everyone

[smoker]

i recently got a pm from chris asking if this "sound solutions" forum was doing me any good. my response to him was, im not involved with this site for me but for the members. i dont think everyone realizes the advantage to supporting the members here that are shop owners. myself, cargodz, joeyc, bwcad1.....i see people buying online and not always from reputable businesses. i know of people who have contacted me for a price, then bought off ebay only to get burned and then turn around and do it again. you may not get ebay pricing from the dealers here but you will get a warranty...and..you will get undeniably the best tech support in the business. call the ebay guy up and ask him how to install a product if your having trouble with it...see what happens. i here or more specifically read on here where somebody would buy locally but their local guy is an idiot. guess what? its your fault. and its the fault of anybody that does all their shopping online. when you cut into your local economy the way online sales have done then you pretty much guarantee that your local shop cant afford the best talent. some cities have the economic diversity to support multiple shops and can afford to have talented installers working for them, most cant. i personally have no employees and work 6-7 days a week and put in at least 10 hour days. i would like to see everyone support their local shops, i know when you walk in you may not get the best price but as you show your loyalty to them they will return the favor by giving you better pricing. my best customers dont pay labor at all.....they also dont pay full retail...my customers also give me christmas gifts and come in just to hang out and watch tv. they order pizza and have it deliverd to the shop. my business practice is this...."if it was my car being worked on at what point do i feel like im paying too much and at what point do i feel like i got my moneys worth?" and thats how i bill it out. not all shops are that way and my shop is growing i believe in part because of my philosophy. but i guarantee your experiences with your local shops will be better if you show them some loyalty as well. regardless my point being that you have at your disposal about 4 or 5 businesses here that will get you the best deal they can and noone is taking advantage of it. your decision because none of us are going to get rich here and thats not the intention. the intent is to give fellow board members great deals so you can afford to have the best you can afford and maybe better than you could otherwise afford.

[pimpmaynard]

AGREED 100%. keep your money in the community, so it can potentially benefit things you can see rather than contributing straight to corporate america, and never seeing what it's done. buy local. if the installer that lives near you is mildly retarded, learn yourself. install yourself. wire yourself. it's much better that way. smoker for president

[Airforceyooper]

Smoker has my vote. I bought my tweeters from you didn't I? I know I bought them from someone on here. That was back when I was new and didn't really know anybody yet. I bought some second skin too. :)

[cargodz]

I am in full agreement... I've even taken the direct quote and put it on the Car Godz threads as to be in full support ;)

Something I would like to add... Many of you enjoy the idea, plan on, or currently compete in car audio competition (Bass Race, dB Drag, Meca, IASCA, USAC, etc.) and what you may not realize is that these shows/ comps are supported and sponsored by local shops. Some of you may have noticed a decline in shows/ comps over the last couple years... Now is there any wonder why? If the local shops only have enough money to keep their doors open, then why risk more money to have a competition (yes it does cost money for shops to have these).
Many of you do your best to support your local shops, and for this we as shop owners thank you, and I also understand that many of you may by equipment used to save money (very understandable and supported), but when you take the risk of buying stuff new online from unauthorized dealers (as most of them are) you not only risk your money and equipment, but the industry and sports.
Help local shops continue to help you... support them ;)

[sinister audio]

Its really hard to know really how hard it is to compete against the internet unless you have first hand experience and as some of you know i have had first had and i failed to compete against it. so if your going to buy and want a deal get it from Bill or smoker or any others on this forum you wont be sorry and youll be getting a hell off a deal and the best customer support you could ask for.

[brisgreat1]

Yeah i plan on getting my future equipment from here, very very helpful ppls!

[Darthness]

i know of people who have contacted me for a price, then bought off ebay only to get burned and then turn around and do it again.

he's talking about me :(

[Ryan from Ohio]

He could be talking about any one of us with that statement.

Anyone who has done a lot of car audio shopping has been burned on E Bay at one point or another.

[falkenbd]

I feel that sometimes, you can get a good deal on Ebay.

Like cables for example. Is there any reason I shouldn't buy cables on ebay? As long as I'm buying from a reputable seller, I see no risk in that. I bought most of my wiring on eBay for my new setup.

I'd like to buy it from a store, but its less convenient. I don't like what Radio Shack or Best Buy or Circuit City has to offer (especially the high prices). And I don't know of a good small shop to go to in my area. Next time I need some cable maybe I'll check with some of the guys on here.

[Darthness]

He could be talking about any one of us with that statement.

Anyone who has done a lot of car audio shopping has been burned on E Bay at one point or another.
no. he was talking about me.

not that its a problem. :P

I talked to him before i bought the autoteks and before i bought the hifonics on ebay :P

[smoker]

your a small portion of the people ive talked to who went that route, with that exact same seller. ive got a customer whose gf bought him some mtx through those guys and it took 2 months to get them.....

[Tim]

I know I may be posting on an old thread, but I just noticed this one in the vendors section, so rip me if you must. I am very glad to see these businesses on here. I am a firm believer in supporting your local shop, but the local shop we have the dude is a moron and sells primarily to the yuppies because "it's cool". I will buy from Terry (Sound Solutions) again, because he did me right. You do get the loyalty back that you put in.

Tim

[smoker]

thanks tim, good reviews are always appreciated and you and your family are welcome in my shop anytime. you exemplify the type of customer i like to have. (yea i used a big word, but tim is a heck of a guy so he deserves it)

[Ryan from Ohio]

See look at all that extra effort :)

[Tim]

no problem at all man, I really would rather deal with local shops, I mean Crutchfield may be a good alternative, but nothing compares to good ol face to face customer service.


Tim

[NorthQuad]

I've never purchased anything off ebay, never will. The only online products I've purchased (that I can remember) came from StylinConcepts for the F-350. And even than I was sweatin' until it arrived safe. The thought of losing a couple G was nerve racking.

I don't have a problem purchasing locally. What I do have a problem with is purchasing locally and having that business charge full price while receiving half effort from them in return.

I once spent $1800 for a system I couldn't listen to. I payed that amount because I wanted service. Put it this way... they installed a 600.1 Kicker amp to a single Kicker Comp VR in my truck. The sub rattled like a jackhammer. Impossible to enjoy. You think they'd help me fix it? Nope. So I turned it to half volume and it blew in less then three seconds. I brought it to them and asked for my money back. They charged me a $75 re-stocking fee. POS mothers. There's plenty more to that storey, of course.

Same thing with the Future Shop here. Purchased about $1700 worth of stuff from them for myself and also my sisters car. Had her stuff installed in her Mustang. Got it back sounding like junk with wires hanging everywhere. Brought it back to them. All they do is adjust the HU settings. More POS mothers. It's hard to trust any of these aces.

I wish I was closer to you fellas. I have a 2005 Explorer that needs a system installed. I have everything but the door speakers. That's why I've been crusin' around here. Trying to find some good speakers to replace the factories. Even than, I'm not sure what to do when I get them. Watch them collect dust? I'm afraid to let anyone around here install it.

[Tim]

got any friends that install and that you can trust??

the guys on here will all give you a good deal, they are all fair and want to help as much as they can.

Tim

[NorthQuad]

got any friends that install and that you can trust??
No, I don't have any friends to help install it, unfortunately.
The closest person that would fit that description is about 800km's/400miles or so away. Even then, I haven't spoken to that person in about five years.
the guys on here will all give you a good deal, they are all fair and want to help as much as they can.
Tim
Absolutely, CAC is the only place I come to search. I love the G.B. and U. List. I learn something new everytime I come here.

[Tim]

Well you only have one option left, read and search and learn and do it yourself. Any of us on here are more than willing to share any information we have learned.

Tim

[NorthQuad]

Well you only have one option left, read and search and learn and do it yourself. Any of us on here are more than willing to share any information we have learned.
Tim
Yeah, you bet. Thanks Tim.

[cargodz]

Well you only have one option left, read and search and learn and do it yourself. Any of us on here are more than willing to share any information we have learned.
Tim
^X2... That's what we're here for :thumbsup