Unhappy with aftermarket Leather Seats

I paid $1347.00 to the dealer for Katzkin "factory spec" leather. That included driver and passenger heated seats. I'm very satisfied with the way they turned out - I can't tell the difference between factory and Katzkin, though I haven't really compared.

 

They did not use Katzkin - I'm surprised - because Coach is an Authorized distributor / installer of Katz.

You got some random aftermarket thing - most dealers use Katz.

Another big part of Katz is they carry something like $10,000,000 liability insurance on the seat airbags.

This dealer is likely using something more cheap - and you will probably see the same thing in all their cars. You could also just call Coach and ask them directly.

Going Katz price is around $700 for seat kits, and $350 - $400 to install it... Takes around 2 hours start to finish...

 

I have a IV that comes standard with leather and it has the zippers on the rear also. But, just not in the same place and as big. It doesn't look that bad. Just as long as they are good quality and fit. Then it would be okay. It takes a couple of days backed in the sun to fit to the seat. Take a picture of what the seat looks like...the front of it.

 

Yep, my IV also has two 8" zippers on either side of the pouch. Didn't even notice them until they were mentioned here.

 

That statement is ridiculous, and borderline insulting to the OP. As many here will attest, aftermarket leather is frequently superior in quality to factory interiors, even on very high end luxury cars (Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, etc.). If the OP presses the dealer (which it sounds like she is), she will get an excellent result.

My aftermarket leather is both thicker, and more plush than the factory version. That equates to a more comfortable seat, and superior durability.

 

Nice to hear that communication seems to of led to a situation where you might reach a good resolution to the issue.

You're lucky that the manager is "taken aback" and is siding with you. However my follow up question to the manager would be, as the manager of the dealership shouldn't he be familiar with what is being installed in the vehicles he is selling? Why is he surprised? His own dealership is the seller of the product. The time to know what aftermarket leather is being sold in your dealership and determine if it meets your standards as a manager, is before you sell it to customers. But you get more flies with honey...so being combative might not be in your best interest...

But it is great that evidently they want to make you happy and are working towards that end. That's what dealerships should do. But I think you dodged a bullet, because often they do not..

 

When a person is doing what you want, don't start the blame game or a line of accusatory questioning.

It's like paper training a puppy, you don't scold it when it has just peed where you wanted it to pee.

 

Yes, I agree. I said, you get more flies with honey so it probably wasn't in the OP's best interest to be combative. So yes, I would give the dealership the chance to make me happy and be happy they were evidently working to make that happen. BUT personally, I would be asking myself that question, even if I decided it was something I was going to bring up in dealing with the dealership.

But it sounds like perhaps the OP has a decent manager and a decent dealership working with her...unfortunately a rarity in these days.

 

Due to the conversation about the aftermarket Prius leather, I would like to clear up a few things. This information will be useful to anyone who has purchased, or is contemplating purchasing aftermarket seat covers.

First of all, we are a licensed Katzkin installer and distributor. We use the Katzkin product line exclusively. Our educated dealers and customers know that Katzkin is the best aftermarket interior available. We are the only licensed Webasto-Hollandia inbuilt sunroof installer in the KC area. These roofs are not only used by Toyota, but by almost every major automotive manufacturer in the world. Webasto-Hollandia is also one of the few companies that produce OEM and aftermarket sunroofs out of the same facilities, which are located in Europe and North America. Visit Webasto's website for more information. The information regarding our sunroof line has been included as a post suggested we do not use the products we say we do. It’s especially important these days to know what is being installed in your vehicle. That is why we welcome dealers and customers to take a walk through our installation facility and observe the shelving stacked with Katzkin’s product line as well as Webasto’s sunroofs.

Let me return to the discussion the on the Prius. We use Katzkin's product line exclusively due to:
A) Safety Testing- Katzkin has conducted airbag deployment testing through MGA research.
B) Katzkin is MOPAR approved. Some Jeep Commanders and Wranglers come with Katzkin leather from the factory. This is listed on the invoice sticker.
C) Katzkin is Ford approved for the complete product line of Ford vehicles.

Manufacturers use Katzkin products because:
1) Safety
2) Quality

I have not noticed much mention of safety on this thread. I am unsure as to why posters would suggest this is not Katzkin product, as they are quite mistaken. I wonder where their miseducation originates. Regarding the zipper concern, there are, in fact, zippers on the rear sides of the front leanbacks. However, the factory cloth has zippers as well. The zippers on the Katzkin covers have been extended further up the seatbacks. I consulted the head of Katzkin’s patterning department, as I trust these intricate designs have a method to their madness. The explanation is that they have been extended so it is easier to install the cover while attaching airbag straps to the frame of the seat. This makes perfect sense to me. We do not interfere with safety features, such as side impact airbags.

This brings me to my next point, as one post suggested that it wouldn’t be wise to have someone “removing your seats and risk screwing up one of the many sensors?†Also, we DO NOT cover over factory cloth. When we complete an install, there are several steps we take to ensure a successful install:
1) Remove seats, and remove door panels and console cover (if cloth).
2) Carefully strip cloth covers off seats and interior parts.
3) Work around sensing systems- these are different from one vehicle to the next, as well as from one manufacturer to another.
4) Reinstall recovered seats and other parts, including door panels and console pieces.

The reasons listed above are why we use our products (Katzkin Leather Interiors and Webasto Sunroofs). We look at each install as our reputation being on the line. This is why we are the #1 aftermarket leather and sunroof installer in Kansas City, and one of the top installers in the Midwestern region.

Gary Seiden
Coach Automotive Restylers, LLC
Managing Member

 

Clearly, as posted by Coach, my post was incorrect. I looked again at my seats, and there *is* a zipper. I say again - because I did not notice it when looking (and still hardly do - but my finger nail running vertical shows the zipper at a seem).

As I've posted many times, I think the Katzkin covers are amazing - and possibly (compared to a neighbors car), better than the originals (I've only had the upgraded Tuscany option - which costs more)...

I've done (2) 2010s with Coach (Orange Co), and per all my posts, they are amazing, and are the defacto standard...

My first one was well over a year ago (when the 2010 was new), and the guy working on my car knew everything about it.

Sorry for any confusion...

As a side note, it is amazing that you can cut in a factory looking sunroof on a sloped surface... Both times I had my seats installed, they were putting in sunroofs (not in a Prius) - they pull all the roofing out, which includes all the plastic panels up to the roof. If you got a sunroof + seats, your car gets almost gutted (interior wise). Knowing the car, I believe they would pull every plastic (but the dash and bottom door trim).

They did not add - they also do Audio/Video system upgrades - which I would trust.

Personally, I really like the work - and love my outcomes... Your mileage may vary...

 

The seats look awful - your initial reaction was appropriate. If the zippers are in there "to make installation easier" this sure as heck isn't reflected in the price you paid.

I feel for you.

 

I bought a show room floor Honda Accord with after maret leather seats. I had no idea I had zippers (vertical) on the back of the seats. I guess all have them. My seats are dark grey so the zippers seam are hardly noticeable.

 

I am considering buying a level 3 with solar roof and buying after market heated leather seats rather than going up to the level 4 to get the heated leather seats. I live in the Bay Area and I am thinking of buying the car in Southern California as the prices seem to be a lot better down there. I could either have the dealer do the leather seat installation there or have it done when I return home to the Bay Area.

1) Any recommendations for leather seat installation in the Bay Area? (From reading the above thread it seems like it would be better to have the seat installation done closer to home in case I am not completely happy with it.)

2) Also, when you buy the after market heated seats from the dealer do they do it in house or do they take the car somewhere to get it done?

 

If you are getting a car from Dianne you can have the dealer install the Katzkin seat covers and wrap it into your loan. I think it runs around $1200 without warmers. If you want to do it yourself you can get a set of seat heaters from eBay and a set of Clazzio seat covers. The whole deal will cost less than $500 and is very high quality.