Advanced Automotive Concepts

Not a very reliable source at all if you’re looking for upgrades for lighting. I had to basically order and reorder parts till they got my parts right. Dealing with customer service was a joke-​exchanging for a defective part was a major inconvenience. I almost get the feel that they are a small company trying to get their $ worth out of customers then sell out to a larger more competent company. Shop around before choosing this company!

This is the message I sent AAC: Please review before making a decision to purchase.
I am extremely dissatisfied with the product I received from AAC. This has been the worst product I have ever purchased for a vehicle. I received my white plasma halos in a wadded up mess inside a box. The package did not even come with the adhesive needed to secure the halos to the headlight housing. The adhesive that was recommended was absolutely terrible, and after I sealed my headlight housing back up, the halos fell off AFTER my headlights were put back on my vehicle. I had to bake my headlights twice, which is a terrible idea to begin with due to the warped plastic I have now. I followed the instructions to the T and my headlights look absolutely horrible. The «brightest light we offer» is barely a dull glow and can only be seen in pitch black darkness. I cannot tell if the lights are even on if I am inside my vehicle looking out at night. It looks like a poorly crafted glow stick. The quality of the halos is so poor, it looks like a child crafted it. It has a green hue to it where the material is used to bond the tiny LED’s together. The wire that attaches to the halo can be clearly seen when you look at my light. I even got shipped the WRONG set of lights, but after spending the 6 hours to bake and separate my lights, had no choice but to use it, due to the fear of having to bake my headlights multiple times. I received two of the same half moon shaped halos, which caused the wires to line up on different portions of the light, also making the light look like garbage. When I initially tried to contact the tech department, I got hung up on twice! The third time, I got a lady who seemed annoyed to be speaking with me, and wasn’t knowledgeable at all with my type of vehicle install. I should have done some research before buying this product for $ 200, because every review online has had the same result as myself. I can’t even take the halos off my car and return them because I will have to re-​bake my headlights and cause even more damage. I want a refund for this product in full, and I will be taking every step necessary to post on every forum, review board, and business practice website to make sure nobody makes the same mistake I do. I am so frustrated with this product I can’t even comprehend it. Worst experience with any business I’ve ever had.

What was I thinking?! My car is my baby, and I review and research everything I put into/​onto her. I fell in love with AAC’s halo headlights years ago and was so impressed with their company, and everything I heard about them. Unfortunately, some time between then and when now, something in that company has gone horribly wrong.
Like I said, for years, I had been lusting over their products, and this year I finally ordered a custom set of halo headlights for my Lexus. This set me back a sweet $ 600 plus $ 55 for shipping (I also ordered a few other parts from them, so my total came out to over $ 1000). They arrived relatively quickly, and well packaged/​protected. Our moods that Sunday morning (29 Jun 14) that my husband installed them went quickly from exciting to frustrated and ticked off. When we went to install the 2^nd light, we found that one of the halo rings was not turning on (each headlight has 2 rings, one for low beam, one for high). Since they are not open on the weekends… you know, when most people would be doing installs like this, and might possibly need some assistance… I had to make due with writing an email and then following up with a phone call Monday morning (note: I did get a response to my email, but it was simply a FAQ/​troubleshooting guide, which I had already gotten off their website, and which I explained in my email that I’d already gone through all the troubleshooting steps. So yeah… that was worthless). The customer service rep I spoke with on Monday was very nice, and set me up with a return authorization. The lights are warrantied for one year, but anytime you send them back, you have to pay $ 55 in shipping. *sigh*. Now we are to $ 710 for headlights I have not even been able to install. The lights were returned within the timeframe promised (7 – 10 days from when they receive them) and the paperwork included stated that they replaced BOTH rings because on further inspection, it was found that the other ring was basically on its way out as well. We attempted install, again, on the next free weekend my husband had, oooonly to discover that now the OTHER headlight had a halo out. This was especially frustrating considering that one WAS working beforehand. Rinse and repeat. This headlight goes back. Returned. Paperwork just states that the halo ring was changed. We go to install again, on 30 Aug 14, almost two months to the day from when we first attempted install. Finally, thankfully, everything works (good thing, cos my husband said he was going to toss them in the garbage if they didn’t work this time). They did, however, neglect to return the headlight with the cap/​cover that goes on the back of the headlight to keep dust/​moisture out. So now I have sent yet another email (not open on weekends, remember?) to ask them to pretty please send me my part back.
This whole ordeal was a complete nightmare. The headlights are plug and play, which means there is no major wiring that needs doing. However, with my Lexus, you have to remove the front bumper to install headlights (removed 3 times). And as with many cars, the Lexus comes stock with HID bulbs, and has a ballast that has to be disconnected from your old lights and reattached to the new ones. By now, I’m fairly certain my husband could swap them out in his sleep considering he has swapped the ballasts TEN times in the past two months (1 ballast per headlight, removed from old lights, installed on new lights, removed from new headlights, reinstalled on old lights every time we went through this). Exhausting. And not what I expect when I’m paying $ 700 for lights. I previously had a set of $ 230 halo headlights that caused me ZERO trouble until the halos on one light eventually burnt out (I think it was about 5 years). Hindsight is ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ but I would much rather have just spent another $ 230 on another set of aftermarket lights.
I would not ever recommend this company, or their lights to anyone, and was basically laughed at by my fellow Lexus drivers when I complained about my experience to them online… apparently everyone but me knew to stay away from AAC. Hey, that rhymed!

Worst customer service I have ever received. Stay away from all things Oracle.
I second Mr. Folwell’s customer service experience with AAC. I purchased a used Oracle 24X-​9 Xenon flashlight 15 months ago. The unit went out and I called AAC to get it serviced. I fully understood that this was not a warranty item and even labeled it on the Return Authorization sheet. I recieved an email from a Ms. Racheal with AAC stating that the unit tested bad, but the batteries were good.
See email below.
Hello,
We received your Xenon Flashlight for warranty, it tested bad; not coming on at all, however the batteries tested good. Unfortunately as you already know, the Xenon Flashlights have a one year warranty. There is no way of the Xenon Flashlight to be fixed, it would have to be replaced. I am able to give you a deal on a replacement; free shipping and since you already have two batteries, I will take off $ 135.90 off the retail cost. So the replacement will cost you $ 143.10. I will need to confirm your initial purchase first though, please forward your receipt/​proof or purchase.
Please let me know if you have questions and how you would like to proceed.
Thank you,
Racheal
This unit retails for as much as $ 300.00 and nowhere in the selling materials is it mentioned that this is a non-​serviceable flashlight.
My reply email is as follows.
Racheal,
Unfortunately, I bought it used from an individual on Ebay, so I am not the original owner. I was looking at purchasing a new one from Oracle, but this guy stated that he had an extra battery and «orange peel» reflector along with the standard reflector. The orange peel reflector is currently installed in the bad unit. It’s been a great piece especially for my wife who walks the dog in the evening. What are my options?
Hello,
Oh man! That is not good. It would be $ 211.05 and I am able to offer free shipping.
Thank you,
Racheal
Racheal,
What is the average life of one of these units?
If I understand correctly, I will receive a new 24X-​9 torch, return of the two used lithium cells and my orange peel reflector? Would I also receive a one-​year warranty on just the torch? I looked at one of your authorized dealers, and I can get a completely new unit for $ 229.87 with free shipping.
It doesn’t seem like I am being treated fairly, even for a customer who bought the unit used.
Racheal at AAC
That is correct. Orange peel reflector, was this in the light? You would have a year warranty with the flashlight. We don’t price match with any of our dealers; they can price items how they would like. This is the best that I am able to do, this item is not under warranty, in normal cases, we would send the items back to you, however, I am working with you on this.
Racheal
Racheal,
Please just box up the bad product and send it back to the address below. Now somebody here is making a hell of a profit on a product that has tested bad. For $ 211.00 I get a raw flashlight from AAC or for $ 228.99 I get a brand new Oracle 24X-​9, battery, case, charger etc. I hope you can see my dilemma clearly. Here is my take on this. I have a «tested bad» flashlight with 2 good lithium ion batteries. After seeing that I can get a new one for 17.99, I feel as I guess most people would that you are charging what we call «predatory pricing» because the customer has really no option besides just tossing the whole unit in the trash. Also, this is a minimum $ 230.00 retail price flashlight, and essentially you just said that you do not repair this flashlight. It’s either good or bad, I wonder what your customers would think if they knew that this flashlight is treated as a disposable unit like a cheap razor.
Hello Keith,
I am very sorry that you are not satisfied with the option that I gave you, again, this is the best that we are able to do. Please confirm the address you would like to have the items shipped back to. I have also sent you an invoice for the return shipment charge.
Thank you,
Racheal
They seriously sent an invoice for $ 5.95 so I can get my disposable flashlight back.
Worst customer service I have ever received. Stay away from all things Oracle. I also CC’d the owner and left a voice message and got no response.