Better Business Bureau Response

I ordered the XM kit and the EV kit. They shipped Friday, and are supposedly "OUT FOR DELIVERY" from UPS... So we'll see what is there when I get home. Some of the posts I've seen make me fearful.

 

I ordered mud flaps, and finally got them after a long and silent wait.

I had already heard about the "lack of communications" from Coastal, so I did not stress. But at times I was thinking I should have ordered them somewhere else.

Coastal must have no idea how much damage they are doing to their reputation. It would be a fairly easy job for them to use something like WorldMerge to e-mail all the customers with outstanding orders once a week and just say: "We know about your order, you have not been charged, sorry for the delay, call or e-mail if you want to cancel". That is all it would take to keep customers feeling good.

It is sad that they will not go to that effort.

 

Then people should quit doing business with them. We now know how terrible they are, therefore, I will never buy anything from them.

 

I order an Auto-Lock and an NAV kit back in April. I did make contact with them in July, and I was told the Auto-Lock was on back order, but they were surprised I hadn't gotten one yet. I got an email in September saying the Auto-Lock would be shipping shortly. It finally arrived a couple of weeks later.

Back before I got the Prius (this is back in April) I was on a Yahoo list. Obviously I had never done business with Coastal. Coastal's web site went down and people were speculating what had happened. I mentioned that I had once dealt with an online company (ICONS Replicas) that took your money, never sent the items and went out of business. I merely said that I HOPED Coastal wasn't like that and I was flamed! Dave even sent an email saying how dare I compare them with that other company. One person said my sort of talk could put them out of business. Another said that since I was a newbie (ie had jumped on the Prius bandwagon in 2005 rather than being there for the beginning) it was understandable. They actually said that if you thought of the Prius comunity as a village, Dave would be the mayor. I guess if you go against the mayor you get put in the stocks. I had to apologize to Dave and the group.

 

As I have posted previously, I ordered the Nav Kit and Door Lock thingie back in July. To my complete shock, I actually got an email from Kelley just 6 days ago! She asked if I still wanted my door lock thing (ignoring the nav kit). I replied 3 minutes after she sent her message saying yes, and giving her my phone number to call for payment info.

Haven't heard back. Sent yet another email and even called a coulpe times. Nothing.

I remain apalled, but if she calls I'm giving her a credit card number, because I really want my auto lock thing. Credit card, mind you not debit! Credit cards you can dispute charges on for 30 days.

 

Since joining the community over here at PriusChat, I've seen Coastal Dave's reputation go from "somewhat annoyed" to "utter disappointment".

It truly is sad.

In light of our complaints, where are the alternative vendors for purchasing NAV kits, door-lock kits, etc.?

Perhaps someone should start a new thread.

 

Actually, you have 60 days from the time they send you the credit card statement showing that charge, but you must dispute it in writing. The credit card company must send you written acknowledgement within 30 days of receiving your correspondence. They must settle the dispute within 2 billing cycles or 90 days, whichever is sooner.

See: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/choose.htm

 

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Prius-2G/

Messages to read that pertain to what I was talking about are #s 32837 (the start), 33219, 33223, 33237 (mine), 33242, 33250 (mine), 33256 (Dave), 33263, 33266 (city comment), 33292, 33293, 33294, 33296, 33302, 33307, 33111, 33331 and 33337.

Of those 33237, 33250, 33256, 33266 and 33302 have the most info. The rest are questions about why Coastal's site is down and in defense of the great service they got from them.

 

I also consider what I had a relationship with Coastal be it long distance. I talked to Kelley EVERY day for weeks on end last Spring I actually talked to Dave on the phone March 25th who informed me that the ViewTech 2005 units were finally on their way from Europe (where they were being assembled) to Florida. They were passing through California "as we spoke". I jokingly said, "Too bad they couldn't drop one off at my house on the way through." He laughed... He then told me it would be shipping in about two weeks.

I of course believed him and purchased a JVC KD-DV5100 GigaMp3 DVD player to attach to the ViewTech. At this rate it will be out of warranty before I find out if it is even compatible. (THANKS DAVE!!! )

Kelley told me in early June that it would be two weeks or less. (She has since told me that she was just trying to keep my "hopes up".)

I've been told more than once that I'm the first one on the list. I feel so much better knowing that.

Unfortunately what they've "done" (to me) isn't breaking the law but DOES seem to warrant a severe lashing of some sort. (almost in jest)

Thanks for your input Doc.

One day someone well come up with a ViewTech "look-alike-contest-winner". B)

 

Too sad that this happened to Coastal, we need that entrepeneur spirit and services and more gadgetsfor our cars. The demand is there though.

 

I ordered mud flaps In August and have heard nothing, nor do I expect to hear anything. Someday my credit card will be charged and I'll get a confirmation email, but until that day, I'll keep waiting.

 

I'm confused... isn't his site still up? Also-- I know that people have received the EV switch from Coastal Dave-- but has ANYONE received this NAV KIT that he sells?

Is anyone familiar with his operation? I mean... does he really make all of this stuff, or does he just dream it up, put it on his website, and get a sense of how much interest there might be?

I'm still waiting on a NAV KIT, but from the looks of it... I guess I may never get it. I would think if he made even ONE kit a week he could make some progress or something. Are these things just so complicated to make that he can't ship one out? Sounds to me like he could be running a pretty lucrative and profitable business if he had half a brain about him.

 

I've been thinking about starting my own Prius component business online. My wife works for the Economic Development Center in our area, which provides free small-business owner consultations and business planning sessions. With that in mind, I know where to go for business advice and planning from the get-go.

I'm technically capable and can even design software for any components. Start-up costs are minimal - you're really only paying for your time spent making components and website hosting. I'm sure I could get some cheap website hosting and since I'm a software developer, creating an innovative website would be a fun weekend project for me. All I'm missing is a local partner in crime, which will give me some additional motivation.

Anyone in the Cleveland, Ohio area interested in researching this further with me?

 

Well,

Yesterday I got my XM radio kit and the EV kit from CoastalTech. I waited about a month to get it, but I knew about the wait, because I asked them to send me the XM kit after they got more of the "1 year" free service cards from XM.

Anyway, everything came in good order, and came with all the docs and manuals needed.

I put the XM in last night. Took me close to two hours, but that's mainly because I forgot that someone said it was easier to get to the back of the radio through the glove box, and I couldn't fit my massive paw through the air vent way described in the manual.

So, not to make anyone who is still waiting for something from them even more agitated, but everything seemed to work out fine in this transaction.

Thanks.