Audio Advice — Local services in Wilmington

I bought a receiver here and beforehand I asked about the NO RETURN policy. I was told we don’t do returns but we can do store credit. I purchased the receiver and it was garbage compared to my old school Harmon Kardon so I used store credit to get a Klipsch center speaker since I couldn’t return it. Then I decided to upgrade my center speaker again with store credit and in the process the owner refused to apply the tax money I paid for the initial speaker. I of course told him that’s not how it works if you get a refund you get refunded the tax too. His response was that he already paid the taxes so he couldn’t get the tax money back. Not only is that not true but it’s also illegal to not refund the tax to the consumer is what I was told by the IRS tax fraud department. I continued to argue that it was ridiculous he was keeping my tax money but I let it go since it was only $30. He also probably kept the tax I paid on the receiver.

Throughout dealing with the owner to this point he was very rude and argumentative to basically anything I said even claiming the receiver I bought was better than my Harmon Kardon or I had it hooked up wrong or I didn’t set it up right etc etc.

So then I decided to upgrade my center speaker to a $750 center speaker and after that decided it did not sound as good with music due to the extreme amount of bass. So I decided I wanted to get the old center speaker I had previously and a subwoofer instead. Then I called to again use store credit since it would be about $900 for what I wanted I should be able to do since I already did store credit twice right? I was told by the owner that he wasn’t willing to do store credit on such a high end item because nobody would buy it open box. Obviously I argued that he told me before I ever made a purchase that I could do store credit just no returns. He then changed his story and told me he did me “a favor” by giving me store credit the first 2 times which again is 100% not true. I would have never made a single purchase from them if there was not at least store credit.

During this conversation he was again rude and argumentative saying things like I think I’m done with you and offered to only give me half $375 store credit. So now he was saying he would do store credit but only half the amount? During this conversation he threatened to hang up on me and eventually said bye and hung up. He then called back claiming he lost power (YEAH RIGHT). So he threatened to hang up on me and then hangs up and calls back claiming he lost power?

Bottom line the owner has absolutely no business running a business if this is the way he treats his customers not only personally but also the shady business practices of keeping my tax money and saying I can do store credit and allowing me to do it twice but not a third time. At one point he even threw a temper tantrum and snapped at me so I told him if he doesn’t want to do store credit I’ll report him to the better business bureau, leave a bad review and report him for tax fraud. He laughed at me and said go ahead report me to the bbb leave a bad review and claimed it wasn’t tax fraud because he “pays his taxes”. He even told me to get an attorney he didn’t care.

I would stay far away from this place and spend your money elsewhere!!!! There are plenty of good places in town or online that not only have a return policy and better prices but will also treat you with respect as a paying customer unlike this owner and not flat out lie to you and change policies based on the item in question. This was literally the worst buying experience I have ever had.

STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS PLACE DO NOT SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE NO RETURNS NO STORE CREDIT TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!!!!!

Now in his response he claims that I just can’t be happy? Even the BBB said he can’t pick and choose what he does store credit on that’s just common sense.

ALSO DONT BELIEVE THE MOST RECENT REVIEW THE OWNER HAS NOW RESORTED TO LEAVING FAKE REVIEWS SAYING ALL BAD REVIEWS ARE LIES. HE EVEN REFERENCED MY...

I came to Audio Lab looking to create a home theater for my family to enjoy for years to come. I had received multiple word of mouth recommendations about Richard and Audio Lab, which I can tell you were spot on. Richard is very knowledgeable and passionate about audio / visual technology, and his very willing to work with you to find a system that will fit your needs and budget. However, knowledge and passion are not the only reasons that I would recommend Audio Lab.

First, when I came to Audio Lab, I was months away from actually completing my project. When the time came for me to actually finish my design and purchase, I was impressed with the amount of recall Richard had about our initial conversations. It definitely made my life easier and made me feel like a valuable customer. Secondly, Richard was always super responsive to my questions, usually via e-mail, because to me this was a big purchase and I wanted to make sure I was comfortable and had it right. Richard's responsiveness put me at ease. Thus, from a customer service standpoint, the one on one attention you will get is second to none.

I initially came to Audio Lab a few weeks after the 1 star review seen on Google. Because of my references, I opted to go anyway. Let me tell you that review is a blatant lie. Richard will allow you to hear different audio packages and even set up a 'High End' audio system in a separate room to help keep my kids entertained while he and I discussed my options. The main reason I am writing this review is because of that 1 star review. After dealing with and purchasing through Audio Lab, I guarantee you that review is a total lie.

Lastly, in today's day and age, comparison shopping is extremely easy to do. Granted, you are not going to be getting a home theater in a box, but when you are looking at mid to high end audio / visual equipment, Richard is extremely competitive with any legitimate deals out there (obviously avoid any scams on the internet). Yes, you are going to spend money for a quality product, but you are not going to spend any more here than you would anywhere else.

To sum it up: Knowledge, Passion, Customer Service, and Price. Audio Lab is the complete package and I will not hesitate shopping...

Audio lab just completed my total upgrade on my home theater system (new speakers, projector, blu ray, universal remote and hub).

I want to preface this by saying I had 5 local companies evauate, propose and quote this job. All had different equipment and recommendations. Audio Lab was not the lowest quote, but they were the ones who listened to my wants, needs, budget, etc. I also evaluated the crews that were sent to my home.

I decided to go with Audio Lab based on careful consideration of all specs and criteria knowledge and feel of crew.

Glad we chose Audio Lab.

I probably drove the owner crazy with questions and considerations.

Owner ALWAYS answered my questions, was willing to look at different scenarios and give me his expirienced opinion. Also, different from most, owner always PROMPTLY returned calls. His crew came exactly at times specified. They worked as long as it took each day. They were careful with our home. They were nice, respectful of our home and very knowledgeable. They made sure all my equipment, if I bought it from them or not, were perfectly integrated in my system and programmed correctly in the new universal remote and hub. Made sure my wife and myself were completely aware of how everything worked and how to operate.

We are very pleased with what they have done and definitely expect to call them when we want to add to our theater.

I want to reiterate, this was not my first theater, so I am pretty educated on home theater stuff. So far, I can't express how anything could be better. Picture and sound are truly breathtaking.

One last note. I have read some of the other reviews here. I ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE with what any of the negative reviews said. As a former businessman here in Wilmington, I can attest, there are some folks in this town who will try to blackmail you about sending bad reviews just to try to get something unreasonable from you. If you read closely you can tell by the guys review he was one of those people.

If anyone wants a true reference from me or to see what Audio Labs can do, I will say contact store owner and I will give him permission to send...