NOT EVERYONE FITS into BIG BOX STORES

CHECK OUT GOLD SOUND'S MANY ADVANTAGES

CONSUMER REPORTS, SOUND & VISION & ABSOLUTE SOUND all recommend independent dealers over big box stores. “Personal service is something big box stores & internet sellers can’t offer,” ABSOLUTE SOUND. “You have to visit a true specialty store to get better, in-depth advice,” HOME THEATER.

CONSUMER REPORTS asked readers to rate their shopping experiences. Compared to big box stores, independent dealers are best in Selection, Product Quality, Shopping Ease, Checkout Speed & Customer Service. Of all 41 stores, Walmart was worst. Best Buy wasn't much better. 

Electronics specialty stores fared much better than big box stores, according to J.D. Powers.  Big box stores didn't have the most basic product knowledge. "A third of Kmart associates didn't know what HDMI was & whether HDMI or component cables provide better picture quality." At a big box store I asked to see a stereo tuner; instead I was shown a power supply. Another time I asked to see a power amp & was shown a receiver.         

Our prices are usually the same or lower & our selection is often more comprehensive. Their sales people refer customers to us, since we carry products that they do not, including better home theater, stereo & pro equipment; turntables; quality used equipment & speaker components.

The most important benefit we provide doesn't cost you anything, our knowledge & experience. People at Gold Sound are  university-educated in electronics & acoustics; designed speakers & electronics; built speakers & electronics; plus, written about electronics for books & national magazines. NASA, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin & other major corporations have specified Gold Sound to design equipment for them.

A recent consumer survey placed Walmart & Kmart as the two worst big box stores. Walmart is featured in 6/7/10 TWICE [This Week In Consumer Electronics].  "Walmart is limited in product depth & selection. Consumers like wider variety in some categories & that's not feasible with Walmart's model. Walmart displays  [AV] speakers in front of the consumer, precluding a true surround-sound demo. Walmart's Durabrand [house-brand] products couldn't deliver the latest digital technology as quickly as top-tier suppliers could. Digital technology was moving too fast & Duraband's OEM supplier put Walmart in the potential position of buying last year's technology. The top-tier brands became stronger because they could deliver these technologies. Walmart also moved away from the Durabrand house brand to keep return rates under control. New technology has challenges. To try to do this with OEM suppliers would have been a disaster."

HOME THEATER sent shoppers to 9 big box stores in N.Y., Colorado, California, etc. “Their demeanors quickly sank to the excitement level of cold oatmeal about audio. Demo rooms sound excruciatingly awful.” Big box stores have walls of speakers, etc., but none are hooked up. 

Many big box stores prefer to sell lower quality brands with short warranties, since they make more selling warranties than selling equipment. Many stores require their employees to sell overpriced extended warranties, that consumer magazines call a scam. A big box store saIesman said, “I almost feel sorry for the customers. They just want to buy a TV, but my job is selling cables & warranties.” Often salesmen are paid only on commission, but are not paid if they sell their cheapest advertised equipment, encouraging bait & switch.

Recently, when a customer asked for a good stereo receiver, a big box store recommended an AV surround receiver. But, oops, it didn't have the phono input which the customer needed. At Gold Sound, we have receivers for the same price with a phono input, better sound & longer warranty. On several popular AV receivers, our prices are lower than big box stores.   

One of Colorado’s larger big box stores fired all their service departments, discontinuing all in-store service, to make space for washers & dryers. Their president stated “Service is a thorn in our side; we’re not very good at it.” 

Most Gold Sound products have a 3 year warranty; some have 10 year warranties, no charge. We've fixed equipment & CD's, free, while the customer waits. We can only provide this service for items purchased here. We fix speakers not purchased here for local customers.

Here's some recent customer comments.

    "You have the best store - new equipment
      from budget to high end, stereo & home
        theater. You're the only place to shop."

              "At last, I've found a real store."

    "Gold Sound is the only store to buy from."

                     "You're real friendly & 
                       consumer-oriented."

             "I've never heard sound so clear."  

        "Am I glad we found you. We bought 
        this today & will be back to buy more."

        "You're the first person I've spoken
       to who understands in your heart &
       brain what I need. Why did I waste
              my time at other places?"

   "It's great to find a high-end store without 
     the attitude. You're very knowledgeable."

             "I've gone to many other stores,
            but only buy here, since you have
                     the sound & values."

            "You're the only place in Colorado 
             with a good selection of stereo
                & home theater equipment."

      "You're more focussed on customer       satisfaction than any big box store."

 "I went from Fort Collins to Denver to Colorado Springs visiting every audio shop. I was so impressed with the Wharfedale Opus speakers that I bought two pairs. There's no speaker for this kind of money that can beat them."   

GOLD SOUND vs BIG BOX STORES

Gold Sound	Big Box Stores
Employee Experience  30–40 years from all employees	Minimal
Money Back Guaranty YES, 7 days	NO, store credit only
U.S. - made Equipment  Crown, Grado, Kimber Cable, Rogue, VPI, etc.    European Equipment   Rega, Quad, Mission, Monitor, Wharfedale, REL, Ortofon, etc.	NO   NO
Better Warranties Usually 3 years; Some 5-10 years	Usually 90 days; Some 1 year
Stereo & Audiophile Equipment Stereo Receivers, Preamps, Power & Integrated amps, Turntables, etc.	SELDOM
Affordable Audiophile Equip. Parasound, Monitor Audio, Pro-ject, Quad, Rega, Rogue, Wharfedale PRO Audio Pro JBL, Crown, Marantz, Denon, etc.	NO   NO
Speaker Components  10,000+	NO
Used & Classic Audio YES	NO
Turntables 7 new models, 5 from Europe or U.S.	NO
Tube Amplifiers new Vincent, Quad & Rogue; many used tube amps	NO
Cartridges, Needles / Stylus 100’s in stock	NO
Cartridge Install;              YES Turntable set-up               YES Repair tech YES	NO NO NO
Custom cables made YES	NO