Most reputable manufacturers do not lie about watts. However, the consumer should ignore everything except RMS watts. Max power is irrelevant.
Crutchfield has been in the car audio business a long time. They only sell quality equipment and all you have to worry about is your budget when selecting speakers from their inventory. When you purchase things on eBay, you really have no idea what you are getting unless you have industry knowledge of the exact brands and models you are bidding on.
In short, go to your local audio store and listen to some speakers. Bring your own music (a CD or your iPod) and pick one song that highlights your listening tastes and showcases the speaker's ability to reproduce the music. Get a feel for what speakers sound like for your budget. Cross compare the prices at the store with what Crutchfield offers and make an educated decision. Pay more attention to sound than watts and you'll end up with speakers that are enjoyable to listen to.
