Feature story:
Two key door buster deals for Cyber Monday and Black Friday this year are a Kenwood DDX9903S receiver at $399.99 (from $799) as well as a Pioneer AVH-4201NEX at $399-$499 (from $699), according to our retail poll.
On Cyber Monday, the Kenwood 9903S is the first special shown on Cartoys.com. Sonic Electronix is featuring the Pioneer MVH-2300NEX at $309 with rebate (typically $450). Al & Ed’s Autosound is highlighting the Alpine INE-W960HDMI with a free reverse camera at $697 (from $799)
Bestbuy.com and Crutchfield on Monday are showing the Pioneer AVH-4201NEX with CarPlay/Android Auto/CD player at $499 (from $699). The top advertised car radios at Bestbuy.com Monday morning are the Pioneer AVH-291BT at $169 (from $249) and a Kenwood DDX9703S with CarPlay, Android Auto and CD/DVD at $399 (from $699).
At the lower end, Walmart is offering an XO Vision MP3/FM receiver with Bluetooth at $13.99 (from $19.84).
Many larger car audio specialists also cited deals on Rockford amplifiers and remote start.
A strong promoter on Black Friday, Sound of Tri-State, DE (3 stores) said it saw stronger average ticket sales this year over Black Friday weekend, but fewer feet in the door. “We did get the morning rush but not like we used to, but the average ticket was much higher thanks to the Kenwood piece [9903]. It was a big hit…and so were a few CarPlay pieces from Pioneer that were aggressively priced but with decent margins,” said President Mehdi Narimanian.
He said the people looking for $29 speakers aren’t shopping in brick and mortar any more. “In the old days, someone would come in and buy 20 pairs of $29 speakers. We found that [this year] was mostly $199 and up.” Some other hits were two-way remote start starting at $179 without accessories (typically over $350) and the Pioneer 4201NEX, which sold out quickly, so consumers went with the 2330 at $399 with rebate (from $499) and a 1330 at $329 with rebate (from $399).
Tunes N Tint, FL was surprised to see a big take on paint protection. It offered a deal on hoods and fenders at $199. Total 12 volt sales were up from last year for the weekend, said owner Joe Cassity.
California Sound, OH, this year did 4 times the sales of a typical Friday, said Zac Knoop. Store traffic was similar to last year but sales were up 22 percent over last year. This year, advertising focused a little more heavily on email and social media. The shop nixed the radio advertising that it’s done in the past.
Freeman’s Car Stereo, NC began Black Friday sales on November 13 this year, following the lead of many big box retailers. It said sales are up for the full two week period. “There’s only so much money. Whoever gets it sooner is probably better off,” said David Wall, General Manager of Operations for the 6 store chain.
Black Friday online sales passed the $5 billion mark in a new record, up almost 17 percent, according to Adobe. Hot sellers were devices from Roku, Hatchimal toys and the Nintendo Switch.
Total holiday sales will surpass $107 billion this year up almost 14 percent, predicts Adobe, with Cyber Monday expected to be the largest online shopping day in history, with $6.6 billion in sales, up 16.5 percent from last year, said MarketWatch.
