Can I visit your tint shop? Can you show me a sample of your work
when I'm there?
Tint shops can sound like the best shop on the phone, but
15 minutes on-site should tell you all you need to know.
Good dealers pay attention to customer service. They should be
happy and willing to spend the time to talk to you and explain
how their shops work. Remember, if they don't spend time with you know,
will they spend time with you when there is something wrong with
your tint job?
A tint shop's work area should be indoors and clean. Their tools
and window films are organized in a professional manner. If the tint shop
is outdoors or in a parking lot, this is a negative since it is
critical to remove all dust and dirt from the windows before
applying window film.
Now take a look at a car they have already tinted, and look at the rear window.
Is the window film applied in a single piece or is it cut into strips that surround the defroster
lines? The most skilled tint shops always apply film in a single piece.
Now look at the borders of the rear window, in many cars there is a black
'frit' edge on the window, Make sure the window film looks securely
attached to the frit as well.
Pay attention to side-windows. The window film should be applied to the inside and
be completely flush against all 4 edges of the window. Now look at the
window film itself. Don't worry if the film itself
looks slightly streaky and discolored, window film takes a couple weeks to dry out and become
completely clear. If there are bubbles of air under the film or the film
itself is not complete flat against the window, this is a sure sign of sloppy tinting.
Get price quotes from each dealer for the exact darkness, color, and type of
window film you want. Never compromise because there are plenty of other
dealers out there that will offer your perfect tint. With these price quotes
and your research on each tint shop, make the decision.
Refer to the
help you rank the dealers.
After you make your decision, remember to always make an appointment
with the tint shop before you tint your car. Even if they say
"drop-ins accepted" or "bring it over any time", you want you tinter
to be calm and prepared for you when you arrive and not rushed.
Tinting may take a couple hours to half a day, so either arrange a
ride or go to a nearby coffee shop with a good book. Enjoy!
About the author:
Harrison Hung is the founder of
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