Im sorry you had a bad experience. But Ive been going to DFW Stereo for my car audio needs for nearly 6 years now and Ive not once had a problem. Three cars with multiple systems in each and they've mostly all gone smoothly. And if any problems arose had been handled professionally and with little effort on my behalf. I love that they back their installations 100% for life.
They have easily the cheapest prices. Ive had to send in a blown Rockford Fosgate P3 sub once, its true they advise for you to send it in yourself but they explained why. First off they cannot warrantee the products (just like any retailer AKA Target, Walmart, Best Buy) because the manufacturer themselves will not support a broken product from a retailer. They tell you that up front before you purchase the item stating its a factory warrantee (usually one year) This means the manufacturer backs the product. This allows them to maintain the integrity of their own product by not having random repair shops to fix it. But DFW Stereo gives you two options, you can have them send it in on your behalf which is nice, or you can send it in yourself. The major issue with them sending it in on your behalf its that the manufacturer does not prioritize that repair first. They're more concerned with helping individuals with their products than a retailer. Thus it'll take much longer to get back.
Again Im sorry you experienced something that was unclear and seemed unfair but as I stated above there was a true motive in their action. And it was in your best interest. Over the years I have developed a bond with their service and reliability and now as a result of which I would never go anywhere else to have my car worked on. They do it professionally, with ease, and are always the best price. If you want a low end stereo you can go anywhere to get it, but higher end electronics manufacturers keep their exclusivity to dealers such as DFW Stereo. Best Buy and Car Toys usually have name brands but they're always the lowest models. Do yourself a favor and at least check out DFW Stereo's selection. They'll offer you a much larger variety at a price that beats any other.
I have contemplated purchasing some stuff online because occasionally some things are slightly cheaper but look at it this way. What you stated above about buying the product online instead means you get it from a non-authorized retailer online. Theres a good chance the product is dead on arrival. If it comes working and never presents any problems your golden. However if it ever has any problems and you contact Rockford Fosgate they will FIRST ask if you purchased it from an authorized dealer (such as DFW Stereo). Rockford Fosgate (and any other decent brand) will not support their products that were sold through unauthorized online retailers. A rule of thumb (being an Electrical Engineer) is to never buy any electronics online because there are literally millions of things that can go wrong in an electronic and once that happens your sh*t out of luck.