AutoBarn - Not Happy !

[Teef]

Hi Fella's ,
Had a new head unit installed in my VS Wagon today at Autobarn - Valley Heights NSW .
Scratches / Black marks all over the passenger side of the center console and on the glovebox .
They tried to remove the marks with no success and tried to tell me they were there in the first place before the installation - yeah right ! !
Not happy to say the least !!!!
What do you recommend I do in this situation ?
Thanks ,
Kev .

[alien]

Did you just get the head unit done? Because there shouldn't be scrathes in those places. For exmple the glovebox would only be removed.... well.... it wouldn't even be removed for laying the cables to an amp, i'm stumped on that one!

As to what you should do, if you've got some photos before then that will help. Raise the issue with the store manager, if they can't help contact their head office.

[Lumps of cheese]

Probably not alot you can do unless you can prove without a doubt that they did them. As mentioned, raise it with the manager and see what happens. Apart from that, if you're unhappy after that try for a refund and go elsewhere.

[hakhawk]

got pics? center console or stereo surround?

vr/s usually need the glovebox removed depending which stereo brackets are originally in there. sounds like theyve ripped it all out, and dropped it on the ground. chances are theyve kicked or tripepd over it by accident or something.

speak to the manager/boss of the store, and see how you go. how bad are the marks and scratches? did they tell you they tried to fix them?

just remember, autobarn stores are franchises, so not every store is the same, and neither is every employee.


oh, and dont go in there fired up, and dont fire up at the staff. it just makes things worse for everyone. keep your cool. its only a bit of plastic that can be replaced from a wreckers, its not the end of the world.

[Teef]

Took the vehicle back about 30 minutes after the installation .
Had the Store Manager - Installer - and - Salesman - all trying to remove the multiple black marks all over the left hsnd side of the console and front of the glovebox .
They used three different kinds of upholstery cleaners with little result .
They said all the marks were old ones and 'not their problem' .
This is absolute bullXXXX as there were no marks on the console before the installation .
Not Happy .

[hakhawk]

tried wax and grease remover/prepsol?
again, pics?

[danja]

Talk to the ACCC. They are genuinely good in this kind of situation at letting you know what your options are:
Complaints & inquiries

[timmy975]

all in all autobarn are average. That's just my opinion. I got my car back with a ciggie hole on my seat cover, scuff marks in few foreign places, over all, a dodgy job. Cant be bothered chasing it up. Over it.

[Teef]

Thank's for the replies guys
I'll try some of your suggestions and see how I go .
I normally do my own audio installations but ran out of time .
So my next option was the nearest supplier and fitter to my current work location .
I would not recommend 'This' Autobarn shop to anyone in the future .
They don't admit damage to your vehicle interier and treat you like an idiot .
Just my personal opinion and recent experience with thes guys at Valley Heights Autobarn .
cheers .

[TUF UTE]

be wary mentioning them dude as that can get you in shit for badmouthing them. im a fitter by trade and people think oh yeah just slapping in a cd player or working on a car is easy as ****... mate... things go wrong all the time. im not saying your wrong... and they may have not dealt with it the right way. im just saying that in the long run mate... everyone makes mistakes, they just didnt deal with it great, for twenty dollars you will get another console cover from a wreckers which may be the easiest alternative.

[bezz]

Call the ACCC man, you got every right to be pissed off. To the guy above, sure everyone makes mistakes.. but the way the dealt with it was not fair to the customer and was in violation of the trade practices act.

[owen18]

sue em lol!

[hakhawk]

sue em lol!

do you come from amerika?

everyone wants to sue someone for something.

its a bit of plastic on a car, not expensive to replace.

im still waiting for pics.

[alien]

Good on you for naming them. Hell, i think it's ok. I work in retail, if people dont like what i say or sell them, or when i'm helping them out setting something up then i'm fine with them posting it around telling people i'm crap. If i do a shit job i take the flak and deal with it, at least people will be informed.

Many companies are willing to go over the top and do things that they dont have to do to help a customer, this place wasn't one!

Your definatly entitled to having your car back without scratches. They didn't need to take out or even undo the glove box from a VS to get a new mounting bracket in! That's why it confuses me!

[TUF UTE]

bezz i said they didnt go about it right.... they should have just knocked of 20 off the price or replaced it themselves, if we ever damage anything we are very upfront about it and will work out with the customer what they wish to happen which usually goes down a lot smoother.

[holdenboy]

Well if the stock head-unit was previously fitted then the proper way to remove it is to remove the centre console / stereo and a/c control surround. You can either use a long phillips head screwdriver to undo the bottom screw on the passenger side or take the glovebox out in order to gain access to it. Thats the way i was taught back when a VS was new lol

Anyway yeah that kind of work is not acceptable and they should be paying to replace the damaged panels, the fact that they made attempts to remove the scratches almost makes them guilty!

[hakhawk]

Anyway yeah that kind of work is not acceptable and they should be paying to replace the damaged panels, the fact that they made attempts to remove the scratches almost makes them guilty!

depends. if he saw the marks/scratches that he previously had not noticed, cracked a wetty, and demanded they fix it, they probably denied it, but offered to try and clean it up.

that or they scratched it, and denied it, then tried to clean it up.

i still want pics of the damage.

[bezz]

Who cares about the pics of the damage, its the way they dealt with the situation that should be focused on.

[holdenboy]

yeah pics would be VERY helpful.....hint hint Teef

[hakhawk]

Who cares about the pics of the damage, its the way they dealt with the situation that should be focused on.

thing is, all we can go on his his word, thats all. theres no pics, theres no side form the staff. its all him.

amazingly, customers are NOT always right. he makes it sound like they were assholes, but if indeed the marks were old, and they tried cleaning them for him, theres not much else they can do bar tell him its not their fault or problem.

maybe i should call them at work tomorrow and see what they have to say

[TUF UTE]

lol im an instrument technician.... someone brings in a odometer for repair... soon as i touch it ... if anything ever ****s up again they bring it back going on about how i fixed it and 18 months later its broken then done seem to understand that me working on a odometer doesnt have **** all to do with there fuel gauge not reading right lol.

[groberr]

hmmm that sucks the issue here is not really the fact that they scratched the peices its the way they went about it, surely they could have told you up front and offerd u money off or even sum store credit or something to keep the customer happy.

[TUF UTE]

exactly. from my experience customers will understand everyone makes mistakes. most customers understand its not that easy or theyd do shit them selves. but if u cant own up to it ... then thats where issues start

[Mike S]

While it's true that customers are not always right, it's also true that they don't complain about stuff if you've done a correct and professional job. There must be something in it otherwise Teef would'nt be here going on about it. And he said they tried to get the marks off without success, must be some serious stains if they won't come off. Even grease and that black stuff they stick on door seals comes off easilly, it's only plastic.

[Goon]

Hey if someone doesnt do something about, who's to stop them from doing it again??

personally autobarn is the worst store ive ever had to deal with, repco and supercheap all the way!!