resisting the temptation

April 29, 2005

so anyway I just changed markets, we wont say where, dont wanna blow anyones cover, and I like you all where you are (meaning not here).

I came from a market of fairly decent tinters, not too many hacks (every market has at least a few) so I had the routine of educating the customer and selling the advantages of choosing me, as well as the fact of "if they like ya they'll buy from ya"

the new market im in, previously a town of two full time tinters and a population that is growing and literally about to boom. literally a great place to dig my heals in. already enough work to keep me busy, which is good, and plenty more to come, even better.

BUT the so called competition, well in my book, (after plenty of imcog research), "HACKS HACKS HACKS".

I put this on my white skin.

ive watched them use lifetime warranty good film (no name brand needed) on the back glass. then go for a 20 inch roll of lower quality (different brand) film for the sides. as tinters we all know usually the back glass tends to get more exposure to sun and tends to fail first. but technically speaking they are banking on the fact just becuse a film has faded on the sides dosent mean that it has failed. ive seen many film warranties cover adhesive faillure, cracking, bubbling, but not fading, for a decent period of time. I see soo many late model cars rolling around town with nice greyish hues on the back glass and bluish up the sides. obviously two different films. I can just see someone going in for warranty work and the competition saying "being the back glass is at an angle and typically gets more exposure its going to age diffently than the sides" which is true to an extent, but the average joe customer is gonna accept it.

on to flat glass, a majority of the jobs ive seen. I sh!t you not. done with a 36" roll. not because the glass is that size or smaller, but because they went cheap. very little metal or semi metal films used. seams running vertically right up the middle in the line of sight. BAD SEAMS, over lapping factory edges, no butt slices, no roll flipping so the same factory edges are being butted up together (noticable coloration difference between the two ends of a roll, especially on sh!t film) im talking display windows that could have a ferrari and n@ked women behind em and still look like crap. poor technique where you can still see after years. how it wasnt sqeegeed out good, distortion caused by puddling, bubbling and turning purple after relatively short periods of time.

as a tinter who dosent even carry an economy film, I expect my film to keep up with my skill and last. I hate to see good work go to waste. integrity is one of the things I pride my personal life and work ethic on. I do rant and call hacks on their work here. here its relatively permitable.

after this long rant. (and a lil bragging of gold mine ive found)

my question is....

Is it ethical to call local competition hacks (in more or less words) to a customer if you dont specifically point the finger at any specific shop? it is soo hard too resist when the customers here have been acustomed to sh!t being quality.

or should I just change my name to Karma Tints and let what goes around comes around and let the redo work trickle my way?

vwvanner · April 29, 2005

so anyway I just changed markets, we wont say where, dont wanna blow anyones cover, and I like you all where you are (meaning not here).
I came from a market of fairly decent tinters, not too many hacks (every market has at least a few) so I had the routine of educating the customer and selling the advantages of choosing me, as well as the fact of "if they like ya they'll buy from ya"

the new market im in, previously a town of two full time tinters and a population that is growing and literally about to boom. literally a great place to dig my heals in. already enough work to keep me busy, which is good, and plenty more to come, even better.

BUT the so called competition, well in my book, (after plenty of imcog research), "HACKS HACKS HACKS".

I put this on my white skin.

ive watched them use lifetime warranty good film (no name brand needed) on the back glass. then go for a 20 inch roll of lower quality (different brand) film for the sides. as tinters we all know usually the back glass tends to get more exposure to sun and tends to fail first. but technically speaking they are banking on the fact just becuse a film has faded on the sides dosent mean that it has failed. ive seen many film warranties cover adhesive faillure, cracking, bubbling, but not fading, for a decent period of time. I see soo many late model cars rolling around town with nice greyish hues on the back glass and bluish up the sides. obviously two different films. I can just see someone going in for warranty work and the competition saying "being the back glass is at an angle and typically gets more exposure its going to age diffently than the sides" which is true to an extent, but the average joe customer is gonna accept it.

on to flat glass, a majority of the jobs ive seen. I sh!t you not. done with a 36" roll. not because the glass is that size or smaller, but because they went cheap. very little metal or semi metal films used. seams running vertically right up the middle in the line of sight. BAD SEAMS, over lapping factory edges, no butt slices, no roll flipping so the same factory edges are being butted up together (noticable coloration difference between the two ends of a roll, especially on sh!t film) im talking display windows that could have a ferrari and n@ked women behind em and still look like crap. poor technique where you can still see after years. how it wasnt sqeegeed out good, distortion caused by puddling, bubbling and turning purple after relatively short periods of time.

as a tinter who dosent even carry an economy film, I expect my film to keep up with my skill and last. I hate to see good work go to waste. integrity is one of the things I pride my personal life and work ethic on. I do rant and call hacks on their work here. here its relatively permitable.

after this long rant. (and a lil bragging of gold mine ive found)

my question is....

Is it ethical to call local competition hacks (in more or less words) to a customer if you dont specifically point the finger at any specific shop? it is soo hard too resist when the customers here have been acustomed to sh!t being quality.

or should I just change my name to Karma Tints and let what goes around comes around and let the redo work trickle my way?

[*]279715

If your going to use the individual company names ,then you need photographic proof and their customers details including phone number.

I used to have the same problem with the local tint butchers,just today I had a customer visit me whilst doing her rounds to get cheap quotes from the locals who had previously installed for one of their trusted friends. (Its even better when the friend is driving their vehicle ).

When you show people examples of there work they dont leave without paying a deposit for their reservation and they are grateful for your professional approach.

And best of all if you label the install pictures relavant to each company its factual proof rather than back biting slander,so truly you have not said a word.

Trust my experience on this and get a digital camera and keep the battery charged you will see a higher conversion rate immediately.

How many times have you seen local installs on your shopfront!!!.Create a catalogue of disasters without lying.

My workshop is always immaculate so dont even get me started about the guy that wants to use your dusty dark garage at home to make your life easier. :coffee

Theres more than one way to skin a cat.

Best of luck, keep it clean and stay out of court

tint_detective · April 30, 2005

In my experiece, calling other competitors "names" will only show you

you are not confident enough in your your work to let it speak for you.

I NEVER speak badly of anyone that competes with me.(at least to a customer).

My work speaks for itself.

I have many examples on site to show the customer the quality of work they will get at my shop.

Anyone can talk sh!t about a competitor, but by saying something like,

"They do good work, BUT, here is why you should come here, I warrantee my work, I use a quality product and I stand behind my installs 100%."

"That is why I charge more than them."

:bat

The people that have slandered me in the past, have regreted it, for it makes me try harder to put their work in the sub-standard category.

And it has worked 7 years running. :bat :coffee

April 30, 2005

I don't name, names when I talk to customers, I just talk in general about what other shops may not tell them and how I handle my business, But I don't need to name names when it comes to compairing work, I let it speak for itself.

April 30, 2005

Yeah, it's pretty tuff not to talk smack. Especially when you know for a fact the other guy is gonna thrash the car, however tint detective is right in my book. People don't respond to anything negative. Just sell yourself with dignity and hope the customer can smell the Haxors! :coffee

tint_detective · April 30, 2005

I don't name, names when I talk to customers, I just talk in general about what other shops may not tell them and how I handle my business, But I don't need to name names when it comes to compairing work, I let it speak for itself.

[*]279861

Exactly! :coffee :bat :bat

tint_detective · April 30, 2005

Yeah, it's pretty tuff not to talk smack. Especially when you know for a fact the other guy is gonna thrash the car, however tint detective is right in my book. People don't respond to anything negative. Just sell yourself with dignity and hope the customer can smell the Haxors!

[*]279868

Yup! Thanks Ninja! :lol :bat :bat

TINT · April 30, 2005

im with you guys,

I believe everyone in this world has the right to do anything they can to survive and provide for they're family in this world, as far as other's people's work, yea what goes around comes around, other people's work may not be so good, but why bash on them? when you do that you are making potential customers think bad of you or doubt you, to think of it , its pretty low.

just do your own thing, if you see a bad job, flat or auto, just mind your own, nicely tell the customer that is not properly done right and that you are a professional and you will do what's necessary for the right price :woowoo

thinking of your competition or bashing is an unnecessary stress for you. :lol

April 30, 2005

"Yup! Thanks Ninja!"

:woowoo

April 30, 2005

right along the lines I was thinking. name no names, explian the difference between bad and good, youll only get the good with me. no names needed they already know where they had the crappy work done.

the past few jobs, (r&r work), I was able to put full price in my pocket, but after alls said and done, only have a buck under wholesale. other shops had quoted the same job. left him with, its just bad tint and a qoute, then out the door. I shot the sh!t for bout a half hour, lil education session, explaining films and technique.

got some ideas on the verbage though, thanks guys. ill be posting some b4 and after pics of the r&r's.