focal tnk tweeter completely fell apart

Yeah, I looked at those leads, they're glued to the cone, not soldered. The problem with authorized dealers is usually their prices are ridiculously high. I got quoted $175 from an authorized dealer for a single tweeter. Instead I got a pair for $145 from ebay, and will add a SquareTrade 3 year warranty for $21. I don't see any reason for paying double the price, and getting shorter warranty too.

Well, when you buy from non-authorized dealers you run the risk of getting knock-off or defective or factory second or used parts without knowing it.  And you harm the long-term viability of the manufacturer by supporting the grey market.Support the12volt.com

There is nothing that can be done about it. People care most about cheaper prices. If authorized dealers can't offer that or at least make an insignificant difference, then most buyers will still go to lower prices. Nothing personal against authorized. It just makes more sense to pay half price.

Half-price, sure. And now since you don't have a warranty you get to buy 2. Support the12volt.com

I get 2 for the price of 1, plus 3 years of warranty. Focal only gives you 2. I don't see how am I losing here? :) Especially if you count how much money I saved over the years. And I think this is the first time I needed warranty service.

Whatever, knock yourself out.  Just realize it's part of why this industry is dying, and since this is an installer's forum I'd like to see it survive for a while yet.Support the12volt.com

I'm not sure why would this industry die. Manufacturer makes the same amount of money either way. It probably hurts authorized dealers, but you can't blame the customer for wanting a cheaper price. As long as people care about custom car audio, that industry will never die. Just overpriced selling techniques might.

The point you're missing is that many times, perhaps most of the time, the grey market is not selling "real" gear.  They are selling factory seconds, knock offs, rip-offs, discontinued and obsolete models, and refurbs.  The manufacturer may or may not see any of that money, and when something falls apart like your tweeter, it gives the manufacturer a black eye that they can't do anything to fix.  And yes, as dealers disappear you, Mr. Consumer, lose the sort of support you might need one day to help you fix an issue.  Plus, the industry that's dying is the legitimate car audio installation shop, being killed off by big-box cheapaspossible joints, unauthorized dealers selling knock-offs, and so-called "free" installation. 

Sometimes cheap isn't cheap, you get what you pay for.

But like I said, knock yourself out.

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I don't know how much of that stuff is real or not. We can only speculate. Based on my experience I didn't see any signs that the stuff I got isn't real. Even the Focal set I got had a serial number which I was able to register on Focal site. So it is most likely real. If the manufacturer would be willing to come down to earth and not deny warranty based on where you bought the stuff, then things would be a lot easier for the consumer.

The legitimate car audio shop will die if it's overpriced. If there are 2 gas stations side by side, one selling gas for a tiny bit cheaper, which gas station would you go to? As long as it's not filling water into your tank, you'll go to the one with cheaper price. I don't see why car audio shops would be excluded from this simple rule. And I'm sure they too, try to find the cheapest prices possible on their tools, shop equipment, and even employees.