20th Century Tv & Stereo Ctr

11/29/08

Mayberry USA Run Amok

by ChicagoJourno at Citysearch

20th Century looks like a quaint storefront repair shop, and the elderly couple who run it know how to fix pretty much anything. But the cons here far outweigh the pros. You'll wait six to eight weeks for any word that your equipment is being serviced. The prices on new gear are exorbitant. And don't even think about returning something. I tried to do it once with an unopened box of speakers, and even though the copy on the receipt stated the receipt had to accompany returns, Mitch, the owner, looked at me like I was about to rob the place when I came back the next day. He told me he didn't need customers like me, swore at me, and his wife accused me of lying. He pointed to a sign, "All Sales Final," way up in the corner of one wall. Amid all the clutter, you'd never see it, and he'd never explained the policy to begin with. I'd taken my stuff to him a few times before for repairs, and had told many friends about the shop, so I was shocked by their behavior. I guess they're terrified at the prospect of becoming extinct in an e-commerce world, but that ain't the way to earn anyone's respect. I felt absolutely ambushed.

• Pros: Independently owned, repairs on older equipment
• Cons: Hostile attitude toward customers, long wait for repairs, high prices