Charging for Warranties

It's pretty clear (no pun intended) that we all know the lifetime warranty is a gimmick, but how can we stop offering them when the competition wont stop?

Why not offer the the lifetime warranty as an upgrade? Charge for it.

When I buy something from a store like CompUSA or something, the cashier always offers me an extended warranty at a price, and it's not even a lifetime warranty, it's usually 1 or 2 years beyond the manufacturers 90 day warranty.

Why not advertise "Lifetime Warranty Available" instead of "Lifetime Warranty"?

Why not offer it for an additional 10 or 20 percent above your normal price?

The damage is pretty much done, we can never get rid of this stupid warranty, so why not turn it around to your advantage?

i think its a good idea but at the same time, when they price it out and u charge extra for it when the guy down the road gives it away for free....they will make the most logical decission to save money. although it would help us out so we dont have to worry about the film going bad later on, people still like the terms " lifetime warranty," and "free."

Maybe when he sees you doing it he will do the same, just the same way the lifetime warranties got started in the first place.

Also, isn't this thing about worrying about what the competition does and trying to do them one better what gets us into these problems in the first place?

Your competition pays just as much attention to you, this is a good idea, if you impliment it, your competition is sure to follow.

That is how we did it when the 5 year warranty was standard then somebody decided to make lifetime film standard

or How about a lifetime warranty that covers it in full the first 3 years with a $50 decutable after that

tintdude, i do agree it would be bad ass, if EVERYONE did it. no more ppl coming in complaining about thier 10 year old tint thats now OUR problem. i think that tint shoud come with the same warranty that paint shops give.....none.

Then it's up to us to just start doing it.

What do you think would be a good price?

You say if they see you doing it then maybe they will do the same! But like Snappy said what if they see you doing it and use it against you and say "we offer that free here and there just trying to make $ off of you (which we are)then you have people thinking your clipping them any way you can! !! I like your idea Ric, but i think it could work either way depending on the kind of competition that you have!

yes, in reality, it all depends on how your competiton takes it. its up to them wheather to use it with you or use it against you...i dont see most guys using it with you, thats what makes them you "competition." if we all did the same thing, what would we have to offer thats any better?

for example....just 10 mins ago i had a girl call and get a price. then she just called back and asked if that price was for a lifetime warranty or just a 5 year warranty.... she obiously called around within those few mins and got a price with lifetime warranty and 5 year warranty. now what do i say to that????? yes thats with a lifetime warranty.

Looks like your comp might already be doing this so it might be that much easier for you to start offering tiered warranties.

Dumb idea I guess. Thanks for the feed back guys, I just thought I'd throw this out there.

i dont think it was a dumb idea..i just think the way the economy is and the way the new generation of window tinters are(just giving the stuff away..and not taking pride in the skill ..or just doing it for a quick buck)..it just isnt the right time for it..and it may never be the right time for it..time will only tell.

Just another thought here...

What if every paint and body shop attempted to compete with Earl Scheib, the "paint any car any color for $99" shops?

Most people know what they are going to get when they go there, a lousy paint job.

If your only selling point is price and you aren't making clear to your custy that you aren't "Earl Scheib" then you may be selling yourself short.

i guess if i took to the time to explain to the customer the reality of the window tint warranty and how a lifetime warranty basically a myth, i could upsell the no fault warranty.. basically tintdude, its just like what you are implying but with a different name.

I think it's a great idea but like Tintgod was saying about the economy is that maybe this isn't the right time unless you think you can pull it off! I will go to the extreme to make a tint job the best i can just for the pride factor! And yet i have had to be super competative with my prices and stay open later in the evenings to get whatever i can get ahold of to compete with guys who are doing it for almost nothing and doing crappy work because people are chasing a better price right now because they just don't have the money! When the economy changes then i definitly want to try this! But right now i'm just going to do whatever i can to survive and make sure i'm one of the tint shops in town that makes it through this mess we're dealing with!

heres your warranty with my signiture

Its not gonna change. I agree with Ric that we should start charging for a LT warr, but this topic is 5-10 years too late. In regards to auto tinting, what does it matter anyway. It is cheap enough to r&r a vehicle that you gave a LT warr to, and the chances are better they wont have it long enough to use that warr. In my case I only use Madico CH (Color stable LT film) and only give out a warr upon customer request.

Now there's a warranty you cAN CHARGE FOR!!

hey TD put your self in for the tip of the week

I just won one, I don't want to push my luck

u got a nice azz snappy, but how did you manage to sign it that well
juz kiddin

I think the unfortunate truth is that many installers do not wish to take the time to explain fully all aspects of tinting to the customer. With most auto timters I know, it is 'get em in, get em out'. To take the time to discuss aspects of what tinting is and the truths about warranties, most do not do it. To my end, flat glass, I will take the time to explain different aspects of the films, from how they are made to care to warranty coverage. Competitors in this market will tell the customer anything to make the sale, from 'window tint will STOP fading' (a falicy) to 'Ourlifetime warranty covers everything from peeling to scratching'. Let them say what they want. From touting that crap films they have are as good as name brands to falsehoods of their warranties, I sell myself!!! let the customer be comfortable in doing business with me, and the sale is made. The falsehoods of warranties will always be around. When you make your presentation, mention nothing of warranty unless asked. AND THEN, ONLY STATE (over and over) THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY!!! On any installation, I will put my seal on it that we did a professional job and that I cover any workmanship for 30 days. Then state that the manufacturer offers a warranty. Should there be a problem, I will work with them to resolve it, but it is the manufacturer who covers it, NOT ME.

Everyone out there doing cars has the benefit of knowing (at least until recently) that most people sell their cars within 5 years, so the warranty WAS not as much of an issue. With flat glas, especially residential, people stay inn their homes for much longer, therefore, the issue of warranties can come up for a longer period. I used to be an Elite dealer, and had a warranty claim last year. I had to explain to the customer that the company was out of business and there was not longer a warranty. Luckily for me, I had film left over from the job and was able to match a replacement.

My view on these warranties ( I won't say bogus, but close) is that I constantly reiterate to the customer that the warranty is only valid as long as the manufacturer is on business. We will have to deal with this forever, but WE must be the ones who are honest to the end user on it. Offer the lifetime MANUFACTURERS warranty, but explain it fully to the customer before they leave your door. Taking a few mins to explain this could save you a headache down the road.