[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] thefoodman52:
Yeah, more recently after dealing with MY local best buy...

I was having an issue with the amp in my car for my sub's. Was continually cutting out after anywhere from 3-20 minutes. However, it started when I turned my car on. After it'd been running, if it sat for 2hrs+, it ran for another 2 minutes. I didn't know of any 'mom and pop' type places here in san diego, so I just went there.

I use pheonix gold equipment in my car, from my channels, my subs, and my amp. Never had any issues till now. They figured it was the amp, becuase it ran warm (like always. It's a 500W peak @ 2ohm powering 2 10" R1's). So I said, **** it, I was going to look for a 1000W in a couple months anyway, might as well since I'm here. Kenwood something or other (was TOTAL trash) was $250 out the door. They install, it runs for over some 5 hours straight, I think it's good. Start the car up the next day and....

Cutoff after 5 minutes. Not playing loud, just using my subwoofers for the low-end like usual. Blending into the music, not standing out. I am FLOORED at this point.

$100 for labor (WAY high) + $250 for an amp, that's STILL cutting out, and I'm having the same problem, exactly.

I go in AGAIN. They just stare at it and plug the amp into something else, it runs fine.

"Yeah, it's something with the wiring in your car, man. I'll take a look at it, but I think it's gonna need a total re-install. I'm not liking the wires look here to begin with here anyway... might need some thicker stuff. A new wiring kit's gonna be around $120 with another $100 for install. You're gonna be looking at about $230 today."

This is for a 1000W monoblock amp. Nothing special, doesn't require some 4awg wiring crap like he was trying to throw at me (which would be necessary for something like... I dunno... 4500W+), new car battery (which he also suggested I look at), and it's not near powerful enough to be creating any issues with my alternator.

I actually FOUND some other place. Wanna know the issue? The one thing they didn't want to test, because they couldn't make money out of it: the in-line fuse running from the battery to the amp.

It was an older glass-tube one that I had put in when I got it all installed the first time. Didn't even think of it being the issues, as it wasn't blown. It had internally de-soldered itself though just from the heat here in San Diego compared to what it was in Florda. Their price at this other place called StreetNoyz?

$78 an hour for labor, $40 for a new fuse assembly+1500W rated fuse. He cut me half the labor out because it took them about 2 minutes to locate the issue and fix it. Less than $100, and I'm out the door.

(Forgot to mention, this was after 5 visits to this BestBuy. Each time, they 'tested' the same things. All within 2 weeks. Totally useless, and I'm sure they knew what the issue was.)

I have COMPLETELY lost faith in best buy at this point. I've had NO real experience with car audio (this being my first car, and thereby first system), and they decided on trying to run me through the mill & try and milk as much money out of me as possible.

DO NOT get anything from best buy unless it's small like printer ink, a couple cables, or anything else. Even then, consider elsewhere first!​

It's overpriced, and they WILL try their best to screw you over. It's an over-all HORRIBLE experience. I mean, I've never had a really good experience from these stores, but this time and the one prior (was an issue over a defective keyboard) are MORE than enough evidence that I do not need to be shopping there. I feel my experience here, though extreme, seems to fit in with exactly every other bad story from there.

Stay away!

-edit-

Forgot about this!

There was some guy's truck they were working on (installing a sub) while I was there my last time. They got it in, and working alright. However, none of his interior lights were working afterwords. They told him he'd have to go to the dealership and have them figure out why because they had no clue.

I'm imagining his night-time driving must be fun, not being able to read anything but his radio lights inside his truck. They have absolutely not a single clue as to how do their jobs right. Again, I'll add; PLEASE for your sake, look elsewhere before even considering BestBuy!! The extra drive will DEFINITELY pay off in the end.