How to Decide on a High-Quality and Affordable Car Stereo System
Our Tips for Where to Go, Determining Quality, and Staying in Your Budget
In this installment of our blog, we’re thinking about how difficult it can be for customers to be sure they’re getting the best car stereo system and car audio upgrades that their budget can buy.
No one wants to end up buying something that is low-quality and overpriced, and we know that you don’t want to max out your budget at one store, when the same excellent equipment is available somewhere elsewhere for a better price.
At Car Stereo City, we not only want to provide you with the best car audio installation near you, but help you understand the alternatives when you’re shopping for car audio upgrades like a new car stereo system.
We like to help our customers understand that a big box store or major online retailer may not have the expertise to offer you the best quality and the best deal, and they certainly can’t provide an expert install or show you all the latest Apple Carplay and Android Auto features these systems include.
So, we’re letting you play the role of the customer. Try our multiple choice quiz to decide what you think the smart moves are when looking for excellent and affordable car audio equipment. Play along at home, and stay tuned for our analysis at the end!
Let’s Start with Customer X, Who is Looking for a Car Stereo System Upgrade
Customer X is ready to upgrade his SUV’s audio system, but he has no experience with making a purchase like this. He has some money to spend, sure, but he also wants to save money, because he’s saving for his daughter’s future college tuition.
On top of that, he has read online that his SUV requires special support to get the wiring right for new speakers, a subwoofer, and amplifier.
What do you think our customer should do to get the best deal?
Head to a big box store, where he has to locate the right department (it’s past the fridges) and when he gets there, use the buttonless phone on the wall to call someone over to the department because he’s the only person there. When the employee arrives, he keeps confusing the console features, calling them “Apple Auto” and “Android Carplay.”
Shop online at a large, multinational retailer, and select products based on an algorithm that determines what they want to sell you at any given time.
Do nothing, and chase away those dreams of a new car stereo system by turning the car’s factory volume all the way to MAX until it’s fuzzy and crackly.
Google “car audio installation near me,” and look for a superior car audio shop that can offer suggestions, as well as an expert-level install at an affordable price.
Time to choose your answer! Write it down, and see what happens next in each scenario, including the one you chose!
How Should Our Customer Determine Quality When He’s Ready for a Car Stereo System?
Now that our customer has figured out where he wants to go to get his car audio equipment, he has to decide how to get the best quality for his money. He notices that there is quite a price range on the car audio components he’s interested in.
What’s the best way for him to determine the best option that’s also within his budget?
Immediately tell the employee at the big box store how much he has to spend. Then, let the employee upsell him until they’ve reached the top end of the budget. Leave the store with some of the equipment, and a promise that the rest will be shipped in a few business days.
At the major online retailer, just fill the cart based on what the algorithm has chosen after a quick glance at the star-ratings and the thumbnail pictures. If it’s over four stars and it looks expensive, it’s probably good stuff, right?
Again, do nothing, and spend the money elsewhere. Somewhere down the road, his budget will open up again, and he can rethink the whole process.
Talk to an expert sales team and technicians at a car audio installation spot near him. He gets the sense from their knowledge of all the components he’s looking to buy that they’ll offer him industry-leading equipment and installation at a price significantly lower than the other stores he’s visited.
Got your answer to this one? Write it down, and let’s find out what happens next in scenarios A, B, C, and D!
What Happens Next in Each Scenario, Plus Our Analysis of This Customer’s Choices
Let’s take a look at the outcome of each of the scenarios presented above to see which one is the best choice for this customer who has longed for a great car stereo system.
Our customer comes home with a stack of boxes, but has to wait another seven days for his subwoofer to arrive. He starts looking up DIY videos online for the install, and in the process, he gets a work phone call and has to stop for the day. Now, even his factory car audio is dismantled until he gets a chance to work on the install again, and, besides, he finds out there’s going to be a delay on the shipment of the other equipment.
Our Analysis: This isn’t going to work. Not only did he pay top dollar thanks to the recommendations of an employee who is not specifically trained on car audio, Apple Carplay, or Android Auto, but he’s stuck with a half-completed install and products that haven’t even been delivered yet.
Our customer loads his car up with algorithm-based suggestions, and gets his equipment in a couple of days. Fast right? However, some of the equipment seems like it’s from a brand he’s never heard of before, and he’s never seen it anywhere else. At least now he’s ready to work on the install, and decides to go the DIY route mentioned above. Unfortunately, though, the outcome is the same as in selection A. Now he’s tangled up with business calls again, and has to wait until the next weekend to finish the job.
Our Analysis: You know how DIY projects go. One minute it seems smart, frugal, and maybe even a little bit fun to take on the project yourself. But, then, one week turns into two weeks, and soon the equipment is sitting in a box until the next holiday when you can take some time off to catch up. Not only this, but we’re not even sure this car stereo system is any good. It’s from an unrecognizable company that only sells their car audio equipment at this online retailer.
Our customer decides that dreams are just dreams, and maybe he didn’t want a car audio upgrade after all. However, each time he drives past a car audio installation shop near his house, he gets a sinking feeling. Sometimes, he tries to play with the EQ on his factory system to give his car a little more bass, but when he pulls up next to a car with a real system, he definitely notices the difference, and sheepishly lowers his volume and frowns.
Our Analysis: Of course, this isn’t the route to go. We want you to feel excited every time you drive past Car Stereo City, knowing that you made the right choice by getting the car audio upgrade you’ve always wanted - and we definitely want you to show off your system on the road, so you’ll have the other drivers searching “car audio installation near me” to see if they can find out where you got yours.
Our customer decides to head to his local car audio shop, where a friendly salesperson listens intently while the customer describes what he wants. Then, this member of the sales team has a technician listen in as well, and they all collaborate together to find the perfect car stereo system that meets the customer’s needs, and includes all the latest features, such as Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
At one point, the salesperson and tech say, “Wait a minute!” and they realize there’s an even better deal on a subwoofer than the one they’d planned to order. Everyone is excited by this deal, and the team ends up saving the customer significant money on a higher-quality component. What’s more, the customer schedules an easy, professional install right there in the store, so he’ll be ready to jam out sooner than later.
Our Analysis: This is obviously the way to go! The big box store leaves you with unqualified employees, shipping delays, and difficult to follow DIY instructions. Online retailers try to persuade you to buy the products they recommend without claiming any expertise. As described in option C, freezing and stalling on your purchase gets you nowhere.
So, the only logical way to get the very best car stereo system and other car audio accessories is to go with a local, industry-leading installation business. You get hometown, reliable service and a professional relationship with a trained technician. It’s no surprise that Customer X is very, very happy with this choice.
Make Car Stereo City in San Diego Your Choice for a New Car Stereo System
How did he do it? He called Car Stereo City at (858) 277-1823. He also sent a message online to be sure he could get in to look at equipment and get an install as fast as possible.
Our final message? Don’t fail the multiple choice test by letting all the other retailers confuse and upsell you. Come to the experts who have your best interest in mind. Come to Car Stereo City.