OEM Car Audio

Like every other reviewer, I had an exceptionally terrible experience with "Original Car Audio". I purchased a RA4 for a '14 Dodge Ram on eBay for $795 on October 25, 2015. The unit was received on Oct 30, and installed on Oct 31. Upon installation, the unit requested a anti-theft code (expected), but of course none was provided. I was followed up with by Dan, who provided the code the following Monday (which I had already purchased separately from NavRepair - who is awesome, by the way). The code did not work. I called OCA and spoke with Josh, who gave me 3 options. Option 1) return the unit for a refund, minus the 20% restocking fee because apparently it takes $150 worth of manpower to open a box and put a radio on a shelf, and make a database inventory entry. Option 2) get the dealer to fix it (huh?). Option 3), send it to NAVREPAIR on my own dime to see if they can fix it. I chose option 3. I reached out to NAVREPAIR to see what they thought would be the issue prior to shipping. They told me the unit's main board was likely replaced based on their experience (the main board sn and the unit sn were not the same, hence the unlock code not working). I sent this info to Dan, he said impossible. I asked Dan for a history of the unit, which he committed to providing but of course never did. Faced with a $60 repair bill from NAVREPAIR or a loss of $150 due to restocking with OCA, this was a no brainer. I sent the unit to NAVREPAIR, they provided the CORRECT unlock code, and the unit unlocked after installation. The cost of the fix ended up being $90 ($30 for shipping and $60 for repair - bringing a total investment into the unit of 2 1/2 weeks and $911 to this point).



Upon install, I noticed that the screen would randomly change inputs, going to the settings screen without selecting it. The NAV unit itself would show the icon for the vehicle jumping around on the map. To ensure this observations weren't a byproduct of my truck or install (I've been installing, including custom installing, car and home audio for over 20 years), I had a friend with a '13 come over and we put the RA4 in his truck, with EXACTLY the same behavior. I pulled the RA4 that he purchased from a LKQ junkyard sight unseen for $500, installed it in my truck, and it has performed flawlessly. I figured some of the observations might be due to the fact that the firmware on the RA4 purchased from OCA was 2 generations down level. So, I copied the latest firmware to a USB drive, and tried to update it. Of course, as seems to be how this entire thing played out. the RA4 wouldn't read the USB drive. At this point, the unit is completely useless to me.



Luckily, I've documented with photo, video and email, each of these steps.



I reached out to OCA's Dan, who committed 3 weeks ago to work out some sort of 'deal', requiring a 'manager' to sign off on the 'deal', I have not heard back from him since. I've called OCA, requesting that someone follow up with me, and of course no one has.



Now I have a very expensive paperweight sitting on my dining room table in a box that I can't return for a refund, and I cannot in good conscience re-sell knowing all of the issues with it (and no history to share with a potential buyer), and I of course will never get close to my money back. I will share this feedback on my other social media platforms, and on all of the forums where I am active. I will also provide a youtube video that will detail much of this experience.



Do yourself a favor, do not do business with this place. They are interested in your money, not your business.

If it was possible to give them less than 1 star I would. These guys are terrible. Total Rip-off. Sent my Chrysler nav unit to them for repair and when they returned it was doing exactly what I sent it to then to repair, not reading navigation disk. Clearly they performed no testing before returning to me. Then I had to fight to get my money back. Ebay denied my claim and only after I placed a claim though my credit card company was my money refunded. Don't use these guys.



Later I did get my unit repaired by an excellent company NAVREPAIR.COM in Florida. I would highly recommend NAVREPAIR.COM. No hassle, and unit was fully repaired for less money than these guys tried to rip me off for.

Classic "bait-and-switch"
This company, OEM Car Audio, LLC, advertised a car radio/navigation unit on ebay for sale with a phone number to call if questions. When I called the number I spoke with Sheila who confirmed the item was available and the price was correct, as advertised on ebay. She then recommended I speak with Jason to confirm the item would work for my car and she arranged to have Jason call me when he arrived at the office. When Jason called he confirmed the navigation unit was correct for my car and I was encouraged to order over the telephone, instead of thru ebay. I paid extra shipping to have the navigation unit arrive in 2 days, as I explained to both Sheila and Jason I needed the item by the weekend. That day, I received sales confirmation, sales receipt, and shipping confirmation emails from OEM Car Audio, LLC. Later that evening I had a message at my house that Adam, from OEM Car Audio, LLC, had called because they had a problem with my order. The next morning I called and left a message for Adam. He never returned my call, so later that day I called again. When I spoke with Adam he told me the item I had purchased was not $445.50 as advertised (and I had a sales receipt confirming), but was really $819.00. Adam told me he would reduce the price to $800.00 because of the mistake OEM Car Audio, LLC had made or they would make an exception for me and offer a refund. He refused to honor the sale even though I had confirmation from OEM of the sale.





Be very careful if you purchase from OEM Car Audio, LLC! Even with sales confirmation, sales receipts, and OEM Car Audio, LLC charged my credit card, they do not have the integrity to honor a sale.

Outstanding Service. I purchased the wrong radio on Ebay. I called OEM CAR AUDIO and the sales person was very patient with me. He helped me get the correct radio that will fit my car. He had an extensive knowledge of radios. I have now received the correct radio and works great. Thank you again!

Very bad customer service. A long story short.

I bought a radio on eBay. I got the radio and it didn't work for my car. I returned the radio and they sent me a replacement almost 2 months after. The replacement didn't work either. I returned that as well and was promised another unit that will work. That never happened and after several calls to their store they decided to offer me a partial refund that I agreed on. A few weeks after no refund and they now decided it has been too long and they have no record of my purchase. What kind of company does that? On top of that I did have to pay return shipping both times I returned the unit.



Update: No Unit and no refund as of 9/18/14. They called me requesting me to delete this review in exchange for a partial refund with a restocking fee of 25%.



I have filed a complain with BBB, Texas Attorney General and Minnesota Attorney General.