What's up with Coastal Tech?

[MGBGT]

So what's going on with Coastal Tech?
I'm beginning to have serious doubts about how professional Coastal Tech is:
about two months ago I placed an order for an EV kit plus a door lock kit over their online ordering, which of course means I gave them email and credit card info etc...
Since then, I have not received the products (order placed 8 weeks ago) a confirmation email, anything in the mail, or any kind of communications. I emailed them repeatedly, no response. I called the 800 #, and only ever get the messaging service.
I'm sorry to say, their products may be nice, but if you don't receive them...
This is about the worst kind of professional, or rather un-professional behavior I have ever come across in a business, or someone who is trying to run a business.
So what gives?

[popoff]

I've encountered the same situation you describe and felt pretty much the same way. My impression is that it's a small outfit and they do the best they can with what resources they have.

After persistently sending them e-mails, I finally established contact with them and also received my order.

I found them to be very nice people and genuinely interested in helping me get my kits working.

I'm sure you will receive your order, perhaps even with a little surprise included. Easy for me to say, but my best suggestion is to be patient.

[MGBGT]

Thanks for the update!
I'll try and be patient, though that would be easier if they would send a simple 'order received' confirmation email.
Cheers,
M

[miket]

Small outfit, nice people, etc. is all well and good, but useless when you have travel plans and there is no serious alternative to what you ordered (receiver hitch for carrying bikes) and you have to spend money (and gas) on an alternate vehicle at the last minute because you don't know if and when your order might arrive. Unprofessional is the correct adjective here. If they have enough business to get so far behind that they can't even answer the phone or email, they can hire and easily pay the help they need to catch up.

[popoff]

I totally agree.

When I became impatient with them, I started sending them an e-mail every day. If memory serves, I got a reply on the 3rd day and we've maintained contact ever since.

The squeaky wheel...................

[DaveG]

Don't suppose anyone has heard anything about the viewtech audio/video input?

Dave

[ScubaX]

Did they charge your credit card? Other owners on multiple sites stand by CoastaleTech. But if they charged your CC you can file a complaint with your CC company. That might at least put a fire under their butts. Also, maybe they lost your order. It was just a couple weeks ago that their site went down for not renewing it. That might mean they are not very good at the management aspect of the business and your order has disappeared. I would at least email them endlessly and contact your CC company.

[dreichla]

Exerpt from March 6 2005 Post:

. . .I agree - I called them to to place an order, the woman took about half of my order then put me on hold, and after several minutes, disconnected my call (I got the impression I was interrupting dinner - but I did call the 800 number.)

So - I then placed an order via their website. I called the next day to see if everything went through - but had to leave a voice message asking them to confirm my order. As of yet - still no response from them or confirmation. It's been about a week and a half so far.

Several weeks ago, I also sent them an email requesting additional information on some of their products - and - as of yet - not a peep.


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May 3 Post (Two months later)
====================

Still waiting - No response, No charge to credit card, but it looks like lots of new activity on their website. They have time to update the site to sell more?

I'm beginning to think EVERYTHING associated with the Prius takes months to get.

Maybe it's time for the squeeky wheel approach!



The fact that they're an honorable company is not in question in my mind. All I need is communication from them stating when the ordered product will be available. (1 month? 2 months? 4 - 8? Do I trade my Prius for a new one?) A quick reply to my email inquiry would suffice.

Whew, I feel better now, I could probably wait a couple more months.

[DanMan32]

That's what I and quite a few others on PriusOnline tried to impress upon Dave, but he got insulted and defensive, especially with me stating that if he didn't currently have a monopoly on some products, he would be going out of business. He thought I was wishing him out of business.

Quite the contrary actually, I hope he does do well, but if someone duplicates his products, under his current CS reputation, he won't.

[miket]

Update: I finally talked to a human at the 800 number. She was apologetic and said I was in the system and should have received a confirmation email. So they are still operating, but having some problems meeting orders and communicating.