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Bad experience with coastal tech

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by RaleighMatt, Feb 19, 2007.

  1. pre-cbs

    pre-cbs New Member

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    For the record, I've made 2 purchases with coastal (ev mod then lockpick3) and they've both been very smooth. Thought I'd post something positive.
     
  2. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Hobbit,
    What's up with the map?
     
  3. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Hobbit,
    I removed the map you posted. I will investigate to see if that's the physical address of a brick-n-mortar storefront or the owner's home. If I find that it's the store, I will reinstate the image.

    [edit]
    The address provided on Coastaltech.com front page is 615 Valley Road · Montclair, NJ 07043-1403
    The map previously posted was not of that area. Unless you can provide a valid reason to put the map back up, I'm leaving it down.
    For the record, the reason is that it is unwise to post pinpoint locations of people's homes on the internet.
    [/edit]
     
  4. darrylp

    darrylp New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RaleighMatt @ Feb 21 2007, 09:59 AM) [snapback]393930[/snapback]</div>
    I installed my $99 lockpick yesterday. First time I got an error message. Went back to stock configuration and everything was fine. Tried a second time and got a very different error message. Again, stock config worked. Installed the lockpick a third time and everything works as advertised, at least everything I tried worked OK.

    As an electronics professional with 40+ years of experience, I am 100% sure I didn't botch the first two tries. There is magic going on somewhere! (Software A interfacing with Software B = magic - or sometimes disaster!)

    In any event, my purpose here is not to attack nor defend Coastal. But turning out such a device, in modest quantities, is not easy for $99. It is not just a piece of plastic with a couple of wires. Those two connectors are expensive, the PC board isn't free, there are obviously several components including probably a microcontroller, and more than a dozen wires. Then there is software development, assembly, testing (including the necessary test equipment and jigs), packaging customer service (well, maybe) and hopefully at the end there is a profit.

    Having done it for many years, I can tell you that $99 is a bargain. Provided it functions as advertised, of course.
     
  5. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RaleighMatt @ Feb 20 2007, 06:57 PM) [snapback]393561[/snapback]</div>
    Wow. That's a lot of emailing. Have you tried the a brief but polite phone call to the company instead? At least you'll know when you have gotten a hold of someone.
    I called their phone number and got through twice today. No problem.

    If badmouthing a company is your only contribution to PriusChat, that kind of concerns me.
    I sympathize that you have had a bad experience with CoastalEtech.

    I've heard you.

    I get it.

    You might want to consider a cooling-off period before emailing or posting again. Better judgment is easily blurred by anger and frustration.
     
  6. desynch

    desynch Die-Hard Conservative

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    Don't like it, then don't buy it.

    The joys of Capitalism.

    Vote with your wallet.

    Me, I'm ordering a freaking Lockpick 3.. :)
     
  7. SteelersXL

    SteelersXL New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pre-cbs @ Feb 21 2007, 11:17 AM) [snapback]393944[/snapback]</div>

    What's missing is someone who has had a positive experience when they required customer service. <_<

    if someone has a positive there, that's what I would like to see otherwise can't imagine why i should give money to a flaky group. all I see on here is posts about bad or no customer service. if you order something and it happens to be in stock you might get it and not need so called customer service. that's nice but doesn't exactly change my opinion.
     
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    In the past, and I can't confirm any recent reports, they were quite good with the technical support side of customer service. If you called and left a message with an installation issue they'd get right back to you and walk you through the process to fix.

    I can't confirm if they still are good about that or not.
    Further, they've been excellent about returns and replacements and, in general, have been honest about issues that arise.
    The main problem is contacting them about placed/pending orders...in that arena I've never heard a good story.
     
  9. AnOldHouse

    AnOldHouse Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pre-cbs @ Feb 21 2007, 11:17 AM) [snapback]393944[/snapback]</div>
    I've bought three times from Coastal without any problems regarding customer service. I've always ordered using ground shipping. Perhaps my patience with a small mom and pop company has paid off.

    September 2005: Bought EV mode, door locks, mud guards and original nav/bluetooth override kit. I was aware that the nav/bt kit was back ordered. Everything else came in within a week. nav/bt kit arrived in January 2006 when the product was released.

    July 2006: Bought EV mode, door locks and mud guards in anticipation of getting a new Prius. Everything came in within a week.

    February 2007: Bought the Ultimate LockPick 3 Plus. Came in within a week.

    February 2007: The EV mode and door lock kits I bought in July 2006 fail to function on installation at my dealer. Both items replaced within 10 days after a polite exchange of phone messages and emails between my dealer and Coastal and between me and Coastal.
     
  10. SteelersXL

    SteelersXL New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AnOldHouse @ Feb 21 2007, 06:11 PM) [snapback]394222[/snapback]</div>

    whoa whoa whoa - your dealer installed the EV mode kit ???
     
  11. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SteelersXL @ Feb 21 2007, 05:18 PM) [snapback]394230[/snapback]</div>
    Sure, many have just for the asking...if you're not comfortable doing it yourself any radio installer will do it for you too more than likely..and for less cost than a dealer. But some folks are just more comfortable with the dealer 'messing around' w/ their Prius.



    Honestly though, I always recommend doing it yourself. It's an excellent way to 'get closer' to your Prius...to understand where stuff is a little better, etc. It's a 10-15 min process for the coastal mod.
     
  12. AnOldHouse

    AnOldHouse Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SteelersXL @ Feb 21 2007, 06:18 PM) [snapback]394230[/snapback]</div>
    and the door lock kit and the mud guards and the Ultimate LockPick 3 Plus on the 2007.

    Also did all the same installs on the 2005.

    All the installs were done complimentary at either delivery or at a regularly scheduled maintenance service.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ericbecky @ Feb 21 2007, 03:17 PM) [snapback]394099[/snapback]</div>
    Kinda what I've been thinking myself, Eric. Thank you for expressing it so well. I couldn't agree with you more!
     
  13. Rangerdavid

    Rangerdavid Senior Member

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    Hay Matt;

    call the consumer protection division of our attorney general's office. if they still havn't credited your credit card, there may be a few things there one of Roy Cooper's Assistants may be interested in....don't let this eat your lunch man, they're not worth it.

    Also, if you do make your own lockpick, let me know, i'll buy one!... later
     
  14. Balt

    Balt Junior Member

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    @RaleighMatt:

    Your initial email to coasteletech was curt, demanding and deserves the kind of response it got. You reap what you sow!

    So, stop yer whinging about whatever shipping option should or should not be available. They operate off a very simple online ordering solution that doesn't automatically handle, well, pretty much anything.

    Some of you really need to learn to be patient. Good things come to those who wait.

    That of course should still be no excuse for their lousy customer service. I'm still waiting on a response to a sales email from 4 weeks ago...

    - Balt
     
  15. dmckinstry

    dmckinstry New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Balt @ Feb 24 2007, 09:22 AM) [snapback]395844[/snapback]</div>
    In that case, I probably shouldn't even ask them about a tracking number for what I ordered yesterday (the basic Lockpick). It took the money from my debit card, so presumably they have the items in stock (or near enough to arrival) that I should be receiving the item within a week (2 weeks, a month, etc.?)

    Anyway I took a chance, since the second order I made (EV mod kit) arrived in about a week.

    Dave M.
     
  16. jstack

    jstack New Member

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    I ordered the EV mode option and a tow bar for my bicycle hitch. Both came in just a week and work great. I love the EV mode switch. Easy to install and very cool. I just wish I could add more battery capacity for more EV driving.
     
  17. dmckinstry

    dmckinstry New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jstack @ Feb 27 2007, 08:46 PM) [snapback]397658[/snapback]</div>
    So far, I'm having the same experience as someone earlier in this thread. I ordered the basic LockPick online, and they charged my debit card immediately. The tracking number (since Monday a.m.) on U.P.S. has been giving the message "Status: Billing Information Received". There's been no indication of a pickup yet.

    I'm not especially upset, as I'm certain I'll get it eventually. But it would be nice if they didn't claim a Monday the 5th delivery (ground), which they originally said, and it hasn't even been picked up yet. This is from Florida? to Washington State.

    I think they could hire a college student part time to keep them up with email, phone calls, etc. Make an honest statement that it's out of stock and when it's actually expected.

    Dave M.
     
  18. mooniac

    mooniac New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RaleighMatt @ Feb 21 2007, 10:59 AM) [snapback]393930[/snapback]</div>

    I would like to add my experience with coastal if I could. I ordered the EV mode switch on Tuesday night and received the kit Thursday with a free bag of jelly beans, granted I only live 200 miles from their facility. Also the instructions are very easy to understand and comprehend. Just my 2 cents
     
  19. cpagal

    cpagal New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mooniac @ Mar 2 2007, 09:22 PM) [snapback]399351[/snapback]</div>
    I also want to post a positive experience. I received my ultimate lockpick 3 this week within 7 days of placing my order. It's already been installed, is working great, & I love it. It did take them 4 days for UPS to pick up the package (or for them to drop it off) once they had printed the label. However, I've been waiting for over 9 months for someone to find a workaround for the navigation lockout. When I found out last week that this product was available, I sure didn't mind waiting a few days for them to ship it. Their product works great & I would definitely buy from them again.
     
  20. dmckinstry

    dmckinstry New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cpagal @ Mar 2 2007, 05:52 PM) [snapback]399356[/snapback]</div>
    Mine isn't quite as good as yours, but similar. I ordered my basic Lockpick last Friday evening. Monday morning I got a tracking number and have been checking it all week. U.P.S. has indicated only "Billing Information Received". I've tried calling Coastal several times with no luck. However, when I emailed them this morning, I got a reply from Kelley this afternoon indicating she planned on shipping early next week.

    This is actually the first time I've gotten a response by email or phone from them. I do take that as a good sign.

    Dave M.