Al & Ed’s Auto Sound

I’ve been working with this shop since 2003, and can tell you from first hand experience, they are simply the best. Yesterday, I had Max install and deliver a new Pioneer Nav in my wife’s Cayenne GTS and the fit and finish looked like a factory job. She is over the moon! Max took his time explaining everything about the unit and made sure she knew how to work it before we drove off.
Thank you all for what is becoming a rare thing these days: a great customer experience!

I was looking for a stereo unit with Apple CarPlay to put into my 2014 Dodge Challenger and Max helped me find just the one for me Pioneer AVN 8100 NEX with built in navigation. He helped me find the best deals for the parts that I needed and I was able to get a backup camera and new Focal speakers installed as well. They did a great installation and kept me updated on how long it would take etc. Friendly service and great support. Thank you guys!

I had a very good experience with Max at Al & Ed’s on installing new custom wheels for my Tesla Model S. They were fantastic, very easy to deal with as well.

Very happy with installation of a BlackVue DR650GW-​2CH in my Tesla Model S. Reasonable price and Max was helpful to get it installed same day as they had the dashcam in stock. Highly recommended if you are more concerned about installation quality and service vs lowest price.

Fascinating. This business all about the money. Went there for a quote about a couple of things and every other sentence was «at $ 145/​hr.». How can you charge literally double or triple what other businesses ask for? Really guys? Double???
They are so expensive. I got what I need done with half the price at 6 Auto Sound around Wilshire Western. That’s $ 150 less. And they did a wonderfully professional job.
Will never ever step a foot into this place ever again.

Friendly and fair. I highly recommend these guys. Thanks, Al n Ed’s, for helping me out with my radio.

What a waste of time. Just trying to sell me stuff. Maybe if you know what you want … I can’t assess their install abilities, just their inability to listen to anything I had to say about what I wanted.
I went in with a pretty clear statement of what I wanted — 600-​ish watts spending $ 2-​$ 3K. Basically a minor upgrade off the stock system with the primary goal of getting a better sub. They spend hours pricing out a 2000 watt system costing $ 10K+
I just walked out.

I actually made an account just to write this review
After my battery died I had problems with an aftermarket security system installed by the previous owner of the car. The alarm would not turn off and the car would not crank.
I was told that they were rather busy and that they probably would not be able to get to it until tomorrow, which to me was completely understandable being I called them around 12:30. Upon checking Art decided that he could fit me in after all. I had the car towed there with the only work to be done would be the removing of the aftermarket security system.
This particular car is 8 years old and had sat 8 months so was completely out of place in the lot filled with such nice new cars that happened to be not coated with a layer of dust. Also out of place was myself, dirty with dirty clothes from fighting with the car all morning
I only point this out because the entire time on the phone as well as in person I had excellent customer service. I could have easily been charged more and never felt pressured to spend more doing anything else. I would not hesitate to return for an installation service of some sort.
Understandably I would be upset as some of the other reviewers are with their experiences but mine was great, and I do not think I was just lucky.

Spoke to the technician. Actually had a good, sensible conversation with him.
Max was confrontational with me. Probably because I was pretty peeved with him, considering he didn’t give me a good explanation over the phone with just «dunno. Have to see it turn off and on to figure out what’s wrong with it.» I told him I felt disrespected with his previous actions and he apologized.
Star added back on for the tech and the apology.
Looks like they have to send the head unit in to alpine. Debating whether or not I’ll do it with this location or another. Taking a week to cool down and make a sensible decision.
— — -
Update: my head unit has been cutting in and out of power so I called and scheduled an appointment for this morning.
I arrive right on time and Max is on his cellphone in the store front. I walk in, make eye contact and smile. He walks right out to the back to continue his conversation. I’m left sitting there in the front with no acknowledgement and by myself. Kind of messed up. So I poke my head in the back to get some sort of acknowledgment and he finally walks back up to the front, still talking on his cellphone and saying «let me call you back after I help this customer.»
I tell him I have an appointment and I’m having issues with my head unit. He says okay let’s take a look! And walks back to the back again, I guess expecting me to follow him. So I do and I unlock my car. He tells me to get in the car to show him. That’s when I tell him what the issue is and that it’s not just going to perform on command. Did he think it was a user error, or something? Is that why he thought we should both be sitting in the car? Did I need a tutorial because I don’t know how to work a stereo? So he walks me through what could be wrong and that it’s not a fuse. All of which I could have told him if he just had an adult conversation with me.
He says they will pull it out and check their work — again, something I would have requested if he had an adult conversation with me. I then ask him if they have an air pump on site because the dummy light on my car has come on and one of my tires has an extremely slow leak. Not a big deal, I can take care of it if they don’t. He says he thinks they do, but he needs to check. I tell him the specs on the tire and what the psi should be. He grimaces at me and repeats it back like I have no idea what I’m saying and walks away. I’m thinking he’s checking on the air pump. So I’m standing there waiting by my car when a tech comes over and begins to pull the head unit out. Where did max go???
I walk to the front of the store and he’s having a great conversation with a couple of guys! Smiling, introducing himself, actually showing good customer service. Wtf? So I’m pretty pissed at this point. Just because I have female sex organs does not mean I have no clue when it comes to cars and should be overlooked.
That’s when I begin to lead the conversation. How long will this take? Did you check on the air pump? This is a conversation I thought we were going to have before you walked away. Now he’s treating me like I’m the bitch. Nice, buddy.
So my car is with them right now and I’ve knocked two stars off my review. I read through some previous reviews on them and thought oh, they must be old reviews. No. I just got lucky that day. I mean, Ollie was stoned out of his mind when he worked on my car (I could smell it on him and his eyes were totally dilated.) so what’s not to be happy and nice about, I guess? We’ll see what happens when I go pick my car up, but decidedly not going back to this location again.
— — — –
Being female, I’m always on the defensive when I walk into car places. Don’t get me wrong, I know an incredible amount about cars, usually more than the average man, but I have for sure had some car guys show me the «driver’s side mirror for the ladies», if you catch my drift. In any case, I went in ready to wheel, deal and not be «sold».
Max really treated me well. He worked with me as an equal and I got more than I was expecting and stayed on budget. I really appreciated him.
Ollie did the installation and so far, so good! He sat with me in the car, walked me through everything and made sure I was happy with it all.
Of course they tried to upsell me on a few things and who knows — I might just do them on down the line. Just be sure you stay to what you want and that you can say «no» to the upsells.
Overall, great experience! Thank you Max & Ollie!

RIP-​OFF. Period.
I was naïve and had just gotten into the whole customizing deal on a couple of very high-​end cars. A guy named Kevin Wright with Audio Illusions in Calabasas does great work for a fraction of the price of these thieves.

I am bothered and surprised I have to do this, but morals are morals and when you own your own retail business, like I do… I know what is right is right. Do the right thing. Keep your morals in place.
I have taken my car into an Al & Ed’s before in high school .So, I when I decided to get an auxiliary cable installed into my Mercedes I chose to go with a company I was familiar with.
When I took my car in to get the auxiliary cable installed, I spoke with Art who seemed like an honest man. Went thru with my decision with Al & Ed’s and came back the next day to get my car. I was happy it could get done so quickly. That is the one plus.
When I got home, I got out of my car and dropped something on the ground and when picking it up I noticed a huge crack in the panel next to the driver’s seat. I touched it to see what was going on and a piece fell into the panel and now there is a huge hole. I called Art right away and told him what had happened. He said to bring my car back so he could look at it… which I did. We both took pictures and he said his boss would call me. I have been in and out of town for the last month. With no word back I followed up to see why no one had called me and what resolution can we come to.
Max then proceeded to let me know they were not going to do anything about it and sorry about the broken panel.
In my business if a customer is upset, the moral thing to do is to help resolve the issue. Trust the person that what they say is true. Especially after Art and I talking so much, he should explain to Max that yes. It did indeed happen on their premises, Devoney certainly does not come off as a swindler.
I think the moral thing to do is resolve the issue because one bad review (I don’t seem to be the only one at this point) can really effect your business and not only that… do the moral thing and meet the person half way at least.
So that is why I give this location a one star. I now need to go pay for their mistakes breaking a panel in my car and I don’t think it is right.

Great customer service, they put up with a lot from me…
Thanks Max!

Showed up for my 9am appointment today and nobody was here. Let’s see how the install goes whenever anyone does show up.

I have never written a review on Unilocal.Ever. But sometimes, customer service is so bad that it inspires even the laziest people to take action. Yesterday, I went to Al & Ed’s Auto Sound to have them take a look at a problem with my iPod hookup with my Honda. After a brief consultation, the staffer made an appointment for me to come in the next day. They took down my phone number and we put it in the books. Today, I go to the appointment and am told by the staff that due to unexpected volume, they can’t work on my car until after the holidays (a week+). I responded by telling them that was unacceptable. If they had high volume, they shouldn’t have made my appointment, causing me to re-​orient my entire day’s schedule. That’s when the owner stepped in and things got insane. He told me that he had an employee call in sick that morning. That’s when I asked why he didn’t call me to reschedule. He had no answer. I then suggested that something had to be done. Business can’t just make appointments and then decide not to keep their obligations. I suggested that perhaps, when I did get my car looked at, the labor should be free. That’s when the owner looked at me with more than a glint of smugness and said, «I don’t work for free.» At which time, I told him that I was likely to go online and write a bad review. The owner responded: «Do you really expect me to work on your car after you threaten me like that?» I said, «Absolutely. Of course.» At which point the owner told me that they would never be able to work on my car.
Seriously, I have never had a customer service experience so bad. I have never met an owner so glib and dismissive of customer concerns or apologetic about a screw up on the business’s part. He didn’t seem to care one bit about my inconvenience.
I implore you all, for the love of god, avoid this place like the plague.
Good day.

As I left, I thought of you readers, and «it would be better if you cut your hands off than come here to have things done to your car» is the sentence that came to mind.
It took MUCH longer than expected,
they did NOT put back the parts of my car — just left my car panel tossed in the trunk — I didn’t notice it till I looked in the trunk…
I’m not happy with the quality, use I’m getting from my product, and the guy said that if I wasn’t happy (after FIVE HOURS) for what I was told would take 1 – 2 hours… that he would just remove it (this of course would mean HOLES in my car, and no compensation for a lost day)!!
This is a chain store. Support your local hard working independent car audio person instead. This was a hellish frustrating NOT SATISFYING horrible day and experience.

I had a basic stereo installation in my mercedes 3 – 4 years ago. The guy was pretty condescending, but seemed like he knew what he was talking about so I went with his recs. The stereo was one of the most user unfriendly pieces of equipment I have ever had, and the installation was not well thought out. Instead of hiding the iphone attachment in a locked compartment, they cut my console and ran it to the portion which does not lock, which annoys me to this day when every I park with the top down and want to park for a few minutes, but need to disconnect and move my ipod or phone.
I went back for a new stereo, the same guy is there and is just as condescending. When I ask about how user friendly the current models are he says, «we only sell the best products here» Funny, he’s the guy who sold me the crap I have now. This time around I will research the product better and have it installed elsewhere… sucks since they are so close to me, but I can’t support a place like that.

Super sad! This place has been here forever! I’ve lived down the street for 17 years. I went in to get something fixed in my car which they told me would cost roughly $ 300 and all I needed was a $ 10 adapter. They are ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!
Would strongly recommend that no one we know or anyone else for that matter go to this place. Liars and thieves. If you have money to burn then I’m sure they’ll do a great job. Anyone else… You’ll surely get screwed.
Hope this review helps the common working man :)
Good luck to all of you!

It’s hard to miss this place. They have a stellar location and there’s always some great car eye candy when you pass by. I’m talking big money cars, not little C and E class cars. So, if you have a relationship established with them and they know you have serious money to drop, It’s a safe bet to say they probably do high quality work. However, if you are a bargain shopper this is not your place.
As far as treatment by the front house, they profile people like many high end stores do. Don’t expect the warm fuzzies from anyone until you show them your Platinum or Black Card. Personally I wouldn’t give them my Platinum card for anything simply because as a business, they should treat everyone like a mover and shaker. The truth is, ya never know who you’re talking to or what they can do given the motivation of a smile.
Happy shopping!

About a year ago I had a Pioneer nav stereo installed. At the time, they couldn’t have been friendlier. Since installation, I have had to come back a few times for glitches in the connection, and their entire attitude is that they don’t want to be bothered with this little job. «We’re really busy right now.» I made an appointment, which they put on the wrong day, so when I arrived on designated day, they said I didn’t have one. I have now made another appointment (this will be my 4^th visit about same, unresolved issue). On my way out, Max asked if I spoke to Pioneer about the connection issue — I said no. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for the guys who recommended the product, and installed the product to be able to trouble shoot it for me. Isn’t that why you go to a place in your neighborhood?

I have to admit I was skeptical of what I might experience after reading very mixed reviews. However, after choosing to deal with this location I must say that I am very pleased. I understand some people’s gripes and I’ll admit this is an expensive choice, but I have no feeling of being «ripped off» or «taken advantage of» as I was worried about per other reviews.
I worked with Max Flaxman to install a new radio, new speakers, and a subwoofer in my older Mercedes. Max was very patient and took the time to explain several options for me and suggest his personal favorite option which, like a good salesman, was middle ground, but he assured me it would sound awesome and I decided to go with his suggestion.
We worked out that I would bring my car in on Thursday night and I should have it back on Saturday. Unfortunately, this was the only thing that went wrong. Max apologized that the car was not ready on Saturday and in the end it wasn’t ready until Thursday, so it took a week, ugh. Fortunately, Max made sure I had a rental and made sure to reimburse me for it. Max explained that my job would take longer than he expected and asked politely that I have patience. I can tell he cares about his customers and sometimes things don’t go according to plan.
Now that I have my car and have taken a few joy rides listening to some awesome tunes with a killer system, I am very happy.
I understand that people will have mixed reviews working with Al & Ed’s and that is due to us all having different expectations. In my experience, my expectations were met and surpassed, this system rocks!
Thanks Max and Tito!