Rudy R.

Deals on new products are usually not to be had from MusicDirect, but I should warn anyone that their site is the ultimate in temptation! It is hard to resist adding more than you can afford to your cart. When I ordered a large-ticket item recently, they called me to verify that I was indeed the buyer, and that I had authorized use of my credit card. That is comforting to know. To get a deal, you have to keep an eye out for their discount codes, and take time to browse their clearance items as well. Also, be sure to read each product description carefully--there are many products which are very similar, but differ in who manufactured them. (Example--a vinyl release may be issued on two or three different labels--make certain you are ordering the title you've intended to get!) Fast, free shipping on my last order... highly recommended!

For the most part, Parts Express does a great job on inventory, and has many items that are otherwise difficult to find. I have never had an issue with items in my few orders with them. Pricing is about average, although they do sometimes have fantastic clearance deals that are not to be missed. The only downfall is shipping cost--when ordering something very small, shipping is disproportionately expensive, so I find it easier to buy locally.

While I have had a few complaints over the years, Amazon has come through to help resolve my issues via their excellent customer service. A couple of times, I had ordered items through their Amazon Warehouse Deals program that were not as described, and they either offered a refund, or a replacement. As for pricing, they are not always the lowest price, but if it is a larger purchase, watch Amazon daily as the price tends to change often. (Add it to your cart, and your cart will notify you of changes.) One issue I have is with shipping--some packages arrive with the USPS doing the "last mile" of delivery, and I do not like the loss of tracking information, especially with the rash of package thefts in our area. Overall though, I've had great experiences with customer service, and that makes a difference as to whether or not I continue doing business with them.

When you buy or sell an item on Audiogon, it is implied that their fees give the buyer and seller some means of protection. I was possibly scammed by an Audiogon buyer (details too numerous to go into here), and despite going through Audiogon's official channels, it has been days later, and there is still no response to my claim. Doing some Internet research, it appears this is a major issue with them. There are six claims filed at their local BBB office, most filed due to a failure to communicate (either total lack of communication, or mis-communication). For the fees they charge, I fully expect to utilize their service to help me settle this with the buyer. Yet, nothing. Avoid this operation at all costs.