Online dealer

Hoop

Does anyone have any experience with At Your Service Electronics? (www.ayselectronics.com) They have the best online prices I have seen for Polk Audio. Too good?

If not them, is there anyone else with good prices?

kmartin971

Would be great if they stand behind their products.

Cheak out www.brand-electronics.com

FicmanS

Nice link kmartin971 never heard of them before, GREAT prices for sure...

kmartin971

I just placed an order. Let me check out without entering a credit card number. My order number was 6!

Hoop

Which one did you order from?

shack

Of course neither of the two listed above are authorized Polk on-line e-tailers. Let's hope they are good because you just kissed your Polk warranty good-bye.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO
OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS

The warranty on Polk Audio home and car products is NOT VALID if the products have been purchased from an unauthorized dealer or unauthorized on-line E-tailer, or if the original factory serial number has been removed, defaced or replaced in any way.

These are the only authorized on-line dealers listed by Polk:

Crutchfield

Electronic Express

Electronics Expo (Shop online in NJ NY only!!)

Huppins HiFi, Photo & Video - dba: ONECALL

J&R Music World

Stereo Advantage

Frys Outpost

Amazon.com

PC RICHARD

Circuit City

No need to start the "this isn't fair" and "they can't do this" posts because this is the way it is....and Polk is more liberal than most audio companies as to who they authorize to sell. Try to buy B&W or Rotel on-line and see how far you get.

heiney9

I was thinking....there are a lot of non-authorized retailers for many products on-line. How do these retailers get the products, more specifically how do these retailers get the volume of Polk products? I could see if there were a handful of e-tailers that carried a few Polk models here and there. But there seems to be more unauthorized than authorized. How do they get their hands on product in the first place? Certainly it would seem manufacturers have something to do with it.

H9

Ricardo

I've never seen a "B stock" Polk product....maybe these "unauthorized" sellers are the way to sell B stock/returns etc??

okiepolkie

Remember, Fryes had B stock LSi7's that they sold for $200. Other than that, there aren't any B stock "dealers" that I'm aware of. Many of the people online are probably authorized dealers in their area, but choose to sell them online as well(which is against dealer agreements). Or a local authorized dealer will sell to another individual(friend or whatever) and the other person will sell the products. Many times the products are opened and the serial number is removed so it can't be traced back to the authorized dealer.

shack

The issues are typically with wholesalers and volume buyers. You would be suprised at how many of these on-line e-tailers carry NO inventory. When they get an order they then have to find the product from another seller. There have been instances where someone has ordered product from one company and and it was delivered to the buyer direct from another seller. This is why you will often find no serial #s from the unauthorized sellers. They don't want the Mfg. being able to track the source. The level of culpability varies from Mfg. to Mfg. Some will turn a blind eye...others will vigiously defend the authorized dealer network...most are somewhere in between.

cfrizz

Amazon is an authorized seller? COOL!!!! I didn't know that. Thanks!

okiepolkie

If I'm not mistaken, Amazon is an authorized retailer through J&R.

kmartin971

I purchased an order for LSi25s from www.brand-electronics.com for $1600 a pair. One speakers's amp was not working properly. I shipped the amp back and they mail me a new one right away. Guy called me almost everyday and stood behind the product. Overall great price and excellent customer service. The speakers were shipped directly from a distributor to my house with serial numbers and arrived in perfectly new condition. I verifed serial numbers were valid with polk.

kmartin971

The order #6 above was from the other site. I will let you know how it works out.

crazy

Wow - how are they able to give such unbelievable prices??? I just purchased some speakers and supporting electronics but I'm still within the 30-day return period - should I return them and get stuff from here?? hmmm ....

seo

Sounds a little fishy...

THEIR warranty is only good if they are still around in 5 years.......

Return Policy

As is very obvious, manufactures are very nervous when it comes to the internet. In fact, manufactures do not authorize us to sell on the internet. No longer can they charge exorbitant prices and control the distribution channels. They are trying anything to stem the flow of consumers to e-commerce sites. They are now stating that they will not honor the warranty if you buy their products from an e-commerce site. DO NOT let this scare you. "At Your Service Electronics" will honor the full manufactures warranty through our company. In essence, things are the same as before and you do not have to worry about the warranty. Be very careful when shopping price because most audio web sites only give you a seven day warranty. If you are considering purchasing an item we sell from another website, make sure and ask them about their return policy. Our return policy is simple. If you are unsatisfied with any item purchased it can be exchanged for the first seven days for a credit. We also warranty any item we sell for thirty days from the date of original purchase. If a product you purchased from "At Your Service Electronics" becomes defective after 30 days we will locate a service center in your area to make repairs. If the product is still under the factory warranty, there will be no charge for the repair and we guarantee this. If we cannot find a local service area near you, we will make arrangements for you to ship the product back to us. We will have the product repaired by an authorized repair specialist at no cost to you, after which we will ship it back to you at no charge. That is, you will pay the shipping cost to send it to us and we will take care of the charges to send it back to you. All returned merchandise must be in original manufactures carton and include all accessories. All warranty cards must be left blank for the first 30 days in case product has to be returned to "At Your Service Electronics". To return an item, contact us toll free at 888-777-7115 or email us at shop24hr@dallas.net and you will be given an authorization number. Any merchandise returned that is not defective will incur a 25% restocking charge.

shack

I know of several online electronics sellers that offered GREAT prices and have gone out of business in the last couple of years. They were not authorized for most of the gear they sold. Everything is cool as long as nothing goes wrong. You have to weigh the low price against the risk the Co. will be around when you need them and/or will be able to stand behind their warranty if they are unauthorized. Most Mfgs are under NO OBLIGATION to perform warranty service on gear bought from an unauthorized dealer. Some feel the savings justify the risk. I buy quality stuff and if I buy it new, it is from an authoized dealer where I know the mfg. will take care of any issues. If I don't want to pay that price, then I buy used and save even more and I know in advance what I am getting as far as a warranty.

I'm talking serious money here...if it's only a couple hundred, then I may take the risk....anything more than that...I like having the backing of the guys who built it.

Just my.02.

kmartin971

I do not think they all just go out of business. They may be just be closing shop and reopening under a different name.

kmartin971

I asked for a parts price list from Polk on all LSi speakers.

Crossovers are 50-70
LSi25 amp 360

The warranty is not worth that much. At that price I could still come out of pocket upto $1,000 on the LSi 25 and still be ahead.

Replacement parts price list for LSi25 below:

> Part Description "Part Model" Part # Price
> AM2225-AL, AM2225-AR
> Tweeter - 1" RD0517-1 $50.00
> Midrange - 2 x 5.25" MW5534 RD5534-1 $50.00
> Woofer - 10" RD3505-1 $35.00
> Grille - Front RF0629-1 $16.00
> Grille - Side RF0646-1 $7.00
> Fabric Anti squeak RD0281-1 $1.00
> Crossover RE3606-1 $50.00
> Amplifier domestic RF0625-1 $360.00
> Speaker Base BS2234-A $40.00
> Logo RF0630-1 $2.00
> "Feet" 4 spikes with rubber sheath BA0200-A
$10.00
> Cabinet - ebony beveled - left CM2225-AL
$600.00
> Cabinet - ebony beveled - right CM2225-AR
$600.00
> Cabinet - cherry beveled - left CM2227-AL
$600.00
> Cabinet - cherry beveled - right CM2227-AR
> $600.00
> Cabinet - ebony flat top - left CM2225-BL
$600.00
> Cabinet - ebony flat top - right CM2225-BR
> $600.00
> Cabinet - cherry flat top - left CM2227-BL
> $600.00
> Cabinet - cherry flat top - right CM2227-BR
> $600.00
> Cherry Side Panel - woofer RF2242-1 $170.00
> Cherry Side Panel RF2235-1 $170.00
> Ebony Side Panel - woofer RF2229-1 $170.00
> Ebony Side Panel RF2227-1 $170.00
> Catch Cup 8 per speaker RF0556-2 $0.30
> Carton - Left Channel RG0325-1 $36.00
> Carton - Right Channel RG0326-1 $36.00
> Polybag RG3105-1 $1.87
> Owner's Manual RM0325-1 $8.00

heiney9

shack wrote:

The issues are typically with wholesalers and volume buyers. You would be suprised at how many of these on-line e-tailers carry NO inventory. When they get an order they then have to find the product from another seller. There have been instances where someone has ordered product from one company and and it was delivered to the buyer direct from another seller. This is why you will often find no serial #s from the unauthorized sellers. They don't want the Mfg. being able to track the source. The level of culpability varies from Mfg. to Mfg. Some will turn a blind eye...others will vigiously defend the authorized dealer network...most are somewhere in between.

I understand this type of selling. But I know what the typical margins are so some of these retailers must be working on a shoe-string margin both for the originator and the seller. At the prices listed I'm sure they rely on volume to make any kind of decent money.

I know someone who owns a marketing firm which distributes many of the electronic brands which we know and love. I can get anything at accomodation prices and some of those Polk prices at these e-tailers are lower than I can get thru the accomodation program. Seems fishy to me. Polk used to be a vigorous defender of their dealers.....seems they are turning a blind eye these days.

H9

heiney9

Kmartin, keep in mind the prices given to you by Polk for the Lsi-25 parts are retail (replacement) prices. So the actual cost of parts that are used in building the Lsi-25's is much less.

H9

shack

It's your money....spend it however you want.

kmartin971

We all can't buy at cost! My point is even without the warranty, if you get the speaker in new mint condition at half price you pay the future warranty costs. In most cases the consumer will always be ahead.

Their is a hugh margin on electronics. I always buy electronics at a steep discount. Always!!!! I have saved a ton of money over the years. In fact, I do not ever sending anything back to have it repaired under a factory warranty. I am willing to save money and assume the risk.

Example:

LSi25s 1600 vs Tweeter @ 2500 (tax and shipping are a wash)

Warranty is for 5 years.

I would rather pay the remaining 700 (if at all!) out over the next five years than pay today for security. Replacing a part in a polk speaker is not rocket science. Open one up and find out or youself! I think the LSi15 is a much safer purchase with a voided warranty. With the LSi25s the built in amp are $360 each so replacement costs can build quickly if amps go! All other parts drivers, crossovers, etc. are well under $100.

The only speaker I would not recommend buying from a discunter are the LSi25s. I think most people will come out ahead in the long run with any outer speaker taking the dscounted prices in lieu of the warranty.

Also, with out without the warranty Polk customer service is still amazing. So you will always get the assistance you need.

I have saved 700 on the LSi25s, 300 on an LSiC, and 800 on two pairs of LSiFXs. I will post each year and let you know what my out of pocket repair costs have been. The way I see it I have 1,800 for future warranty costs to lay out before I ever begin to lose money! Everything I purchased arrived in unopened factory sealed boxes. All serial numbers were confirmed with Polk. All speakers arrived in working condition, with the exception of the one amp in the LSi25 which they replaced at no additional costs. Part was shipped directly from Polk to the dealer. The shipping labels show the item was shipped from Polk.

Their is always a hugh mark up on electronics!!!!

reubenray

kmartin, did you get the replacement that you needed. I agree with you about getting a product for less sometimes out weighs the warranty cost.

I am thinking of getting a complete set of Polk speakers.

kmartin971

Yes. I received the replacments parts free of charge in prompt fashion.