a couple places..

The two places I always buy from are crutchfield and sounddomain.com. I haven't used sounddomain in about 3-4 yrs but I always had good experiences with them. However if you're looking for good customer service and extra goodies like the right install kit, you really can't beat crutchfield for customer service.

A few years ago, I ordered an amp from them...wasn't a rockford, can't remember the brand but it was a known company. Anyway get the amp, hook it up to my 2 12's with 2 amp channels into each to get it to run at 2 ohms(it was a 4 chan amp). Run it for a few days overheats a lot and eventually gives up. Send it back, get a new one.... Second one same thing, doesn't die, but keeps going into protect. Send it back again, no issues from crutchfield. This time I say I want my money back, again no problem from crutchfield. So now I go start messin around with the subs see if it's something on my end.... and I find out that my 4 ohm subs have been used so much they are 2 ohm subs and I was really running the amps at 1 ohm...which the amps were not rated for..... so after all that it was my fault but crutchfield never once gave me an issue...

 

As far as prices go check out onlinecarstereo.com I have ordered from them before and not had any problems. Crutchfield is great as far as service goes but they are usually pricey.

The catch to many online places is the will take the serial numbers off products like Jl audio and Alpine because they are not suppose to sell them online. So I will take the online prices and go to a local shop and try to get them to match. Most of the time they won't but it will get you a decent price and then you have the security of that local shop if you ever have any problems. Just an idea---

 

I would recommend staying away from on-line car stero...yes crutchfield and the like have good prices and good selections...but i have found if you go to a local car audio shop they are more than willing to work with you to get your business...especially when you say i was looking at this kenwood deck in cructhfield and can getit for 899.99...what can you do..makes life a lot easier when something goes wrong and you can bring it right back in to where you bought it...the audio shop i used to work in would buy wire kits for 12 bucks each...and were selling them like hot cakes for 65 bucks each...huge markup in car audio so if a shop wants your business they do have some wiggle room when it comes to the prices

 

On a side note...where are you located?

 

Thanks for all the suggestions! I am located in the Bay Area (CA). I am a little skeptical about onlinecarstereo.com. They do carry a lot of goodies, but their prices are hard to believe. Like they say, if it is too good to be true, then it is probably is.

I may just try visiting some of my local car stereo places and see what kind of prices they have. I know there is never a set price when you go into these stores. They start high and next thing you know they are waving the taxes and giving you this and that.

 

I know Best Buy carries a few RF amps find the cheapest price you can online for a non refurbished amp and print the page take it there to see what they will do. Don't try this at a car audio shop they will probably laugh at you.

 

I own a small car audio store and am in agreement with Hemisareslow and bristolbroke. Use your local guy, find a store that's been open for a long time and give him all your business .Tell them that you've been online but you want to support the local guy and I'm sure he will be happy to see you. If there is a problem he can take care of it . You don't have to take the product out a send it back for warranty and pay for shipping , labor etc.( online you never know what you get, you might be waiting a long time) Crutchfield is the best of the online stores as far as warranty goes but your local guy can at least match their prices .SO SUPPORT YOU LOCAL BUSINESSES