tron07
18-04-2008, 11:45 AM
Shop name removed.
original post taken from....
http://www.mycarhifi.com/carhififorum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4928&p=63607#p63607
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/vtecnicals-circuit-city-catastrophe/
For most GPS systems, installation is as simple as sticking a suction cup on the windshield or an adhesive disc on the dash, plugging in an adapter to the cigarette lighter, and hitting the power button. But, if you want something a little more flush and integrated, you have to go with a device installed in your dash. Unless you're the adventuresome type and know what you're doing, dashboard installation is usually a task best left to the professionals. We say "usually" because we've come across a case where paying someone else to do the install was plainly the wrong call, resulting in $12,119 in damages to a 2007 Honda Civic Si.
The woefully bad install job was done at a local xxxxx store, where "qualified" technicians were attempting to install an AVIC-Z2. The installer proceeded to cut the wiring harness from the stock stereo, twist and solder together a new one, drill holes in the heating system, scratch up the front windshield, and crack all the plastic panels surrounding the thing. Sounds to us like the guy who tried to install his home satellite system with a .22 pistol could have done a better job. The install is so bad that the local Honda dealership won't release the car, saying all the shorted wires are a fire hazard.
The most irritating part of the story is that xxxxx isn't ponying up for the damages. To date, the electronics retailer has only paid $3,190, about a quarter of the total damages, and is forcing the victim in question to deal directly with his insurance company rather than just cutting him a check. That is some seriously bad customer service, which we hope will be rectified soon in light of the atrocious publicity this installation-fiasco is generating for the chain.
Installs gone wrong certainly aren't all that uncommon, but the tale told by one VTECnical of the 8thcivic.com forum is undoubtedly a cut above the rest, and could well have you reconsidering that suction cup option. As VTECnical tells it, he bought a Pioneer AVIC Z2 GPS unit and some other components from xxxxx last July for more $3,000 and decided to let their installers do the installation work for him -- apparently after he was told that it'd slide into his Honda Civic without any modifications.The problems then allegedly began when the installer whipped out a heat gun, which was purportedly intended to be used to mold a mounting guide for the GPS unit but instead wound up melting one of the Civic's heating ducts. As if that wasn't enough, the installer apparently also used tape to hold the GPS unit in place, installed the antennae on the inside of the car instead of the outside, and used a glue gun to install the speakers instead of bolting them in place. All told, that apparently not only resulted in over $12,000 worth of damages but, according to the estimate from a Honda dealership, left the car "unsafe to drive." For its part, xxxxxx apparently did eventually remove the equipment and refunded the full $3,000+, but VTECnical is now left dealing with xxxxxx third party insurance company to recover the rest of the damages.
original post taken from....
http://www.mycarhifi.com/carhififorum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4928&p=63607#p63607
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/vtecnicals-circuit-city-catastrophe/
For most GPS systems, installation is as simple as sticking a suction cup on the windshield or an adhesive disc on the dash, plugging in an adapter to the cigarette lighter, and hitting the power button. But, if you want something a little more flush and integrated, you have to go with a device installed in your dash. Unless you're the adventuresome type and know what you're doing, dashboard installation is usually a task best left to the professionals. We say "usually" because we've come across a case where paying someone else to do the install was plainly the wrong call, resulting in $12,119 in damages to a 2007 Honda Civic Si.
The woefully bad install job was done at a local xxxxx store, where "qualified" technicians were attempting to install an AVIC-Z2. The installer proceeded to cut the wiring harness from the stock stereo, twist and solder together a new one, drill holes in the heating system, scratch up the front windshield, and crack all the plastic panels surrounding the thing. Sounds to us like the guy who tried to install his home satellite system with a .22 pistol could have done a better job. The install is so bad that the local Honda dealership won't release the car, saying all the shorted wires are a fire hazard.
The most irritating part of the story is that xxxxx isn't ponying up for the damages. To date, the electronics retailer has only paid $3,190, about a quarter of the total damages, and is forcing the victim in question to deal directly with his insurance company rather than just cutting him a check. That is some seriously bad customer service, which we hope will be rectified soon in light of the atrocious publicity this installation-fiasco is generating for the chain.
Installs gone wrong certainly aren't all that uncommon, but the tale told by one VTECnical of the 8thcivic.com forum is undoubtedly a cut above the rest, and could well have you reconsidering that suction cup option. As VTECnical tells it, he bought a Pioneer AVIC Z2 GPS unit and some other components from xxxxx last July for more $3,000 and decided to let their installers do the installation work for him -- apparently after he was told that it'd slide into his Honda Civic without any modifications.The problems then allegedly began when the installer whipped out a heat gun, which was purportedly intended to be used to mold a mounting guide for the GPS unit but instead wound up melting one of the Civic's heating ducts. As if that wasn't enough, the installer apparently also used tape to hold the GPS unit in place, installed the antennae on the inside of the car instead of the outside, and used a glue gun to install the speakers instead of bolting them in place. All told, that apparently not only resulted in over $12,000 worth of damages but, according to the estimate from a Honda dealership, left the car "unsafe to drive." For its part, xxxxxx apparently did eventually remove the equipment and refunded the full $3,000+, but VTECnical is now left dealing with xxxxxx third party insurance company to recover the rest of the damages.