Crutchfield - North America's electronics authority since 1974

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (October 11, 2006) — For the seventh year in a row, BizRate Research, a division of Shopzilla, has named Crutchfield.com to its "Circle of Excellence" for website performance and customer service, making Crutchfield� the only consumer electronics retailer to have won every year since the award�s inception.

Overall, almost 200,000 customers have rated their buying experience with Crutchfield through BizRate. In the last year, customers have given the retailer top marks for its "outstanding performance" in areas including: �Ease of Finding What You Are Looking For,� �On-Time Delivery,� �Overall Satisfaction,� �Selection of Products,� �Customer Support,� �Product Met Expectations,� and �Repurchase Intent.�

Crutchfield stands alone as the only consumer electronics retailer � and one of just two retailers overall � to win the "Circle of Excellence" honor for seven consecutive years.

"Customer satisfaction has always been a top priority at Crutchfield. We strive to exceed our customers’ expectations from the time they arrive at our site, through the entire life of the product they buy from us,” said John Haydock, senior vice president of marketing for Crutchfield.  “This award is not only about the shopping experience, it is also based on post-purchase support. 

�We don�t look at customer service as an expense that hurts the bottom line,� said Kurt Goodwin, senior vice president of sales and operations for Crutchfield. �That approach leads to cost cutting and frustrated consumers who can�t reach an expert when they�re trying to set up their flat-panel TV in time for the big game. Consumer electronics are supposed to improve our quality of life. Our goal is to make sure the whole process is fun.�

Crutchfield�s web site, available in both English and Spanish, features comprehensive articles, product reviews, installation videos, and easy-to-use online shopping tools designed to help customers make the most informed buying decisions and enjoy their purchases for years to come. Crutchfield�s exclusive online shopping tools include the Home System Planning Center�, 10,000-vehicle Car Stereo Fit engine, TV Fit Finder�, iPod digital drive-thru�, and a GPS tour that allows consumers to test drive in-dash and portable GPS. Importantly, the site includes a toll-free number for easy access to live experts located in Crutchfield�s Virginia call centers. .

About Crutchfield Corporation

Crutchfield Corporation, which celebrated its 32nd anniversary in 2006, is the nation's first integrated marketer (catalog, call center, and Internet) of consumer electronics products. Since its introduction in 1974, the Crutchfield catalog has been a respected authority on car and home entertainment products, winning multiple awards for quality, design, and usefulness. Crutchfield�s Sales, Customer Service and Technical Advisors are noted for their high integrity, product expertise, and technical support. They are available by phone, e-mail, and live online chat. Crutchfield.com offers a convenient, full-service shopping destination to buyers of car and home audio/video products. CrutchfieldAdvisor.com is an all-information website that serves as a single comprehensive source about consumer electronics.