Okay folks, here is my original install, I was so excited about it and it turned out half way decent.

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....l+pics+finally

However, here is where the nightmare begins.

1. During the original install, Car Toys (don't ever go there), scratched my car exterior in 3 different places, and scratched 4 different interior pieces. They replaced the interior panels, but wouldn't budge on the scratches. Basically, they did a fiberglasss install for me for parts only and we called it even. Wrong move by my part.

2. Fast forward to today. I did not like the amp rack where it was so I dismantled it and wanted to put my amps inside the OEM sub area. Here is where the problem begins.
I had help from a different stereo shop and while taking the seats out relocating the amps, they noticed that the ground wire and hot wire was not one solid wire to the battery and to the ground.

Attached is a picture of what CAR TOYS did. They cut corners and RIPPED ME OFF. The picture is of the ground wire. NO wonder my radio had a lot of engine noise.

Folks, is this a professional install to you? I paid out the *** for this install and they ensured me it was top notch, however they cut corners. Plus on top of that, I was missing 10-15 clips on all of my panels, that they did bother to put back on> no wonder I had rattling, GRRRR.

I need your opinions on what to do? Car Toys said I was not welcome in their store because I screamed at the manager over the phone. I was pissed because the manager only offered to pay for the clips, WTF?

Thanks for anyone with good advice. I mean this coulda caused more serious damage, like burning my car to the ground because of shady wiring. I wish it would have though.

Thanks again for listening folks, just need some advice here. BTW, I have since had the car completely rewired the PROPER way and the folks wrote on the ticket what Car Toys had done wrong and how wrong the install was.

I know you guys are saying its just power and ground wires, but its the dam principle. I didn't ask for some ghetto *** install!

Also, Car Toys said my install warranty was now voided because I had someone else re-install it. LOL, Whatever!

Retail stereo chains really get on my nerves, they only think about one thing and that is $$$$$$$$.

I learned my lesson here.

 

wow i wouldn't expect that from whats supposed to be a nice place like car toys.

makes me glad i was able to do the work on my own with just the help of a couple friends to make the labor go by faster.
this was also a nice time to bond with the car .

good to see that your own work putting the amps in the oem compartment went smooth!

Rajiv

 

is that the only ground wire for the amps you had? That's pretty shady, i could understand them using the wrong color wire, but to piece a ground together is pretty lame.

 

I guess the copper wire was too short so they added the silver part?

 

Whoa man that sucks a$$, my install has a few scratches as well but not nearly as bad as urs. I wasn't that pissed because my stuff was really cheap and I'm gonna get a dash kit to cover it up. But as future reference, I'll get all my stuff off of ebay then pay a high place like Tweeter to do the clean install.

 

I hear you about Car Toys. They really suck a$$. I had my system installed by them and like you, paid up the wazzu. After the initial install, my interior was all scratched up and mis-aligned. I was pissed to say the least. It also sounded like crap. I took it back, they built a different sub enclosure, and re-wired the front speakers (were out of phase). Idiots! After getting it back, I cracked the panels open and double checked everything.

They told me they would order the replacement panels and I waited. weeks go by and I keep bugging them. About 3 weeks after the install, they tell me the panels are in and they set up an appointment to fix the panels. I show up at 7:30 in the morning and guess what... No panels. #$%#@$!!! I had it by then. Called the district office and sent feedback to the car toys web site. At the district office, I spoke to the district manager. Keep in mind I was very calm.

In the end, I had all the panels (and I mean all) replaced by my dealership. cost Car toys about $1500 to replace all the panels. Baztardz.

I will never go to Car boys again and will always tell everyone to stay away from them, no matter what.

My suggestion is to send feedback on their website and call the district office. Be very calm and professional. When sending them feedback, list every issue in detail. One thing that you also want to mention is how much you show off your car to everyone and how you will always not recommend Car boys to anyone. I told them that strangers constantly come up to me to talk about my baby and that I tell everyone about the issues I've had with Car boys.

Good luck!!!! I feel for ya!

 

Although having said this, I'm not sure what you want done and if you can get anything since you've had someone else (or you) work on the car.

 

I won't get nothing out of it, but I will post a BBB complaint and let everyone know about my experience.

BTW, they scratched 4 panels and I had to wait 2 months to get mine. I kept getting the run around. And then they say I have an attitude.

That particular store went through 3 managers in 6 months. I wonder why now.

I guess my car is cursed because of my personalized plate>> PUREVIL

Maybe my car is telling me something. LOL!

 

Hey I notice your also in Colorado, which Car Toys did your install?
I went to the one by Park Meadows with my old car for an install quote for an amp to run door speakers. They had an actual installer come out and give me the quote, and this is when it got funny. He pulls out a blank piece of white paper and just starts rattling out prices, $100 to run 8 guage wire from the battery to the amp ( keep in mind this is a JEEP WRANGLER, no plastic panels to take apart!), another $80 to wire to the speakers, and then on top of that he starts pulling down all of the accessories I'll "need". In total I think it came out to about $340, which was more than I paid for the amp. In the end I just walked out, went across the street to SoundTrack and ended up paying $80 including wires. Very clean install also, they even built an amp rack.
So what shop did you have do your wiring the second time? Would you go there again?

 

Ive been thru situations like this on previous rides and one thing I learned quick about any company doing custom work (engine, stereo, home repairs) I ONLY go by word of mouth, unless someone I trust had a good experiance there and I can see the quality of the work I dont bother.

My horror story was motor related, had them rebuild and stroke/bore my 5.0 mustang motor, was soooo happy that I kept stopping by and peeking in. Dumbasses left a shop rag (swear to god) in the engine. Tried to get me to pay some of the parts costs, never again.

 

Car Toys on the South Side (Harrison Street)

The wiring job was done by Performance Auto Sound. Good installers but the brands they sell suck.

 

why would the ground wire be so long? usually its only 6 inches long at the max.

 

because the original wires from my 94 Mazda 4 door.

They used my old wires, bastards

 

what they did still dont make sense...if they added the blue/copper wire to make the ground wire longer they still added too much. I would have to say thats why u were getting engine noise..due to bad grounding.

 

They used my wires to cut corners. Its called a National chain, and they work by commision, they wanted to get the job done as cheap as possible.

I'm calling the BBB Monday about this, hopefully it will get somewhere and something will happen, but i doubt it.

 

Thats horrible. I really hope you can get something out of this. I really hate when business' act like this.

 

i know how you feel...i had parking sensors installed 2 weeks after i bought the car....shop screwed it up....long story short i had to get a new bumper and then finally have them put in correctly

i didnt gain ANYTHING from it..i lost almost 2 months with my car and still paid in full and even for some of the replacement

it wasnt even a big chain store..just sloppy and careless work with a bunch of ******** workign there

best advice to you is leave it behind you...be happy everything sorta worked out and never go near the place again

 

The BBB is a good start, but they have little to no authority to initiate any punitive actions against any business (they effectively act as a complaint database). Contact your state's Attorney General immediately. Those folks have all the power needed to bring the hammer down on Car Toys, including instigating litigation.

And keep us posted on what happens. I love to see crooked businesses get slapped around.

Scott

 

It's horror stories like these that make me very glad I chose to do my stereo upgrade .........myself. I just don't have any confidence in these alleged car install shops for exercising caution and care during the install process. Half of the time they're just guessing anyway regarding the proper removal of your interior panels. G-r-r-r-r-!

They promise you the world just so they can get your brand new car into their [chop] shop. Once they get their incompetent hands on it, they are always finding themselves running against the clock to get the job done - then they mess up your interior - they deny any wrong doing afterwards - you become angry and are never really happy with the final results. You just wind up wishing you had known all about these clumsy-*** audio pirates.

Yeah, you're right. It does suck!

 

Well I filed a BBB complaint a few days ago, and guess who calls me today. The corporate Manager of Car Toys.

He basically siad he does not want my business anymore and since I took it to another stereo shop, he aint paying for nothing,

I told him I had filed a BBB complaint and I would see him in court.

Bottom line, they owe me $165.

$75 for the 10" box they never gave me back (they said they threw it away, however I paid for the damn thing)

And $90 for the shady wires that had to be replaced. This does not include labor either.

Do I have a chance in court to win against these corporate a$$holes?

I am never ever going to stereo chain stores again.

I hate high school installers and salesmen who think they know everything.

I'm done ranting!