Rep Power: 296

So im fed up with all the fvcking local audio shops in my area. they're all a bunch of di(k wads that have no pride in their work and care only to make $$ and screw the customer.

I've been going to a place called [edit] for some time..and though I've never been 100% happy with the work...I keep going back because aside from hole in the wall shops that are even worse...they're the only shop in town.

I used to take my 1990 chevy lumina there to get stuff done...simple stuff. like wiring the HU...subs, amps. etc. Its always been pretty expensive but i thought it was ok as long as i was getting quality work. Never had any complaints.

I got my 01 civic in 02 and started with audio stuff right away. I took it there and they installed my HU....with the WRONG bracket piece. they put the pocket and trim from a fvcking COROLLA or something in my civic! i knew it didn't look right..but i assumed it was the car..or..er...i dunno what i thought...but i eventually took it to a different place and they told me it was the wrong piece and corrected it. I was done with [edit].

I started going to the place that fixed the 1st mishap. though it was a hole in the wall organization...i thought it was better than [edit]. Well this shop wasn't better at all. to make it short...i asked for a custom ps2 box. let them come up with the idea. what'd they do? make a box, out of wood, carpetted with slightly off stock color carpet, and made it crooked so that the bottom and sides were even..but the top looked like / that. they said it was so i could slip my finger in and grab the ps2. bs! i was SOO pissed. i quit going there and went back to [edit].

To fix the problem..the fiberglassed a new piece to hold the ps2 where the glove box used to go. it looked alright but didn't fit exactly in the space like it should. Also...on this visit i had them put in my indash screen and relocate my HU.

the indash was first. to install the 7" screen...the took the center piece from my dash and then found a black plastic piece that fit in the big center opening. they made it fit really really well. then...since the whole was completely closed off...they cut the plastic piece to fit the screen. let me tell you, i was really happy with this. i mean it looks really really clean EXCEPT for one thing. the black plastic...since it had to be heated up to fit exactly...it warped a bit in the top right so there is a big indentation in my dash. I can live with it...

the relocation of the HU is where i started to get pissed. they did a really good job with it. i mean the piece looks stock and really clean. what they didn't do was fit it well. there is a gap between the dash and custom piece....its really small..but one can notice these things easily because it doesn't conform to the contours of the dash.

so a few months pass and i finally have a reason to go back to SE so they can fix that sh*t. Last weekend i took it to them to install a new amp and components. I also told them to fix the HU problem and they agreed. so, again to try and shorten this up...my components are installed backward so that when balanced to the left...the right front and back left play. when balanced to the right...the left front speakers play and back right play. ughh is so annoying. but thats not the kicker.

When i took it back to them to fix all they did was take the piece and vinyled it then put it back. stilled looked the same. they actually told me that they can't do any better than what it is! WTF kind of custom shop can't make it look like it supposed to? they should have never started it if they can't fvcking do it right. THEN to make it worse...when they told me they couldn't do any better I told them that was fine (i was pissed of couse) and to just put everything back how it was. they made me wait 15 minutes and then said it was ready......

I go to my car and get ready to leave and the damn cd player isn't even locked in the metal brace and the trim piece isn't even clicked in all the way. i can literally pull my whole cd player out. I got right back out and told them it wasn't right....AGAIN.... "thats the best we can do...it won't go back anymore" i said "bullsh*t...you guys fvcking put that in there for me and it was clicked in the first time..." he looked at me like he didnt' give a sh*t...got a smearky smile and said "thats really the best we can do." we went back and forth...basically... "yes you can do better" " no we can't" "yes you can" blah blah.....he even said "why don't you go try it, its not going to work" so i finally said fine. went to my car and parked the b*tch so that i was blocking 2 of there garage entrances and proceeded to work on my car right there. after taking off the center dash piece and 20 minutes of messing with the A/C and stereo wires i finally got the damn thing to lock in. all the while they were waiting for me to move so they could get other customers cars out. FVCK THAT. after i was done i didn't move just yet...i walked around the building to the front door and stepped one foot in the door. with other customers inside the store and the front desk in eye sight (the store isn't that big) i shouted "hey greg (the owner) - i just wanted to let you know that I just finished the job I paid you guys to do, buddy. and that i'm never coming back to your half *** establishment again. you guys should learn to do your jobs, *******" and then I walked to my car....pounded the sh*t outta my stereo while i was trying to find another cd...put that bitch in..and the drove off nice and slow.

Im so sick and tired of these places doing half *** work and charging up the ***. [/Rant]

anybody else have any horror stories to tell??

notes:
1. [edit] did a shitty job on relcating my HU
2. Took it back to have them re do it
3. they put vinyl on there and said it was the best they could do
4. said my car was ready and my CD player wasn't even locked in locking bracket
5. said cd player WOULD NOT lock in
6. blocked their garage with my car and fixed what they said WOULD NOT fix.
7. called out the owner infront of other customers telling him they do half *** work and they should learn to do their jobs. then i called him an ******* and left.

 
Rep Power: 361

just learn how to do it yourself. Parts will cost less, tools will bring the price up if you dont have them. But just like why I like programming computers, if its messed up its cause of you. Not someone elses fault. Learn, and re do it better


that REALLY sucks though!

 
Rep Power: 347

that's a crazy story. I've never gone anywhere to install or even buy anything, I went looking at prices and it didn't even seem worth it to buy the stuff there.

 
Rep Power: 310

IS this the same place that couldn't fit your speakers in? The speakers I got in the same civic in about 5 min? "Idiots" - Napoleon Dynamite.

Do you have any pics you can post of the relocation and stuff?

 
Rep Power: 296

Yes...they're one in the same! I completely forgot about that part! ughh! bastards...

yeah actually...buying a digi cam is on my to do list this week and a photshoot for the weekend. im not making promises...since ive been wanting to get pics up since i joined the site...but i think im really going to do it this weekend. i'll post 'em up so you guys can check it out.

 
Rep Power: 296

update: so my bad i completely forgot about the pictures..plus it was raining here this weekend so it wouldn't have been a good time anyways. i got the digi though. i'll take some pics really soon, the weather is starting to clear up here

so hows my car doing? well....

I took it back to that same shop this morning because everytime i turn on my car i get a loud buzzing noise for about 3 seconds. in addition to that, they cross wired my components so that left is right and right is left. ALSO..the components on my driver side cut in and out at random times. ANNNNND...they mounted my amp all fugly like. one amp is square to the seat...and they said they couldn't find a place to mount the other one...so its all crooked and cockeyed. not only these things but the amp wires are all loosey goosey. i paid 250 for a frucking install and it looks like ****.

anyways...i took it back yesterday and was all pissed off...but greg was being helpful so i decided to try to be nice this morning. so when i went to dropped it off he said "you know what...i was thinking about it and that buzzing noise could have come from when YOU tried to push the cd player in place like I told you wouldn't work." HE's TRYING TO BLAME IT ON ME NOW! what an ***! so i told him if he comes back and tells me its my fault i am going to ask how it was that the first time they installed the HU they got it in place...so how could I have hurt something if they didn't? he said "well, i guess we'll see" and i left it at that. these motherf*ckers man...i can't believe how dirty they're doing me with this install...what the hell happened to good service?? FOCK

[/rant] AGAIN, lol

 
Rep Power: 262

Hook Mr. Greg Ransom up with a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Might not change too much, but at least you will have some form of documentation of this tom-foolery you speak of. Theoretically, when the bbb gets involved, **** starts happening.
http://www.fresno.bbb.org/commonrepo...anguage=&code=

 
Rep Power: 310

If he tries to blame you, ask him how he'd like you to report him to the better business bearuea for not finishing his installs and leaving things undone? I'm sure he won't appreciate that. Anyone who can find a place in a Civic trunk to mount 2 amps shouldn't be working at circuit city let alone a private shop. Can't get the Head unit all the way in? I wanna be able to walk into into small shop and have no limits on where and how they install my equipment, let alone a simple head unit install. If it comes down to it, Tell him if he keeps up his ****, you'll contact consumer affairs.

 
Rep Power: 289

DIY

but holy cra i need to start charging for installs. u paid 250 for an install :O

i jsut did my friends car for free *gasps*

 
Rep Power: 283

Damn need to larn to DIY. If you like to pay to get the stuff done drive south on 5 fwy to LA there's plenty of good shops, yes there's alot bad ones to.

 
Rep Power: 380

that sucks man, but that seems to be the way all custom shops are going... they all want a ton of $$ and no creativity... Im no DIY king or anything, but my buddy just paid like $500+ for a custom install that looked like ****, but then I took their ****, moved it around and trim here, cut their, had his **** looking clean... shops for the most part suck...

 
Rep Power: 296

500 for something custom...ha...i paid 250 to wire an amp, add components and drop in a sub to a box that was already in the car. of course 250 included the amp kit BUT still....

man I can't wait for this motherfocker to call me back. its either going to be perfect or im gunna contact the BBB..(thanks for that link!)

if i do have to go through the BBB, what exactly do they do? i read the site and it says they try to work out the problem between customer and business...but how? i mean do they talk with him and tell him to do a better job? lol. or is it sort of just making a report against them and so it looks bad when other prospective customers take a look?

 
Rep Power: 328

What I don't understand is why you keep going back even though they f*ck you over every time....at some point you gotta stop complaining because you're the dumbass that keeps going back for more

 
Rep Power: 296

hey thats not nice calling me a dumbass.....the only reason i went back today is they're FIXING what they did wrong. well...hopefuly fixing. i go somewhere else im paying the new company to have them fix somebody elses mistake. its not like im having them do new stuff...

1st time i went was for custom stuff
2nd time i went was to fix the custom stuff (had them do components - they were the "reason" to go back and have them fix the custom stuff
3rd (this) time is to fix everything they did the 2nd time.

and before the 1st time for custom stuff....when they put the wrong trim piece in....that installer doesn't work their anymore.

 
Rep Power: 262

It can be win or lose, the bbb is designed to help deter potential customers from shady places. If nobody checks the stuff out, they'll never know. Its similar to a large chain retailer having a customer care line to help resolve issues, they will probably contact the retailer of the complaint and work with the retailer on resolving the issue, later the bbb will post the outcome, whether they did not cooperate, or if they tried to resolve, or if they DID resolve. Being that they are not a member, the company might not care as much as if they were a member, however the complaint ( or any complaint) will stay in the system for 3 years. On the other hand, if Greg does give two ***** and he just has crappy installers then this could be a good tool to help him fix the problem he started--your car. It doesn't guarantee anything but if this was to escalate to small claims court, you would have proper documentation of trying to resolve the issue the correct way, and it wouldn't be his word against yours. When you talk to him and he doesn't want to budge, don't threaten him with the bbb, just state calmly that since he could not fix the problem he started, you will have no other choice than to take it to the next level, the bbb.

I live in Dallas and there are a lot of shady business' here, the bbb has proven to be a great tool when shelling out dough.
Hope it works out for you.
Not to be greedy, but if it does, could you help out my neg rep.
Cheers

 
Rep Power: 273

yeah the bbb is the only way to go sometimes. Any smart business owner should know better then to let it go that far. Yeah man i feel for ya too....that is some dumb sh*t to have to put up with!!!

 
Rep Power: 380

I thought that may cheer you up, lol, yea, he totaly got raped... but good luck w/ your situation!

 
Rep Power: 310

^^^ I am missing something here. You realize you ARE quoting the same person who started the thread, right?

 
Rep Power: 296

wish me luck...im heading down there right now...hopefully everything is in working order!!!

 
Rep Power: 317

thats what sucks about local shops, some of the shop out there dont take any pride in what they do.
the guys at my local shop have always treated me well since day one. they do great work and dont like "crap" work going out the door.
yet, i can go down the road and find places that dont want to do any custom work, and do crappy installs (why would you use t-taps to install a radio, seriously, a simple harness and some butt-splices will do).
if the places in town suck, learn to do it yourself, no point in paying a moron to do work for you.

 
Rep Power: 0

want to talk about getting raped a buddy of mine paid right around 30 g's for his install on his yukon. lots of motrized this and that and even more fiberglass and alot of neons and strobes( pretty dumb in my opinion). the thing that sucks the most is his truck has been up there since october it is now may his truck is still not completely finished. every week he goes up there to check how things are going and something new is wrong like the his box is not tuned correctly, neons have burnt up, amps have taken a ****, they have backed his truck into concrete posts. i cant even name all the junk his truck has been through with that shop. point is man dont feel bad their are people getting raped a hell of a lot worse than you.

 
Rep Power: 289

fathom.. give him a smack for me

 
Rep Power: 296

well id never give a shop 30g's in the first place - thats pretty dumb.

either way...i went back and i was quite pleased with my car. they built a wall along the back side of my trunk and mounted the amps there. everything is all clean and looks tight. i'll get pics this weekend.. i guess Mr. Greg just needed a little encouragement lol

 
Rep Power: 289

bbb doesnt do anything for car audio shops most ppl who waste money on sound sysytems because thats what ur doin ur wasting ur money dont take the time to check the bbb out so always go to place with multiple sites and look at the show room if they dont care about their store why would they care about ur car

 
Rep Power: 310

Huh?

 
Rep Power: 296

que?

 
Rep Power: 296

finally! i got some pics of the ride. check 'em out
http://www.7thgencivic.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=212564

and these are just of the crappy HU relocation....anybody have any ideas how i can use this and fix it?!

 
Rep Power: 786

glass it all in

btw if you came in to my business and tlaked to me like that I would not help you again EVER. Period.

 
Rep Power: 361

In this case they deserved it. He paid alot of money and did not get what he paid for. But its better to get the Better Business Buearu or something like that involved.

 
Rep Power: 310

I see what you mean about the gap. The only way to fix it is to re-do. it. I bet if you just give it some time you'll get used to it. It looks so nice with the screen and all, plus you get to factor in that you have a HU somewhere it doesn't belong, I think that kind of overshadows the fact that it isn't perfect. I know it sux to pay good money and not be completely satisfied, but its not as bad if you make the most of it and enjoy. In all honesty, I can see the gap you are talking about but it doesn't make it look bad. Notice not one person in the thread where you put your pics said anything bad about it?