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.

In a CONSUMER REPORTS survey, independent dealers beat out all big box stores in these categories: Selection, Product Quality, Shopping Ease, Checkout Speed & Customer Service. 
Walmart was the worst, with the lowest possible selection & service scores, & below average product quality & buying ease. Walmart received no ratings above average. Best Buy wasn't much better. 

J.D. Powers rated independent stores much better than big box stores. 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 an FM tuner; instead I was shown an amplifier 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: 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; & have written about electronics for national magazines. NASA, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin & other major corporations specified Gold Sound designed equipment.

TWICE 6/7/10 [This Week In Consumer Electronics] said, "Walmart is limited in product depth & selection. Consumers like wider variety & that's not feasible with Walmart. Walmart displays [AV] speakers in front, precluding true surround-sound. Walmart's Durabrand [house-brand] couldn't deliver the latest technology as quickly as top-tier suppliers. Digital technology moves too fast & it put Walmart in the position of buying last year's technology. Top-tier brands are stronger because they deliver these technologies. Walmart moved away from Durabrand to lower return rates. [Otherwise it] would have been a disaster." Wal-Mart plans to make its consumer electronics departments smaller to devote more space to clothing, a move that reflects a decline in sales of its electronics. 4/15/11

HOME THEATER shopped 9 N.Y., Colorado, California, etc. big box stores. "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 prefer to sell overpriced extended warranties that consumer magazines call a scam. A big box store salesman said, "I almost feel sorry for the customers. They just want to buy a TV, but my job is selling cables & warranties."

Many times the least expensive advertised itmes are not in stock, so you are pushed into more expensive products that you did not want.
Often salesmen are paid only on commission, but not paid if they sell the cheapest advertised equipment, encouraging bait & switch. Many times the least expensive advertised items are not even in stock, since they are just the bait to lure customers to the store.

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 some receivers, our prices are lower than big box stores.   

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 can fix speakers not purchased here for local customers.

Most of the turntables, cartridges & headphones that we sell are made in the U.S. or Europe. A small percentage of our products are mede in China. At Big Box stores, almost everything is made in China. When you buy at a local store, the money you spend tends to stay in your own community.

Here's some recent customer comments.

 "GREAT SERVICE" Gary 4/30/2010

    "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, VPI, Grado, Kimber Cable, etc.    European Equipment   Focal, Clearaudio, Thorens, Ortofon, Pro-Ject, Monitor, Wharfedale, REL, Benz, 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. Focal, Parasound, Pro-ject, Cambridge, Vincent, Wharfedale, Monitor  PRO Audio Pro JBL,Crown, Marantz, Denon,DBX,etc.	NO   NO
Speaker Components  10,000+ in stock	NO
Used & Classic Audio 100's in stock	NO
Turntables 15 new models, 12 made in Europe or the U.S.	NO
Tube Amplifiers new Vincent & Quad;   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