Car Tinting Issue - What’s Your Opinion?

LXnoxa on 29/05/2024 - 11:10

I just got my car tinted at a reputable tint shop on Sunday, top of their line product and cost me a cool $380.

Usual “let the residual water evap out” conversations. Lifetime warranty for the film.

While driving home, I noticed a spot of dirt, which after a days worth of drying, appears to have been a fabric fibre on the drivers side door in between the glass and the tint film.

I’d almost just want to ignore, but once you notice it, you can’t unnotice it. I’m also concerned that it might create a point of failure in the tint and gradually become a larger bubble.

Is it right to reach out to the tint shop to strip and reapply it? Surely this would be covered under the warranty?

Poll Options expired

  • 133
    Yea, take it back
  • 3
    No, suck it up it will be fine
Automotive

Comments

  • darkkito on 29/05/2024 - 11:14
    +6

    Call them and ask about it

  • Mechz on 29/05/2024 - 11:19
    +5

    They will happily re-do the window.

    • FrugalFranky on 29/05/2024 - 12:39
      +4

      This, the film is probably like 10$ and labour they can hammer out a window in like 10 minutes.
      They should fix it.

      • skillet on 30/05/2024 - 10:35

        Windows are easy but the rear will be much more work especially with removal

  • jace88 on 29/05/2024 - 11:20
    +2

    Ask them if they can do it again. I'm no expert but I'm under the impression that the raw cost of the materials involved isn't that high and some of these small businesses rely on good reputation/word of mouth/etc to get new customers… so hopefully they'll do the right thing and fix it/replace it if it's an issue caused by their application and they have any pride in their work/reputation.

  • Pelicannn on 29/05/2024 - 11:38

    It’s very likely they will fix that no worries.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 29/05/2024 - 11:44

    just go back - that kind of thing would drive me crazy

  • pharkurnell on 29/05/2024 - 12:41
    +4

    reputable tint shop on Sunday
    top of their line product and cost me a cool $380.

    Doesnt sound right..

    • Xnoxa on 29/05/2024 - 13:26

      Small car, very easy to tint. Owner and sole operator of the shop.

      • pharkurnell on 29/05/2024 - 15:50

        Small car,

        Was it a Peel P50 ?

        • Nugs on 29/05/2024 - 17:38

          or Morgan 3 wheeler
          .

          • coxjon on 29/05/2024 - 19:15
            +1

            @Nugs: Just use a permanent marker to tint that

      • SydStrand on 30/05/2024 - 00:31
        +1

        Small doesn't mean anything. Unless you're comparing a Ram vs Fiat 500, It takes virtually the same amount of time to cut around a big window vs a smaller one.

        $380 is suspiciously cheap for a 'top of the line' product. I've had a couple cars tinted over the last few years and have noticed prices steadily creeping up for ceramic from $500 at the absolute low end, to $1000 for mid-size cars.

        • pharkurnell on 30/05/2024 - 12:28
          +1

          $380 is suspiciously cheap for a 'top of the line' product.

          that was my point.
          Also done on a Sunday ?? for that price?? Sounds like a cashy by one of the staff…

    • jace88 on 29/05/2024 - 13:26

      FWIW tinting costs alot more nowadays than it used to… but there's also lots more fancier tint products which claim to do all sorts of things beyond just making it look dark.

  • mini2 on 29/05/2024 - 13:30

    Some of these so-called reputable stores only know how to post IG eye candy, rather than do a proper job.

    Back on topic, yeah get them to strip and re-do it. It will eventually bubble up.

    If it's the rear window, I'd be hesitant, given that's where the demister is, and a reputable store on IG absolutely farked it up when removing the old tint.

    • netjock on 29/05/2024 - 16:52

      only know how to post IG eye candy

      They probably re did it a few times to get it 100% right or a lot of photoshop work. From a distance and through a lens it is easy to fool people.

      • mini2 on 29/05/2024 - 18:20

        That wouldn't surprise me one bit.

        The shop that farked up my PPF has been doing it for 20+ years AND still managed to cock it up. They weren't particularly cheap either, so I wasn't being a tight@rse. The whole premise of you get what you pay for isn't true in this (social media) day and age.

  • SBOB on 29/05/2024 - 13:59

    is it right to reach out to the tint shop to strip and reapply it? Surely this would be covered under the warranty?

    100%. Call or visit and mention/show them the issue. They'll likely say wait the usual prescribed drying period due to people that complain about water bubbles etc in new tinting 30s after driving out of the carpark, but after that they'll just re-do it for you.

  • Devastator0 on 29/05/2024 - 14:31

    Yep, if you haven't done so already, go back to the person who tinted it and get them to rectify.

    P.S. If anyone does want a very reliable and professional tinter in the Western Sydney area, hit me up, I know a guy who does excellent work.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 29/05/2024 - 18:41

    Get yourself a carbon tint while you’re at it

  • jug123 on 29/05/2024 - 20:15
    +2

    $380 is very very cheap for top of the line tinting, especially at a reputable dealer. Their premium tints start at about that price and if you want decent tints like ceramic, UV, Nano, Steel,etc you're getting closer to $1k

  • 82norm on 30/05/2024 - 09:42
    +2

    $380.00 is definitely cheap. Too cheap.

  • WT on 30/05/2024 - 10:53

    it wont fail (within 5 years) but it would be distracting/annoying, i would take it back

  • doctordv8 on 30/05/2024 - 11:16

    It is under Warranty, just take it back.

    It will only get worse. One bubble / defect is a Roadworthy Issue.

  • Ramrunner on 30/05/2024 - 16:08

    I am concerned about that (low) price. I've had cars tinted since 1991 - never been that cheap.

    • Nugs on 30/05/2024 - 20:01
      +1

      Tint a car did our Rodeo in 2000 when we bought it for circa $250, still looks good and it has spent 'some' time in the sun
      .

      • Ramrunner on 31/05/2024 - 15:31

        Yeah, I'm sure I actually used Tint a Car pretty much for all of them also. Maybe my memory is failing me and it was that cheap back then. No chance of finding an invoice that far back though so can't disprove myself :)

  • dan76n on 12/06/2024 - 18:13

    I'd be surprised if they didn't see it when doing the job and just hope you don't say anything.
    How did you end up dealing with this?

    • Xnoxa on 17/06/2024 - 07:39
      +1

      called them, they asked me to come in same day so it wouldn’t be an eye-sore for me, stripped and retinted it in less than half an hour

      • brownsound on 17/06/2024 - 09:12
        +1

        thats good customer service

  • billy72 on 13/06/2024 - 15:41

    From my experience, don't go to a reputable tint shop because your car will likely be tinted by an apprentice.
    A good enough tinter will open their own shop or do privately for cash.

  • Nucleus Acumbens on 25/06/2024 - 14:19

    Get it fixed. Otherwise it really will become your first world problem. Once it's seen, it can't be unseen.

    If you wanted a dodgy job with lumps in it, you would have done it yourself

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