The Place for All Things Electronic
Written: May 08 '05
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| Full Review |
Hard to believe with all the products J&R Music and Computer World offers they started out in 1971 as a traditional brick and mortar concern in the hear of New York City, and that at that time they sold, well, just music. Since those early days, J&R has grown into an electronics and computer superstore where all manner of gadgets can be found, from digital cameras to music, from laptops to cellular phones; J&R is vying to become your one-stop electronics and computer shop.
Like most web-sites that offer up a smorgasbord of electronics "playthings," it’s all about the visuals and easy navigation. Products are displayed in large digital prints and can usually be enlarged. Navigation is accomplished primarily by tabs across the top of the site, but of course you can search the site any product you might be interested in. Right now J&R seems to be pushing iPods because no matter what category of product you navigate to there is a link to iPod Shuffles, Minis, Accessories & more across the top under the tabs.
What is available at J&R
A better question would be what isn’t available through J&R. Product categories include:
• Cellular
• Kitchen (yes kitchen)
• Musical Instruments
• Specialties
• Brand Stores (Sony, Apple, Panasonic, JVC, Linksys, PNY, Bose, HP, JBL, Netgear, Monster, to name a few)
• Audio
• Video
• Cameras
• Computers
• Software
• Office
• Housewares
• Travel (GPS, Luggage, Computers, Travel Games, etc.)
• Games
• Movies
• Music
It would be darn near impossible to compile a list of all of the sub-categories under the above listed categories, sufficed to say that if you are looking for it J&R probably has it. I have been able to find music, motherboards, memory, mice, modems, hard drives, etc. at J&R. Not only does J&R offer products at its site, but also offers items through Amazon.com.
Shipping & Handling:
The basic ground shipping charge for most products can be found on the product information page by clicking Shipping Options or Shipping Tab underneath the product. The minimum shipping charge per order is $5.95 for the lower 48 states and $19.90 for Alaska (AK), Hawaii (HI), Virgin Islands (VI), Puerto Rico and Canada. Within the contiguous United States J&R offers a number of shipping options on all electronics-related items; e.g. UPS Ground, 2 Day Air, 1 Day Air, and Saturday Delivery. Unlike many e-commerce web-sites J&R will ship to PO Boxes, and APO/FPO via the UPSP. Shipping costs (except for Music and Movie orders) are based on the weight of the item. Second Day Air adds $9.95 to the total shipping cost, while next day Air will add $19.95 to the total shipping costs.
J&R ships music and movie products via “Air Mail for Standard shipping, or UPS 2 Day for Rush orders.” The following rates for music and movie items apply:
• Standard Shipping: $2.95 for the first title, and $0.50 each additional title.
• Rush Shipping: $5.99 for the first title, and $0.60 each additional title
Payment Information:
J&R accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and the store branded gift card. You can also pay by Check or Money Order, but you must follow the site special instructions for doing so. And foreign credit cards are also accepted and the site gives the following instructions for their use: If you are paying with a credit card that has a billing address outside of the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, or APO/FPO, please fill in as much information as you can, and then put the rest (actual country, etc.) in the "Order Comments" field. If you have any questions during the process, you can call 1-800-806-1115 and someone will assist you with the order process.
Sales Tax: following the current trend in e-commerce only those individuals ordering from New York will be charged sales tax.
Pricing & Price Match: I have found that J&R has some of the best prices on the Internet. Oftentimes, the price at J&R is on par with, or better then Amazon.com, Buy.com, or Newegg.com. If you find a lower price from another authorized dealer, J&R will try and match the prince. Call 1-800-806-1115 and talk to one of their sales representatives seven days a week. J&R also states that if "[Y]ou can also click on the link that says: 'If you have seen a lower price click here' that is found on the full product description page. J&R will do our best to meet or beat any authorized competitors' price (on the same unit with proof of advertised price at the time of ordering)."
While J&R is not one my first choices for ordering electronics and computer products, I have come to use the site more, especially when purchasing through Amazon.com. I have found that more and more of the products listed on Amazon.com are simultaneously offered by J&R, and that the prices of the two sites usually match. What keeps me from ordering more from J&R is the need to pay shipping and handling charges. Given the choice of course I will not pay shipping charges, so I usually go with Amazon.com. But, when I can’t find an electronics or computer product elsewhere, J&R is the first place I look; if they don’t have it, it a good bet no one else will.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Music, Electronics, Computer products
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vemartin
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Member: Vincent
Location: Aurora, IL
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