Ok, I posted a little while back that I was about upgrade my sound system in my car. I got great responses. One of the responses was to check out www.pricegrabbers.com. So obviously, I did! I found that everything was MUCH cheaper online. . .go figure. So I went up to the car audio store again and they said they don't price match online items and they gave countless reasons why I should pay a little more (more like much more) and purchase from them (i.e.: warranty issues, return policies, false claims, costs of labor, customer service, etc). I mean we are talking roughly $400 dollars in savings over the local audio store's prices on HU, speakers, and amp. Suggestions, please! Should I just buy from the local shop, and say screw it? Or should I buy online? Thanks in advance.

 

If you plan to do the install yourself, know exactly what you want and don't care about warranties, buy online. Otherwise, pay a bit extra and use your local store. If the store's $400 extra includes installation, it's not too bad a price.

How much is the total cost, online vs. local store?

 

Each component would still be warrantied though, wouldn't it? Then couldn't you just find an install shop that stands behind their work?

 

Well, here is my advice. I just purchased a new system for my car. Alpine 9815 HU, MBQuart Q series and rear MBquart regular coax speakers. I bought everything online. I got the head unit for like 150 under in store prices, the Qs for only 400 the store wanted something like 1200 for them HAHAHA, and the rears for like 70 or something.

I did the same thing as you. I priced the stuff online, went to the store said match it or I will go somewhere else (not in those exact words...a little nicer). I hit 6th Ave, Best Buy, Circuit City, and PC Richards, no one would come close to the price on any of the items.

All the items I bought are brand new, in original boxes, with warranty. I have talked to people in those stores and they have given me the same lines as they did to you. Online shopping is hurting them big time, I think they have all decided not to accept internet pricing because they can't compete with it. If no stores will meet internet pricing then the consumer, you and I, have only two choices, buy online or at store pricing. I prefer to buy online because I want to save a buck or two.

I was actually in a store this weekend looking at a digital camera and there was a guy dealing with the salesman on a particular camera. The guy said that he could get it for blah blah price and the guy said that was a good price but he couldn't meet it. The consumer walked out the store.

It is your call on what you feel more comfortable doing. Personally I have realized I stop going to stores and do almost all of my major shopping online.

On a side note; I bought the HU from http://www.hypaudio.com/index.html and the speakers from http://www.woofersetc.com I would buy from both again. Shipping was relatively fast had everything in about a week or so and their cust service was good.

Good luck in choosing. Let us know what you decide to do.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mas
If you plan to do the install yourself, know exactly what you want and don't care about warranties, buy online. Otherwise, pay a bit extra and use your local store. If the store's $400 extra includes installation, it's not too bad a price.

 

Typically, the manufacturere's warranty is void; however, the interent retailer usually matches the manufacturer's warranty. If you go to any of the manufacturer's homepage they state that they do not authorize the sale of their products on the internet. Sometimes you could get B-stock stuff too so you have to be a little careful. I have purchased a lot off the internet and have saved thousands. My own pwersonal rule is that if it has moving parts then buy from the retailer (i.e., many head units). However, amps and speakers I am more likely to buy off of internet.

 

Ok this is what I came up with:

$1162 installed (purchased from local store)

$742 online using the same install prices they first quoted me. Obviously the install is going to be a little bit more but not $420 more for items not purchased at thier store.

And their is no way I can or want to do the install myself!

 

Oh, and what I forgot to say...The local car audio shop told me the following:

A guy bought some tv's for his visors online and had the shop install them for $245 (install price) for a 350Z. Anyhow, the tv's didn't work and he had to go through all kinds of crap to return the tv's and then pay install prices again! Just one of the many stories he told me.

 

Store markups on car audio is incredibly high. The best way to get car audio stuff is to work at best buy/ circuit city, or know someone who does. My friend saved me hundreds because he works at circuit city. They get stuff at cost. But buying online is the next best thing assuming the online store is legitimate. I have heard a few horror stories of people getting burned, but they are usually from shady websites with ridiculously low prices and they usually don't look too professional. You can also find a lot more sales, combo packages online.

Also, I hope you are not having the instal done by a place like best buy or circuit city. I would not trust those guys, especially with the S. I would have to go to a place that specializes in car audio and I would want to see other cars they have done. I would actually recommend you seriously consider doing the instal yourself, unless you got some fancy subwoofer box plans or LCD monitor plans. If it is just speakers and head unit, Im sure you can do it yourself and save lots of money. Subwoofer boxes are a little tricky though.

Hope some of this helps, Good Luck!

 

All I have to say is...what kind of idiot installs monitors in a car without testing them first? They should never have charged him twice, and he should never have paid them twice.

Warranties are on the product itself and can NOT be based upon WHERE or WHO the product was purchased from. When you open a box and the warranty card is in there, THAT expressed warranty holds, PERIOD. The companies may give you crap if they know where it actually came from, but they cannot do so LEGALLY...legally they are bound by the terms of that warranty, and your state may have additional rules and regulations when dealing with such matters. By federal law, the company (as well as you) is bound to the extra regulations imposed by your state. Anything told to the contrary is flat out wrong. Companies get away with pushing customers around because we're small compared to them and they have legal eagles behind them just waiting to spend corporate money...but the law is behind the consumer when it comes to upholding a warranty issue, plain and simple.