Tweeter closing 1/3 of all stores

TN_Polk_Lover

I went to the Tweeter located in Nashville on West End Ave. (near Vanderbilt). They already had a big "Clearance" banner hanging outside the store in huge letters. There were signs everywhere saying 10 to 30% off storewide.

I talked to a couple of the sales guys there. They were both very nice to me, but you could tell that mostly what they had on their mind was where were they going to find another job. They told me that they were supposed to be open for 8 more weeks. One guy said that he would get one week's severance pay based on his short time there, but to get it, he would have to stay all the way until the end, and on top of that would have to take a pay cut, because, apparently, with the store closings they have restructured the salaries and some people are getting pay cuts.

I got the impression from them that the current stock of new stuff would not be replaced once it is gone in that 8 weeks. I would imagine, that toward the end of that 8 weeks is when you will see deals on the floor models. (They did not tell me that, I'm just guessing).

Anyway, all TVs and speakers are 10% off. Some other categories are 15% off and some others 30% off. I can't remember now what he told me about the 15 and 30.

Also, I asked him about the Hi-Fi Buys store in Nashville on Nolensville Rd. He said that Tweeter did not own that store. The Hi-Fi Buys that Tweeter bought were all in Georgia. The one in Nashville belonged to another group of stores based out of Indiana, and they were not bought when the ones in GA were.

I will probably go by there at least once a week to check for specials.

sucks2beme

I talked to a sales guy today. He said ALL THE DALLAS area stores are closing. Most of the Houston stores will stay open. That leaves Fry's the only RTI/LSI source around here.
Their showroom makes Tweeter's look great.

MacLeod

I think this sucks. I liked Tweeter.

Yeah they had bonehead salemen that generally knew a whole lot less than I did, but they still carried very good products. JL Audio, Focal, Alpine, Polk SR, Pioneer Elite, Martin Logan.

With them leaving, thatll leave NOWHERE within 300 miles that I can pick up or even listen to knew Polk gear. This blows big f**king time. Now, the ONLY place ANYBODY in TN, AL and GA will have access to Polk gear is the Monitor/DB line at Circuit City.

I kinda knew this would happen anyway. The market for high end gear just isnt high enough to support a big box chain retailer. Its like this guy I work with. Went out and bought a Westinghouse (yuck) LCD at BB and was just as happy as a clam. 95% of consumers out there will be perfectly happy with a Westinghouse LCD and Bose HTiaB system and the 5% of which we all belong, just dont have the purchasing power to support a big retailer like Tweeter.

I predict the entire chain will be gone before too lone.

I have a question for the Polk brass tho, with Tweeter being pretty much the sole retailer of their mid and upper end lines going **** up, is Polk going to let Circuit City carry them? I cant imagine theyre going to sit by while 2/3 of their product line is completely taken out of several states!

TroyD

This is sorta the way I see it....

I think online sales (think Crutchfield) is probably going to be where it's at.

I think Tweeters' problem is that they were in a bad position. The big boxes own the low end and are attracting more and more folks that would normally shop at Tweeter. Add to that online sales continue to grow (and why not, the prices are better) and Tweeter has not gotten on that particular bandwagon. The real high end type consumer wouldn't shop at Tweeter anyway. So, I think Tweeter is dealing with a shrinking customer base and really hasn't done dick to address the main issues.



BDT

TN_Polk_Lover

All 6 stores in TN are closing, and all stores in AL, but I think there will be some left in GA, at least a few in Atlanta, I think.

Robert

wingnut4772

I got my letter today that Tweeter (Sound Advice) is closing it's West Kendall store here in Miami. They also sent me a 10% off coupon....Now maybe if it were 50% I would be motivated...

disneyjoe7

States that Tweeter will keep 22 stores open out of 23 in Florida. Is this considered the one? Are Sound Advice considered Tweeter here in Florida? I know they are the same owners.

Another way of stating this are there Tweeter stores in Florida called Tweeter not Sound Advise?

wingnut4772

disneyjoe7 wrote:

States that Tweeter will keep 22 stores open out of 23 in Florida. Is this considered the one? Are Sound Advice considered Tweeter here in Florida? I know they are the same owners.

Another way of stating this are there Tweeter stores in Florida called Tweeter not Sound Advise?

I guess that's the one. I don't think that there are "Tweeter"s in Fl. They are just Sound Advice.

disneyjoe7

Thanks Darla I was thinking the same, just asked to get your feeling also on the name thing here in Florida.

dpowell

Tweeter has been good once to me. Got my Denon DVD-3800 for $299. Can't say much for the store, its demo rooms or employees though... Our local Fryes has a MUCH better demo room for the Polk LSi series.