IMAGE AUDIO, ELECTRONICS
AND HOME THEATER
Audio and Video Sales, Design and Installation
You Get What You Pay For
So your dishwasher finally pooped out after 12 years of service… it was a nice one when you purchased it, exactly what you wanted with all of the right features… so now you’re on the way to your local appliance dealer to purchase a new one… you arrive at the store ready to shop for your new appliance… Question; do you purchase the cheapest dishwasher in the place OR do you look for the dishwasher that will do the job for you, is the correct color and has all of the features that you require for your situation and you feel is a good value?
OK… the $400.00 vacuum you purchased when you moved into your new home sucked up the carpet and burned out the motor in the cleaner as well… now you need a new vacuum and also some new carpeting for the great room… do you: Go the your local vacuum center and look for the vacuum that will work on all of your floor surfaces, has enough power to do the job, offers a brand name so you know the manufacture will stand behind the unit and be sure it is a good value for your application? OR Do you just buy the cheapest vacuum in the store? Oh yeah… how about that carpeting that was destroyed? On the way home you visit the local carpet center… wow, there are many, many choices, colors and flavors. The sales person there, who is ready to lead you to a carpet that will be durable, have a great warranty, be the exact color you are looking for and is a great value OR do you just purchase the cheapest carpet in the place?
Humm… interesting questions! You can see that in every category of product there are many choices, flavors, colors, quality and feature differences. Sometimes the cheapest may not be the best for your situation… well the same holds true for audio and video products. In most cases the cheapest is exactly what it is “the cheapest”! Did you purchase the cheapest car, the cheapest suit, the cheapest stove, the cheapest lawnmower, the cheapest computer or the cheapest shoes? I would wager a bet and say when you purchased these products that you shopped for the correct product for each and every situation and application. So, why would you purchase the cheapest TV, Audio components or speakers? Choices in these product categories are there for a reason… different products for different applications.
Over the 35 years I have spent in the audio and video business I have learned that cheap products do not last long, deliver underwhelming performance, offer little or no service and generally are a bad investment. In most cases the cheapest product is the “leader”, the price unit to get you in the store to purchase a more expensive product. Leader products are the bottom of the barrel, offering no significant features, poor quality, design and performance and are geared around “price” not quality and value. Now don’t get me wrong here, I not saying that you should always purchase the “top of the line” products, but I do believe that you should purchase the product that fits your situation… and in most cases that may not be the cheapest… the correct product, although it may cost you a bit more green stuff… will be the better choice for you in the long haul.
Name brands like Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer, Sharp, Denon, Toshiba, Samsung and many others are brand name units offering many choices in quality and features for each different situation. Each manufacture has a line of products, one that will fit your application better than the “cheapest” one will. Will it be a few more bucks? Probably…not much, but a few more bucks…but once again, in the long run a better investment than the cheapest choice.
Here at Image Audio and Video… we look at every situation as a new and fresh blank canvas… we evaluate your room size and shape, your watching and listening habits, what you will be using the product(s) for and how and also your general lifestyle and room decor… only then do we suggest a product for your application. Our recommendations will be determined by these qualifications and your budget… It is our goal to provide you with a quality choice that will work for you and deliver years of uninterrupted service.
So next time you are out shopping…for a pair of shoes or a dishwasher or a TV or audio gear, think of this little vignette and think of us…I bet you will find yourself not purchasing the “cheapest” product but the one that you know will do the job for you, fit your application, décor and life style, offer good quality and be backed by a decent warranty as well….so remember “cheap” is what it is… Cheap and not to use a coined phrase BUT… you really do get what you pay for!
All the best from your friends at Image!