Auto Thunder

Another classic case of poor customer service. Please read the reviews on this place; I did AFTER I put a down payment on a car alarm. After reading the reviews I decided to buy the alarm and go elsewhere for the install. After I charged the alarm on my card I realized I had been charged $ 100 for the install as well. I requested a refund since I had previously told them I didn’t need installation but was told it was part of the deal. Although I was extremely upset and disappointed I remained calm and explained that their poor online reviews is why I chose to opt out of installation and this would result in another disgruntled Unilocaler. The manager told me he didn’t care and I explained to him that negative reviews were going to cost him more than $ 100 in the long run. These folks are horrible at customer service and obviously don’t have the foresight for repeat business. On a respectable recommendation I’ll try Discount Car Audio on Hwy 6 or SW Fwy instead.

Called yesterday to set up a appointment to get my company dodge caravan tinted all the way around (7 windows). I’ve used this place for my personal vehicle several times for tint, stereo and alarm stuff before and regret it EACH time … But price was always hard to beat so talked my company into using them for all our brand new fleet vehicles. Bad decisions on my part. Anyhow, call today before I leave work to confirm my appointment, and it’s still good to go. I leave work EARLY to go get this done, show up and they tell me it’s not only $ 20 more then the quoted price but they can’t do it today … I really needed it done so I also told them I have SIX other 2014 Dodge Carvans like mine I will be bringing to get tinted, hoping this gets them to hold up there end of our deal/​appointment. Yet of course, the same old AutoThunder shows it’s true colors and says they will keep the price I was ORIGINALLY quoted (like holding there word is a gift to me) but can’t be done until tomorrow. Are you kidding me. I walked out. They just missed my entire companies business along with my personal. I will NOT give in again to that low quality, poorly ran place again. You all have been warned… I swear, you’ll regret going here.

Do not use this place even if you were in a life and death situation you would be better off finding a thug in the ghetto who would not rip you off as bad as these guys. I took my truck in to have my aftermarket system taken out and replaced with the factory system. They quoted me one price and literally held my truck hostage until I paid. I went to the Pasadena police sub station down the street from them and was told its a civil matter and I would have to pay them then sue them so that’s in the works as I write this. They literally went from a price of 121 dollars to 212 because they said I was missing parts and they had to go buy them when I asked to see receipts for these so called parts they laughed. They also cut all of my amp wires RCA’s 0gauge wire and all which was a jl amp kit and said it was cut when I brought it in. While I was in this place I happened to talk to another customer who had gotten a DWI and had them put on his breathalyzer well it had broke and he called the manufacture who sent a replacement piece to auto thunder and when he went in to get the piece they tried to charge him 45 dollars the gentleman called the manufacture who told him they are not allowed to charge for a manufacture replacement part since it was a factory issue. The manufacture of this particular device latterly pulled this businesses off of there list of places recommended to have it installed. I’m telling you this place takes bad business to a new low!!!

pictures are available on youtube «auto thunder fail».
On Friday September 27^th at approximately 4:30pm I walked in to the Auto Thunder store on Spencer Hwy in Pasadena, Texas to inquire about installing a Marine grade (waterproof) audio system on my 2013 Kawasaki Jet Ski. I explained to the clerk that it needed to be a marine grade install in order to survive the saltwater conditions, he agreed. We discussed various options of components and their power output for a louder, clearer sound. We discussed where I wanted the speakers installed and where I wanted the AMP installed and where I wanted the wires run. I explained that it all had to be very secure in its installation due to the brutal beating that a Jet Ski goes through especially at 65 MPH, again he agreed. After nearly 30 minutes of discussion, we decided on the system to be installed based on the information he provided to me. Due to the fact that he didn’t have the color of my choice, he said he would install what he had and would replace the speakers when the colors I wanted arrived. I indicated that I would return on Monday to leave the Jet Ski with him as I wanted to use the Jet Ski for the coming weekend. He assured me that he could get the install completed by 7pm that same evening. I questioned him on his ability to do so because I had dinner reservations at 8pm in Houston. He assured me that it could be done. He indicated that there were 4 employees he could put on it to get it done by 7pm because he had no other business at the time. I left the Jet Ski with him and continued running my errands. I arrived back at Auto Thunder at 7pm and they were still working on it. As I observed the installation I began to notice issues with the install. I questioned a few issues and was informed that this was the way it is supposed to be installed. After several debates about their procedures he agreed to redo one of the wire runs. He indicated that I could return on Monday for them to fix any other issues. It wasn’t until 7:45pm that it was ready. I took the Jet Ski home and put it in the garage and headed off to dinner. The next morning around 7am I took the Jet Ski out to get it ready for the days ride and was too scared to use the Jet Ski in fear of doing damage to the AMP as it was not adequately secured. I began to look at the rest of the install and noticed an issue with everything I looked at. I decided to take it to a different Audio install company and asked them to review the work. They determined that every aspect of the install was incorrect and substandard. To be fair, I searched out a second audio install company and was again informed that it was a very poor installation. On Monday morning, September 30^th, I returned to Auto Thunder to discuss the issues that I and two other Audio installation companies had with the install. Please see list of issues below, also pictures are available on youtube «auto thunder fail».
After discussing the issues with Auto Thunder the clerk tried to justify every issue by saying that was how they do installs. I explained that I wanted to take my Jet Ski to a different company to remove all of the components that were incorrectly installed and I would return the components to Auto thunder at a later date. I asked for a full refund and was told no refund would be given. I explained that I was going to have the components removed by a professional nationwide company and I would return the components at a later date and I expected a full refund. The clerk again refused any refund.

If I could give zero stars I would. This place is no good. First of all they change the price on you once its time to pickup your vehicle. Then they break the parts on your vehicle and say they did not have anything to do with it. I would not recommend this place for any installation or to purchase anything. Do not go you will regret it I wish I would have looked up the reviews before I walked in there. The sale people and management are horrible.

DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE! FULL OF CROOKS AND LIARS!!! When I made my original purchase in November 2011, I was told by the person that all my purchases and labor had a lifetime warranty. I purchased stereo speakers and an Autopage alarm system. Since the original business date, I have had to go back multiple times to get my installed purchases corrected. The alarm was installed so horribly that I had to purchase a new battery for my car less than 2 months of having it on my car. Recently, I had some work done on my car and when I picked it up, the Service King rep asked who installed my alarm, saying it was not done properly. He said they could repair, but it is best to just take back to where it was installed. At that point, I called Auto Thunder and due to my many times dealing with them on faulty installation, they knew exactly who I was. I told them that my car was not functioning right yet again due to the alarm. My car would not start at all and it was due to the kill switch, possibly. Ivan said for me to have it towed to the shop, which costed me $ 90. He suggested I leave my car keys in the gas door area, but I refused. I said I would bring my keys over in the morning. On Sunday, I brought my keys in to them at 9:00am. I called all day asking if my car was ready. I spoke with them at least 10 times through out the day and around 6:00 pm, I was told my car was ready for pick up and it was nothing major. I asked what the problem was, and was told by Ivan that it was just an ignition fuse that needed to be replaced. When I got to he shop, one of the workers showed me what needed to be replaced and said the alarm, which they installed, had blown the fuse. After I was given my keys and was in my car about to leave, a different worker came to the car and said, even though the fuse was replaced, he also had to replace my alarm «module» due to the fuse blowing. Mind you, I bought this «module» on 10/​31/​2011 and was told there was a lifetime guarantee on it and the installation. When I questioned the warranty and why I needed to pay for it, I was told that all other parts and labor were covered, but not this particular part. I then asked, if I had been in communication with them all day about my car, why was I never told about this module and furthermore, that I would have to pay. He then said that if I didn’t want to pay, he could remove the part he had installed and replace the other one. I said, I bought the faulty part from you 5 months ago, I should not have to pay for anything. Once it got to this level, I started to video tape him on my phone and at that point, he didn’t want to continue the conversation and walked away from me.

This place treats their customers horribly. I had gone in to buy a screen for my car which they told me would be $ 250 and I had to put down $ 50 now, so I did. Later I decided that $ 250 for a screen and installation seemed a bit too cheap and the screen probably wouldn’t be good so I told them I didn’t want it anymore. They told me I they would not give me my $ 50 back but they would give me store credit. I said ok and said that I would like to use the $ 50 credit to get my back tiny window tinted (I had to recently replace it), which is only about a $ 20 service. They said they were going to charge me the entire $ 50 for a $ 20 service.
This place is terrible, the workers are rude, inconsiderate and they are banned. I will never go back to this place ever. They may be cheap but they will scam you.