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Automotive Gadgets - Buying From the Dealer Versus the Aftermarket

2.15.2012




Automotive electronics have traditionally been the outlandish realm of specialty shops. For example, if you wanted rear-seat entertainment for your SUV, you needed to visit a store that carried and installed them. Car manufacturers watched these places soak up millions of dollars in profit over the years. They eventually decided to offer motorists specialty electronics and systems from the dealership lot.





Today, you can order these gadgets directly from the dealer. The inquire is, should you? It's not as simple as comparing prices. In this article, I'll elaborate the differences between buying from the dealer versus buying from an aftermarket shop. We'll also catch a gape at a few categories that are celebrated among drivers.





What's The contrast?





designate is a difficult barometer to expend when comparing gadgets at the dealership versus those at a specialty store. The reason is because many of them are packaged with other options at the dealer. For example, if you want the rear-seat entertainment system, it may be packaged with a rear camera. That muddies the waters for strict heed comparisons.





Another dissimilarity is that the electronics you acquire from an aftermarket store will not be covered by your car's warranty. On the other hand, if you seize them from the dealership, they're typically covered. Finally, it's difficult for an aftermarket shop to match the seamless integration of the electronics that a dealership can offer. Not impossible, but difficult.





Stereo Systems





Years ago, the aftermarket offered the latest in audio technology. Car manufacturers couldn't match the speakers, subwoofers, and acoustics sold by the specialty shops. These days, automakers have partnered with high-end brands in order to bring a premium sound to the cabin of your vehicle.





Rear-Seat Entertainment Systems





This is an region that was all but dominated by automakers when they first became accepted. However, specialty stores snappy gained momentum. Over the last ten years, they've been able to gain systems that offer the same functionality as those purchased from the dealer. What's more, they're often far less expensive.





Navigation Devices





The first automotive navigation systems made their debut in the early 1980s. They were only installed in high-end vehicles because the technology carried a high imprint. GPS technology has since plummeted in cost which led to the popularity of portable navigation devices. Today, the imprint of an in-dash unit is practically identical between the dealership and the aftermarket.





Which Should You determine?





Your decision regarding whether to pick the latest automotive electronics directly from the dealer or from the aftermarket depends on what you're buying and how worthy flexibility you want. Automakers have done a wonderful job of meeting the quality and reliability of the gadgets sold in specialty stores. However, customization of those gadgets remains a spot. In the kill, you may inspect that your decision is based solely upon convenience.




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