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 have filed complaints with the Minnesota BBB, as well as other agencies. Also updating forums, and have already received much feedback thanking me for the thorough review and saving other's headaches dealing with these people.
Do yourself a favor, carefully read the YELP and BBB feedback for these people. They are completely in the business of ripping people off!
Original Car Audio Reviews
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 have filed complaints with the Minnesota BBB, as well as other agencies. Also updating forums, and have already received much feedback thanking me for the thorough review and saving other's headaches dealing with these people.
Do yourself a favor, carefully read the YELP and BBB feedback for these people. They are completely in the business of ripping people off!