Whenever I want quality home sound equipment that's better than your average gear, I always find items of interest at this store.

Wanting to replace my stereo and start to build a good quality home theater I stopped by Freds sound of music. However, I had to have a coney at Nicks before going into Freds. I don't know how many times I've been to Nicks coney island and I never stopped in at Freds. Freds gave me a fair price for my old stereo as a trade in towards the new home theater and with help from freds I picked out the best gear for my budget. Ended up with a amp, blueray dvd player, all the speakers and decided on in ceiling speakers for the rear, worked out great. They were very busy but still took the time to go over everything I needed to know to make a decision. I guess the main reason Im writing you is that I have read the bad reviews and took it on my own to experience the best that a store like freds offers. I even decided to take advantage of their free financing and buy a 55 inch TV they had on sale. They installed all my equipment in a timely manner at a good price, they have the only good service department in town that I know of with real techs! and my God, they have been in business since what ... 1948! before stereo! Go to nicks for your lunch and then stop by Freds, ok?

This store is the only one with a service department that actually services electronics. If you have a problem with whatever you buy from them, they will take care of it.

I have a nightmare story I would like to tell in great detail but cannot because I have not found an alternative to their repair shop (yet - I'm looking). When I do, I'll edit this review and give you all the gory particulars, with quotes. In the interim, I will confine my remarks to say that I was treated so rudely by one salesman (who I wish City Search would allow me to identify) that I actually deliberately paid an extra $400 (on a $5,000 purchase) to buy the same equipment elsewhere. In response to me quoting a lower price at another store, the salesman was unabashedly rude, arrogant and condescending to the point of disbelief. I would even say angry. If you can avoid this place, do so.

Fred's is one of my favorite stereo shops around town. I've been doing business with them since I moved to Portland a few years ago, and have enjoyed good service since (I have to say, I am suprised by some of the other reviews here). I really like their selection of turntable oriented gear, and their used section usually offers something interesting. They also have a good repair center. I've had some of my older gear (Marantz, etc) repaired and looking like new.