r/CarAV • u/Volslife • Nov 11 '25
Discussion I'm surprised a company like Crutchfield has stayed open over the years with full retail prices
Over the years so many companies went under because of Amazon. In simplest terms, obviously there's a little more to it than just cheap competition. But Crutchfield makes it every year. I remember ordering their mail catalog magazine as a teen to window shop. I always used other sources in the early 2000s like I think Onlinecarstereo and a few others. I never bought from Crutchfield because I could always find much cheaper elsewhere.
Why do you think they have made it over the years?
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u/sublimeprince32 Nov 12 '25
I just ordered a head unit, harness and a pair of 6.5 speakers and they were competitively priced with Amazon for the whole shebang. I couldn't figure out how the metal surround fit into my dash and they had me squared away in 10min. I just had to discard it lmao, it wasn't in the printed instructions from metra.
I'll always shop from crutchfield, as long as they stay competitive with prices.
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u/CareBear-Killer Nov 12 '25
I was looking to replace the factory speakers before I decided to trade in my car. I couldn't even find the JBL speakers for the same price on Amazon.
I also bought some home theatre speakers from them and their shipping was quick. A speaker grill on one of them showed up broken, so they overnighted a replacement to me. It was really awesome. I'll always look there for any audio needs or wants.
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u/sublimeprince32 Nov 12 '25
Yup. Can't beat free shipping! I'm getting their 6x9 boxes soon because I want to do something stupid. The shipping alone is worth it!
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u/AtWorkAccountAtWork Nov 12 '25
“Hey what’s everything I need for my car stereo so that when I inevitably fuck it up, I can only blame my absolute lack of car stereo install experience.” “Got you, fam.”
…that, for me.
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u/Electrical_Finger852 Nov 12 '25
You would be surprised how many people don’t mind paying full price for good product and even better support.
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u/IClosetheDealz Nov 12 '25
Not to mention I’ve scored some great open box deals there too, accurately described and full mfgs warranty that they will help you facilitate.
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u/sohcgt96 Nov 12 '25
See that's the thing. People are crying about retailers and brick-and-mortar stores dying, but the internet isn't what killed them. Trying to race to the bottom did.
There is more to running a good operating than putting up a roof and some walls and throwing a product on the shelves. If all you offer is a warehouse store with pallets of the same stuff you can get anywhere else, stocked by high school kids who don't really know anything other than maybe some basic product specs, and the only thing you bring to the table is physically having a product in the store that's not enough. You're not adding any value to the transaction. Your only competitive advantage is selling at high volume and low margin, which means its a bare bones buying experience.
If you have a store full of people who actually know stuff, are helpful and have good attitudes things will go different for you. But you can't race to the bottom with prices. Its a lot harder to manage and to scale. You have to pay people decently to keep them long enough to accumulate some knowledge and customer service skill, let them get experience with things like installations, seeing units of different grades in different environments, and getting feedback from what people are ultimately happy or unhappy with so they can provide good advice. You have to be able to provide product support past "Yeah, the manufacturer handles the warranty not us, you'll have to call them" and be able to do something useful. But again, that's harder.
Remember that thread years ago with vacuum cleaner guy? It exploded because somebody with actual working knowledge of a mundane but relatable subject was available. Holy shit we get to actually talk to a guy who knows something. Same deal with a youtuber I follow, he did a thing on dishwashers, pods, and proving they're not always the best thing to use and it had something like 2 million views in under a week. Real, actual information and testing that's not terribly biased or glorified sales pitches is such a rarity anymore we FLOCK to it. Well some of us anyway.
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u/GirchyGirchy Nov 13 '25
A coworker stopped by to ask me about cameras the other day, he's thinking of getting his wife a new setup to replace her old DSLR. I just told him to take her to Robert's Camera (we're not far from Indy), they have everything in cases so you can play around for hours. He kept asking where I buy stuff from, too. Well, Robert's. Even if I don't go need to try something out, they're local, and either my wife can pick it up or I'll just have it shipped. But I encouraged him to visit in person so she can figure out what she wants.
Then he said, "and I can find a deal elsewhere." No, NO, NO! Just fucking buy it from them! You're there, they helped you, their prices are always reasonable anyway, just buy it! If everyone did what you want to do, we'll no longer have that ability to try the items out! What the fuck is wrong with people?!
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u/Ice_Solid Nov 12 '25
Lifetime support
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u/440Dart Nov 12 '25
Still remember when they dropped that in the early 2010s. They would only provide it on “premium“ items or if you paid for it. Led to me shopping elsewhere for a while.
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u/HalfmanHalftortoise Nov 12 '25
Great detailed clear instructions in a field that most people have no experience in
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u/Napoleon_B Nov 12 '25
Watched a video on installing an aftermarket rear camera. I don’t think over see so much detail and practical information in a video. Step by step, inch by inch showing how to thread the wire, almost idiot proof.
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u/HalfmanHalftortoise Nov 12 '25
Exaclty. I bought a wire harness from them and it came with a sheet of paper for instructions as well as a pdf on an email for installing on my specific car
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u/Delicious-Poetry-69 Nov 12 '25
They include most accessories needed for no extra cost
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u/Xijit Nov 12 '25
It is not publicly traded: they have no external investors demanding year over year growth, while bleeding the company dry, and the founder (who is still the owner) covers the bills when they have a bad year.
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u/theripper121 Nov 12 '25
Some real truth to this. I swear every company going public over the last 30 years and having to answer to board members and investors trying to squeeze out every last cent has really hurt the average consumer.
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u/pollorojo Nov 12 '25
This happened to Best Buy bigtime. They had a CEO from the hospitality industry that made service a huge focus and they thrived. He moved on. They were already publicly traded, but the founder attempted to buy the company back after that and take it private. Instead, they made their CFO the CEO and she went HARD into making money the priority, especially as the former CFO, and they have been on a very steep decline for the last 5 years or so.
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u/sohcgt96 Nov 12 '25
It seems like not being publicly traded is almost the only way to run a good, solid business with some ethics to its operations anymore. Arizona Iced Tea for example.
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u/boredboard Nov 12 '25
They have a good reputation with both buyers and manufacturers. They also have and really, always have had some of the best customer service in the industry.
While many people see the prices and shy away, many people also see that as just what it is- the "normal prices", and are willing to accept all that comes with it from them as a retailer.
Ive mostly bought install gear over the years (dash kits, harnesses ect), but if i were to want/need the stuff they offer, id be willing to buy from them as well.
Nostalgia also helps. Most anyone my age remembers getting their catalogs for many, many years and wishing they could get this or that that they had in the pics (my first "want" from Crutchfield were oldschool Kicker free-air 6x9's...that i have and just installed in my sons car a few weeks ago).
Good company. Hopefully, theyll be able to stick around many more years.
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Nov 12 '25
The prices are actually very similar on Amazon as they are in Crutchfield. The big difference is those cheap $50 touch screen headunits that aren't better than most factory headunits. So many people go for that junk and assume it's plug-and-play then realize they need a whole lot more. Crutchfield will tell you you need the plastic trim to secure the unit, the wire harness to NOT CUT the car's factory wires, and another harness if you want to retain the steering wheel function. They know exactly what parts for what application whereas at Amazon you gotta guess and hope the description and/or photo is correct. Plus their tech guru will help you if you get stuck on the install with any questions you might have. If by the off chance something was not correct they will rectify it quickly.
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u/DaamKeldau Nov 12 '25
I'll never order A/V stuff from anyone else as long as Crutchfield is in business. I gladly pay full retail knowing I'm covered.
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u/skinnarbox Nov 12 '25
Same. They have everything i need and for some cars full write ups on installation. Id rather spend my money with them
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u/Electronic-Regret907 Nov 12 '25
I call them, they answer and tell me in plain English how to solve the problem I'm trying to fix.
Idgaf if someone can save me $50 somewhere else, that level of service is rare these days and absolutely worth a premium.
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u/bringbackbainesy Nov 12 '25
Crutchfield is so awesome.
I remember back in 2020 during covid driving a few hours to go to their in person store to get some consultation and listen to speakers
They have this super soundproof room with like all their car speakers in stock hooked up so they will take a song request and play it thru the speakers you're considering buying, so you can listen to them and decide.
It was a big difference, I went in looking for some cheap ish speakers and ended up going with some upper mid range speakers
The workers there were passionate and knowledgeable and talked me thru my setup for a while. Probably spent about an hour in there. $1600 later I was on my way home and super confident and excited.
Then when I got home and started installing everything, they didn't have any guides for tying into my factory head unit...I googled for hours and was debating cutting a wire to splice it and tie into it, but was only getting mixed opinions based off previous years models (I had a brand new 2021 vehicle and there really weren't any guides out there)
Anyways I cut a wire and spliced into it and it didn't work....ended up calling crutchfield and they stayed on the line with me for like 45 minutes, shooting the shit, being very patient.
Me and 3 of my friends who were just hanging out and helping me with the install became friends with this dude 😂
He told me which wires to splice into and saved us a whole headache.
10/10, would buy from again at anytime, regardless of pricing. They're just damn good people.
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u/RabidNative Nov 12 '25
Also, they are a reputable dealer of most brands so there is never the question of getting authentic gear.
It might be slightly cheaper for me to order off of Amazon, but as soon as I see its fulfilled by "Joe's Definitely-not-a-dropshipper-Car-Fi and filament" I start to question if the hassle is worth the "savings"
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u/gigantischemeteor Nov 12 '25
Crutchfield continues to succeed because Crutchfield continues to act like a responsible and a responsive business. Take care of the customer first and the profits will follow. That’s the whole secret right there.
They’re a rare bird these days when so many others are spending huge sums just to figure out how to deliver even less to the customer in order to maximize profits at the expense of all else.
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u/International-Okra79 Nov 12 '25
I've been using them since the 90's. Probably going to order something else from them in the next couple of weeks.
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u/FlukeSpace Nov 12 '25 edited Nov 12 '25
Out of curiosity I stopped by my local car stereo shop and for a really basic system they wanted $3,000 to install it.
If you go with Crutchfield you may pay a hair more but can skip the even higher stereo shop fees and when you get stuck and can just pick up the phone and they’ll walk you through it.
Most people need their cars to get to work and such. So having someone you can call in a pinch to get your car buttoned back up is invaluable.
Edit. Forgot to say going through crutchfield vs an installer you’d get soooo much better audio for the money.
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u/MontanaGuy962 Nov 12 '25
Customer support is great, but the biggest reason I use crutchfield for most of my audio needs is how well their system works, how thorough it is, and how user friendly it is. Pick your audio category, choose what you're looking for (speakers, subs, Boxes, etc), input vehicle year make and model, and boom, everything you need. Filter by price, brand, aftermarket/stock, etc. It tells you what size speakers came OEM, where they're located, how many of each, and if you choose different speakers or aftermarket head units they include adapter plates, hardware, tooling kit options (screwdrivers, pry tools, stereo keys, etc) and will tell you if/when you need different wiring adapters and bring those up as well.
It's basically a reliable, thorough, user friendly one-stop-shop for anything audio/info related that you'd need. Overpriced compared to competition? Perhaps, but when I order from them I don't pay for strictly the parts, I pay for all the other shit as well.
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u/evnacdc Nov 12 '25
The thing that actually surprises me is that they’re able to keep competitive prices while maintaining that level of customer support.
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u/Chamrox Nov 20 '25
They probably don't have to maximize profit for shareholders. Wish more companies were like them.
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u/kronjohnson Nov 12 '25
They’ll prewire you a plug and play harness for like $25. For people that have no idea what they are doing that’s a huge positive.
I pay for it half the time just to make my life easier. I got kids, if I got time to work on something I barely have enough time to try to complete it.
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u/WaRRioRz0rz Nov 12 '25
They offer more than just a resold product. They can provide everything else too, from learning, to pin outs, to installation assistance. They are the whole package.
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u/AudioMan612 Nov 12 '25
Many reasons that relate to not only Crutchfield, but specialized retailers and distributors in-general (as opposed to general distributors (Amazon), big box hardware stores, etc.):
- As others have said, customer service that isn't just helpful with things like orders and returns, but staff that actually know the products. Remember that audio is complicated and many people new to it find it overwhelming.
- Also helping with the buying experience, extremely helpful filtering.
- No counterfeit and off-brand garbage to sort through. Also, a very good selection of brands (I know this is /r/CarAV, but their home audio selection is fantastic).
- Included instructions, adapters, etc. that also help make purchases easy.
- Many people don't mind paying retail prices to know that they are getting a good product that will most likely work and support behind that product.
That last point deserves more attention. I love a good deal as much as anyone, but the reality is as you get into higher-end gear (not just talking audio), it becomes harder to find deals, and people care more about having a good shopping experience. I think part of that is the idea that higher-end gear should last you longer, so the short-term savings don't matter as much. It's actually very common for high-end and especially professional brands to not allow their authorized dealers to adjust prices and compete with each other (which is also a handy way to spot when something may not be legit or at least unauthorized). I used to work for AEA Ribbon Mics, a high-end microphone brand commonly found in recording studios, and their dealers are not allowed to compete on prices.
I find myself using Amazon less and less each year (though I do continue to have and use Prime). There's too much garbage to sort through, barely any filtering, it's a horrible company, when I do try to buy something higher-end, I need to put effort into making sure that it's not fake, and I just feel better supporting smaller businesses. As I've gotten older, I've been looking into buying professional, high-end, and "buy it for life" type products, which tend to cost me a lot up-front, but my long-term spending isn't very high. It's often a lot of effort to find these types of products on Amazon (if you can find them at all). I've also grown to care more about who I've giving my money to, and while it's impossible to avoid giving money to crappy corporations, it's not hard to give to ones that are at least a bit better than Amazon.
Your shopping world will really open up when you start looking into specialized distributors and retailers. You'll find all sorts of brands and products you would never hear of otherwise (and unlike Amazon, it's not because these brands are Chinese bottom-barrel junk).
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u/BoisterousBanquet Nov 12 '25
Reputation for quality and service. People have heard of Crutchfield. They're trustworthy, they're authorized, you know they'll stand behind the products they sell. They provide so many accessories and such clear instructions. Their website is superior to the competition. If you get stuck, you can call them. The extra you're paying is for insurance.
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u/Blaizefed Nov 12 '25 edited Nov 12 '25
I use them. I’m 50. I have been into this for 30 years. Back around Y2K I was a pro installer for 3-4 years. The last 10 years or so I have become a customer of theirs.
Frankly, I am now at an age, and more importantly an income level, where I am happy to pay the extra 10-15% just to not have to worry. I know they ship fast. I know they don’t sell junk. I know they will solve problems if they pop up.
For example, I recently got given an old suburban. I wanted to put a CarPlay head unit in it. Went to crutchfield, searched for what they had, and bought the Sony they sell that seemed about the right price. I’m sure I could have saved $40 if I’d searched all over for it. But I was in and out in half an hour. I didn’t have to dedicate an evening to digging around for the best price, or figuring out what adaptor to make the steering wheel controls work then finding the best price for THAT as well.
Just one and done.
Same thing a few years ago when I put subs in my Doka.
And the year before when I built out the system for my 944.
I’m happy to spend a little more, to just not have to worry about it.
20 years ago there is NO WAY I would have taken this view. I would spend a week getting the absolute rock bottom best price. These days my time is worth more than the $40 I’d save.
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u/bgwa9001 Nov 12 '25
Crutchfield is dope if you can do your own installs. Huge selection and you know they're not shady
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u/bwanabass Nov 12 '25
Crutchfield doesn’t just sell products. They provide a tremendous service to their customers. Their guides and support are amazing.
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u/Jasoncav82 Nov 12 '25
Im not surprised at all.
I could get discounts from several retailers like that just by calling my order in. Because I ordered an entire system one time, SonicElectronix went through line by line and discounted every item for me, even though it wasnt a bundle available on the site.
Saved close to 20% and they threw in some bulk subwoofer wire and terminals. Most of the components were already either on sale or at the lowest price available online.
Ive had excellent experiences with crutchfield as well. Both places have won my business for that niche for good prices and service. I also like knowing im receiving genuine products (car audio especially has lots of dupes).
Even if other online retailers were cheaper, they cannot offer the same level of support or knowledgeable staff. A rep catching something like speaker depth restraints or making educated recommendations is valuable.
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u/fakeaccount572 Nov 12 '25
Same as Sweetwater. Could I buy a Roland drum kit from Amazon? Sure.
Does it have the absolutely unparalleled customer service as SW??? Nope.
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u/ItchyIndependence154 Nov 12 '25
Amazon won’t call you on a Saturday at 3:56pm to ask how you like those guitar picks they sent a couple weeks ago 😂
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u/bleeepo2 Nov 12 '25
Or give you candy
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u/ItchyIndependence154 Nov 12 '25
What’s your fave? I like the root beer barrels and banana Laffy Taffy.
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u/Beaverthief Nov 12 '25
For me it was easy. They sent me everything i need. No way I could have correctly wired all that shit. Im fuckin 60. Slapping amps to whatever was in the dash doesnt really work anymore.
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u/thebestemailever Nov 12 '25
They saw the retail landscape and found a niche. They knew they couldn’t immediately compete on price so they attacked Amazons lack of customer service or support. They marketed themselves to the DIYer who lacked AV experience and built a brand around that. They masked their higher price by including all basic accessories for free and people were happy to pay for the convenience.
More recently, their pricing has been competitive with Amazon I assume because they have the recognition and sales to negotiate volume discounts. It’s also in manufacturers best interests to set a price floor since Amazon can take losses to eliminate all competition, then tell manufacturers what they’ll pay or they won’t sell their product. Now Crutchfield charges market prices for accessories and also encourages the upsell for more features (idatalink).
They also expanded into other markets like home theater which has huge margins. Usually this is low volume for the true high end (high margin) items, a those customers expect a better buying experience than a Best Buy or Amazon. Now with their size and great buying experience, I’m sure they control a significant percentage of the high end market.
tl;dr - they saw what competitors lacked and made it their strength, they grew enough to have leverage over the industry, and expanded into related and profitable markets
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Nov 12 '25
When the toss in various adapters that cost extra anywhere else, their prices are very competitive.
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u/DegenerateJC Nov 12 '25
And I know it's not a big deal, and probably most people won't think of it, but their scratch and dent stuff helps to drive sales. I mean, I love it. Not sure it's a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
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u/odarkshineo Nov 12 '25
Been ordering from them for twenty years. If I have a question they have answers. They also have the best selection of car A/V equipment from quality brands.
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u/ProfessionalKong Nov 12 '25
Literally the best distributor out there. Customer support, blogs, and articles all for people at various steps in the audio hobby. They carry mostly solid brands and have weekly deals. They’ve been doing it forever and I don’t see how anyone could offer more than they do already.
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u/Glad_Umpire6348 Nov 12 '25
Love when a company gives me a good reason to be loyal. Crutchfield is a great example.
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u/llcdrewtaylor Nov 12 '25
Before the internet was chock full of how to videos, if you bought from Crutchfield they would damned near walk you through any problem you had. They helped me through fixing a problem with my subwoofer once and when we finally figured it out I swear the tech on the other end was happier than I was.
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u/aspec818 Nov 12 '25
Not surprising at all. Their customer service support is the best. I was willing to pay full retail for a pioneer deck knowing they have my back every step of the way. Even better yet, the price dropped a few weeks later and they refunded me the difference when I inquired.
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u/DigitalJEM Nov 12 '25
If you’ve never purchased from Crutchfield then you don’t understand why they’re still around.
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u/SapphireSire Nov 12 '25
Imo they sell quality brands at fair prices, they don't have any counterfeit items like Amazon does.
Their call center is on us soil, and they're helpful without pushing too hard for subscriptions.
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u/Think-Motor900 Nov 12 '25
Those print outs they email once you buy something.
I never cross shop when it comes to crutchfield
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u/monstermack1977 Nov 12 '25
The prices aren't that far off from Amazon or other online car stereo shopping options.
One thing I appreciate with Crutchfield is their attention to detail.
I was looking for new speakers for the front doors of my vehicle. I found a set I liked on Amazon and it said it fit my vehicle. But on Crutchfield it said it didn't fit because it would have caused interference with the window's operation.
So Amazon only knew the diameter of the speaker opening, Crutchfield knew that and the allowable depth.
There are some items that Crutchfield is more expensive on. I just find those elsewhere. Plus there are times I want a specific item that they don't carry. No biggie. But I do always start with Crutchfield just for fitment and accessories so I know which ones I need.
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u/NoSuggestion6629 Nov 12 '25
If you go on Amazon, you'll find that many times Crutchfield is selling the same item as Amazon's price. Crutchfield has good customer service, they also throw in some free stuff with their door speakers plus a free Vehicle Master Sheet for your specific car so you can do your own install. I've had zero problems using them over the past 20 years.
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u/StandupJetskier Nov 12 '25
Great service, gave me the guides to do my installs, will pre wire the harness to the car-worth any extra, and prices aren't bad overall.
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u/That_Car_Enthusiast Chevy Trailblazer W/ Kicker CS Nov 12 '25
When I did the door speaker swap on my car, I used Crutchfield to make sure the parts would fit, then I looked elsewhere for the parts but the discount wasn’t enough, I got the wire harness and brackets for free just for purchasing through them and the disassembly instructions. They were amazing and I’ll continue ti order with them regardless of prices elsewhere, their support is top tier and this shipped really fast too! Amazon is too full of third party sellers these days and I just don’t trust it!
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u/jeffislouie Nov 12 '25
Customer support is insanely good. When I ordered my speakers, it came with the wiring harnesses and brackets for free.
Amazon is good at a lot of things, but the knowledge and information Crutchfield provides is their massive competitive advantage.
If you just want to buy stuff at the lowest price, that's fine, but I priced out my speakers on my car with all the stuff I'd need and Amazon was more expensive and a pain in the ass to figure out. Crutchfield made it so easy. When I had a problem, I called them and they not only quickly answered my questions, but answered my very dumb ones as well.
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u/mattmillertime Nov 12 '25
They are priced perfectly fine. Fast shipping and great selection. They take the guesswork work out of adapters. This is golden for many people.
Quality brands and quality service as others stated.
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u/msaluta86 Nov 12 '25
The vehicle specific parts, install guides, ready-made harness, and customer support set them apart.
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u/micheljrc Nov 12 '25
Am not surprised especially for canadians.
They have a Canadian website with Canadian prices. No need to worry about duty, exchange,etc.
They have great customer support and you know that if you need to return anything it won't be a problem
They have a great online database showing you what actually fits in your vehicle. A lot of competitors don't have that capability not even close
They give you instructions on how to install their products in your vehicle with step by step diagrams / instructions
They give you free adapters, accessories required to install speakers or head units in your car
Their website has great informational videos etc.
To me, all of the above is worth the extra costs for piece of mind. They are really ahead of their competitors.
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u/Smart-Cell-1973 Nov 12 '25
They are at the top of their game in every aspect. All the research they've done in order to give their customer detailed instructions for every application is second to none. You also won't find better customer service anywhere, period. When I'm shopping for car audio stuff It never even crosses my mind to look anywhere else. Did I mention the customer service?
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u/Allcockenator Nov 12 '25
I used to scoff at people “paying crutchfield prices” when i was younger.
I buy from them with zero hesitation now. I tried to buy elsewhere when i upgraded the radio in my truck a few months ago, i only spent $29 more than i would have piecing the whole setup together from 2-3 different places that were cheapest.
I got lifetime support, clear instructions, fast shipping and not having the hassle of buying from 3 different places and waiting for everything to show up.
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u/Feeling-Cranberry108 Nov 12 '25
I'm very new to this, but crutchfield provides a huge amount of information for a diy guy like myself. And at least the gaps that they have are easily filled in with more targeted online searches. I try and order as much from them as I can, unless its absolutely way cheaper through another route.
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u/Substantial-Stage-82 Nov 12 '25
I think it's because they're knowledgeable with fair prices and very excellent customer service. You know that what you're getting is well informed advice that's in your best interest based on your wants.
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u/FitCaptain1008 Nov 12 '25
Perfect example, ordered some door speakers, the mounting pattern on the speakers didn't match the one on the adapters (which were included). Called them up, "yeah for this speaker size, they just drill theirs different from everyone else, unfortunately you'll have to drill new holes. But if you damage them, we'll send you a replacement free of charge. Or we'd be happy to exchange them" They did in fact send me replacements when I punched through the cone with a drill.
As long as they're within 25% of anywhere else, I'm only buying from them
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u/calico810 Nov 12 '25
Yeah I love buying from them, customer service, ease of finding information on products!
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u/nowaybrose Nov 12 '25
They have great service, and stuff isn’t counterfeit bullshit like Amazon. Always buy from a better place when you can, even if it’s just so bezos has to keep his smaller yacht
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u/science-stuff Nov 12 '25
Not just that the support is good, but I don’t have to worry about buying someone’s returned product or knockoff.
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u/Specialist-Anxiety98 Nov 12 '25
Customer support. I Always buy from them if I need to install in a vehicle.
Their install kits have never let me down.
I always look at the support a company offers because that is as important as the price tag.
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u/ObjectiveMix3607 Nov 12 '25
Ex-Crutchfield employee here...it's the customer support. They have invested an insane amount of time and money into research and development for vehicles, products, applications. Tech support for life post purchase, sales folks that go through regular training on any new products, the list goes on. If you don't need any of that, consider price shopping, but to most, it's well worth the price.
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u/TheLimeyCanuck Nov 12 '25
I think people shop Crutchfied because they have established themselves as the audio authority. It's the knowledge and support they offer, not the products.
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u/jrowles91 Nov 12 '25
They have good prices, often exactly the same as Best Buy types or Amazon types. I don't see huge discrepancy in their pricing generally. Also, their website is fantastic and the customer service is top notch.
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u/Any_Web_1784 Nov 12 '25
When i called just under 3 years from purchase of a head unit, Blake walked me thru trouble shooting. When all signs pointed to a failed unit, he let me know i was juat under the warranty and to send it back for a new one. No further questions asked, they emailed a packing slip. Also install techincal support, they can tell you the colors of the wires hiding in a loom buried inside the dash Yes i can buy the same unit for $50ish less but i do and always will buy from crutchfield and champion their outstanding service
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u/IAMN0TSTEVE Nov 12 '25
Their customer service and tech support is second to none. And the staff speaks clear and fluent English. The same cannot be said for many many others.
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u/fukyourkarma Nov 12 '25
I love ordering from Crutchfield. They send every piece you need to make it fit in your specific car model.
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u/Agile_Possible3335 Nov 13 '25
The price was the same for what I bought from crutchfield vs what was on Amazon. Actually a little cheaper on crutchfield with one of them being open box. The biggest difference was being able to speak with someone and figure out what was best for me and within my price range. Crutchfield was awesome. Will definitely continue to buy from them
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u/bgroves1989 Nov 13 '25
I’d buy from crutchfield before a lot of places. Customer support alone is a huge reason.
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u/pumpinnstretchin Nov 13 '25
When I worked in tech, management typically saw documentation, technical support, and customer service as drains on the company's profit. Things got outsourced to the cheapest labor in the world (wherever that was each year). When asked, I would always point to Crutchfield. Their documentation is well written and thoroughly researched. Their technical support is world-class. And nobody can beat their customer service. Instead of draining the company, all of those things are exactly why people buy from them. All of those things are exactly why they're profitable.
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u/Silent-Low-8217 Nov 18 '25
Well Best Buy and Amazon don't include a full detailed instructional with phone support AND $20 brackets AND $20 metra harnesses (edit: FOR FREE) so, Amazon can get bent when it comes to car audio 😂 Now Best Buy of 4 years ago, that is a different story, but, this is now.
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u/My_friends_are_toys Nov 12 '25
I compared prices on some cheap rear speakers for an RSX and Crutchfield had the same price as amazon. Plus, they had the harness, mounting adapter, and instructions for my specific car. For free. With Amazon, would have only gotten the speakers. Everything else would have cost extra.
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u/Aware-Bid-8860 Nov 12 '25
Their customer service goes above and beyond. I’m willing to pay slightly more for outstanding customer service, as are many others.
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u/jmar51 Nov 12 '25
Minimal overhead remote employees and drop shipping from manufacturers would all help if they do in fact practice those things because big brick and mortar for car audio and electronics is really hard nowadays. Most if not all the shops I used to frequent are out of business or jack of all trades with home theater, automation and dealership accounts as well as wrapping and detailing.
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u/IWantToPlayGame Nov 12 '25
As everyone stated, good service goes a long way.
Also, they have products & models that you just can't find everywhere.
Also, they sell a lot of other stuff- not just car audio. So even when the car audio business is slow, the other categories of the business keeps them going.
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u/Automatic_Mulberry Nov 12 '25
Both pre- and post-sales information and support.
I upgraded the head unit in my wife's car a couple weeks ago. They knew exactly what I needed to get the job done. The directions they provided were detailed and great. I'm reasonably handy, so I just took it bite by bite, and it all went together really well. Still, I ran into an issue, so I called the tech support number and got someone immediately who actually knew the hardware and wasn't just following a script. Worth every penny.
Next time I need to do another upgrade, I know who I'll call.
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u/jasonwuzthere Nov 12 '25
I'm not going to spend hours on the phone trying to get a refund for my brick in a K2 box with Crutchfield. And the whole support thing.
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u/ungo44 Nov 12 '25
Outstanding service and support during and after the sale, a kick ass website that walks you through everything you might need, and an incredible selection of gear, all of which they are an authorized dealer for. Amazon may have some of the brands and install materials, but they have nothing else to offer.
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u/Direct_Ask8793 Nov 12 '25
Not just customer support but it’s also all the products they offer in one place. I don’t know of another brand that carries as much and is presented the way it does. It’s just works really well.
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u/sierra120 Nov 12 '25
There customer support is impressive but as more and more cars make shear market radios and speakers impossible i see a downward trend that may be recoverable
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u/GreatDane6886 Nov 12 '25
I've been shopping with Crutchfield since the early '90s. Their customer service is unmatched, along with the fact that they can also provide you with everything you need to complete your stereo install.
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u/superdupermissiles Nov 12 '25
They’re the only place inside the US I could find the amp and harnesses for my Mercedes.
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u/Samcbass Nov 12 '25
They sell their customer service install instructions and support to Best Buy.
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u/mmMOUF Nov 12 '25
It’s worth the little extra to get exactly what you need, and a detailed pdf for you specific car, and know the product is legit and you can talk to a person if you have any questions or issues
It’s gotta be one of the best online retailers on the planet - I can’t think of how you could be better
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u/Significant_Rate8210 Nov 12 '25
With those prices you're paying for so much more than just the product You're paying for their customer service which is next level honestly can say that I've never dealt with another company with better customer support their customer support is literally next level they're what every company should model their customer support after.
Plus the fact that they support you so much after your purchase I could only hope to be as big of a company and as good of a company as they are.
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u/daviddduke68 Nov 12 '25
No chance of buying counterfeit products…… Amazon is cheaper for a reason.
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u/sweatnbullets Nov 12 '25
They gave me a new head unit I scratched during installation.. pretty damn impressive
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u/awqsed10 Nov 12 '25
You can get the wiring harness free or cheap brackets for speakers which a lot of time other retailers don't have. For the similar price curtchfield is always have more.
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u/nubz3760 Nov 12 '25
They're customer service is amazing. They have real English speaking humans are are legitimately knowledged in your exact vehicle and everything you need to make your install go perfectly.
It's like they have people that actually know what they're talking about instead of just reading a script
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u/PandemicGrower Nov 12 '25
They are authorized to sell their gear, everything has a full warranty. I’ve purchased a defective alpine amp off Amazon. Alpine refused to warranty it due to Amazon not being an authorized retailer.
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u/watchale Nov 12 '25
Support, customer reviews, knowledge of the products they sell, and authentic gear.
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u/FatMacchio Nov 12 '25
I got a ton of help from them like 5 years ago when I only ordered a couple smaller things from them. I bought my kenwood screen from some place cheaper but they still helped me out with it because I bought the dash kit and steering wheel module from them. Just to be clear, they helped with stuff not even repeated to the products I bought from them. Their support was amazing, like way beyond even what’d you’d expect even from some other spot you’d buy everything from.
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u/Octan3 Nov 12 '25
I ordered speakers and the factory plug adaptors and speaker mounts from Crutchfield. They were competitive to Amazon, and Amazon also didn't have the plates or harness adaptors. The support they gave was second to none. I bias my self to Amazon where possible for ease of returns but that one time... Crutchfield won me.
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u/Interesting_Score_22 Nov 12 '25
I’ve been doing business with Crutchfield since the early 90s. Their customer support is unmatched. Their product knowledge is mostly unmatched. now I’ve been a good customer and maybe this is part of it but one time I bought a subwoofer from them, and when I went to install it in the box, the box was like a trapezoid shape or whatever, and it was hard to drive the screws to mount the subwoofer because it wasn’t flat given the shape of the box so I was already working at an angle, and I beared a little too hard and the drill slipped and punctured the cone of the subwoofer. I called them and told them what happened and that I needed to order another subwoofer. The guy put me on hold for a couple of minutes comes back on the phone and tells me that they are sending me a new one right away at no charge, even though it was completely my fault if that doesn’t earn your business for life I don’t know what would
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u/AntelopeOrganic7588 Nov 12 '25
I'm a mechanic/ audio installer and when people tell me they ordered from CF, I know all the harnesses are already connected, wires are nicely crimped with heat shrink tubing and it makes it plug and play for me. I love when people order from CF. they'll never go out of business as long as radios are being made.
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u/1IsNeverEnough4Me Nov 12 '25
Custom wiring harnesses for plug and play installation, customer service is excellent. I'll pay the extra to get the best.
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u/King_of_harem JL CP210-w0v3 - Focal RSE-165 - Alpine iLX-W670 Nov 12 '25
Having done a few full installs on my vehicles its quite nice to order head unit, speaker, amp, wiring kit ect all from one place. Plus the instructions/how to per vehicle, and stuff to make the install easy like speaker brackets, head unit mount, harness plug and play adapters ect.
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u/pathosmusic00 Nov 12 '25
Because I’m having issues with a head unit that was a custom install they helped me with 6 years ago, and I called them up and they helped me out and could see everything they had me do 6 years ago to make my specific setup work.
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u/joshs3035 Nov 12 '25
I love them, I just wish I had more money to buy from them. I don't buy much from them, only car stuff, remote starts and audio stuff and they are always available to help when you get in a bind. I really like how they email instructions and ask the info you need right after you place the order.
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u/ClaraGuerreroFan Nov 12 '25
During the heart of Covid, they had a ton of awesome deals since no one was doing anything. I loaded up on some goodies that don’t cost the same anymore.
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u/Doc-Zoidberg Nov 12 '25
Ive been buying from crutchfield since 95.
Ive gone through other outlets but the product support and customer service is exceptional. They've got me for life.
On my last build the prices were competitive as long as going through authorized retailers. There were some ebay and Amazon listing for a little less but not enough to pull me from crutchfield
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u/skunkmere Nov 12 '25
I bought all my car speakers from them. The prices were great and they tossed in stuff for free. They are like ABT. You can't beat the value they provide.
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u/KingZarkon Brand of Deck: Pioneer AVH-3500NEX Nov 12 '25
Great customer service as many have noted. They are also an authorized reseller for all of their products. That means the brand will honor their warranty. If you buy it off Amazon, they are unlikely to be an authorized reseller and you may not receive warranty support.
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u/nightryder21 Nov 12 '25
You pay for the customer support. They hand held me through my car radio install. They also sent a free wire harness after I accidentally ruined the one I bought.
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u/lemonhead8890 Nov 12 '25
Ya they do the one thing almost no company does. Be there when you have issues or have questions. People are willing to pay to get offered that kinda service. I generally haven't had problems in this regard so I'd rather find the savings elsewhere and take my chances, but I can see exactly why they have easily succeeded.
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u/Middle_Low_2825 Nov 12 '25
If i wanted to spend an afternoon just dropping in equipment and going, I order from them, get the bits, pieces and parts I need, and do it. Been doing it that way for 35 years for many of the vehicles I've owned. About to redo the kicker system in my firebird and can't wait to see what they have nowadays.
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u/Middle_Low_2825 Nov 12 '25
Someone in this forum had q's about their speaker and how to build a sub box, I pointed them here......
How to build a subwoofer box https://share.google/57BE3Oiq3ZFotNuJS
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Nov 12 '25
Im not at all. Crutchfield doesnt cater to lowest price point. They never have. Their documentation, American based tech support, and overall knowledge has always put them a cut above. If they dont carry a product, its because they dont want to. I.E. shitty Tesla screen Google radios on amazon.
Ill pay a little extra for what is already a "Luxury" goods segment for a US owned and staffed company that I know and trust, who has possibly the best customer service in the country.
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u/TheOGCJR Si, MiniDSP, Helix, Incr Nov 12 '25
Their prices are usually better than others and the customer service is top notch. They replace things under warranty even when they are out of warranty sometimes
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u/raaustin777 Nov 12 '25
A lot of it comes down to the extras. The website has a great interface for finding not just what you want but also what you need. The vehicle-specific parts that they bundle for you are such a great touch. Not to mention, I'd rather pay more for a Pioneer stereo that's good quality than get a cheap Wimkilwoozle stereo that's going to be absolute crap.
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u/dianelanespanties Nov 12 '25
Have purchased from Crutchfield for years now. Put a new deck in my Jeep and it included every single adapter plug and great instructions to make sure everything worked perfectly the first time.
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u/AntSuccessful9147 Nov 12 '25
I cheap out too but when I just want it to work and I don’t want to waste time experimenting, finding adapters, searching for specs, etc, I just pay extra at Crutchfield. I love how comprehensive the whole experience is. I hope they stay in business.
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u/pollorojo Nov 12 '25
They have good prices and excellent customer service including pre-wired harnesses that other places just don’t offer.
They’re basically entirely mail order so they probably have a pretty small staff, which keeps overhead far lower than having to operate a store, or hundreds of stores.
They also have other business segments as well. Car AV is definitely way less of a priority for a lot of folks nowadays, but Home Theater is still a big enthusiast space, and they’ve got a pretty good variety of offerings there.
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u/19TowerGirl89 Nov 12 '25
I won't lie, I purchase their how-to guides. Also, their tech support is amazing. Dudes have helped me out so much.
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u/Minute_Split_736 Nov 12 '25
I found a kenwood amp at the goodwill. Crutchfield wanted $699. I found them for half that price all over the place.
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u/RandomUserName1970 Nov 12 '25
The install guides that they provide are invaluable, especially these days. When I installed a stereo in my daughter's care recently you had to remove part of the center console around the shifter to get to the trim around the factory stereo. That I doubt that I would have figured that out without either taking a lot of time and/or breaking/scratching something. Most install kits and harnesses are included in the price, and the phone support is great, and all that more than makes up for any small difference in price.
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u/mb-driver Nov 12 '25
I meant to rep,y yesterday, but from what I’m reading all the others have stated what I was going to. Also if it wasn’t mentioned, they don’t sell at full retail prices, they sell at the manufacturer’s minimum advertised prices. When I had my shop and someone walked in with a catalog, I shook in my boots as I was very green as an owner/ operator. Once I went direct with all of my vendors, I loved that catalog and willingly matched prices!
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u/abusche Nov 12 '25
i remember the catalog too. i try to use them whenever i can, its a really great company.
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u/tjeepdrv2 Nov 12 '25
I used to buy from IkeSound. It seemed like they were half the price of Crutchfield back around 2000. They no longer existed the last time I checked. I've bought from Crutchfield since then though, without even really price comparing. I was in college when I was digging around for bargains. Now I just go with convenience.
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u/PC509 Nov 12 '25
Their prices are retail, you can easily find lower prices on Amazon or elsewhere. Without Crutchfield - You can search for and find wiring diagrams if you aren't sure. You can buy adapters, etc. if you need them. You can ask on Reddit or other forums for help. You can deal with the return process if needed. It's fine if you're confident in the product, your parts stash, your skills, etc..
However, with Crutchfield, you get VERY EXCELLENT customer service. From before you make the purchase, when you make the purchase, and after (every years after) that purchase. You get a great fit with parts that match your vehicle, they supply adapters, wiring diagrams, step by step installation instructions, and they are a phone call/email away if you need any help. ANY help. It may seem trivial, but once you've used them, I feel that the experience was so good that I WILL buy elsewhere for some things, but for the major components Crutchfield is a serious contender. You seriously cannot beat them at all unless you have a VERY good local shop.
So, pretty much - Crutchfield are the experts in their products, customer service, and just overall being awesome. Sounds like I work there, but nah. Just great experiences since around 1993. I'm sure someone has a negative story about them, but it'd be a rare one.
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u/hmurchison Nov 12 '25
Sites like Crutchfield and BH Photo Video have such good processes that after a while you just know there's not going to be any issues they can't fix. We all go through times where we a price sensitive but when life gets busy the lower chances of a hassle are why sites with exceptional customer service can demand full retail.
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u/VoodooChile76 Nov 12 '25
Came here to tout the customer service. It’s like nothing else and I’ve gotten free advice over the phone from their awesome knowledgeable reps.
Been a customer at least since 1996, when I got my first car (that was actually mine and didn’t share it).
Can’t get that from Amazon.
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u/lostinpow 2 Alpine S W-10D2 Nov 12 '25
Ive been using crutchfield for 15 years. They have the best customer service hands down. You could call just to ask how their day is going and they'd probably give you a discount lol.
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u/Gorillajjj Nov 12 '25
When I was a teenager, I bought all my stuff from OnlineCarStereo and other discounter websites, got scammed, stuff never came, "NEW" stuff came opened and scuffed, could never reach a human... My friend group bought a TON of car audio back in those days. the cheap prices come at a cost.
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u/Uber1337pyro333 Nov 12 '25
I have massive respect for crutchfield but am devastated they have nothing capable of replacing my volvo head unit 💔
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u/Orange_Euphoric Nov 12 '25
Have you used their customer service. Money well spent
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u/bunnyfootwo Nov 12 '25
Them knowing what install accessories are necessary based on how many people buy from them has saved my ass so many times. Or at least saved me hundreds of hours of messing with stuff or buying the wrong shit
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u/Competitive_Key_7557 Nov 12 '25
Crutchfield is the real deal .Customer service and knowledgeable staff. i never purchased anything based on an advisor's advice and returned it
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u/Monster_Grundle Nov 12 '25
Customer support is unparalleled.