Where can I get film? other than Gila?

Okay... before you flame me and tell me I am wasting my time and money...

I am hiring a pro... for my 4 large picture windows. These windows are high and seems very hard to do. They will be doing it a at a great price and using Madico film.

But I have more windows that I plan on doing myself. I need at minimum 3 ft x 60 ft roll of film? I like to use the same film from Madico. Is there any where I can purchase that film in that amount?

Otherwise is my only option Gila which I can get at 52 cents a square foot.. Will the professional film be much more than 52 cent a square feet?

while professional film will be more than $.52/sq, it is a LOT higher quality film. That Gila film might carry a 3 year warranty if your lucky, but most likely it won't last that long. Talk to your dealer and they can sell you some film most likely.

But really, the best thing to do is have the pro do it all. If its 3'x60' of film, depending on the cuts they could be in and out in under two hours, whereas you will most likely spend a whole saturday or more doing the same amount of work, with greatly reduced results.

I think Gila has a lifetime warranty... but a satisfaction guaranteed warranty.

Per their website:
"At any time, CPFilms will gladly replace any product with a manufacturing defect upon receipt from the consumer of the original dated sales receipt, an explanation of the manufacturing defect, and the product label and UPC code from the box."

With this caveat
Naturally, this policy provides replacement of products with manufacturing defects for which CPFilms is responsible. Problems that arise due to the skill of the installer, his patience, or practice handling the film may be beyond the coverage or intent of this warranty. For this reason, this warranty does not extend to any GILA brand films installed by and/or the quality of labor provided by hired third-party installers.

A request for a refund from GILA will be denied only because GILA did not receive the purchase price: the retailer did. You may return the product to the retailer for a refund. Many retailers do reserve the right to set their own refund policies. For this reason, GILA offers to REPLACE defective products under the terms specified above and on each carton of window film.

There are a ton of places to buy tint without a business license. www.buytint.com www.valuetint.com www.tintcenter.com www.johnsonfilms.com

If I am wrong someone correct me

While they *can* I would hope they would not.

I know if any of my customers asked me to sell them film so they can install it themselves I would politely tell them no.


The perk to using a professional is a top quality install using top quality films.

Anyone want to do it themselves... fine... use the cheap crap.


-R

Nothing in there suggests a satisfaction guaranteed warranty. Only against manu defect.

I'd say 70% of gila sold ends up in the trash and the person wishes they spent that money on booze cause they are gonna need a drink after that mess.

you got that right

It is unfortunate for our industry if these companies do sell directly to the end user. It would be my recommendation to all members here to boycott these companies, should they have this policy.

we took on a job last december that was such a pain. an area mall had an enormous amount of overhead windows. they bought 14 rolls of 20% total crap silver film. we did it for labor cost with no wtty. film looked bad and didn't seem to have much adhesive. peeled like crazy in the corners so you had to keep going back and checking it.

Well, I did one patio door and one window using Gila Films. It is not a professional job but I am sure it will accomplish my goal of blocking out heat.

See my results here.

what percentage is the film?

I believe is 27%

What do you guys think?

Film Type LT VLR% UV% SC EMIS TSER U Value
Platinum 27 48 98-99 0.33 0.44 70 0.82

does it give you the amount of heat absorptance on the glass? that would be my initial concern.

You are right.. I will have to email Gila on that. I will let you guys know.

Your slider door is tempered glass so no worries there... if you do any annealed windows then you want to proceed with caution.

Most of the windows I will be doing will be annealed.

then you don't really want to use Gila film for them. They are very tempermental and can crack/overheat very easy. I HIGHLY suggest you contact Howard at www.buytint.com (Express window films) and order an appropriate film from him that will be safe and warrantied on the windows. Most likely Gila, if they offer any warranty on the actual window, is only for the film itself, not the actual window. Most big companies have at least $500/per on window installations

Other than the extreme blue color, its not that bad of a looking job

why would anyone warranty a DIYer job?

and I would have kept billing them for it....Manufacturers defect, not installer error. With overhead/skylites, I always tack the corners after is has dried for a bit to be sure it cannot lift.

didn't have any problems getting paid, but i swear the film added an extra day to the install. every hour we would backtrack over what we had done.

They probably won't. Since on most companies warranty forms, it says that film is to be applied by a manufacterer authorized dealer/installer. As far as I know, that film is 48% absorbtion.....pushing the envelope in my opinion. I can say that if Howard does sell to this person, his company should be added to the list of companies to not do business with. Why is it that only in our industry, do we see manufacturers that pull end runs around their dealers and sell direct to the consumer?? In most industries, the manufacturers will not sell direct, only refer to local companies where the product could be purchased.

If we are going to see our industry and dealers survive, practices such as these need to end. By circumventing the dealer, the distributor/manufacturer takes money out of our pockets. This is also true for selling to just about anyone, including the hacks out there who refuse to be licensed/insured. They install with no insurance coverage and, when it comes time for warranty claims, the manufacturer stands on solid ground to refuse the claim. Not a license dealer, we do not honor a warranty. Very slippery slope.

I am not trying to start anything, just voicing my opinion from a legitimate dealers standpoint. I have insurance and a license and operate legally. If film is sold to anyone, we legit installers are put at a definate disadvantage, and it is my opinion to not do business with those who will sell to anyone, no matter how 'nice' they are, or how 'great' their price is.

I apologize for starting up the debate and I believe nocalhomeowner from before brought up this debate a long time ago (2005)in regards to options for a homeowner

nocalhomeowners's thread

Per the discussions here, even if I get professional film from a manufacturer such as express tint, there will be/should be no warranty on the film or glass.

Based on reactions here, as a end user if I do buy from Express Tint or any other dealer, the dealer may get blacklisted here.

Honestly, Gila's got it cornered for the end user if you really think about it. There is a huge opportunity for some company to sell premium film to the end user. Unfortunately that may never happen because the dealers/installers will start trash talking them and not working with them.

So it looks like my only option is Gila Films.

willl it hurt you alot to just find the yellow page book, and get a few quotes from a couple of authorized installers?
it will save you time and money and get a professional installation and a good quality product. Gila well, not very good.

No, probably not. But I rather save the money on the windows I can do myself. As for the large and high windows, a pro is doing that.

Gila could be a lot better company if they were to market a better quality product. Everyone who has used them before never will again because they have experience their "horribleness" if you would. If they could market a decent product that lasted longer, they would be a much better company.

CT- while most industries if you want the product professionally installed you have to go to a dealer, many industries you can buy the product and install it yourself, like tint.

Paint-You can go to a paint dealer and get professional paint to paint your house yourself
Brick/Concrete- you can get your product from the same supplier and install it yourself
Electrician- you can buy the wire.......
Auto parts- buy the parts yourself......
the list goes on...

I think just because we are in THIS industry that we tend to forget that EVERY industry has the "hack shop", the "professional" and the "DIYer".

We may not like that the companies sell directly to the consumer, but its a free market they can do what they want. Howard and VT are smart, in that they know selling directly to the customer they'll sell more film for when they mess up, and probably more film in the end when they actually pay to have a professional redo it(maybe not right away, but in a year or two). It just makes good business sense. Maximize customers=Maximize profits

this industry, in my opinion, is a smaller than average industry. it is also more scrutinized job by job than most others. when people like howard and vt go around the dealer(who no one sticks up for) and sell directly to a customer then there is no guarantee that a quality install will result. that crappy job is then on display for anyone to see and becomes part of the face of window filming.

I guess to be fair to VT and howard, they don't have "dealers" in the traditional sense. Since anyone can order off their website, their more like Gila, just a LOT better films

They sell a product directly to the end user, and it happens to be bought by "dealers" who install it along with their other films. To become an express "dealer" you have to fill out all kinds of official forms and stuff, just like the other major mannys. Similar to VT, I assume its to be warrantied. I know with VT you have to go through a process of being approved so that you can offer a warranty through them on their film

great way to stimulate the economy showing no respect for us tinters.

What you need to remember is that WE, as dealers and pro installers, support their products and, just as in any other area, should be the sellers to the end user. This happens in most other areas of business. Can you buy a Dewalt drill, GM car, Ben and Jerrys Ice Cream, Ipod, or most other products directly from the manufacturer? The answer would be NO. As a consumer, with no TAX NUMBER, LICENSE, or other requirements of retailing, are not. The funny part is, if a Munufacturer or wholesaler were to sell directly to you, they would have to charge tax for the state which you are in to sell to you legally. This is why your local dealer is selling the product, they collect the required taxes on each purchase. You can buy any of the products llisted above on the internet, however, they are being sold by retailers. None are sold direct from the manufacturer or wholesaler.
And as for your statement of dealers/installers TRASH talking the distributors or manufacturers and not working with them, how would you put it if they (mannys/dists) do sell direct? They are not, then, working with US. We are being cut out of the business. IMHO, it is the Dists/Mannys who refuse to sell to the end user that work with us. There IS a huge opportunity for these companies to sell premium films to the end user, and that is by doing it THROUGH their dealers and retailers. I think your opinion would be much different if your livelyhood was affected by such dealings.

Rather save the money and snub your nose at the same people YOU ask for free advice. Do ya realize that is exactly what you are doing Asking the professionals here for advice on how to cut out the professional. Bet it would'nt be long before you were her asking for tips on how to do it too...................Save your money........but go buy the GILA.........................

I do thank the people who have given me advice. It is much appreciated. Just as I go car forums to get advice on how to fix something.. I thought it was the same here. However, with some exceptions from some nice replies, it seems this forum has no place for end users or DIYers.

I have sett

Maybe this forum should be made dealer/installers only

I do thank the people who have given me advice. It is much appreciated. Just as I go car forums to get advice on how to fix something.. I thought it was the same here. However, with some exceptions from some nice replies, it seems this forum has no place for end users or DIYers.

I talked to Howard from Express Tints. He is great with customer service and recommend him to an end user DIYer who happen to stumble on this thread. I have settled on Gila since I do not want to steal from your mouths by buying directly from a manufacturer.

Maybe this forum should be made dealer/installers only

Once again. Thanks again.

They got those but everyone seems to gravitate back here.

I dont get it. Your original post was about a quote from a Madico dealer, but you want to buy the film and DIY? After you do the windows you can, does that mean the Madico dealer will come and do the rest?? Not only will the windows not match the GILA film, the end result will be YOU paying more for the DIY job to be replaced with a film far superior to the film you installed, b/c you will have learned your lesson.

I think the third or fourth post of leaving to a pro was good advice, which is only a matter of time for you to realize it. I dont understand what the hell happened to this thread.

just another jackass who is not willing to pay for a professional job. probably one of those who get 100 estimates and still biatches about price. half arse customers man, dont really understand the true value of a good done job, rather than just looking for price. good luck with your gila when it turns purple, bubbles and may crack your glass after 3 months of summer..and you wonder why we biatch. By the way, you could not buy from a major manufacturer if you tried, llumar, hanita, madico. Anyone can buy from express (no pun intended) so please, save your energy and hire a pro already.

oh here, this video will clarify more. the end will make more sense too

Somebody better pin that!

I'm e-mailing that link to a few customers, or I should say people because customers are the ones you actually do business with.

Great video! Even I have to deal with that... wait a minute that means

I am hiring a pro for the 4 larger windows but doing the rest myself.

I did 12 windows panes and 2 patio on my own already and saved quite a bit of money. Overall I am satisfied with my work. I have 12 more panes to do.

Bitch and complain all you want about me but I saved a lot of money doing those myself.

Sure sure.. you saw it is crap film and that it will peel and crack.. If it does I send it in for warranty.


$.53 a sq feet.. thats right.. $.53 cents a square feet. at 162 sq feet = $85

Thats right $85 dollars.

If I hired one of you bozos it would have been about $650. Thats right $650. Why would I pay over 750% percent higher?

Be dismayed as you want it to be.. DIYers will exist no matter how you want to bash their work or the film (Gila) available to them.

You can go ahead and delete my post because you guys are too chicken shiat to talk about prices..

How much will it cost should your glass break because you used the wrong film?

that video is some funny shiz !

So wait.. there is a right film to use that will guarantee no stress cracks... don't think so.

but.. wait.. aren't most standard films metalized polyester? I think Gila is metallized polyester

Please find me a pro installer and a pro film that guarantee no cracks and they will have my business.

So, some people tried to help You and now were bozo's? tell Me Alfred, what do You do for a living, and do You give out YOUR trade secret's to any ...... BOZO who asks for them?

Gladly. What do you want to know about network infrastructure? What do you want to know about email systems?

Trade secret. Baby Shampoo, Distilled Water, Sharp Breakaway Blades, Accurate cutting, proper edging, work center out, clean windows, decent window film...

Hardly a trade secret... see demonstations on Youtube should you so desire.


I thank the people who helped me. But called the bozo the person who called me a jackass.

it's pretty easy to locate tinters who's work comes with glass breakage and seal failure warranties.

See demonstrations on Youtube.... Anybody can buy a Olfa Knife and some cheap film. It takes a certain skill set to be able to hang it properly. You come on here wanting help, and then tell us that what We have worked so hard to achieve, is not a skilled trade. I like the DYI'ers, ESPECIALLY on cars....cause I can charge them three times as much to remove their crappy job, and then reinstall it THE RIGHT WAY.
Oh, and I use Joy...not Baby shampoo.
Hey, I asked this question not to long ago on another forum, and since Your experienced in said field , please tell Me...what the HELL'S a Dongle?

Your Madico dealer should be able to provide any warranty you may be looking for, this is off of Madico's sunscape select site...
http://www.sunscapeselect.com/warranty.asp



So what is a dongle?