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 1/2006. “You have to visit a true specialty store to get better, in-depth advice,” HOME THEATER 4/2004.

CONSUMER REPORTS 12/08 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 forty-one stores, Walmart had the worst ratings. 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.

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.

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

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 U.S. made; many used tube amps	NO
Cartridges, Needles / Stylus 100’s in stock	NO
Repair tech YES	NO
Custom cables made YES	NO