Did I say Customer Service???
Written: Oct 01 '01 (Updated Nov 12 '02)
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The Bottom Line
Crutchfield is good for the newbie, but for the seasoned veteran, save money and look elsewhere.
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Customer service is the key to any business' survival and none does it better than Crutchfield. Selection is also key, and Crutchfield has one of the most complete lineups yet! They can literally give you EVERYTHING that you need to get started. Whether it be car or home audio, they can tell you what you need to know to get it to work.
I have ordered more than a few times from them. Each and every order, I previously called in just to talk to one of their reps' and help to decide with what I was going to order. They have to be the friendliest people I know (or don't know:).
But it's not all glitter and gold. Expect to pay the premium to get the service you deserve. But that's what separates Crutchfield from the rest of the pack. Ebay might just have the lowest prices on the web, but if you don't know EXACTLY what you’re looking for, you might end up with something that you aren't happy with. If you email the seller and ask for, let's say, a 12-inch woofer for a Honda Civic that handles 500 watts of power, you are lucky if they email you back at all. Good luck on talking to a real person on the phone, I doubt more than a select handfull of Ebay merchants are available for calling, let alone have a toll-free 1-800 number;
Crutchfield, on the other hand, has a *hugh* database of everything that will fit your car (I still use it as a reference). Maybe a 12-inch woofer won't fit, with Ebay; you'd just be stuck. Crutchfield would just recommend a 10 or and 8 inch woofer and avoid the whole process.
But let's say that you are determined to get that 12-inch woofer and you go ahead and buy it anyway. You get it home, put it in your car, and guess what, IT DOESN'T fit! With Ebay, you may have to pay to get it shipped back and pay a "restocking fee." With Crutchfield, you simply call in and say "I don't want this item" or "could I please trade this in for something." Then, you just ship it back to them (they pay) and you either can trade it in or get your money back!
There is a wealth of information and help available online, but if you want someone to hold your hand through the process of buying/installing...go Crutchfield. You just can't beat the service and follow-through.
Note: I have nothing against Ebay, I actually order from Ebay sellers regularly. However, someone new to car-audio may not be comfortable "winging it" on the install of, for example, a Head Unit.
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Member: Mark Potts
Location: Chicago, IL
Reviews written: 13
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me: I enjoy car audio! : )
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