pbalentine

If you have the extra cash go ahead and book a flight tonight to Mexico. 

It's true, there's a speed that is "too fast". There's one dude on youtube bragging he's the fastest, but his comments are shut off because it's such a sloppy install. When it comes to "fast and accurate" you have to find your own sweet spot, want it fast it won't be accurate, want it accurate it won't be fast.

Time ... is a matter of mind; if you don't mind, it doesn't matter.
 
Edit: Friggin' essential tremors leads to more and more edits for keyboard mis-strokes and OCD finds the need to correct a typo before moving on. What a way to post. 

If you are at 1.5 hrs and doing good clean work and not breaking shiz, you are doing great. I have worked with some great tinters in my day. All were pretty much 1.5-2hrs  for a average sedan or longer. Guy's that were much faster then that always did crap work. This is just from my experience. Not saying all faster guys do bad work.When I interview a installer and he leads with how fast he is, I know pretty much right out of the gate it is not going to work out.
 
Shoot, if you can do a good install in 3 hrs, don't smoke crack, show up on time, don't look like you crawled out of a gutter, have no baby mama drama,and can communicate better then a 3 year old, I would consider that win for your boss. 

Its funny how tinters pride themselves on speed. How fast does not matter, its how clean the patterns and install is.  My installs are as good as they get and thats all that matters. Speed would only be an issue if you are missing out on work for taking too long. 
 
Seriously, do you think guys in auto painting think theyre the best because how fast they paint....nope, its the end result the custy is stuck with.  Years later do think custy will think of you and be like damn that guy is fast. Actually, my last custy said hes had a few bad mobile installs from guys that were in and out quickly. He thanked me for taking my time and tipped me...quality does pay not speed. 
 
 

No felt to tape, interiors/exterior parts to remove like panel, seals & brake light takes 2 hr for an easy sedan. 
 
With any of the above at its difficult then 2.5-3 hr and thats with no redos. 
 
 
 
 

as far as the camry in 1:48-i think that's pretty good.  i'm slower but i pull the quarters on that and that adds some time

i never worry bout time-just what i make-so price accordingly
 
my goal is always to make at least $100 per hour,  so if i make $280 tinting a sedan in 2 hrs i'm pretty happy with myself. 

Hello Jkatfelix,
Time.. Believe it or not is irrelevant.
The longer you invest into your craft, should not alter your return.
 
There are a great many people who appreciate that you take your time and ensure your quality of workmanship is of a top standard . These are the folks that will pay extra for that specific criteria. Including myself. Ensure top standard and charge accordingly.
 
I can only say this.... Quality will always win the race. In all aspects. Speed and time is irrelevant.
 
Hopefully this helps.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
Michael. 
 

Brake light removal is mandatory on these.....2 size 10 bolts and a pick and that light is out!!!!

Nice work...yeah pulling seals is a must on this one. Bg is huge too.  I always charge extra for this one. 

Nice work...yeah pulling seals is a must on this one. Bg is huge too.  I always charge extra for this one. 

Seriously I have a customer tomorrow with a 2001 CTS that wants an R/R. $100 for the backglass plus $80 for removal pending my inspection. It can go up from there. Tomorrow is only an inspection appointment. They’ll have to make another appointment for removal. I’m up front with the customer about this and he still wanted the appointment. I’m reconfirming the appointment today  hopefully he doesn’t even show up or answer any of my calls 🙏🏼

Hate removals turn them all down except for easy trucks they can have all those removals and the money hahahha....

Thats exaclty what i think when im stuck for hours scrapping some turd for nothing.  The shop that quoted it properly is now tinting more vehicles, making more money in less time and laughing at who ever got stuck doing it. 

Just raised the price for removal. I used to charge somewhat low because theres not much cost to it (all back breaking labor no film) and i wanted the job.  Now, i realize you lose money because you can tint 2 vehicles in the time it takes to r/r 1 vehicle. I acutally wont mind them now, since i'll make the same removing one vehicle as I will tinting two vehciles with no removal.  
 
I'd like to thank DynamicsATL for influencing me to raise my removal rates. Now, i charge what he does, plus im charging $50 extra for removal on vehicles that are 5 years old. So if you hate removal, maybe its not all because is kills your body and takes up your day, but because your simply not charging enough like i did. If you can get them done quickly, then its just easier money made.  
 
 

I am $20 per roll up and $80hr for back glass. I pay my helper $15hr. He does all the removals, so I don't mind them much. Everyone around me does $5 per roll up and $40 for a back glass. I just laugh and hope they keep it that way. They can have fun this those crusty old cars.

For a sedan I usually start at $150 for removal. That’s pending my inspection. Depending on the age and how I feel when it’s shows up the price can go up. If it’s delaminated I won’t even do them. I’m upfront with the customer about this and I also tell them there’s a GOOD chance you will lose some or all of your defroster lines. Then I ask them if they still want an appointment. 

25 per roll up door. 15 on quarters. And minimum 75 for BG

I charge 25 on a roll-up and 100 for rear glass.
if they are redoing the vehicle, pending in condition of film, I will throw in the door removals but always charge for the back glass
cheers

I charge 100% of the tint price of just removing and 50% of it's r&r.
 
So I get $180 to remove a rear window on a car or $299 for a regular full car.......

I turn down removals.... especially mobile ones

Just raised the price for removal. I used to charge somewhat low because theres not much cost to it (all back breaking labor no film) and i wanted the job.  Now, i realize you lose money because you can tint 2 vehicles in the time it takes to r/r 1 vehicle. I acutally wont mind them now, since i'll make the same removing one vehicle as I will tinting two vehciles with no removal.  
 
I'd like to thank DynamicsATL for influencing me to raise my removal rates. Now, i charge what he does, plus im charging $50 extra for removal on vehicles that are 5 years old. So if you hate removal, maybe its not all because is kills your body and takes up your day, but because your simply not charging enough like i did. If you can get them done quickly, then its just easier money made.  
 
 

Just raised the price for removal. I used to charge somewhat low because theres not much cost to it (all back breaking labor no film) and i wanted the job.  Now, i realize you lose money because you can tint 2 vehicles in the time it takes to r/r 1 vehicle. I acutally wont mind them now, since i'll make the same removing one vehicle as I will tinting two vehciles with no removal.  
 
I'd like to thank DynamicsATL for influencing me to raise my removal rates. Now, i charge what he does, plus im charging $50 extra for removal on vehicles that are 5 years old. So if you hate removal, maybe its not all because is kills your body and takes up your day, but because your simply not charging enough like i did. If you can get them done quickly, then its just easier money made.  
 
 

As for bad reviews, repond/reply to them in the most professional manner; which can actually make you look good. 
 
As for them being cheaper, I would stress that your installs are cleaner, which is most important and if something happens with the film, you'll be in business to assist them.   Also explain you see these shops come and go and if they want great film and install you're for them, but if they want cheap shiat, you're not. That basically what i do now, i say if you want best film and install im your guy, but if you want just a cheap price and film that last a year im not for you.  And no, i wont match there price...many $99 tint are out there that will be gone really soon go find them.  You get what you pay for. 
 
Edit: You mentioned he does good work.  I would say that ceramic is usually around $4-$500. If he charges that low, i doubt your getting ceramic=cheap rebox.