A few years ago, I entrusted this shop with a $5,000 installation that was completed to a high standard. Because of that positive experience, I returned in October 2025 for work on a second vehicle. That installation totaled approximately $3,500 and included:
Alpine head unit
Alpine S2-S69C component speakers
Alpine amplifier
JL Audio XDM 75x4 amplifier
Rear coaxial speakers
Alarm / remote start system
I understood I was paying a premium rate and was willing to do so in exchange for quality workmanship and transparency.
The invoice correctly listed the Alpine S2-S69C component set. However, the 3” Alpine midrange included in that matched set was not installed. A Pioneer TS-A709 was used in its place.
There was no phone call, text, email, or discussion regarding this substitution.
After concerns arose, I had the system professionally uninstalled, including the alarm, remote start, and associated wiring harnesses. During that process, the speaker substitution was confirmed.
When I returned to the shop with the removed speaker, I was told it “probably didn’t fit and they used that one instead.” The correct Alpine speakers were provided once I raised the issue.
My concern is not about the correction. It is about the lack of disclosure.
Additional concerns included:
Rear deck speakers mounted without proper brackets
Backup camera installed crooked
Driver-side automatic lock not functioning after pickup
A hood latch found broken shortly after installation
Any one of these issues alone might be minor. Taken together — combined with an undisclosed product substitution in a premium multi-amplifier system — they reflect a decline in communication and quality control compared to my previous experience.
I returned because I trusted the shop and was willing to pay for quality. Unfortunately, this experience did not reflect that same standard of transparency and workmanship.