House of High Fidelity — Local services in East Naples

This is my view on how my interaction with their staff transpired. Their staff may have a different view and are free to comment.

I brought in a set of headphone to be fixed due to a bent input jack. This is a relatively simply repair for an experienced repair shop.

I informed one of their staff that the headphones were only about $75-$80 new and therefore I did not want to put much money into them as it would not be worth it. After explaining the issue to her, she explained that they would simply cut the cord below the bent jack and solder a new jack. I stressed several times that I did not want the costs to be very much. I was told that the jack would be $5 and that it would be a simply job and that the cost should be about the $5 + the $25 on the statement so about $30. I was fine with this and confirmed a few times again with her that "the cost will be around $30 right...I don't want to spend more than that.". "We will take care of it, don't worry, we know what we are doing." Warning flag one, but I left the headphones. I was told that it would take about 3 weeks for them to get to. I was not in a big hurry to get them back so I was OK with this timeline even though I thought it was a long for a simply repair, but I knew they needed to get the part.

3 weeks pass and I hear nothing, so I call them. I am told that they would get back with me. Next day they did. "Your total on the repair with tax is $68 (and some odd cents, I cannot recall". I tell the person on the phone that was not the agreement, but he said he just repairs the the headphones and doesn't deal with the business side. I ask that the woman I spoke to call me, please. Next day she did and says that the repair was $68. We then go through a debate for 10+ minutes during which time she lowers the cost to $45 to which I still object given the conversation we had when I brought them in. After additional discussion around the fact that I would not pay that amount, her telling me the repair was already done (without my consent given the additional expense), that the repair had no incremental issue or difficulty other than attaching the new jack, her indicating that they usually take a deposit at time of drop off (which I she did not ask for nor did I provide), and me telling her if that was the cost then I wanted the old jack reattached, but that would be completely counterproductive for both of us, she relented and agreed to take the $30 "plus tax!", she reminded me. "Of course...that would add $2.10", I told her.

I go into the store the same day, test the headphones and they appear to work properly. I went to the register to pay and a gentleman is there. "$37.45" he tells me. When I objected and explained it was $30 + tax and asked to see the woman, she came from the back office and said "No, I said $35.". I did tell her that was wrong, at that point, I was not going to fight over $5, and paid the $37.45.

At no time during this episode did I speak poorly or out of line to them nor did they to me. When the transaction was complete and she asked what I did for business I did tell her it was none of her business (so that was a bit course, but frankly at that point they had not earned a polite answer).

The headphones do cut out occasionally in the left channel (a different problem than the original issue) which tells me that the job they did was less than adequate.

I will never return and would have at least one more time as I have a tube amp that needs repair, but that's lost business for them.

My advice & opinion to any prospective customer would be to really think twice about transacting with this store and the staff. This was a simply repair which they should have a) known the approximate cost if ended up being the issue discussed b) advised they could not repair knowing the repair cost would be almost the cost of the headphones new and c) should implement a minimum repair cost to all future customers to avoid this issue. I was quite clear on my expectations and in my opinion they failed at all levels. ...

What a horrible place. I have a feeling that the five star reviews here were written by store owners. The term rip off does not begin to describe their used vinyl selection. Not only is it overpriced, but the majority of the vinyl would be unplayable due to scratches. They have a lot of vinyl records with no prices on them and when you ask for the price they go on eBay to see what the current auction price is. Not what of the items sold for but the auction asking price. As an example, I found an old Todd Rundgren album with no price. The owner went on eBay and said it was $10. I went on eBay and looked up the album's. Sold price and it averaged a $1.50. When I brought this to his attention he said too bad we only go by auction price not sold price. As anyone with half a brain knows you can ask whatever you want for something on eBay and it may never sell. That is not how you look for an asking price. I then went to two other used vinyl websites and showed him at the most the album was going for $2.00. The store prays on all the retired people with more money than brains. Everything in the store (scratched unusable vinyl records included) is overpriced as well as their selection of stereo equipment. It's always sad to see stores like this exist to take advantage of people who don't have enough knowledge to make sensible decisions. Avoid...

Last week, David and Mark from the House of High Fidelity installed a Samsung 55” FRAME TV, moved a Sonos soundbar and installed a 65” TV on our Lanai. I was very satisfied, in fact delighted with their service! David and Mark complimented one another with suggestions/ideas as the TV and soundbar mounting was done on a rock wall, they worked efficiently and their price was the same as previously quoted. Once the installation was complete, they spent additional time with me explaining the functions of the FRAME TV and even vacuumed the area where they worked. David and Mark are very knowledgeable and excellent solution providers. We plan to hire them again to calibrate and optimize the surround sound in another room. Hire the House of High Fidelity; you will be very happy with...