Window Tint - what to expect (quality)

[wfdTamar]

Got my Octavia wagon tinted at one of the big names (Tint a Car - the Bolle film). I'm just wondering how the quality of mine compares to other people's cars - in particular on the Octavia wagon. Apart from the obvious many flaws - every window has multiple small bubbles or dust etc. trapped under the film, it didn't stick along the rear demister and radio wires. There's a 1mm unstuck strip either side of them. Are other's cars the same? I looked at some other cars (different brands) and most didn't have that. I'm worried that this is where it's going to fail. The store owner says that's because the wires are on the surface of the glass and it's impossible for the film to seal on the 'step' of the wire. Same issue on the small panes on the rear doors - an unstuck strip on the rear edge of them.

Also how picky can I be regarding bubbles do you reckon? This is not the water bubbles that take up to a week to dry up, but very small (1-2mm diameter) ones that can't be removed (it was done three weeks ago). Some have things in them like dust (it was a windy day). They're redoing 'some of it' tomorrow, but I'm still not sure where I stand as the warranty is vaguely worded. I'm talking anything from a few to over 10 on some windows.

Really hard to photograph, but these capture some of it.

[donweather]

Have you paid for it? If you haven't and you're not happy then don't pay. It's 100% unacceptable if they've got dirt and dust under the tint.

[vEnOm_oz]

Window Tint - what to expect (quality)

That's a pathetic excuse of a job TBH.

My Octavia Wagon was tinted with no such issues or bubbles and it carries a lifetime warranty on the job. Which means if bubbles or any other form of decolouration happens they will replace it.

I wouldn't pay a cent for that job and take my business elsewhere. They obviously have no clue about fixing a window tint and/or are just plain lazy. They are just giving you excuses.

[wfdTamar]

Do you have the bits along the demister wires that haven't stuck down?

Yes paid. They do have a 30 day money back guarantee - if you're not happy they'll take it off and refund. I like the tint, just want a good job done. I'd be ok with one or two bubbles on the rear windows (I'd let that slip), but this is ridiculous. The only window without a bubble is one of the small rear panes on the door. Every other window has a flaw, some heaps. It's trickier when it comes to the back window. I'm not sure if the gap along the wires is to be expected. Also the wires can be damaged when removing tint.

On the other hand they did take $100 off for me removing the door and trim panels (however I've had to do it again now).

[vEnOm_oz]

Window Tint - what to expect (quality)

Sorry about the quality of the image, just took it now in the dark. This is the tinted back window, as you can see there is no gap along the wires. I would get the money back if I were you and look somewhere else.

[wfdTamar]

Another thing that pissed me off was how they made me feel like I had a cheek asking for it to be fixed. Instead of 'oh sorry, we'll fix that no worries. Sorry to have put you out', it was 'you have to expect some of those'.

The customer service was even worse - pretty much implying I was lying or that it was the initial water not dried, or I couldn't possibly be right - 'the workshop is sealed'. Yeah right - just a roller door. They open it to let the car (and dust and ****) in. Supposedly work with it closed (except not when I came back early). No air lock on the reception area - so when the front door is opened any crap can blow through into the workshop. It was really windy the day mine was done. A dog in the workshop!

[wfdTamar]

Great thanks for that photo/ammunition. I'm going back tomorrow so need to be able to say it can be done properly. Problem is there are very few places here that do it. Might need to look somewhere else in the state.

[vEnOm_oz]

Mate, I understand your predicament. Come summer time those bubbles are going to expand and create a horrible artwork on your windows, to put it mildly.

[fransnz]

I got mine tinted by tint a car in Melbourne with no complaints. Don't take bad workmanship from them as its your hard earned cash.

[wfdTamar]

Yeah, I know. I did my house windows myself and did an ok job. Only a bit rough along the imperfect edge. I thought I should get people that do it all the time to make sure of a good job, but just because people have been doing it for xx years doesn't mean they have been doing it right all that time. Particularly here in Tassie 'rough enough is good enough' seems to be the standard for any trade.

[wfdTamar]

I don't think you can compare any one Tint a Car place to the next as they're a franchise. Even within one store there will be more competent conscientious tradesman (except it's not a trade is it?). You would think though that the head office would make it clear what standards are acceptable/expected. Instead it seems to be whatever they can bully you into.

and they didn't want to take my Myer One card because it was a discount price. Grr.

I went for the Bolle tint as I wanted a factory look and not a dark sky look. It is quite green which sometimes looks good, sometimes too much.

I'll see what happens tomorrow.

[woofy]

Yep all different, so prior history doesn't mean much when they get sold off either.

[brad]

that's a lousy job.

My tint is now 7 years old and it didn't have any bubbles & stuck to the rear glass without issue (and he did it in 3 pieces & you can't see the join).

The door trims didn't come off either (I still can't work that out).

My tint guy is anal about getting the windows clean, especially around the edges. He spends more time cleaning than applying the tint.

He also sands down the black dotted parts around the edge of the window so that it adheres properly and doesn't bubble.

A good tint job shouldn't look like an add-on.

[sillyboy]

I'd say ask them to fix it until you are satisfy, try to keep the communication in email form as much as possible(so you will have tracking records when you need it), if you are not happy still, ask for a refund, and lodge a complaint through ACCC, ACCC is generally very good responding to consumer complaints. However I think the seller would usually act more decently/helpful once they know you will/did get ACCC involved.

[wfdTamar]

that's a lousy job.

....

He also sands down the black dotted parts around the edge of the window so that it adheres properly and doesn't bubble.

A good tint job shouldn't look like an add-on.

The owner said that dotted area around the edge was an area that you couldn't help getting the 'not stuck down' look. Interesting to hear that there is a way to make it look right.