Ford's DVD Player - Diesel Forum

BigSky · 10-13-2003, 11:55 PM

I was wondering if any of you have bought and installed Ford's factory overhead DVD unit for the Excursion. If so how was the installation. I called for a quote and the local dealer said $1400.00. I also remember awhile back that AudioVox(or someone else) had a dual screen unit that looked factory but I can't seem to find it. Any input is always appreciated.

**Snug** · 10-15-2003, 12:48 AM

You can but them on ebay for around $650. They look identical to the factory set-up. Should be able to get it installed for around $200.

Doug

CHPMustang · 10-15-2003, 01:18 AM

There was a guy on Ebay that had a couple of the OEM overhead DVD setups for like $600 each(I didn't ask how he got em) but opted for a dual 7.2" monitor setup with DVD/MP3 player for $250 instead.

BILL

michaelwooten · 10-15-2003, 02:08 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I was wondering if any of you have bought and installed Ford's factory overhead DVD unit for the Excursion. If so how was the installation. I called for a quote and the local dealer said $1400.00. I also remember awhile back that AudioVox(or someone else) had a dual screen unit that looked factory but I can't seem to find it. Any input is always appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bigsky,

Ii work for Alpine and have seen several aftermarket screens that will blend in to any color vehicle. Most companies make gray and tan as a standard and most good shops can color match it to look perfect.

$1400 is a bit much as prices have come way down and quality is much better in a quality manufactered screen. You can probably get a complete system installed for around $1000.00 and it will have many more standard features compared to options from a dealer.

Last thing, Do not buy most electronics from the internet. They are likely transhipped and will have serial numbers ground off. Of course, they will have no factory warranty and trying to get a hold of the internet company may be impossible after a few months.

Here are a couple of authorized places that you can look.

crutchfield.com
cartoys.com

Crutchfield is THE ONLY authorized dealer on the internet. Do not buy Alpine from any other website.

Good luck

michaelwooten · 10-15-2003, 02:32 AM

Sorry...I meant that Crutchfield is the ONLY Alpine authorized internet dealer.

jschira · 10-15-2003, 07:09 AM

The portable DVD's are coming down in price fast. I saw a portable unit with an 8" W-I-D-E screen for $430. This will probably be $100 less around Xmas. Buy a couple of these and give them to your kids as Xmas presents.

The best part, you get to keep them when you sell the truck.

989171 · 10-15-2003, 08:18 AM

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Last thing, Do not buy most electronics from the internet. They are likely transhipped and will have serial numbers ground off. Of course, they will have no factory warranty and trying to get a hold of the internet company may be impossible after a few months.

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Hmmmm...That happens to be the only way Ive bought electronics for a least the last 5 years and Ive never had that problem. Ive never had a problem with a factory warranty, and have never bought from crutchfield (too expensive). Do your research, the internet is the best place to buy practically everything anymore. Heck Im even in the process of buying my new X through the internet from a person Ive never met or even talked to! Like I said, do your research and youll be fine.

michaelwooten · 10-15-2003, 11:57 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Last thing, Do not buy most electronics from the internet. They are likely transhipped and will have serial numbers ground off. Of course, they will have no factory warranty and trying to get a hold of the internet company may be impossible after a few months.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hmmmm...That happens to be the only way Ive bought electronics for a least the last 5 years and Ive never had that problem. Ive never had a problem with a factory warranty, and have never bought from crutchfield (too expensive). Do your research, the internet is the best place to buy practically everything anymore. Heck Im even in the process of buying my new X through the internet from a person Ive never met or even talked to! Like I said, do your research and youll be fine.

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Like I said there are a few dealers that sell authorized product but the major manufactures like Kenwood, Alpine, Rockford, ETC do not sell on the internet with anyone but crutchfield. If you buy any of these products there will be NO factory warranty. Now if the seller chooses to swap products when you have a problem they can do that but they eat the products as doing part of business. We have hired a company called "Net Enforcers" that will be shutting down anyone selling Alpine and fining them $500 per item sold and terminating thier dealer agreement if they so have one. Also internet sellers try to get their hands on any product that they can and some times they get european or asian product that does not match the specifications for installation of US product.

If you have done well...great. But I assure you that you will eventually get burned. I know of two of my dealers customers that got seriously burned and now refuse to buy products off of the internet.

Good luck!!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]

989171 · 10-15-2003, 12:18 PM

Well, with the money Ive saved over the years if I ever do get burned Ill still be ahead. And as far as someone refuseing to buy products on the internet, thier loss. Make sure you tell them not to do any finacial transactions over the internet, after all there is the possibility they could get burned. And for Kenwood, Alpine, Rockford, ETC maybe they should catch up to the 21st century, millions of potential customers are passing them by.

michaelwooten · 10-15-2003, 02:14 PM

It is called diminishing your brand name!!! When everyone sells your un-authorized products at cost + 10% you do win but at what cost to the manufacturer and the retailers that carry your stuff? I don't know what you do but it does not sound like you own a business. When you advertise and put your blood and sweat into your business and have someone walk in with the product that you sell for $10-20 less it begins to irritate you.

I buy several things on the internet but only from authorized dealers. Authorized dealers know the in's and out's of the product and its capabilities and are trained from the factory.

As far as the 21st century comment we are the most technologicaly advanced ecectronics made for the vehicle(it is all we do). We have a dealer network that we support and hope to drive business to. All I was doing was making a suggestion. Keep buying all you want from the internet just make sure whatever products you buy it is from an authorized internet retailer.

michaelwooten · 10-15-2003, 02:15 PM

10" has become the most popular. Directed makes a 10" with DVD and install kit plus 2 IR headphones for $799-899. Check your local dealer.

jdadamsjr · 10-15-2003, 04:12 PM

Alpine, I feel your pain and emphatize with you....

I'm in the IT business and FIGHTING tooth and nail the export of jobs to India, et all...

but it's a losing battle... we have to ensure we keep our battle lines drawn here to make sure we 'honor' gay and lesbain month this month and black pride month and hispanic diversity month, and ...
the 'under God" in the pledge of allegiance is an affront to the atheists and ....

Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread, just SO many things are sliding down that slippery liberal slope ! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

989171 · 10-15-2003, 06:19 PM

JohnBoyToo, you say you empathize with him, and then you go on to say that "just SO many things are sliding down that slippery liberal slope". I don't quite understand. Liberals hate our capitalist system, they do not encourage open competition in the marketplace (regulation). Alpine apparently feels the same way, they hire "net enforcers" to regulate who can sell their product. They would rather have their "authorized dealers" sell their product at a premium, than lower their price by 10% and let more retailers sell, thereby selling 20% more product. Their profit margin is smaller yet they make more money. And alpine, I never said your product needs to catch up to the 21st century, only your marketing. By the way, I hope your getting your issues with your truck resolved, Id make them give me a new one. See I can be a nice guy. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

michaelwooten · 10-15-2003, 07:30 PM

Thank you about that...if you have read my posts you know that I am going through some crap.

Just a note on selling our product...We never wanted to be #1 in sales or want that large of an increase. We look at our business a little bit different that most. With 1/2 the dealers of say...Pioneer, which has about 6000 nationwide. We focus on only about 2500 dealers nationwide and focus on the speciality retailer(Circuit is our only large account). Fewer dealers and higher quality. Most internet dealers cannot be Alpine dealers because we require our dealers have a storefront and installation bays. We train them on installation and integration of our products...thus a better experience. Crutchfield is also trained and has 24 hr cust service to walk you through your installation if you have probs and that is the only reason that they qualify.

Alpine has been thought of as the "mercedes" of the industry and that is because we are selective about our brand name and how our products are displayed. As far as intgeration goes we are one of the largest OEM manufactures out there we even sell some to Lincoln. This always helps with vehicle knowledge and integration issues. If you bought an Alpine whatever from an non-authorized dealer and had problems with that dealer or the product you blame us. Don't say you wouldn't because they always do. With internet fraud in second only to identity theft there alot people getting hurt and all I was saying is BE CAREFUL!!! Thay was it. no more. notta [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]

kdurrell · 10-16-2003, 10:26 PM

Alpine fanatic:

I see your point, but Crutchfields prices are insane. It's not hard to beat their price by 50% on some items, that means you would have to get burned twice on the same item before going with Crutchfield would make sense. At that point the product would be crap anyway, and the brand name would be tarnished, like it or not.

A lot of us are aware of the "risk" we take and are ok with it. That said companies like Alpine and BFGoodrich (ever try to get a set of All-Terrains below list price?) that refuse to honor warranties just to protect dealer pricing are treading a fine line. Bottom line, if your business model works great! But at least acknowledge the inherent compromise without whining about it.