I was wondering what type of competitor programs are offered in Europe from the manufacturer and do many competitors get free product, deep discounts, loaner products...
In the US, only a handfull of factory teams get free products or loaner product and some times, only a few of the team members get it free.
Any info would be appriated and if you don't want to post, you could e-mail me at johns@maxxsonics.com
Posts: 1735 | From: Chicago | Registered: Jun 2005
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-------------------- Team Cactus Sounds 2004: 2nd place european finals street B 2005: european champion street C 2006: european champion street A 2007: european champion street C 2008: european champion street C 2007: WORLD CHAMPION street C 2008: WORLD CHAMPION street C 2009: the end off an era , the beginning off a new, SS5+ Posts: 1338 | From: belgium | Registered: May 2002
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posted
I know no one in the UK with "free" equipment.
We, Team ECC, get cheap/discounted gear and are lucky, lots of other UK competitors pay alot more and some even full retail.
Rest of europe, pass, I know some get discounts but couldnt say if anyone gets 100% sponsorship.
-------------------- Ben ----- www.EastCoastChoons.co.uk UK SS 1-2 NW Record Holder Team UK - Team ECC - Team RE - Team DD Posts: 2957 | From: Deepest Darkest Norfolk | Registered: Aug 2002
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quote:Originally posted by augustijnen Peter: not many competitors gets there stuff free
most off them gets good discounts
and some gets the opportunity to test equipment
1 of 2 persons !! normaly the shop owner get somme ampli (but they pay them )
I like the way it is ! you must pay the instalation ,and than you can compete !! you must make youre score with youpr instal ,and not with a instal from sommeone else !
-------------------- 8 x 2000D SPL DYNAMICS 18 X OPTIMA YELLOW TOPS 2xDD 9515 extreme1 163.5 db EXTREME 2 165.5 db at euro finals 2004 164.8 db at sinsheim 2004 2002 SS 1-2 wall 157.8 db Posts: 212 | From: dendermonde | Registered: Aug 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Mr Bump: I know no one in the UK with "free" equipment.
Really? Know a few!!!
-------------------- - Firestarter - 9 times UK Champion. European Bassrace Champion 2007. IdbL Stock Pro 2 World Record Holder 2006 www.TheFirestarter.net
Posts: 831 | From: England | Registered: May 2000
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Even those with the odd "free" item have bought other bits of kit.
Except Ken, his is a shop car, so its not even his gear.
-------------------- Ben ----- www.EastCoastChoons.co.uk UK SS 1-2 NW Record Holder Team UK - Team ECC - Team RE - Team DD Posts: 2957 | From: Deepest Darkest Norfolk | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
There are some people who can use, and own products for free. But they have to do shows. So without a service, you will receive nothing, what is absolutely normal. Some people abused it that they got material. Then the companies will not give out anything anymore. That is bad. Most time when you get something, you have to spent more in the "other" things around than the product was worth and you would do just a few events. I formyself was sponsered by Sony in 2004 and 2005. That means product, costs and little payment for service. But I still paid over 7000 Dollars/year out of my pocket during these 2 years ! And before you get something for free, you must have big luck, or make you a name so that companies trust you. Or be cold blooded And that costs more than all products you may ever receive for free.
But basically everything is possible. Some newbies are eager to work a lot for free products. That CAN bring a company much advertising. But you never will know before. If you find an advanced competitor, its more and more difficult to motivate him to make advertising for you "just" for free products
Ü MM
PS.: I formyself paid a$$loads of money for the equipment. But also I got sometimes things for free, long time before I did competitions. Just because they knew I come around and show the product and its abilities off in a good manner. These days I got offers what I take and what I deny. It depends.
-------------------- www.sqpl.de I´m a Kraut,and I want it loud! Üüüühh!!!
posted
I remember when almost all manufacturers had huge teams and gave away free products, paid gas, hotels... but of course many, many competitors took advantage of this (ask Oki has mentioned) and now it's hard to find any company that has a free product sponsorship program.
We learned along time ago that there is no value in free product because when you do, the next company comes along and offers free + $2.00 and the competior switches teams. He also has nothing to loose with free products and no motivation with a sense of ownership.
Every member on Team Maxxsonics pays for there products. We do offer very good pricing to them and when they buy the product, they feel ownership and are less likely to jump ship at the next deal.
We have only lost 3 members in 2 years and it's because we offer more then just product at reduced costs.
Recently, one of our competitors offered our members $10.00 for every point they get between now and Finals if they quit us and joined their team! No one took the deal!
Every one on the team feels as though they are more of a family then a team.
We of course have Team Shirts, designated Team Maxxsonics web site (www.teammaxxsonics.com) where everyone can help each other with box designs, amp and sub choices, impedance related issues in privacy (only members can access certain sections), we (Maxxsonics) attend tons of shows to support our competitors by bringing tents, pop, beer, water, offer priority repair/replacement of products, team build days at members stores so all members can get together to help with each others vehicles. We promote our team members on the the Maxxsonics web site with stats & pictures.
I think we do more for our team then any other company out there.
Our team is not about winning. It's only about competitors with good sportsmanship, professional attitudes and are responsible enough to know that when they have on a Team Maxxsonics shirt, they are a represenative of Maxxsonics corporation and their attitudes are reflected on the entire company.
We do not require the members attend any number of events. We ask only that they have our name on their vehicle and wear our shirts at events.
Most members have their own teams (Team Baldman, Team LiveWire, Team Trendsetters...) and they will have "Team Maxxsonics" added to their team shirts which is fine and ok with us.
We were approached by many competitors for sponsorship that were louder then our guy in a particular class but they did not have a good reputation or attitude so we did not accept them.
We were only lucky that the nice guys we chose ended up to be loud also. This was a bonus.
Many other companies have an attitude of "win at all cost". Our attitude is, win or loose, shake your competitions hand and wish him luck.
Winning is nice but good sportsmanship and positive attitudes are all we ask.
We have made little attempt to promote our high power products in Europe until now. I will be talking to a lot of competitors at EU Finals and will be offering prices on products. Some will think the prices are fair and some will not. We are in the business to make money which is why in a time when car audio sales are flat and gowing down in the last 5 years, we have grown tremendously with double digit growth very year.
Also, many of you know, when API bought Hifonics 9 years ago, they fired all the Hifonics engineers and took the product to Korea to be designed and engineered. When we bought Hifonics, the first thing we did was hire back the Hifonics top engineer to redesign all of our products.
I know a few of you and know of some of you. I hope to meet all of you during Finals and wish every one the best of luck.
Posts: 1735 | From: Chicago | Registered: Jun 2005
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Ill gladly come and talk turkey with you and eat and drink all the free food and drink you mention
-------------------- Ben ----- www.EastCoastChoons.co.uk UK SS 1-2 NW Record Holder Team UK - Team ECC - Team RE - Team DD Posts: 2957 | From: Deepest Darkest Norfolk | Registered: Aug 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Team Maxxsonics - John: Oki, your PM box is full!
Good ! Finally ! I dont look at PM very often. Better is always E Mail. Is that ok for you? If not I will delete one message. (I should add that to my sig)
Ü MM
-------------------- www.sqpl.de I´m a Kraut,and I want it loud! Üüüühh!!!
posted
Support like that ive seen from team maxxsonics is what the sport really needs. I got involved in a team last year mid season, had a lot of fun, enjoyed using the product, went to finals (SLAP is all we had in my region at the time) and placed pretty decent, as well as loaning amps to other people on the team that blew equipment.
When it came to this season, well actually the end of last, the person who I had formed a relationship left the company, and the new person that is in charge of the team just doesnt seem very motivated to even return a simple phone call/e-mail reguarding products
I think alot of the euro guys will appreciate the support that ive seen you spread around the US
-------------------- Team Maxxsonics T3 Audio Posts: 6317 | From: Albany | Registered: May 2002
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posted
Team Maxxsonics goes out of their way for their competitors. I know they have for me on more than one occasion and I can never thank them enough for that. We are not only a team but more fo a family.
quote:Originally posted by Mr Bump: Not completely free though.
Even those with the odd "free" item have bought other bits of kit.
Except Ken, his is a shop car, so its not even his gear.
Free kit happens, obviously more than you know, sorry if people keep it a bit quiet not to embaris the sponsors on forums etc. OK not full cars you are right, but when you get either amps or speakers for free, it helps
Free kit usually happens in the UK when people are trying to launch brands. I know here, people stay very loyal to the brand, as new sponsors are very rare, and no one here is "that good" they can offer themselves to the highest bidder.
I have been very fortunate in the past, and am always grateful and true to any sponsorship I recieve.
PS, im building a new vehicle
-------------------- - Firestarter - 9 times UK Champion. European Bassrace Champion 2007. IdbL Stock Pro 2 World Record Holder 2006 www.TheFirestarter.net
Posts: 831 | From: England | Registered: May 2000
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-------------------- - Firestarter - 9 times UK Champion. European Bassrace Champion 2007. IdbL Stock Pro 2 World Record Holder 2006 www.TheFirestarter.net
Posts: 831 | From: England | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Well I want a sponsor that CARES, if they don´t well then it´s hard to motivated your self to stay with them.
To me it´s not all about the discount, I want someting more! The value of monye can never beat the felling that the sponsor takes care of you!
After the crash we had on our way home from euro finals 2004 we didn´t hear anyting from our sponsor, and that´s the biggest reason that we no longer use their products...
-07 The year off, only six 12" in a daily driven VW Vento/Jetta. -08 Student, selling everything! Posts: 1091 | From: Kalmar SWEDEN | Registered: Jan 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Kim: Well I want a sponsor that CARES, if they don´t well then it´s hard to motivated your self to stay with them.
To me it´s not all about the discount, I want someting more! The value of monye can never beat the felling that the sponsor takes care of you!
After the crash we had on our way home from euro finals 2004 we didn´t hear anyting from our sponsor, and that´s the biggest reason that we no longer use their products...
I agree with you. It's the little things that count. Pricing is great but it's a long season after the purchase.
That's why our team members enjoy being on our team. As one of many examples, we had a team member cut his hand on a table saw and couldn't finish his box. A few others jumped in to help him so we sent a $100.00 to cover food, beer, water... for those that helped.
Last year we paid $100.00 to every member that attended dB Drag Finals & MECA Finals to help cover some expenses.
We personally attend a lot of shows to support our team with food, pop, tents (shade is always good)... We even drove to Bolivar Missouri a few weeks ago (103 degrees), had a break down in the Hummer, left it behind, rented a car and drove the reat of the way to support Danny Brittain's show at JH Customs.
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