pbalentine

Havn’t doe one, but Ive noticed pulling sweeps cant be done as much anymore. A lot panels now really hook around the sweep making it necessary to remove entire door panel. 

Havn’t doe one, but Ive noticed pulling sweeps cant be done as much anymore. A lot panels now really hook around the sweep making it necessary to remove entire door panel. 

Just charge more for them. I’ll add anywhere from $50-$100 for most Sedans. They are usually more work than any vehicle. A Sedan vs hatch has a long list extra BS to do: Headrest removal, deck/headliner prep, 3rd brake light removal, tight work space(coupes are worse), hard 1/4 windows, harder rear rollups, and huge curvy window to shrink & install. 

Just charge more for them. I’ll add anywhere from $50-$100 for most Sedans. They are usually more work than any vehicle. A Sedan vs hatch has a long list extra BS to do: Headrest removal, deck/headliner prep, 3rd brake light removal, tight work space(coupes are worse), hard 1/4 windows, harder rear rollups, and huge curvy window to shrink & install. 

My back HURTS! Had a damn 02 civic coupe in the shop for 20% ceramic all around and between having 0 space in the back and having such a tight decklid, I’m HURTING. I’m genuinely considering becoming an SUV/hatchback/truck only shop, I’m tired of crawling all up in the backseat and trunk for the same pay as a truck that I can do in 1/4 of the time with less effort.
 
Rant over, this shit sucks

I'll bite.
 
My back was jacked before I even started tinting; slipped L5 vertebrae with mild spina-bifida, mild scoliosis at lower thoracic, anterior thoracic, mild spina-bifida at T1, reverse cervical curve, and bone spurs at C6/C7 have grown together.
 
Tinted for 35+ years. So, ask me how my back is doing. The upside is I don't have to tint anymore, but I do my own cars and house (slowly and carefully), I can still walk, and I only run for my life. Unable to lift more than 25 pounds. I cannot climb ladders but will do it to save a life. My low back gives me grief daily, my neck is f**cked and bursitis has limited the use of my shoulders.
 
I exercise to keep necessary movement and will do so until they throw dirt on my face.

Now, tell me ... what did you say about your back?

No pain, no stain! 
If it was easy we wouldn't have anything to do.

Wait until you replace the glass and then tint it, or replace it anyway and sell the other one pre tinted. Those are the easy options if you're worried about damage. 

Im tryin to just use the orange this last week. Its been 100-105* while installing in sight humidity. Its either slides too much or sticks too quick. Even with measuring it I can never get it to slip how I like it. Probably go back to using my secret blend of 70% generic Baby & 30% Orange Slime. 

With VW/Audi its all in the door panel removal. Tear those off and you’re good to go!

I use Tint Slime Ultra year round.  Even though they say it's made for hot weather installs, I don't like switching up from the regular(green) to the Ultra(orange), so I just stay with the Ultra and use a little less in the winter.   

First of all don't do that. I had ChatGPT help me with this and it is spot on:
 
While it may seem enticing to start a service business with prices significantly lower than the competition, there are several reasons why this approach may not be advisable in the long run. Here are some potential drawbacks:
 
1 Quality perception: Customers often associate higher prices with better quality. By significantly undercutting the competition, you risk creating a perception that your services are of lower quality or that you are cutting corners to offer such low prices. This can make it difficult to build trust and establish a strong reputation in the market.
 
2 Profitability challenges: Operating a business with very low prices can make it challenging to generate sufficient revenue and maintain profitability. If your prices are too low, you may struggle to cover your costs, invest in necessary resources, or sustain your business over time. This can lead to financial difficulties and potentially force you to increase prices later, which may alienate existing customers.
 
3 Value proposition: Competing solely on price often reduces your value proposition to being the cheapest option in the market. This can attract price-sensitive customers who may not be loyal and are more likely to switch to a cheaper alternative. Building a sustainable business requires offering unique value, exceptional customer service, or specialized expertise, rather than relying solely on low prices.
 
4 Undercutting your competition: By undercutting the competition significantly, you risk engaging in a price war that can be detrimental to all businesses involved. Competitors may respond by lowering their prices further, leading to diminishing profits for everyone. This scenario is not sustainable in the long term and can harm the entire industry.
 
5 Perceived lack of expertise: Setting prices significantly lower than your competitors may give the impression that you lack experience, expertise, or confidence in your services. Customers may question why your prices are so much lower and whether you can deliver the same level of quality and results as your competitors.
 
6 Difficulty raising prices: If you establish your business with significantly lower prices, it can be challenging to increase them in the future without facing resistance from existing customers. Once customers have become accustomed to your low prices, they may be reluctant to pay more, even if you have improved your service quality or expanded your offerings.
 
7 Long-term sustainability: Building a sustainable business requires a solid financial foundation. Operating with prices significantly lower than the competition can make it difficult to invest in growth, retain talented employees, or weather economic downturns. It's essential to consider the long-term viability of your business model and ensure that it can adapt to changing market conditions.
 
While pricing is an important factor in attracting customers, it is crucial to strike a balance between offering competitive prices and delivering value that justifies your rates. Competing solely on price may lead to short-term gains but can have negative consequences for the long-term success and sustainability of your business.
 
---
 
Now the next thing I would suggest is customer management.
 
90% of your problems are going to come from customers who weren't prepared ahead of time what to expect.
 
Print out a stack of these: https://www.tintdude.com/care.html/ and read it with and leave one with each customer before you begin the work, this will save you a lot of grief and you'll thank me later.

The batteries are my number one complaint. Anyone who's ever seen a lithium or copper mine and thinks their saving the environment is out of their mind.
 
Nevermind the poor bastards that are charged with getting the rare earths out of the ground and the corrupt backwards govs that rule the area where they lay.
 
Then we get to the recycling issues and God forbid one of those turds catch fire....my thoughts on that goes for the entire ev scam. I'll take a '97 Accord over any of them everytime. 

That green tint slime is a bit weak. I would get the more concentrated orange slime. 

That green tint slime is a bit weak. I would get the more concentrated orange slime. 

Their quality did improve but they still have intentional low standards set for quality. That was Musk Idea, put nothing into, but inflate the price. Tesla will be nothing but a memory in next few years. Porsche, Merc, BMW one uped Tesla big time. Thats why Tesla dropped the price..to liquidate theit shitty cars. Last few I did were all beat up. One was for a teenager. Again, its a car for show off wannabes. 

I had young guy drop his teenagers Model 3 off in a corvette. He didnt like the Tesla and believed in the alternative fuel that Porsche is working. He also mentioned the battery foot print, along with the possibility of N. Korea taking out the power grid. 

I had young guy drop his teenagers Model 3 off in a corvette. He didnt like the Tesla and believed in the alternative fuel that Porsche is working. He also mentioned the battery foot print, along with the possibility of N. Korea taking out the power grid. 

I had the Buick version of the Aztec. Drove great in the winter never had any real issues other than a wheel bearing at 120k, pretty normal. Went to a 2008 Honda Ridgeline after that. Wish I still had that one.

My friend had the same year S10. I would keep the AMG maybe since its rare. There really are a lot of variables for reliability. First its where it was assembled, then how its driven & maintained. I wonder if someone out there has a reliable Pontiac Aztec, like the guy in Breaking Bad?? I knew a guy years ago that had one sitting in his drive way broken down, all beat up missing a headlight. Yeah, he was was wacked out on drugs. 

My friend had the same year S10. I would keep the AMG maybe since its rare. There really are a lot of variables for reliability. First its where it was assembled, then how its driven & maintained. I wonder if someone out there has a reliable Pontiac Aztec, like the guy in Breaking Bad?? I knew a guy years ago that had one sitting in his drive way broken down, all beat up missing a headlight. Yeah, he was was wacked out on drugs. 

I've got a 73 ford in my yard that starts everytime, even in the middle of winter. I somehow doubt that anything modern will do the same 50yrs from now.

I've never owned a Ford but known several people with issues across different models. My American vehicle ownership is limited to my first truck which was a custom 1985 Chevy S10.
 
I think the longest I've kept a car is 4-5 years. My current AMG took me over 2 years to find since it is somewhat rare. I absolutely love the car but coming up on the 2 year mark and getting itchy.

Ford is "First On Race Day" baby!! I just heard this one about GMC "Gotta Mechanic Comming" lmfao