Do NOT go to USA Auto Sound on Miramar Road

I cannot believe the service I received there recently. The workers and the owner (Alex) were VERY unethical, will not stand behind their work or their products, perform POOR installations and will try their best to swindle you out of your money.

My experience:

They sold me a cd player for $125, initially told me it was "el kameleon" when it turned out to be a knockoff. They promised the knock off was a quality unit and I would not be dissapointed. So I gave in and let them put it in. Then when I came back because the knockoff radio couldn't even get clear reception, they blamed me for being "picky" and "cheap". (verbatim)

I told them to check their installation job and the wiring. They told me "you get what you pay for" and that I should upgrade if I wanted better quality. (classic bait and switch) So I was frustrated but gave them the extra money and told them just to do it.

When the pioneer still didn't get clear reception, thats when the ***** hit the fan.

They told me they couldn't hear anything wrong.

They said my antenna was too old to get good reception.

They said it was because I was behind a building.

They told me I should have make it known that I wanted to listen to the radio. WTF ...I am buying a RADIO after all.

They told me I couldn't get a refund...all sales final.

The manager told me
"The customer is usually right but this time I'm right and you're wrong"


I finally had to go into the service bay and make sure they checked the connections like I had asked. Turns out the antenna wire became partially severed in their hasty and poor installation. They then hack-jobbed a coax splice (with a wire nut!!!) and said that it was the best they could do. The reception is still slightly noisy so now i have to go in and redo the splice with some bnc's or run new cable. They messed up my interior, didn't put back all the trim, and the 300+lb "installer/hack job" flattened the bolsters on my seats.


I then proceeded to shove the cut wire into his face "who's wrong now B!$%& !!?

What crooks!

CLIFF NOTES: Please avoid USA Auto Sound on Miramar next to the 76 station. Horrible ethics. Obviously you can see I feel very strongly about this otherwise I would not have registered and typed this up.

 

Sorry to hear about these crooks man. It definately pays to do your research before you go into a place looking to buy stereo equipment. Next time consult us here at HT on the equipment you plan to buy, and we'll give you the real story.

 

that happend to me for a alarm &!same thing w my buddy w his stereo when another person works on anothers car thats not a homie things get put together sloppy but if thoes installers put the crappy in there cars it would have been so clean it wouldent have been funny All installers are jackasses ! thats why im my own installer!

 

I had my alarm and stereo installed at some place on clairemont blvd. I can't remember the damn name...but it was right next to like men's wearhouse. They did a great job and I haven't had any problems yet.

 

shops DIY

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EBP_SI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

shops DIY </TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree.....except when it comes to alarms

And as long as they're taking all the **** out to do the alarm..what's 15-20 bucks more for them to do my head unit?

 

You have the support of everyone on Honda-Tech to do the job right, and you paid a lousy shop to do this. I think 90+ percent of people here feel like I do: DIY. Even if the install labor is free, they give you a TV or microwave oven: never let 'em touch your car.

 

what a bunch of douchebags... Thats why I usually do it myself, or use a big chain of stores, like best buy, or cirtcit city even..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PupaScoopa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You have the support of everyone on Honda-Tech to do the job right, and you paid a lousy shop to do this. I think 90+ percent of people here feel like I do: DIY. Even if the install labor is free, they give you a TV or microwave oven: never let 'em touch your car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EBP_SI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

shops DIY </TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Member 00841 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that happend to me for a alarm &!same thing w my buddy w his stereo when another person works on anothers car thats not a homie things get put together sloppy but if thoes installers put the crappy in there cars it would have been so clean it wouldent have been funny All installers are jackasses ! thats why im my own installer!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Okay my time to chime in. There is some truth to the matter that there are
hacks out there...but for the most shops there are great installers in the big
box chains/small chains/ local ma & pa 's as well. Research is paramount.
As for those who think paying for installation is a rip off..Here's what I went
through on Monday from 2pm to close ( in addittion to my scheduled appoints):
All these were DIY's who thought install was not worth it.

1. '03 eclipse with Xm sat radio..got crappy reception,owner purchased an fm
mod to get "better" reception. Ant was mounted on hood,coaxial was torn and
bent in 7 diff spots and just stuffed under dash and the antenna was broken from
the reciever connection.
2. 90 ish taurus kid brought us a jigsaw puzzle of a dash to install the
deck ( he obviously did not have the radio keys) plus he also cut the power
harness ( thankfully not the amp plug). He had "installed dozens of radios
before"
3. another taurus but this time the father and son combo had sliced both amp
and power plugs and was insistant that we make it so that he could put the
oem back in ( all the time he was talking to his kid saying " this is all a scam
they just want to get your money ) How do you tell someone jeez @#@#^**
if you went such a D#$^%^ at first we wouldnt be at this point.
4. 95 cavalier deck...broken dash cause they thought it pulled off still did not
do radio.
5. grand prix...amp was "installed right" but was not coming on..what what the
problem ( power cable just resting on bat term/running through doorjamb/no
remote wire/crappy ground (12.5 at bat 10.4 at ground WTF)
6. Ranger..kid cuts the din cord ( changer cable) off a Kenwood deck and
wonders why it work. When asked why he did it..it was just hanging there and
did'nt think I needed it.

I don't hate DIY's Hell I was one once too. What I do despise is though who
lump all installers together and spread the gospel so to speak so that you only
go to techs when the **** has hit the fan so to speak ( and wonder why we charge so much...DUH you pooched it so bad. )

Im offmy soapbox now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by audioroach &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I don't hate DIY's Hell I was one once too. What I do despise is though who
lump all installers together and spread the gospel so to speak so that you only
go to techs when the **** has hit the fan so to speak ( and wonder why we charge so much...DUH you pooched it so bad. )

Im offmy soapbox now.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not totally knocking shops but for the most part what i've seen is hacks, btw, i consider anyone who uses electrical tape for HU installs to be a hack. this guy obviously has the knowhow to figure out that the antenna wire was what was causing the problem so whe he why he went to a shop and payed for someone to connect 10 wires and slide an HU in is beyond me. I guess if you're getting a custom trunk installed and dont have the time to do it yourself i can see going to a shop but an HU install, DIY.

 

See this is where we differ...I 'll say you have the proper tools,all the info
on how to do it and the time and patience..then go for it. The prob is that
many DIY's have neither. I'll even admit I have great mechanical skills,
but I know my limits...ie I can change my brakes,but since I don't do it
regularly,it takes longer than someone who does it daily. What the avg DIY
doesnt know is that the OEM automakers can change a design within body lines.
I have personally witnessed it on same year cars.

As for this guy...he knew his limits. He wanted a good job done and got
slammed. its really not his fault. Yes its only 11 wires min, But have you
seen what can snowball when things go wrong.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PlastikOwl &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had my alarm and stereo installed at some place on clairemont blvd. I can't remember the damn name...but it was right next to like men's wearhouse. They did a great job and I haven't had any problems yet. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats either Car Audio Heaven or Al & Eds. I used to work at Car Audio Heaven, but the one on El cajon Blvd.

Matt

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4doorex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Thats either Car Audio Heaven or Al & Eds. I used to work at Car Audio Heaven, but the one on El cajon Blvd.

Matt</TD></TR></TABLE>

Car audio heaven it was.

They took forevvvvver to install my alarm, but it was worth it. It works flawlessly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by audioroach &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">See this is where we differ...I 'll say you have the proper tools,all the info
on how to do it and the time and patience..then go for it. The prob is that
many DIY's have neither. </TD></TR></TABLE>

This hits the nail on the head. I agree that not all shops are crappy. I have a good friend who opened a shop lately (www.appalachianaudio.com), and he's a great installer. I've worked with him on various occasions fixing customer's DIY screwups.

You either DIY and do it right or find a pro and build a relationship with them and they'll take care of you.

 

make sure you go back there and slam them all