Gene's Audio Center — Local services in Havelock

Gene sold me a female to female RCA adapter for $10.68. I found a 2 pack of the exact connector on his shelf for $2.00. I asked to return the single female adapter and exchange it for the 2 pack. He took it out of my hand and told me those weren’t for sale and he had the right to charge whatever prices he wants. He offered to return my money and give me the adapter for free, I told him no thanks, thanked him for his time and to have a good day. I’m sitting in the parking lot right now submitting this review. Lesson learned; how blatantly dishonest to price gouge like this. If he will do such a thing for something so small, I question his treatment of other customers. The business has generally decent reviews, but I would be very wary or ensure all prices are set up front before getting anything from here.

Originally posted on 20 March and edited 22 March based on Gene’s Reply The reason I came to your store and what I was looking for is irrelevant. Any reader with the smallest amount of discernment can see everything in the business’ reply is fluff with zero bearing the original review and price gouging. However Mr. Gene,I came to your store knowing exactly what I was looking for; a female to male video extension cable. I even called beforehand and spoke to you and your wife and you confirmed you had such a cable in stock; turns out you didn’t. This response is so incredibly dishonest. You never once offered me the adapter free of charge with purchase of the cable; absolutely false and you know it sir. Of your own initiative, you took the packaged cable off the shelf, cut it open with a pocket knife/razor blade, went to your workshop, got the adapter, attached it to the cable and laid it on your counter while proceeding to show me back up cameras. You were fully prepared to sell me a 17’ long, $30 cable I didn’t need. I was the one who took the adapter off the cable laying on your counter and identified it as the only part I needed. I didn’t purchase the cable from you because I had video cable at my home and I told you that. Why wouldn’t you stock those adapters on the shelf? I guess you make more money selling cables and throwing in an adapter in “free of charge” rather than sell $2 adapters. Turns out these adapters are readily available on Walmart.com, Amazon or Crutchfield and you’d never guess the price...wait for it..$2!

I was told the price of the adapter at the register at the time I was rung up. I knew the price was was a little high and I’m sure my facial expression made it clear, but I am 100% an advocate for small business and would rather pay more to support local folks which is why I didn’t question the price at the time. Additionally, you had the part I needed when I needed so I would pay the higher cost without questioning it. Of course I went back over to the wall of connectors to look around for a possible adapter that was cheaper because that price is high for such a simple part. However, finding that package of adapters on the shelf and knowing full well I was getting gouged was insulting. Gene, you got it wrong again sir; I didn’t ask for a refund of the difference I specifically asked to return the $10 adapter and purchase the $2 pack. You did offer to refund my money and give me the adapter for free..I’m not looking for a handout and I don’t want “free”..I want to support your business and pay a fair price which is why I didn’t accept your offer.

It’s clear you reviewed your security video footage in order to type your response so you should make a better effort to be less dishonest. I made zero verbal comments leaving the store. Why you would fabricate such a thing is clearly an attempt to portray me as some sort of unruly/rude customer; I was not rude or unruly and I am not that kind of person and you should be ashamed of yourself for fabricating such a slanderous & petty comment.

In spite of my own experience, I wish you and your...

Don’t do business with them for your own good. I brought in a 2017 mustang Ecoboost and all I wanted was a upgrade radio wise and before I purchased one I told Gene specifically three times that I wanted one that will still allow everything to work in my car that did on the factory radio and he pointed me to 3 different radios and said that they would work. Unfortunately after it was installed everything factory wise didn’t work definitely the phone button on the steering wheel and they said they could try to fix it. Turned out they did fix it but only by installing some kind of interface regarding the steering wheel which cost me a extra $101.00, so otherwise that radio that Gene said was compatible for my car wasn’t. And ahead of that I started having issues with the AC controls AFTER the install which was on the part that holds the radio in. They took it apart and looked at it and claimed that they couldn’t find anything and pointed at factory but the factory radio is in now and 2 Ford dealerships have already said that radio was not compatible but Gene is saying different just because a little air is blowing out at the top with the factory and BOTH Ford dealerships said that is supposed to happen. What isn’t supposed to happen is air isn’t supposed to come out while AC is fully off and you have no control over the AC at all. Now again everything is working like it’s supposed to since factory is back in and 2 Ford dealerships have said so but Gene’s audio refuses to except it’s on them and wants to just put the radio back in instead of sending it back and giving me my refund for the radio and dash. I fully 100% except that they did labor by putting it in so I’m not asking for that back. But talking about labor, who ever gets them to do anything for them make sure you get them to right it on a piece of paper regarding how much it will cost because when it was said and done with me they charged me double what they said it was going to be above max!! Also they have had to work on my car 3 times regarding this bull and they did a good job by not making a mess in the car but this last time marks were on the passenger door and something is shaking/loose behind the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel and it’s driving me crazy since I got to deal with this now. Now As of today I’m going to go to visit 2 more Ford dealerships including a few audio shops and get their say so on all this. If anything changes then I will change this review but if they all say the same thing that the 2 I already contacted and visited and Gene’s audio still refuses to do anything it’s staying this way. It’s fully up to them.

Update: This went as far as small claims court and unfortunately I lost the case just because I had a second audio shop remove the remaining parts which was the antenna and small speaker when everything else was already removed by Gene’s Audio. They claimed it could have harmed the parts since Gene’s audio didn’t remove it are some bull and those parts weren’t even plugged in because there was nothing for them to be plugged into in the first place because like I said over 5 times in there to that judge, Gene’s Audio already removed everything and unplugged everything for gods sake. I most likely will be filing a appeal and going back in. All I know now is this is why my brother in law warned me about going there and told me that over half the marines on Cherry point base are warned not to go there as well and told to stay away. But if you read this and don’t want to take this seriously then at least get Gene to right down on a sheet of paper the price before doing anything and make sure you keep up with the recipes and records regarding...

Well, first off I would like anyone and everyone to read my post about Gene’s Audio, in Havelock NC. My knowledge and business dealings with Gene's goes back to 2005 if I remember correctly. I was active duty just like many, and have lived and traveled all along the coast from Wilmington to Beufort. I had MANY dealings with many different car audio stores when I started my growing love for car audio. All of the car audio stores I have been to, I can say that they all have their positives and negatives depending on how you look at it. When it comes to Gene’s Audio, I would have to say one (of many) of the big pro’s to his store compared to ANY other store in the area, is the fact that Gene’s Audio TAKES A CHANCE on the patrons (military AND civilian) who would like to come in there and get audio but cannot afford to pay for everything at once by offering in-store credit. (Keep in mind the in-store credit option, IS YOUR CHOICE) Now by doing the in-store credit, because they are taking a CHANCE on YOU, yes the prices might be a little higher, but guess what you drive away in a car with the stuff you wanted in it at their expense up front. (Supply and Demand type scenario). Outside of the financial aspect of it, I would also go to say that when you have you vehicle worked on there, yes it might take a little longer than other shops, yes it might cost a little higher to get some items installed, in the end you know the saying “You get what you pay for” and when it comes to quality work, all of the other shops around are more worried about cutting the corners to get your vehicle out and another one in because that means more money in their pocket and are not worried about the highest quality of work “as long as it works when they are done.” Now I will say sometimes I have come back in town and stopped by to purchase something or pick something up, and yes I have had to wait, but being a “mature” adult and knowing that these things are normal with small staff, it is acceptable for me to wait a little while to get what I need and came for. Also with the very small staff, just like in any other, NOT EVERYONE has the knowledge about the equipment/options/compatibility, so having to wait for someone who knows what they are talking about while others are standing around, well maybe they're not the Subject Matter Expert… Think about it, when you go to the dentist, would you want the receptionist who answers the phones and makes the appointments to be the one telling you about a root canal you have to have and what is exactly involved in the procedure? Nope me neither. When it comes to pricing, from my opinion it is very competitive… Now a little note, I used to work at Best Buy, and if you want to talk about OVERPRICED items, almost all of their car audio (and the entire store) is over 200% what the store gets, I know this because the employee discount, cuts the price you (as a customer) sees in half. So if you see a Subwoofer for 150$ apiece, just know that the employees can get the EXACT same one for 75$. So when you say overpriced, you might want to really think and examine what you are talking about. Next time you are in an audio store looking to get a radio installed, ask them do they solder. I would put money on it that 98% of them “DO NOT” and they might even say yes, but if you check back behind the work it is cheaply crimped with wire crimps… Anyways I hope that this helps with anyone who might be on the fence about doing business here… I personally will continue to do business with Gene’s Audio unless the circumstance...