Audio Images LLC Company Profile

Looking to take your car, truck or motorcycle beyond the stock look with a custom stereo system? Customers in San Mateo County rave about a car audio store in Burlingame CA that does full custom audio and visual installations, and backs up all their work with a lifetime warranty.

So we talked with Jeff Jones, owner of Audio Images, to see why customers say his shop can do the full custom work that other audio shops can't.


Full Customization with No Limits

Some other car audio shops only know how to drop in and hook up new stereo systems, so they can't do complicated installations. But Jeff Jones says Audio Images can customize any kind of system for any kind of vehicle. He explains, "We can do everything from basic alarms and stereos to full custom jobs on cars, motorcycles, street bikes and boats. We know how to fabricate new components and custom panels out of fiberglass, so there are no limits here."

Street bikes don't come equipped with stereos, so Audio Images builds custom audio systems from scratch. "We add ports for iPods or satellite radios, and then create fiberglass sections to hold the speakers. Because our master installers can build around the existing structure of the bikes, we can do whatever the customer wants," Jeff says.

Not all installations are big projects. Audio Images can also add the newest technology to your car's existing features. "It doesn't cost much to add the features you want," says Jeff. "For instance, a lot of cars come with a standard navigation system. We can take that existing system and add backup cameras that use the same video screen. We can also add satellite radio, iPod ports or Bluetooth systems that aren't expensive but give you that personalized feel."

Audio Images does more than just audio and visual equipment. They'll also install custom built-ins for customers who want to go beyond the stock look of their vehicle. Audio Images has even planned and installed one-of-a-kind projects like a mobile keg and a marble countertop with a sink.


The Real Price of Unauthorized Parts

Think the internet is the cheapest place to find name brand car audio equipment? Think again, says Jeff Jones. "Repairs can get very expensive for cheap audio products that customers buy online through unauthorized dealers. The systems go bad quicker, and when they do, it's expensive to take out the components, send them back and put in replacements."

Repairs aren't the only problem with audio and visual products that customers have ordered online. Sometimes, they can't even be installed because they are faulty. "Customers who buy products online are often disappointed," says Jeff. "The components are usually missing parts, refurbished or used.

And you could be out of luck if you ask the company to give you a replacement. "Those bargain systems off the internet haven't even come from an authorized dealer, so there's no warranty," says Jeff. "That means no one will back them up, and the customer is out whatever money they've paid for them, and they have to buy their own replacements. There's a reason unauthorized outfits sell speakers and audio systems online, and they're never the value the customer thinks they're going to be."


Long-Term Value

So if buying car audio visual products online isn't a good option, how can you save money on a new sound system? "The best way to get a good deal on audio equipment is to buy products that will give you the best long-term value for your money," says Jeff Jones. "That's why we offer a lifetime warranty on all of our installations, and we use only the best products that last longer than any cheap items can."

By taking your budget into account, Audio Images helps you get the right system at the right price. "A lot of shops have you pick out system components before you even talk about cost, and usually they end up selling you the most expensive parts," Jeff says. "We don't want to sell you parts you can't afford, so the first thing we do is look at how much you want to spend. Then we build your system around that number."

Audio Images owner Jeff Jones handpicks the equipment his store stocks. "We stand behind all the products we carry, so we're careful about what we sell," he says. "There are some brands you just can't rely on. If a company doesn't make a reliable product, you don't want to mess with it."

And Jeff says customers save money with good equipment. "When we carefully select the products we use, it means real, long term savings for our customers," he says. "Good products will sound better, last longer and give them the results they're looking for."

Product warranties vary by company. Audio Images gives a lifetime warranty on all of their labor. "If anything goes wrong with your system at any time, you can come back to us and we'll make it right," says Jeff Jones.

Some car audio shops look like blowout stores with stacks of speakers and piles of equipment. But customers say Audio Images is clean and organized. "We don't have those big piles of equipment because we don't need to stock 20 different kinds of each product," says Jeff Jones. "We have carefully picked best of each model in each price range. This keeps it simple for the customers and keeps our costs low because we don't waste money buying overstock items."

Store displays show off car alarms, Bluetooth equipment and radios. A special motorcycle display highlights the custom jobs that Audio Images is known for. And framed pictures throughout the store show off recent installations. "Anyone can display a catalogue," says Jeff. "We want our customers to see the work we do so they know what to expect from us."


Celebrity Clients

Many Bay Area celebrities trust Jeff Jones and Audio Images to customize their vehicles.

"We do a lot of work with local rappers," says Jeff. "Their business and our business go hand-in-hand because their music is the reason so many people want customized car audio systems."

Audio Images customized rap artist B-Legit's Harley Davidson, rapper Big Rich's tour van and DJ Rick Lee's van. They've also worked with rap artist JT the Bigga Figga. And Jeff says that after Audio Images outfitted San Francisco Giant Bengie Molina's Hummer H2, Molina referred the shop to friends and teammates. "When local rappers and athletes have seen what we can do and how high our standards are, they've trusted us to take care of their cars and do really cool and unique installations," Jeff says.

Jeff Jones grew up in San Bruno CA and San Mateo CA, and he says his local upbringing has helped him grow Audio Images. "I grew up in the Bay Area, so I knew a lot of local people," he says. "When I bought Audio Images, I had a lot of friends who helped me get my name out once they saw the quality customizing work we do."

Now a Burlingame CA resident, Jeff says Audio Images takes an honest approach to business. "Sometimes customers come in with a problem like a disconnected battery or a stereo that needs reprogramming. A lot of places would charge for those small repairs, but I just don't think our clients should have to pay for something that isn't their fault."

So it's plain to see why customers who are in the know agree that Audio Images in Burlingame CA is the best place to go for full custom car audio or video. Their skilled installers can build custom systems into any kind of vehicle, they only use the best equipment, and all of their installations come with a lifetime warranty on labor.
 

—Lauren Bongard Schwarz
Associate Editor
The Prime Buyer's Report

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