Coastal Electronic Technologies

Coastal fits right in. They're also "usually no where in site". Business sense is lacking; tech support is lacking; ability to reply to email or answer the phone is lacking; ability to distribute and/or produce product is lacking. Other than that I've heard they're great.

Personally I'll do anything I can to buy elsewhere. Can you say, "Viewtech 200?"?

Good luck in any case and welcome to the forum.

 

This is really a case of YMMV. If it's in stock, you should be getting it quickly, if not there'll be a wait. For example, I ordered the Auto-Lock kit and the NAV kit back in April 2005. I got the Auto-Lock kit in September 2005 and the NAV kit in January 2006. I ordered the EV kit in February 2006 and it arrived 8 days later.

I know of only one instance where a credit card was charged, but the item wasn't sent. It was a multi-item order and it may have been missed. Normally they don't charge your card until it's shipped.

The quality is very good and the instructions are clear. Quality isn't the issue, it's the quantity (or rather, the lack of) that is. I've had more success with phone calls than emails.

 

I have never had a problem with them. They do announce future projects and prototypes too early, but so far they have delivered all be it slowly. Prius stuff is not their main business and just recently they have a new baby. Mother Kelly runs the business and I would bet she has her hands full with a new born and a toddler (reads big boy) around the house. Emails take a few days calls work well if they are there. Some people like to trash them. My attitude is that they make things I want, not that I need. Waiting is. Grock?

 

I ordered an EV switch on 2/22, and since I hadn't received it, I emailed them this week. I got a response 12 hours later saying it was backordered, and it should theoretically ship next week.

I think it would be the most helpful if they simply listed online if things were in- our out-of-stock. At least that way customers would have a better idea about whether or not their orders had been properly received. Based on others' reports, I felt lucky to get an email back so quickly.

As you can see in my sig, I don't have my Prius yet... I purposely ordered the EV kit 2 months ahead of time, knowing full well that it could easily take months to actually get it ;-).

 

EV Mode mod came right away. Bra came right away. 2" hitch came right away. Nav bypass (later changed to BT/Nav) was preordered, came a year later. Website said they were not shipping yet so I was patient. Every product has worked as advertised with no problems.

Be patient, and you'll be happy.

 

Whoah. That's messed up. I ordered mine after you, around the 5th of march, and recieved it before you, on the 13th of march. Sorry.

Congrats on the upcoming Prius!

Dave

 

They were family business. Can't blame them. Specially when the mom is running the business with a new born. Even thought I want my items send to me quickly, I'll still wait patiently. Lets help them to build up their business, so they can hire more help to fulfill our orders.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PDA Lover @ Apr 20 2006, 05:51 PM) [snapback]242909[/snapback]</div>

GOOD LUCK!



They've been "this way" since Coastal Etech's conception - WAAAAY before their latest "conception". Their new baby daughter is just another in a loooooong list of excuses for not bringing products to the market in a timely manner. I was the very first person (according to Kelley) to order the Viewtech 2005. Gee, has anyone gotten one yet? Pitiful! I for one went through a "sympathy conversion" months and months ago.



Did I mention, "GOOD LUCK"?

 

I cannot join the Coastal bashers club. I ordered my EV kit and was told when I placed the order that it would be a few weeks. A few weeks went by and I got my EV switch. Not to mention a bag of jelly beans!

The instructions were clear.

The installation is a bear, but that is not Coastal's fault.

 

I will NEVER buy from Coastal eTech again.

Not only did they never get back to me (it's been more than a month now), I can't get them on the phone. Their answering service picks up every time I call, and I never get a return phone call.

I tried to contact them to change an order; not only did they ship the product I tried to cancel, but now I can't get them to send me my refund.

What a lousy company.

 

I have read lot's of bad press recently on Coastal eTech and I would agree that is well founded.

I have tried to work with them twice because they offer a product that I desire to have. In neither case have I been satisfied. I have been professional and patient with them, however, they have continued to show that they are not serious about their products or support. I believe that what they are is a web fronted store pobably operating out of a family home, flipping merchandise that doesn't perform as adverstised and they offer vitually no support. Specifically, I have tried 2 generations of the GM Lockpick. While they did unlock the features they were supposed to, what Coastal dosn't tell you is that they lock features previsously unlocked, i.e. when the Coastal device is activated, the GPS discontinues functioning location tracking. And if you don't like background noise in your factory sound system, stay away...these devices provide plenty of it...when active or not. I was able to get a refund on the first device after American Express came down on them hard - I registered a dispute with Amex. I followed the coastal documented procedure on the second unit to get a refund and never heard a word back from Coastal. I won't get burned a thid time and would advise anyone considering a transaction with Coastal to beware.

Daren

 

List concensus is that they do have and sell product (mostly) but they don't do customer service.


Longterm, how do you power that lava lamp? Inverter? What about sloshing issues?