time and gas money. The mgr at this CC stated that they are not going to carry Alpine after Dec 31, but that there was no corporate directive to start dropping prices and clearing out inventory. He said that he had plenty of stock, and knew that more shipments would be coming in in the next couple of months. There is a 10% off sale going on, and he said that would be about as good as it gets.

You should have put your subsequent information in your initial post.

:frown:

 

[SlushieKen]

The explanation makes sense... I probably got ahead of myself by calling all the stores but what is on sale and how the sale works wasn't clear.

The Sunday information is very good to know. I will check on Mondays from now on, ringing up the radio I want every Monday and just telling them no thanks if it isn't down yet. I pass one on the way home from work.

Anyone here add to this thread when they find out which items are up for grabs? I know I will.

I am not an ingrate when it comes to good information like this and I really don't want to have people second guessing a post about a good deal they know of, it's just that the additional info would have been great to know initially... Deals on Alpine will get a lot more attention than another hard drive sale.