California Customs was recommended to me by the head of sales at White-Allen Porsche. Through the years I've taken a Porsche and two Lexuses there for audio upgrades, remote starters, and dashcams. They've always done a good clean job at a reasonable price. Until the last time when I took a newer Lexus in to have a dashcam installed. I think I got a new installer because he made a hash of the installation - broke the mounting bracket for the front camera, and completely broke the rear wiper system while trying to feed the camera wires through the interior of the car. California Customs pointed out the problems right away, told me to have the car fixed at Lexus, and they would cover the repairs. So, that's what I did - it took 4 days of labor by Lexus plus a completely new rear wiring harness to fix the damage. This was not an inexpensive repair job. I'm here to report that California Customs ended up covering the parts and labor in full to get the car fixed. It took a little while because their insurance company was trying to deny their claim, but in the end the owners told me that if the insurance company didn't pay, they would pay for the damage themselves then pursue the insurance company separately. Companies standing behind their work seems so rare these days. I'll be going back to California Customs for my next installation because they had the integrity to make things right when there was a problem. If they had not followed through, I would have been here warning others about my experience. Since I had a very positive experience, it seems only right to let everyone know about that too. read more

Have a price on the phone, scheduled the appointment. Price was $100 higher at the appointment. No thanks

I made an appointment for a specific dash cam to be installed in my car. A lower model was installed even though I was charged for the higher model. I was told the correct model would be in soon and they would call me when it was in and swap it out. They never called me and when I called them back I got the run around. read more

By far the worst experience I've had at any car-related shop... l preferred to avoid the headache of installing a CarPlay module that I bought online and attempted to get a quote from this shop to do the install. I sent two emails in the span of a week, providing a link to the unit and then later the PDF instruction guide from the vendor which includes links to step-by-step installation videos - neither email was replied to. I finally got a quote for $425 after stopping in twice, even though they could have just opened and replied to the emails. I asked if my emails were reviewed THREE times, being brushed off every time. Day of the install, they had my car from 9am to 5:30pm. The install apparently took 5+ hours, so I ended up paying $709.50 for an install of a ~$500 unit. They called to get the OK from me to proceed with the install past the 3-hour mark, but what other option did I have... pick up the car while it was torn apart and still be charged $425? How was the time being tracked that was actually spent on my car, and why was my car just sitting in the bay for an extra 3.5 hours throughout the day?? And if the same unit has been installed in the same car by regular people at home in three hours (if not less), why did it take a "professional" shop 5+ hours? Yet of course they didn't feel the need to review the material I sent them, which would have likely resulted in either: A. Receiving a quote for $709.50 which I would have absolutely declined, or B. The install taking a more realistic 2-3 hours. I pick up the car and see the microphone out in the open clipped near the roof - completely different placement than shown in the video I sent where it was hidden within the dash. The USB port was hanging out of the middle trim piece where my cupholder is instead of hidden in the center console as the video showed. So not only did I pay $709.50 for shoddy + extremely slow labor, but I also then had to completely re-do 95% of the labor myself since I later realized they placed the entire module in the incorrect location, not just the microphone and USB elements. I raised the above issues with the shop via email the night of install, and requested a refund of the excess $283 I was charged past the quoted amount. Their negligence is not my problem and I provided AMPLE information to complete the job in three hours or less, all of which they ignored for whatever reason (ego I assume). Email wasn't replied to, got a call the next day to be fed some lame excuses for the absurd price and duration of the install - it was also admitted that they didn't review or use the instructions I sent because they didn't feel the need to... so maybe that's why it took so long and was done incorrectly, right... "You could have called us and we would have addressed the placement issues free of charge." So you can keep my car for another full business day and work on it at your leisure? Why would I want to bring my car back to the same shop that completely botched the install in the first place? The unit works, yes, but literally everything was placed incorrectly since they refused to review the more detailed instructions I sent them. Hence why a fair (and more than lenient) solution in my mind was to request a partial refund, which was denied. Avoid this shop at all cost, I HIGHLY regret taking my car here and should have just done the install myself for free... instead of avoiding the headache of doing the install myself, this whole situation just created an even bigger headache, cost $709, and I STILL HAD TO RE-DO MOST OF THE INSTALL MYSELF ANYWAY. Super unprofessional, lazy business run by incompetent men who charge customers for their own ignorance and carelessness. Maybe if you just need a simple plug-and-play type thing or whatever they're decent but DO NOT go here for any hourly-charged service. They will likely just try to wing it then charge YOU for their ignorance. read more

Returned remote starter - tried to jack up price Bought a remote starter without alarm system. The salesmen didn't mention anything about issues installing in top of a current alarm system. Two weeks later after I drop my car off all day they call and say that I need my alarm system removed because it's after market and may interfere with the remote start. If I just want to remove the alarm it's $30 if I wanted to add the alarm to the remote start it was $130. I was a little annoyed that when I brought my car in to purchase and schedule the remote start they didn't mention this was a possibility, they didn't check my car, and then when I asked them to explain to me why they can't check to see if it would work on top of my existing of my existing system the tech said "we just take that stuff out" so they don't know or don't know how to check and just expected me to pay either 30 or 130 extra. I talked to the manager and he wasn't trying to give me a discount to keep my business so I returned the device and will take it somewhere else. It may be the case where my car is a small exception and or they don't install that many remote starts compared to sound systems so I don't really know what expertise they had. But they weren't trying to keep my business, they very rudely tried to tell me that I needed to pay extra without trying to make it work, and overall wasted our time because they wouldn't check it when we came in initially. Would go elsewhere for remote start install read more

I am a 'do it yourself' kind of girl, but when it comes to making a custom sub box, I do not know heads for tails, so I shopped around and landed in the showroom of California Custom. The sales rep was nice, but not cooperative. I feel like he made every effort to convince me to get something other than what I wanted. When we finally got on the same page, I was given a completion date of 'Friday or Saturday'. Having placed the order on Wednesday, I felt this was an adequate time. However, I worked Saturday, so I responded that we should do the install on Monday. It was settled. I called Monday and I was informed that the box would be completed Tuesday for sure. I must have misinterpreted our previous agreement: you were finishing construction on Saturday and installing it on Monday. The rep replied that the store is busy with remote start season. Excuse me, but I am handing you $900 that I assume is no less important than than the greenbacks of the other customers, or am I mistaken? You cannot allocate time for me? Are you a remote start store that does car audio on the side when you can manage a minute or two? 6 days to make a sub box. A week or two after install, the unit stopped working. I took it back in and they fixed it without delay. I was told that the amp, a RF monoblock, was bad. It has been more than a month since the repair; I have been without incident and the unit sounds great. I have been satisfied with the end product. They eventually listened to my demands and made the sub fit my requests. My biggest complaint, and the reason for my decrease in stars, is my interaction with the salesman. I knew what I wanted, but he insisted that this wasn't what I wanted. Then he belittled me by, essentially, telling me that the remote start installs were more important and the techs were working my install around the remote starts. read more

I have had these guys work on all my stuff plus my wifes car!-Remote Alarms to my Kenwood stereo in My Hummer! -I Give Them 10 Stars!-Friendly knowledgeable People-I have dealt with them for 12 years!--EXCELLENT WORK!!-BEST IN OHIO!!-- read more

These guys put a Touchscreen head unit in my Hummer. When I came in, nothing was working right straight from the car lot. I usually do everything on my cars myself, but the price was right, so I had them do it. They fixed the previous issues and had me on my way in no time. Honest business, clean shop and friendly people. Give these guys your business. read more

I've wanted a sound system for several years now & was finally wanting it bad enough to actually follow through with getting one. after several recommendations from friends who had previously been customers here I decided on Cali Customs & am more than satisfied to say the least. I wanted my front door speakers replaced & then subs & an amp in the back but my biggest thing was wanting it to look clean & not a wire tangled mess like I have seen so many other times. All the way from the second I walked into the door, throughout the sales process, & to picking up my car the next evening they exceeded my expectations & I will never bring my car anywhere else. My car sounds amazing & they did a clean job with no wires or anything showing other than the amp mounted in the way back 3rd seating but even that was done really neatly. I will be going back relatively soon to have my stereo replaced & won't recommend anyone else other than these guys. thank you! read more

They are not very organized and poor communications. Ordered speakers for my car 6 weeks ago. Scheduled to be done few weeks back but called their office to switch to when on vacation this week. When got there this morning name not on schedule told me supposed to be there weeks before. Obviously person talked to on phone never switched appointment time. Gave me feedback most likely would not get job in one day because I was add on. I needed car next day so told them if can't get done today let's reschedule. They promised me get job done in same day. Called me later saying speakers they ordered didn't fit. Needed to order new speakers again. Had to talk them into putting car back together until new speakers arrived. On phone told me probably get new speakers in few days. When picked up car wouldn't even let schedule next job because speakers on back order. Thank god requested put my car back together. Have serious doubts about this place but feel stuck because have credit on speakers that I already prepaid. Nice to me whole time but so far seems to be incompetent operation. read more

I wish I had gone here the have my car video system installed to begin with. I had my installation done at another shop in the area and ended up with with this place getting the prior work fixed. My system works much better now and exactly is it should have to begin with. read more

Had to replace my 11 year old factory stereo. Went to them open to ideas. They were able to match me with the perfect head unit to meet my needs. iPhone compatible, Bluetooth hands free and able to play DVDs on both the head unit AND my current backseat TV. They got me in the same day an the work was done in a little over an hour. (An added plus was their lounge that had the NCAA football games playing on Saturday afternoon). Free drinks while you wait and a very professional staff! Will definitely be back again with any future needs/wants. read more

Loved the service and the quality even on lower "sound" stereo work. The stereo was so nice that thieves took a hammer to my dashboard. When I can save enough to repair that, these guys can replace my stereo, too. read more

Honestly, I was scared to take my car here because of how new it was. (2015 Mercedes c400) They new my car and put in a awesome set of subwoofers for me. Perfect didn't overcharge me and had it done when I showed up three hours later. I would recommend this place to anyone who has a new car. read more

I took my rather rare 1978 tramp spitfire to have a new stereo installed the previous one was a piece of junk they installed four new speakers, had to build speaker mounts for the front speakers, because the old ones were pieces of cardboard all for about $200 they did an excellent job. I highly recommend them !! In June 2016 I purchased a very large Toyota Sequoia to pull a boat I needed a V-8 and four-wheel-drive The stereo in the Toyota was rather dated... went to California customs they installed a very nice Kenwood in about one hour while I waited it has all the bells and whistles... I love it !!! read more

They a great job on my car and a timely manner. They was so nice and show me all to my stuff could do. Great prices

I have been trying to get the alarm on my fleet vehicle fixed, Every ford dealership tried as hard as they could to not fix my vehicle. They immediately began making excuses and explaining how they probably couldn't help me. The dealerships didn't want the hassle of my business. California Customs, however, was immediately willing to check it out. They were willing to work with my fleet company on billing. They took my info, they took my keys, and I was back to doing the stuff i should have been doing while i was trying to wade through all the dealerships in town. At this point, I'm not even sure I care if they are actually able to fix it. They were the first business (in a shockingly long list that includes Interstate Ford, Hidy Ford, Beau Townsend and others) that was willing to take a swing at the problem. That put an end to a series of very frustrating experiences so, to me, just their willingness alone is worth five stars. read more

We went to the North Dayton location and Brock did an amazing job of helping us out. He installed a television with 8 headsets for our family trip on such a short notice. It was a neat and professional job, reasonably priced, and saved the 6 hour drive there and back. It was rather quiet with 9 people in our van! I can't say enough good things about the location and their staff. Thanks guys! Terri L. Trame read more