Freeman's Car Stereo — Attraction in Gastonia

Freeman’s Car Stereo in Gastonia (located near the mall) is one of the few truly customer-oriented businesses – the kind that you see in old tv shows, where the people who work there know people’s names, treat them like old friends, and bend over backwards to ensure that folks have what they need before they leave. Short version: after being told by Kia that a replacement nav/radio/system was going to cost me $4,500.00, someone referred me to Freeman’s. After several visits (because of things outside their control), I drove away with an amazingly Frankensteined new system, with help from pretty much the entire staff, a super happy camper.

WILLI (an installer, apparently also known as a 12-Volt guy) was the first to help me and he was integral in the problem-solving and solution-making. He is kind, light-hearted, and genuinely a terrific human being. RONNIE (the store manager) helped with special ordering things, jumped in to help sort out money things, and literally said “okay – just do whatever we need to do to take care of her” – whether he meant me or my car, I am not sure, but he and his staff did both! JASON (the assistant store manager) was courteous at all times (even when I heard him have to deal with a rather…petulant customer on the phone), and knew everyone who walked in the door – and when they were new, he treated them as if they were long-time customers. BRANDON (also a “12-Volt” installer type) saved me. He took things apart and put things together in a way that created magic – not only providing me with what I asked for when I entered the first day, but saving me literally HUNDREDS of dollars. He did it cheerfully, and with a ‘challenge accepted’ attitude. …my original review was literally 2 pages long – detailing all the troubles, and all the ways in which they fellas helped me along every step; everytime there was a roadblock, they built a bridge or tunneled under. Ultimately, here’s the deal: every.single.person I interacted with – including 2 tint guys who offered their assistance when people were trying to get my car squared away and it was nearing closing time – every one of them was authentically committed to helping me. They didn’t treat me like a ‘dumb girl’ and use boy-club speak, they literally saved me money – none of that trying to get every penny out of the customer, and – perhaps most importantly – they actively made me feel like a long-time, valued member of their clientele. Which ensures I will be. CANNOT RECOMMEND ENOUGH! Need ANYthing related to your car’s look or performance? Save yourself time and money and go to Freeman’s Car...

I had my car alarm installed and tint installed here with my newest car as I have done with all my cars.. I've gotten my tint, stereos and alarms installed here for the past 13 years.. And have never had a complaint until now.. And my complaint is a big one.. I listened to the advice of the gentleman named Ronnie who I believe is the manager. He informed me to have my trunk pop work with the remote from my new alarm system then I would need to buy a solenoid to do so.. And so I did. I purchase the T522 solenoid kit online which he said was a good one and it's the one they install anyway.. So I brought it to them to put it on for me but they couldn't do it and informed me that it would take them to cut some factory wires which they don't do so it wouldn't work. I was disappointed , but Ronnie again informed me that what I needed to do to have my trunk pop work was to acquire a trunk luck actuator from a Honda civic ex/so of the same year and then they could install it.. So I listened to him and did exactly as he instructed and bought a trunk lock actuator from a 2011 Honda civic ex.. I then brought it to them and super my car off. I came back at 5:30 (right before they closed) and found out they couldn't install it still. I was informed by another individual that worked there that they actually didn't know how to install it cause it isn't compatible with my car.. But they couldn't tell me this before hand and made me believe it could be done if I wasted all my time and money to get the part required.. So it just turned out they were acting like they knew exactly what to do when in fact they did not and instead of just being straight forward and honest with me by saying they couldn't do it or just didn't know how they led me to buy all these unnecessary parts and pay gas to have rides drive me back and forth for nothing.. And worse of all he couldn't even tell me this himself he had another employ tell it to me.. When he should've called me and let me know it couldn't be done and I could just come get my car or have told me in the first place he didn't actually know what he was doing.. In just really upset by this cage u wasted alot of money and time listening to their expert opinion!.. And it makes it words cause I was a good and loyal customer to them for all these years but they ruined it by doing something like this.. Sad.. Cause other than this they have always been knowledgeable and helpful for all my car radio, alarm, tint and aftermarket...

I find the need to edit my review on Freeman's Car Stereo. My wife and I have had over four visits here. The first Kenwood we bought would not hold information and would constantly go to demo mode this glitch in the Kenwood was no fault of Freeman's. We went back to Freeman's and then they installed a Pioneer unit but there was one function on the Pioneer unit that only works if you have a IPhone not an Android phone. Again not a fault of Freeman's but just the way the Pioneer head unit was designed. At this point we were frustrated we could not get a head unit that would work correctly in all phases. We were ready to just call it a day and just have the factory radio put back in our car. Unexpectedly the store manager called me personally to resolve this ongoing issue and personally offered to install yet another Kenwood unit and personally see to it that it worked correctly before the car left the shop. I was impressed that Ronnie took time to call and apologize for all the ongoing issues we have had and offer to work this out. So finally when all was said and done not only did Ronnie over see the install of the new Kenwood unit but he made sure that it worked correctly and there was no additional charge to us. You do not see this kind of management very often that is wiling to go the extra mile. Our car is no supercar for sure but the fact that Ronnie was not willing to have our first time at Freeman's end in disappointment tells you a lot about the type of person Ronnie is and also the type of business Freeman's Car Stereo is. We definitely would recommend...