I wonder what classes as a safe working temp and how the consumer is supposed to discern if a high temp is acceptable or not. I don't think that 'presumed tec ignorance' is fair to imply. If it's too hot to touch the back of an appliance installed in the dash of your vehicle it is more than understandable and reasonable to voice concern without the risk of eye rolling from peers etc.
Outside of a video call taking place between a technician and the customer to establish if the installation and connections are all correct, a reasonable response or agreement between the two parties might be that a replacement unit could be sent in exchange for the presumed faulty unit, on the grounds that this may indeed be a 'one off' faulty unit.
Whereupon the customer can install the replacement unit to compare and perhaps remedy the situation. The supplier can then run diagnostics on the presumed faulty unit to diagnose any issues.
Irregardless, it's reassuring that the supplier has gone to the extent to enter into the forum to make clear the rights of both parties, the details of the pre sale agreement and also in good faith to offer help, advise and inform the customer and other interested parties in the forum of the expectations and limitations.
Will
@AndroidCarStereoUK be signing up as a trade member in the forum and be offering discounts for goods and also offer the complainant and original poster a subsequent reward in the form of remuneration or further discount on the grounds that this thread equates to that of an in depth referral to well over 1000 potential future customers.
Thanks in anticipation
Thank you for your message — we genuinely appreciate your input.
Regarding the temperature issue, we believe it’s been taken somewhat out of context. As explained earlier, our stereos are fitted with internal heat sinks and a built-in thermal failsafe which automatically shuts the unit down if unsafe temperatures are ever reached. These devices are designed to be installed within a dashboard, not handled directly during use, so it is entirely expected — and common sense — that the metal backplate will produce warmth after extended use, just as any other electronics with active processors would, including OEM stereos, tablets, or laptops.
To address the situation with the original customer:
She initially contacted us claiming a range of issues, including:
- Poor DAB and FM signal
- Low screen brightness
- Tinny sound quality
As per our clearly published returns policy, we requested video or photographic evidence so we could verify whether there was a fault or an installation error — a standard process that allows us to assist customers properly and fairly. In response, we received only:
- A photo taken in direct sunlight with little camera focus, making the display appear far dimmer than it is in real-world conditions
- A photo of the wiring, which revealed that the FM antenna was connected to the wrong input — an installation mistake
We responded promptly, remained professional throughout, and offered assistance in line with our return procedure. Despite this, the customer declined to cooperate any further, stating that even if the issues were resolvable, the product “didn’t meet her expectations” — and in doing so, acknowledged that the stereo was not faulty.
Only after this admission was a claim raised about the stereo being “boiling hot” — which, from our perspective, appears to be an attempt to reinforce a return argument that was already unsupported by evidence.
We want to be clear: we do
not replace products simply because someone
claims there is an issue. As a business, we’re committed to providing fair support to customers, but we require their cooperation. We cannot help someone who is unwilling to follow basic steps, such as sending us the evidence we request.
This particular case stands out as one of the very few where a customer has refused to cooperate, made escalating claims, and attempted to shift the conversation in a misleading direction. We’ve had thousands of satisfied customers, and we value our reputation — which is why we’re taking the time to address this openly.
If the customer wishes to pursue the matter through legal means, she is entitled to do so. However, as we’ve already explained to her directly, we also have every right to defend ourselves. We have ample evidence, a clear record of all correspondence, and a strong case should it come to that.
We take no satisfaction in engaging in disputes, and frankly, we don’t have time for this kind of situation. But when someone attempts to publicly discredit us without basis — especially after we’ve made every reasonable effort to help — we will always make the time to set the record straight.
Lastly, regarding forum membership: we don’t plan to join as a trade vendor at this time. We created an account only to address the thread, correct misconceptions, and thank our genuine customers who shared balanced and honest feedback. We are not currently offering discount codes, as our products are already competitively priced compared to similar systems on the market.
Thank you again for your message. We welcome open, fair discussion, and we appreciate having the opportunity to share our side with the wider community.
— AndroidCarStereoUK