-- Over $1,800 Wasted, Poor Installation, Missing Parts, and Years of Frustration…read more
I rarely write reviews like this, but after everything I've been through with HB Auto, I feel obligated to warn other customers about my experience.
A few years ago, the backup camera in my truck stopped working. I took it to HB Auto, and they told me they couldn't simply replace the camera. According to them, I needed an entirely new system. Trusting their professional advice, I ended up spending over $1,800.
That turned out to be the beginning of years of frustration.
The first stereo they installed had serious problems. The volume would suddenly blast at an extremely high level without warning. I brought it back, and they told me it was a software issue that needed an update. The problem was never fixed.
After returning again, they told me they needed to install a different stereo. The replacement came straight off their display rack. They represented it as new, but it was an older model that, in my opinion, was nowhere near comparable to what I originally paid for.
And guess what? That stereo had problems too. The Bluetooth never worked properly, and I was left with a system I was completely unhappy with.
But the problems didn't stop with the electronics.
I also discovered that parts from my truck were missing after their work, screws had been left out, and components had not been properly reassembled. When you trust a business to work on your vehicle, you expect them to put it back together correctly and return it with all its original parts. Apparently, that was too much to expect.
And to make matters worse, the replacement backup camera they installed eventually failed too! The very problem I originally paid over $1,800 to resolve came right back.
Here's what makes this even more frustrating: This truck is primarily used for camping, so I only drive it a handful of times each year. I wasn't using this equipment every day. Every time I used the truck, I was reminded of the problems, and I continued trying to get HB Auto to make things right.
I called multiple times over the years. They would tell me to bring it in, but when I tried to schedule an appointment, they always seemed too busy. This dragged on for years.
When I called them most recently, hoping they would finally take responsibility and help resolve the situation, I was met with an argumentative attitude. The employee accused me of being irate when I was simply frustrated after years of unresolved problems. Instead of trying to help a customer who had spent over $1,800 with them, the conversation turned confrontational.
At that point, I'd had enough.
I took my truck to another stereo installation business down the street and explained everything that had happened. What they told me was infuriating.
First, they said the original backup camera could have been replaced without installing an entirely new stereo system.
Second, when they removed the stereo HB Auto had installed, they showed me the wiring. They pointed out what they considered extremely poor installation work. Seeing the wiring firsthand, along with the missing parts and screws, made me question the quality of the entire installation.
Think about that. I spent over $1,800 because I was told I needed a complete new system just to replace a backup camera. I ended up with a problematic stereo, a replacement unit from a display rack, Bluetooth that never worked properly, missing truck parts, screws left out, questionable wiring, and a replacement backup camera that eventually failed as well.
What exactly did I pay over $1,800 for?
I gave HB Auto multiple opportunities to make this right. I was patient for years. I wasn't asking for anything unreasonable. I simply wanted the equipment I paid for to work correctly and my truck to be treated with care.
Instead, I was left feeling ripped off, misled, and completely disrespected as a customer.
My advice? Stay away from HB Auto. Get a second opinion before agreeing to an expensive replacement system, and if you do have work performed here, inspect your vehicle carefully afterward.
I wish I had gone somewhere else from the beginning. It would have saved me over $1,800, years of aggravation, and countless wasted phone calls. Also, I've never had a desire, to wanna go over there and fix somebody's attitude in a physical way.!
One star is more than this experience deserves.