Pioneer Car Audio Officially Available

[viper]

Hey Guys,

Pioneer car audio is now officially available in India with 2 years warranty and one year theft insurance as per an ad in todays Times Of India. Had heard about this a while ago but thought it best not to mention till confirmed.

They have introduced a limited range and is being sold through most of Autocop dealers/distributors as it is brought here by Autocop. Pricing is approx 50% more than their grey market counter parts

Just thought i'd share this info.

Viper

[GTO]

I think this was mentioned elsewhere in the ICE forum, and how it is a pricing farce since the difference between official and unofficial rates is about 100% in some cases. I do understand the security of buying one with bill and warranty from an authorised outlet, but DOUBLE the price?

Look at the Nokia mobile phone market. They co-exist very well (the official and the grey market), and the price difference is hardly 10 - 15 %.

GTO

[navin]

A 10-15% price differential is understandable given our duties and small market. 100% is ridiculous esp since Pio HUs are not that unreliable.

In fact I know for a fact that at 15% difference India dealers/distributors have lower margins than American ones.

Remember guys if you dont support the resonable local dealers you'll run them out of business and that is not good in the long run.

[Vivekphadnis]

I saw the ad too. Rs. 9900 or something for the 4750. The set costs about 5000 in grey.

[Sam Kapasi]

The price difference in Pioneer, is because the grey market pieces are imported unofficially... often in SKD or CKD, often with the name completely blocked out and declared as an unbranded HU/Speaker and by under-declaring the original value too.

The guys from autocop cant do that....
They are going to cater to the corporate sector, who will buy pioneer but ONLY with bill and warranty. And to the few customers that are willing to pay the extra price. I hope they do well, because it would be nice to buy Pioneer with backup.

[navin]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

The price difference in Pioneer, is because the grey market pieces are imported unofficially....

Are the official prices 10-15% different from the prices quoted by places like crutchfield?

[navin]

Originally Posted by Vivekphadnis

I saw the ad too. Rs. 9900 or something for the 4750. The set costs about 5000 in grey.

the 4700 runs about
$160 at online and crutchfield. that is about rs. 7500. Add 10% and you get rs. 8250. Add 15%and you get rs. 8625.

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...roductID=14514

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3AGFJYS...0&I=130DEHP470

[mohit]

This the ad today.... Model numbers are a bit different.

[nitrous]

At such a big price dfference, i dont think the genuine stuff is gonna sell as much as the grey market ones.

[navin]

I hope for Autocop it does. Some Pio HUs are quite good. I think that is the difference. Some Pioneer HUs are good just as some Sony HUs are but ALL Alpine HUs are good. :-) LOL. Hey non-alpine owners it's just lighthearted ok?

[Sam Kapasi]

I must tell you, I was accused of going the "navin" way when my Alpine was seen in the Lancer by some unnamed senior BHPians. lol

[navin]

Ha ha ha. Glad to know that the guys think of me whenever they see an Alpine! ha ha ha. You think Alpine should give me a commision? LOL ha ha ha