Where do I start? In November of I purchased a 2002 Dodge Stratus and I was looking forward to fixing up my ride with chrome rims, tinted windows and a system. A friend refered me to Autotronix stating that he got a good deal on 20 inch Lexani chrome rims so I decided to check it out.
In December of 02 I arrived at Autotronix and I was suprised at what I saw. The store was very unorganized and dirty. Merchandise was stocked in piles on the selling floor. The associates were speaking spanish, english and arabic to each other. They were cussing at each other, joking around and ignoring customers. I was approached by a salesman named Angel. He said that he was the owner and stated that they sold the best equipment and that if I wanted an item that they did not have in stock he could find it for me through their supplier. I told Angel that I wanted to start off by getting my windows tinted. Angel told me that I can get a "Dark" tint on my windows and promissed me that the window tints were top of the line. He stated that if I paid him in cash he would tint my windows for only $300.00! I was naive to this kind of stuff so I agreed. I later found other window tint places that would do the same tint for $120.00 The window tints came out nice at first but now the passenger and back left passenger window are all scratched and I am not at fault.
Two weeks later, on January 6, I went to Autotronix to purchase chrome rims. Autotronix has a smaller business room attached to its main department and this is where they sell the chrome rims. Angel was not in that day but another male associate named David said he would take care of me. David stated that he would sell me rims at the lowest cost and that I would not find a cheaper price anywhere. He stated that they will meet and beat anyones prices. I looked through a rim catalog and I found 20in Diamo 12 Karat rims that I was interested in purchasing. David said they were originally $4,000.00 but he could work out a sponsorship deal and sell them to me for $3700.00. He said that I will have no payments or interest for 6 months if I finance the rims. I asked David if 20in. Rims would fit my car and he assured me that they would. Not knowing that I was being ripped off at the time I decided to finance the Diamo rims. David then called his supplier. He then informed me that his supplier did not have the rims in stock at that time and that I should come back in a week or two to get the rims placed on my car. I took my receipt and exited the store.
As the week passed I realized that 20in. Rims may be too big to fit my Dodge Stratus so I decided that I would speak to Angel and ask him if I can get 18in. Chrome rims and use the price difference from the 20in. Rims to the 18in. Rims as store credit for a sound system.
I went to autotronix about a week from 1/06/03 and spoke to Angel and told him what I had in mind. Angel said that I was correct and that 20in. Rims would not fit my car. Angel said he would work something out with me. I trusted him and believed I was getting the help I needed. Again I searched through the catalog and I came across 18in. Helo chrome rims that I liked. I did not know the worth of the Helo rims so I trusted that Angel would work with me. I showed Angel the Helo rims that I was interested in. Angel told me that he would call his supplier to see if the rims were in stock. Angel spoke to his supplier in Arabic so I had no way of understanding what was being said. Angel hung up the phone and told me that the 18in. Helo rims were more expensive than the 20in. Rims that I originally financed. I told Angel that there was no way that 18in. Rims are going to be priced higher then 20in. Rims. He said that since he wanted to help me out he would just do an even exchange and place the 18in. Rims on my car at no extra cost. I did not know what else to do so I told Angel ok.
He then handed my car keys to an unknown male associate and told him what rims I was getting. The associate then drove my car off to an unknown location. As I was waiting for my car, Angel was bragging to other associates about a female he had met while cruising. Angel was showing off nude pictures that he had taken of the female subject to customers and the associates. I was shocked. Finally after about 4 hours of waiting I got my car back. I noticed that the associate used about half a tank of gas in MY car.
After I got my rims I went back to Autotronix about two weeks later to check out what offers they had for car stereo systems. Again Angel approached me and stated that he would put a "Phat" system in my car. I told him I was just looking but he proceded to insist that I purchase a stereo from him that day. He began placing stereo parts on the counter telling me that I can put those specific parts in my car. He told me that my payments would be low and that he would place me on a 6month no payment finance plan. Again I agreed. At this point, Angel and an unknown male associate began to gather car audio speakers, and wires, subwoofers, capacity caps and so on and placed them at the register.
The unknown male associate then used a calculator and stated that the stereo would cost me about $2,600.00. I told him that I did not want to spend that much. The associate then told me that since my girlfriend, who was standing next to me at the time, was so pretty he would take an extra $200.00 off the total. Again being so naive I agreed. I agreed to pay $2,400 for 12in Audiobahn subwoofers, two capacity caps, wires, a refurbished pioneer face, a 1000 watt amp for the highs and 4 pioneer 6x9's. I told them I wanted Audiobahn 6x9's but Angel said they would not fit my car. I then gave them the ok for the install thinking I was getting my money's worth. They told me that it was too late to install the stereo that day but if I would bring my car in early the next morning they would have it installed in a few hours. The next morning I took my car to Autotronix to have to system installed. They told me to come back at 4pm and my car would be ready. I came back at 5:00pm and my car was still not ready. They told me it was almost done and to wait in the waiting room. The waiting room smelled of urine and the only place to sit was a beat up couch with springs sticking out. Finally at about 7:00pm my car was finished. Angel then told me that the system was nice but in order to stop the rattling in my trunk that was caused by the bass I would have to have "Dynamat" installed. He told me to check back with him later.
I felt like I was being ripped off, especially for my rims, so I searched the internet for prices for chrome rims and I was astounded when I found the same 18in. Helo chrome rims that I was going to pay $3700.00 for, selling for only $1900.00 online! I even found that the Diamo 20in. Rims I originally financed also sold for a far less price at about $2400.00. I printed out copies of the prices and took them to Autotronix to show them to Angel. I told Angel that I was being ripped off. He then told me that the reason the rims I bought were so expensive was due to the fact that the prices dropped dramatically from the time I purchased to rims to the time that I searched online. I told him there was no way the rims value would drop almost $2000.00 in one month. He said that there was nothing he could do at that moment and that he would call his supplier to get answers. He told me that he would contact me with information on the prices.
I left him my name and work and home number. Two weeks passed and I did not hear from Angel. I then went to Autotronix and spoke to Angel in person. He stated that his supplier said that there was nothing I can do and the price I was paying stands. I felt trapped and did not know if there was anything I could do so I left it at that. Angel then told me in order to renew my faith in him he would give me a great deal if I decided to purchase another pair of rims. I could not believe what I was hearing.
About three weeks later I went to Autotronix to have Dynamat installed in my trunk. Again Angel stated that he had the top of the line Dynamat and a new shipment just arrived at his supplier. He offered to place Dynamat on the lid of my trunk and the entire trunk for $265.00. I agreed. Angel told me that his shipment was with his supplier and that I would need to come back on the next Tuesday so that he can assist in the installation of the Dynamat. I did as he told me and arrived that Tuesday. Angel was not there and the other associates told me he had a court date that day and was unable to make it. I told them that I had an appointment to have Dynamat installed in my trunk so they asked me to provide a receipt. I provided them with the receipt and the associate kept it in his possession. They then proceeded to install the Dynamat. After they were finished I realized that only the lid of my trunk was installed with Dynamat and not the rest of the trunk... Even though that is what I paid for. They told me that they had a limited supply of Dynamat on hand at the time and for me to come back the next week.
Again I went back to Autotronix the next week to have them finish the install of my Dynamat. The same associates where there on that day as the ones who were there the previous week. I told them I came back for them to finish the job. They asked to see a proof of purchase and I told them that the other associate kept my receipt when I first went there so I did not have one. They then told me that I was out of luck and there was nothing they could do unlesss I provided a receipt!
I calmed down after awhile and told my self that I would never go back to that store again. About a month or so later, as I am driving I notice that the bass was not hitting as hard as when I first had the system installed. I checked the subwoofers and realized that only one subwoofer was working. I then went back to Autotronix. Angel was there and I explained to him the problem. He asked for the receipt and I provided it for him. This time I took back the receipt. He told me that he would take care of it and for me not to worry. He had the installers replace the amp in my car. When they were finished it appeared as if the problem was fixed... So I kept my faith in Angel. As I drove home that day from Autotronix I noticed that my car reeked of body odor. I was disgusted but I did not believe there was anything that I could do.
About another month or so later, the same thing happened. Only one of my subwoofers was working. Again I went back to Autotronix and Angel replaced that amp with no hassle. He stated though that I might want to purchase a more powerful amp to prevent the amp from burning out again. I told him maybe later.
A month later the amp burned out again!!! I was furious. I was paying alot of money for a system that was not working. I went back to Autotronix to have my amp replaced for the third time in about 4 months. I told Angel that I was tired of having the amp blow out so I wanted to get a more powerful amp. I provided Angel with my receipt and this time I forgot to ask for it back. Angel told me that he would sell me a Rockford Fosgate 2400 watt amp for $800.00. He said that the amp was worth $1,200.00. I told him that there was no way I was going to pay that amount because it was not my fault the stereo system they installed was not working correctly. He then made a phone call to who knows who and began to speak in Arabic. He hung up the phone and told me he can work out a deal with me and sell me the Rockford Fosgate amp for about $500.00, which Angel stated was a steal because the amp was supposedly worth $1200.00. Again I took the offer because I just wanted to have my stereo system working again. I searched online and found the same amp selling for approx. $350.00.
For about two months the system was performing as I expected it should. Then in June of 03, the same thing happened. I was appalled. Again I only had one subwoofer working. I went to Autotronix but Angel was not there. I told David and the other associates the problem and they said that they would take care of it. I provided them the receipt for the purchase of the Rockford Fosgate amp and again they kept the receipt. The associate placed the receipt in a white binder. The installers fixed my amp for the 4th time.
Two months later, in August of 03, the same subwoofer was not functioning. I realized that I did not have receipts from the original purchse of the entire system or the Rockford Fosgate amp because the associates would keep them everytime I had something replaced. I thought that if I spoke to Angel he would just replace it with no hassle. I went to Autotronix and another associate was working. I asked if Angel was around and he stated that Angel did not work there anymore. I asked him why not and he said he could not tell me why. I then told him what had happened and the problems I was having with my system. He told me that they did not carry audiobahn components anymore and that they could not replace my speakers. He said that he could offer me a good deal on other speakers and I told him that I wanted audiobahn and that I wanted what I was paying for. I then spoke to David since he has been there everyday from the first moment I set foot into that store. He stated that another shipment of the Audiobahn subwoofers would be arriving in a week or so and that he would replace it when they come in.
I came back about 2 weeks later and noticed that the Audiobahn stock pile did not appear to be restocked. David again stated to come back a week later. Again I came back and another assocaite told me that they were no longer carrying Audiobahn. I told him that David told me to come back. He said that he did not know what I was talking about or why David gave me the false information. I told him that I just wanted my system fixed. He told me that if I provided him with a proof of purchase for the amp or system he would perform a diagnostic check on my system to find the problem. I told him that the associates working there kept my receipts and I did not have any receipts. The only receipt I had was the one for my rims. I showed him my billing statement and he said that does not mean anything to him. He stated that since I had no receipt there was nothing he can do but if I wanted to pay him to perform a diagnostic check on my system he would do it. I told him I was not going to pay him to fix the problem on the sytem they installed. He then stated that I can call the audiobahn distribution center if I wanted and maybe they would help me. I told him to provide me with the phone number and address. He told me the Audiobahn distribution center was in Brea. He lied! Audiobahn Inc. Is in Buena Park. He then gave me a phone number and told me to go home and call them. I told him to let me use the work phone so that I can call from there. He appeared to hesitate but handed the phone to me. I called the phone number he provided me with and the number was disconnected or did not exist. I told him the number is disconnected and he stated that Audiobahn is so busy so that may be the reason for me not getting through. I was not going to pay for an upgrade or for a deal on another system when the one I originally purchased does not even work. Now here I am in late November of 03, and I have been having problems with my system, the dynamat, the window tints and the rims for almost a year now. None of my subwoofers are working, the window tints that were supposedly top of the line are now scratched, I still only have the lid of my trunk installed with Dynamat when I paid for the full trunk to have Dynamat installed, and I am driving on overpriced 18in. Chrome rims. I wish there was something I can do. I hope that Autotronix and its associates get shut down. They are unhelpful, unprofessional, deceitful and they know how to rip people off. I would not recommend anyone to Autotronix... If there is anything that I can do or anyone that I can talk to in regards to my situation and others please contact me and let me know.
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