Window tint questions (Updated, now turned nightmare)

[OutofNowhere]

The shop redid the tint on the windshield and the drivers side door today. I got it home and realized that the tint strip on the top of the windshield is crooked, and very noticeably so. How do three people look at the work and not see something like that? Apparently I chose really poorly when I decided to go with this company.

Now I'll have to take it back yet again. The phone call I'll have to make in the morning isn't going to make anyone's day.

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[24grabbergt]

The shop redid the tint on the windshield and the drivers side door today. I got it home and realized that the tint strip on the top of the windshield is crooked, and very noticeably so. How do three people look at the work and not see something like that? Apparently I chose really poorly when I decided to go with this company.

Now I'll have to take it back yet again. The phone call I'll have to make in the morning isn't going to make anyone's day.

Man…… this has become quite the conundrum. Tint should not be this complicated nor should it be such a hassle on a paying customer. If I were you I’d be asking to speak to the manager/owner and would stay to watch while they reapplied the 3rd? 4th? set of film.

 

[OutofNowhere]

Had the front window redone on Friday. It's not drying as quickly since we've had overcast days since, but it's still not looking good. Even more bubbles everywhere, including in the main windshield tint, though the strip at the top is straight this time. The shop did refund $150 for the hassle of it all, and the fact that I'll have to pay a detailer to clean up their mess, because even after I'd asked twice that they do better, they still left liquid drips, spots and splatters everywhere.

At this point, I'm considering taking it somewhere else. The guy told me they had to do a windshield on a Ram something or other six times before it was right... I'm just not sure I'm up for even one more time with these people, as they've already tried three times.

This should not be this difficult!

 

[noac]

Heh, this is actually the second Mustang I've owned, just don't have pics yet! My husband is washing and detailing this weekend (because the dealership did a crappy job of it, AND we drove 3 hours through pouring rain to get home with it!), and then, weather permitting, I'll get a few photos. For now, here's the old one:

I was pretty attached to it, and I miss it! Every drive for 18 years was awesome!

Does that count?

Beautiful….the S197 car be be the rage before long. They have classic styling along with the ability to run great stock or produce killer power when modded. I love your car. Windveil Blue right!!!

 

[Sf22giants]

Before you make them redo it again, make their last attempt a complete removal. Then go to a new shop with bare windows.

 

[OutofNowhere]

Before you make them redo it again, make their last attempt a complete removal. Then go to a new shop with bare windows.

That's an excellent point! Will do that for sure. I shouldn't have to pay some other tint shop to remove the mess before fixing it!

Beautiful….the S197 car be be the rage before long. They have classic styling along with the ability to run great stock or produce killer power when modded. I love your car. Windveil Blue right!!!

I did love that color!

 

[OutofNowhere]

I've finally realized that this is all worse than I imagined it could be.

After the shop had the car the first time, I noticed a vertical scratch on the back window, about 5" long, just outside the dot matrix at the top on the driver's side. I couldn't figure out how it got there, and I'd washed the car by hand the day before I took it in for the tint.

After they had it the second time to redo the windshield and driver's door, I saw two more scratches, this time on the windshield, again just outside the dot matrix. One actually followed the curve of a top corner, and the other was a horizontal scratch toward the middle at the top. Still couldn't imagine how these scratches occurred, since it didn't seem logical to assume it was rocks or something (and at that point, I had no idea how tint is actually applied to the car windows).

After they had it a third time to redo the front window again, two more scratches appeared on the front window. I've finally done some research about how window tint is applied, and figured out that the tint shop did this while hand trimming the tint to fit the glass.

Pics of the scratches:

First is top of windshield, passenger side
Second is back window, top driver's side corner
Third is top of windshield, in the rearview mirror area, below and to the right of the Ford logo
Fourth is top of windshield, just to the right of the Ford logo

I'm appalled. I'm waiting to hear back from the owner of the company, and I'm hoping they'll actually accept responsibility for this, and pay to replace the windshield and rear glass. I've already taken it to a local glass shop, and their quote for OEM glass replacement for front and rear is $2,005.30 plus tax.

I'm also going to ask that the tint shop refund everything I paid for this job, and also that they pay for a detail service to clean up the mess. I don't know if I want them touching the car again, so I'll have to find someone else to redo the tint on the back and front after new glass is installed, and I think there's only one other shop in town that carries Llumar tint, so I'd have to go there to get the tint to match what's on the sides now.

Any other suggestions on how to handle this mess?

 

[OutofNowhere]

Just heard from the tint shop, and they're paying for replacement of the windshield and back glass. They are refusing to try to apply the front tint again, because they don't want to end up back in the same place they are now, with having to replace a windshield. Seems to me that means they don't trust their guys to do the install without scratching up the glass again.

They did say that they could work with the shop that does the glass replacement to apply the back tint and the windshield strip before the glass is installed. That would at least prevent the mess that they've left in the vehicle every time they've had it.

They are refusing a complete refund unless I want to bring the car back to them so that they can strip the rest of the tint, which just seems bizarre to me. They can dump even more time into this and then refund the entire cost, or just refund the cost and drive on. Weird. I don't really know what to do at this point, because I really don't want to let them touch my car again.

I'm picking up an estimate tomorrow from the glass shop, to give it to the tint shop. Although... I don't really know what the best choice is for a shop to replace the glass. I called the Ford dealer to see who they use, and they use the shop I'd already contacted (which has good reviews over the years). I called the service departments at Lexus, BMW and Mercedes dealerships, figuring "higher end" dealers would use the best shops for this, and got a couple of different shop recs, though BMW does it in house.

Any thoughts from you good people?

 

[Rocket Man]

I'm really surprised they will pay for replacement glass (not saying they shouldn't) and cleaning the interior. I wouldn't let them touch it again in any way. Just get what you can out of them and start over with a competent company. Sorry for you headaches with this issue.

 

[MCS]

This has definitely gone on long enough; both for you, and for us.

If it were me in your situation?

• I'd have them replace the glass because they damaged it.
• I'd tell them to go ahead and strip the car
  • You WILL inspect it for damage prior to leaving the shop
• I would take it somewhere else and have it done properly. Even paying a few dollars more to get the level of service I'd expect.

 

[noac]

Make sure it is Carlite glass.

 

[Pmamba]

Just heard from the tint shop, and they're paying for replacement of the windshield and back glass. They are refusing to try to apply the front tint again, because they don't want to end up back in the same place they are now, with having to replace a windshield. Seems to me that means they don't trust their guys to do the install without scratching up the glass again.

They did say that they could work with the shop that does the glass replacement to apply the back tint and the windshield strip before the glass is installed. That would at least prevent the mess that they've left in the vehicle every time they've had it.

They are refusing a complete refund unless I want to bring the car back to them so that they can strip the rest of the tint, which just seems bizarre to me. They can dump even more time into this and then refund the entire cost, or just refund the cost and drive on. Weird. I don't really know what to do at this point, because I really don't want to let them touch my car again.

I'm picking up an estimate tomorrow from the glass shop, to give it to the tint shop. Although... I don't really know what the best choice is for a shop to replace the glass. I called the Ford dealer to see who they use, and they use the shop I'd already contacted (which has good reviews over the years). I called the service departments at Lexus, BMW and Mercedes dealerships, figuring "higher end" dealers would use the best shops for this, and got a couple of different shop recs, though BMW does it in house.

Any thoughts from you good people?

Did you pay with a credit card by any chance? I’d try to do a chargeback it seems you have enough proof you didn’t get what you paid for.

 

[OutofNowhere]

I'm really surprised they will pay for replacement glass (not saying they shouldn't) and cleaning the interior. I wouldn't let them touch it again in any way. Just get what you can out of them and start over with a competent company. Sorry for you headaches with this issue.

Well, I don't have a check in hand just yet, and they may be trying to balk after saying they would pay for it two days ago. Also, now I've discovered more damage to the steering wheel as well; it's a gouge or cut from a razor or blade of some sort (which is another $2,000 cost for replacement of the steering wheel, on top of $2,500 for replacement of the front and rear glass). And no, I'm not going to let them anywhere near it. I've already decided to go to a different shop for the tint once the replacement glass is installed.

Make sure it is Carlite glass.

Definitely insisting on OEM glass, with proper calibration.

Did you pay with a credit card by any chance? I’d try to do a chargeback it seems you have enough proof you didn’t get what you paid for.

That kind of thing tends to get into territory that can impact credit reports (when the company decides that you still owe the money and sends the account to collections, even if your credit card reverses the charge) and I'm not willing to do that over $500, which, at the end of it all, is just not that significant. If the rest of the damages get repaired on the tint shop's dime, great, if not, I'll just add that $500 to the rest, and take them to small claims. At this point, it's a $5,000 problem that they need to make go away.

 

[OutofNowhere]

This has definitely gone on long enough; both for you, and for us.

Sorry about that...

I am insisting that they replace the glass, but I'm disinclined to let them touch the car again, as it's clear they have no respect for customers' vehicles. And really, the tint on the side windows is fine, and I don't see a reason to have it stripped and then redone. I have already contacted an alternate tint shop and explained the situation, and they will install tint on the new glass once it's done. Obviously I'll probably pay more in the end as I'm unlikely to get a refund for the rest of what I paid, but it doesn't really matter, as I just want the job done right.

End of updates, since there's not much more to tell anyway, other than "Beware who you decide to do business with," I guess.

 

[MCS]

Sorry about that...

No worries man, that is why this community exists. To tell you when the F enough is enough and to step in and add some bass to your voice!

it doesn't really matter, as I just want the job done right.

Exactly!

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