From: nau@ssesco.com (William Nau)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Mail Order List (FAQ)
Date: 26 Jan 93 18:19:21 GMT
Organization: SSESCO

01/26/93

Here's the latest release of the rec.audio mail order list.
This list depends on your input.  Please feel free to email
additions, changes, corrections, comments, and requests to
me (nau@SSESCO.com).  I try to respond to every request and
most comments.  If you do not get a response, the mail has
probably bounced and I have given up fighting with mail.  If
I am unable to get you the list via email, it does get posted
to rec.audio at least once a month.  The list is also available
via anonymous FTP in the pub/rec.audio directory at SSESCO.com.

I have also included some basic information on how to deal
with mail order companies.  Feel free to comment on that as
well.  Don't expect it to change, but feel free to comment.

Anyway, read on (or skip to the list) and the best of luck
with your purchase.

Disclaimer:
  This list was compiled via mail messages received from the
  folks out in netland and from paging though a couple of
  magazines.  I have had limited experiences with most of the
  following companies.  I apologize for any errors.  If any
  mail order company wishes to be removed from my list, please
  let me know (a polite letter would be nice) and I will take
  the appropriate actions.

  Any orders through the following mail order companies are
  done at your own risk and I take absolutely no responsibility.
  If you find the information to be wrong, tell me and I will
  correct it.

Authorized Dealers:
  Many of the very low priced items are from nonauthorized
  dealers.  This means that the manufactures may not back
  the item that is sold through these dealers.  Often the
  dealer will have their own warranty in such a case, but
  don't expect much from such a warranty.  Ask them if they
  are authorized.

  You may also want to call the manufacture to see if the
  dealer is authorized for the model you are interested in.

Demo & Factory Refurbished Units:
  Sometimes mail order companies sell you a demo or factory
  refurb as new.  A demo unit is one that has been used on
  show floors as a demonstration unit.  A factory refurb is
  a unit that was defective and sent back to the factory
  for repairs.  To sell a factory refurb, demo, or used item
  as if they were new is illegal, but is also very common
  with some sleazy mail order companies.

  Demos and used equipment is often a little beat up.  It
  may also be missing documentation (warranty card, etc).
  Also, check to make sure that the serial number on the
  instructions, warranty card, unit itself, and box all
  match.  If they do not (or are missing on the box or
  the unit), then it is likely that you do not have a
  new or authorized unit.

  It is much more difficult to tell if a unit has been
  refurbished at the factory.  Perhaps if you send a letter
  (or phone call) to the factory with the model number of
  the unit, they can tell you if it's been in for repairs.

Bait and Switch:
  Bait and switch tactics are not unusual in the world of mail
  order (or used cars).  They will often attempt to make you
  purchase an item other than the one that you want.  This can
  be illegal.  It's a fuzzy line, because sometimes they are
  simply trying to give you good advice, but other times they
  are doing so only because that item will make them more profit.
  I tried to note where the Bait and Switch tactics are
  suspected by netters.

  As a general rule, don't purchase an item that you did not
  plan to when you first called.

Netter Response:
  I just recently decided that I was not doing a good enough
  job of representing the views of the netters.  As responses
  would come in, I would simply use my own judgement to
  determine if the place should be recommended or not.  While
  I still do this, I have also added a category known as
  'Netter Response' which gives you an idea of how many people
  responded (remember this list is new) and how they felt.
  (I stole the basic idea from Douglas Blondin in rec.photo)

  There are 4 categories for user response.  These are Very
  Good, Ok, Poor, and Very poor.  The number of responses
  that I have received for each category will be in a list
  separated by commas.  For example (1,2,3,4) means that
  1 response liked the place very much, 2 thought it was
  just fine, 3 were not quite satisfied, and 4 would like
  to see it removed from the face of the Earth.


ABC Distributors
162 Highway 34, Suite 189
Matawan, NJ 07747
Phone: 1-800-354-1324
  - Mid to high end (Kenwood, Pioneer, Yamaha, B&W, Nakamichi, Onyko)
  - Authorized on some brands only
  - not enough information to recommend
  - Netter response: (0,0,0,0)


Audio Nexus
33 Union Place
Summit, NJ 07901
Phone: 1-908-277-0333
  - High end (Vandersteen, Stax, Rotel, PS Audio, McCormack, Forte, Fotex,
    Dynaco, Counterpoint, B&K, Cary, Audio Alchemy, Audioquest, etc)
  - Near list prices
  - mixed reactions (A good reaction in person and a poor one on a mail
    order basis)
  - Netter response: (0,1,0,1)


Audio Outlet
P.O. Box 673
Bedford Hills, NY 10507-0673
Phone: (914) 666-0550
  - High end equipment (PSE, Audio Alchemy, Counterpoint, Mcormack,
    Muse, Creek, Genesis, Acurus)
  - ok prices
  - Not really a mail order house, but will deal over the phone
  - Very knowledgable and helpful (Ask for Frank or Mike)
  - Good service
  - working on a catalog
  - well recommended
  - Netter response: (1,3,0,0)


Audio Video Today
14306 Beach Blvd
Westminster, CA 92683
Phone 1-714-891-7575
  - High end (Counterpoint, Denon, Hafler, Polk, Yamaha, Kinergetic, etc)
  - not enough information to recommend
  - Netter response: (0,0,0,0)


Cambridge Sound Works
154 California Street
Newton, MA 02158-9954
US Phone: 1-800-367-4434
Canada:   1-800-525-4434
  - Mid end (Pioneer, Phillips, Cambridge Sound Works)
  - Good prices
  - They exist to sell their own speakers (intended for surround)
  - Varying opinions on their speakers
  - Good service
  - Recommended (Worth a call for the catalogue anyway)
  - Netter response: (1,2,0,0)


Central Park Computer and Electronics
691 Central Park Ave.
Scarsdale, NY
Phone: 1-914-472-3522
  - Mid end (Sony, Mitsubishi, others)
  - Claims to be authorized by Sony, but Sony claims they are not.
  - One user reported getting a factory refurb/used machine that was
    supposed to be new.
  - Netter response: (0,0,3,0)


Computability
P.O. Box 17882
Milwaukee, WI  53217
Phone: 1-800-558-0003
  - Mid to low end (Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, JVC)
  - Mostly computer stuff but have some audio/video
  - Upfront and straighforward
  - They have a catalog
  - multiple recommendations
  - Netter response: (1,2,0,0)


Crutchfield
1 Crutchfield Park
Charlottessville, VA 22906
Sales/Information: 1-800-955-3000
Catalog Request:   1-800-955-9009
Spanish Line:      1-800-955-9039
TDD (Deaf Line):   1-800-388-9753
  - Low to mid end equipment (Sony, Kenwood, Pioneer, JBL, NHT)
  - Seems to be an emphasis on car stereo
  - Reasonable prices (a little high for mail order)
  - Very friendly and helpful people
  - Service that difficult to equal even at a local store.
  - Very good (toll free) technical help.  No question is stupid.
  - A catalog is available
  - Highly recommended (only complaints were price)
  - Netter response: (6,7,2,0)


CSA Audio
193 Bellevue
Upper Montclair, NJ
Phone: 1-201-744-0600
  - High end (Audio Research, Near, Martin Logan, Krell, NAD, California
    Audio Labs, Fosgate, Acurus, Polk, MB Quart, Dynaco, etc)
  - Near list prices
  - Rude
  - Netter response: (0,0,1,0)


Focus Electronics
4523 13th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219
Phone: 1-800-223-3411
  - Mid end (Sony, Panasonic, Sansui, JVC)
  - Good prices
  - Poor service (tell you what you want to hear.  true or not)
  - cannot recommend
  - Netter response: (0,0,1,0)


Galen Carol Audio
San Antonio, TX
Phone: 1-210-805-9927
  - Very high end (Aragon, Benz Micro, Bitwise, CAL, EAD, Classe,
    Convergient Audio, Jadis, McCormack, Sota, Wilson, Wadia, etc.)
  - pleasant (you get to talk to Galen himself)
  - also has used and demos
  - good prices
  - doesn't take credit cards (keep me updated on this)
  - recommended by one netter
  - Netter response: (2,0,0,0)


Harvey Electronics
2 West 45th Street
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 1-212-575-5000
  - mid to high end (Yamaha, Sony, B&O, Lexicon, Mcintosh)
  - also have used and 'B stock' equipment
  - polite
  - recommended
  - Netter response: (1,1,0,0)


HCM Audio
Chico, CA
Phone: 1-800-222-3465
       1-916-345-1341
  - High end (Aragon, B&K, Counterpoint, Parasound, Tara Labs, EAD, Stax,
    Celestion, Acoustat, Sota, etc.)
  - good prices
  - knowledgeable and pleasant (ask for Harry)
  - recommended (especially for cables)
  - Netter response: (1,1,0,0)


Illinois Audio
1284 East Dundee Road
Palatine, IL 60067
Phone: 1-800-621-8042
  - Mid end (Sony, Panasonic, Technics, Kenwood, JVC, Teac, Aiwa,
    JBL, Jensen, Allison)
  - Low prices
  - A little rude, but bearable
  - Prompt
  - They have a catalog (price sheet)
  - recommended
  - Netter response: (0,3,0,0)


J&R Music World
Dept. SR1192
59-50 Queens Midtown Expressway
Maspeth, Queens, NY 11378
Phone: 1-800-221-8180
  - Low to mid end equipment (Sony, Pioneer, etc)
  - Reasonable prices for mail order
  - Friendly (not rude anyway)
  - Reasonable service
  - One netter reported that they claimed to have a unit in stock when
    that wasn't true.
  - A catalog is available
  - Recommended
  - Netter response: (0,5,1,0)


Kief's Audio Video
Phone: 1-913-842-1811
  - High end to very high end (Acurus, Adcom, Alpine, B&W, Denon,
    Forte, Martin-Logan, NAD, Nakamichi, Onyko, Threshold and more)
  - recommended
  - Netter response: (1,0,0,0)


Leader Marketing Company
1730 Stebbins
Houston, TX 77043-2807
Phone: 1-800-877-3325
  - Low to mid end (Targa, Sherwood, Pioneer, JVC, MTX, Phase III, Sony)
  - Also have a bunch of brands that are not well known
  - Have a few (very few) high end pieces (Alpine/Denon), but are
    not authorized on these pieces
  - Normal prices
  - A catalog is available
  - not enough information to recommend
  - Netter response: (0,1,1,0)


New West Electronics
4120 Meridian
Bellingham, WA  98226
Phone: 1-800-488-8877
M-F 6:30am-6:30pm
S-S 7:30am-4:30pm
  - Mid end (Pioneer, Yamaha)
  - Friendly
  - No catalog available
  - recommended
  - Netter response: (1,1,0,0)


New York Wholesale
2 Park Avenue, Dept 15
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 1-212-684-6363
  - Mid to High end (Sony, Denon, Pioneer, Denon, NAD, Canton, Infinity,
    Alpine, Kenwood, Yamaha, Nakamichi)
  - Very good prices
  - Not authorized on MOST brands
  - Will send used or demos and deny it (several reports of this)
  - Nearly noexistant service
  - Not recommended
  - Netter response: (0,2,2,4)


Paul Heath Audio & Video
2036 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: 1-800-362-8784
  - High end (B&W, Krell, Rotel, Mirage, Aragon, Acurus, Lexicon, Apogee,
    Nakamichi, California Audio Labs, Mark Levinson, Bang & Olufsen,
    Classe, Thiel, Magnapan)
  - near list prices
  - high-end attitude
  - No catalog available
  - not enough information to recommend
  - Netter response: (0,0,1,0)


Reference Audio Video
18214 Dalton Avenue, Dept S
Gardena, CA 90248
Phone: 1-310-517-1700
  - High end (Audioquest, Audio Alchemy, Celestion, Carver, Counterpoint,
    Dahlquist, Fosgate, Hafler, Parasound, Onyko, etc)
  - Good prices
  - Good service (Friendly)
  - highly recommended
  - Netter response: (4,0,0,0)


Savant Audio
Phone: 1-800-628-0627
       1-609-799-9664 (New Jersey Store)
  - High end (Apex, AudioQuest, Basis, Creek, Ensemble, Epos, Fosgate,
    Sumiko, Rotel, QED, Nimbus, Kinergetics, Sheffield Labs, many more)
  - They have a catalog (pile of literature)
  - recommended
  - Netter response: (1,0,0,0)


S.B.H. Enterprises
1678 53rd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11204
Phone: 1-800-451-5851
  - Mid to low end (Sony, Fisher)
  - not enough information to recommend
  - Netter response: (0,0,0,0)


Shopper Advantage
Phone:      1-800-Tel-Shop
Membership: 1-800-526-4848
  - $50 annual membership
  - Mid to high end (Adcom, Sony Onyko, JVC, Technics)
  - carry much more than just audio
  - Their own 2 year warrenty as well as the manufacturer's warrenty
  - ok prices (claim a price gaurantee)
  - good service
  - 3 month trial period
  - Netter response: (0,1,0,0)


6th Avenue Electronics
Multiple locations
Orders:  1-800-394-6Ave
Information: 1-201-467-0100
  - From reasonably low end (Poineer) to fairly high end (Adcom/Denon)
  - Very good prices
  - Often not an authorized dealer
  - Very rude (hung up on me 3 times when I was trying to get a price)
  - Bait and switch tactics
  - High pressure sales (price is only good if you buy it now)
  - Will send used or demos and deny it (several reports of this)
  - Nearly noexistant service
  - Not recommended (attempt only if you know what you're doing)
  - Netter response: (0,2,3,5)


Sony Salon
Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL
Phone: 1-312-943-3334
  - Good prices
  - Polite
  - recommended by one netter
  - Netter response: (0,1,0,0)


The Sound Approach
6067 Jericho Tpke
Commack, NY 11725
Phone: 1-800-368-2344
  - Mid to high end (ADS, Carver, Hafler, Denon, Pioneer, Kenwood)
  - No catalog available
  - not enough information to recommend
  - Netter response: (0,0,0,0)


Sound by Singer
18 East 16th Street
New York, NY 10003
Phone: 1-800-882-5271
  - High end (Conrad Johnson, Krell, Martin Logan)
  - No catalog available
  - not enough information to recommend
  - Netter response: (0,0,0,0)


Sound City
Route 23 South
Kinnelon, NJ 07405
Orders:      1-800-542-save
Information: 1-201-838-9599
  - From reasonably low end (Poineer) to fairly high end (Adcom/Denon)
  - Very good prices
  - Often not an authorized dealer
  - Very rude
  - Bait and switch tactics
  - Will send used or demos and deny it (common complaint)
  - Not recommended
  - Netter response: (0,1,2,3)


Soundex
747 Berwyn Avenue
Berwyn, PA 19312
Phone: 1-800-444-2040
  - High end (Mark Levinson, Audio Research, Mirage, Proton, Stax,
    MartinLogan, Krell, Hafler, California Audio Labs, Crown, etc.)
  - priced slightly below list
  - Will deal with used/traded equipment
  - Friendly/knowledgeable (ask for Terry)
  - No catalog available
  - highly recommended
  - Netter response: (2,0,0,0)


The Sound Seller
2808 Cahill Road
P.O. Box 224
Marinette, WI 54143
Phone: 1-800-826-9002
  - High end (NAD, Lexicon, Acoustat, M&K, Carver, Onyko, Dahlquist)
  - good prices
  - responsive
  - recommended
  - Netter response: (1,1,0,0)


Square Deal
456 Waverly Avenue
Patchogue, NY 11772
Phone: 1-800-332-5441
  - High end (Rotel, California Audio Labs, B&W, B&K, B&O, Carver,
    NAD, Nakamichi, Fosgate, Lexicon, Sonographe, Boston Acoustics, etc)
  - Good prices (changed from person to person)
  - Reasonable service
  - Netter response: (0,1,0,0)


Stereo Dynamics
1670 Highway 35
Middletown, NJ 07748
Phone: 1-908-671-1559
  - High end (Conrad Johnson, Kinergetics, B&K, Rotel, Carver, Audio
    Alchemy, Energy, Denon, Near, MB Quart, Apex, Proac, etc)
  - Not enough information to recommend
  - Netter response: (0,0,0,0)


Stereo Exchange
627 Broadway,
Greenwich Village,
New York, NY 10012.
Phone 1-800-833-0071
  - High end (Yamaha, Rotel, NAD, Adcom, McIntosh, THX, Mirage)
  - Reasonable prices
  - Good service
  - No catalog available
  - recommended by one netter
  - Netter response: (0,1,0,0)


USA Media Junction
1137 Bloomfield Avenue
W. Caldwell, NJ 07006
Phone: 1-800-872-1002
  - Mid to high end (Pioneer, Sony, Hafler, Yamaha, Denon, Carver)
  - Good prices
  - 30 day return
  - Authorized dealer on some brands only
  - Customer service frequently reported to be sluggish and somewhat
    unresponsive, yet tolerable
  - No catalog available
  - recommended
  - Netter response: (0,2,0,0)


Wisconsin Discount Stereo (WDS)
Phone:  [number no longer valid]
  - A very well liked place that still gets recommendations from
    netters.  They seem to have vanished.  I would appreciate any
    information.
  - Netter response: (3,2,0,0)


Another Disclaimer:
  The opinions expressed are those compiled by myself and of other
  netters.  SSESCO takes no responsibilty.  Heck, neither do I.

-- 
William R. Nau
Supercomputer Systems Engineering and Services Company (SSESCO)
511 11th Avenue South, Suite 216
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415-1536
(612) 342-0003

nau@SSESCO.com
Newsgroups: rec.audio