TintDude

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

Well that makes me feel a lot better about my self lol i spent nine hours on a full install for a Pacifica mini van today. Everything was going smooth until I got to the back window. Didn’t shrink it enough the first time and ended up creasing. 2nd attempt came out much better. Back windows still scare me and I’m struggling with quarter windows. I either leave too much excess film or have gaps. It’s frustrating but I enjoy the struggle once the struggle is over with lol I’m just going to keep on working. Surely I’ll get good at it eventually. You pros make it look so dang easy. 

If the part is even available....
 
Laying film when it's out of the car increases the difficulty by a factor of 5. Also increases the opportunity to damage it as well.
 
I've got a dollar that says he scratches the film before he gets it reinstalled...
 
Nobody really wants to work on old restorations. Half the time they are glued together without the right clips and the fabric/vinyl/leather is brittle with a fresh coat of dye that starts running as soon as it gets wet. Don't even get me started about the cardboard panel backers...
 
Sometimes you have to pay the cost to be the boss. This is one of those times.
 
Without sarcasm, yes the ceramic film is worth every penny.

Also, you used the example of a Kia and a Bentley, that it shouldn't matter...
 
You have to consider that mistakes happen and replacing a part on a Kia is a little less expensive that replacing a part on a Bentley.

I wouldn't even consider agreeing to tint ANY glass out of any vehicle without knowing what I'm up against.  The 80s have many, many not so nice vehicles to work on...even with the glass removed (it can actually make it more difficult in some cases).  No different, for example, if I was selling a vehicle but wouldn't list make, model, year and just say it has 4 doors and 4 tires...a vehicle is a vehicle, right?  I think you are being a little too paranoid thinking someone is going to rip you off lol.  Good luck.

Another also...
 
Just because it is a Bentley doesn't automatically make it a more difficult tint job, and that Kia may just be a pain in the butt to tint. 

Also, you used the example of a Kia and a Bentley, that it shouldn't matter...
 
You have to consider that mistakes happen and replacing a part on a Kia is a little less expensive that replacing a part on a Bentley.

We need to know what kind of car it is for several good reasons. Some cars are very easy, and take little time. Other cars require a high level of expertise and time. Both are priced accordingly.
 
Also some cars have issues that make them problematic to tint. We aren't trying to rip you off anymore than any other field.

Yeah, two weeks is BS, and the AC thing is also BS. Sounds like he was trying to be a dick honestly.

Run....
I've never seen any reputable shop using that film that stayed in buisness without switching off of it and doing a bunch of warranty work. Absolute bs about the a/c.
 
Dispute the charges and find someone using a name brand, ie: Xpel, Global, Llumar or 3M. 
 
Take it back there again at your own peril. Looks like you got lucky that there's no vehicle damage from those clowns. 
 
 

Full front w/fenders, headlights, cups and luggage strip on a new Tellurride this week. All bulk installed with wrapped edges where possible. Also ceramic front doors and windshield. Washed and waxed prior to pickup since the owner was nice enough to leave it with me long enough to get the best possible results. Always nice when that happens.
 

 
Went edge to edge on the HL with a steamer just to show it could be done and because I've never seen anyone else do it. Those things have quite a lumpy curve at the bottom which is probably why. 
 
Interiors are pretty lux. If it had a Benz badge it would no doubt be twice the price and last half as long.
 
 

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.

Removed a tint last year on a tesla 3 rear window and it didnt take off the wire but the wires colors were un  even .Luckly the customer could live with it . I have someone been begging me to redo one but dont need the headache if the wire get damaged . Has any one removes a model 3 rear window and and the wires look perfect as original . 

I've tried things like that. No one was interested in posting to areas that were roped off so I'm just going with the free model in hopes of generating more participation and paying the bill via sponsors.  

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.

It is. I sure appreciate the support from the premium members, but I feel bad that I don't have a lot to offer as a premium, other than trying to guilt people into it.  

Just for the record I used to read here all the time and decided I needed to publicly join and post if I wanted to see more quality, relative content and help the newbs to up their game to improve the industry. 
 
I got the posting portion figured out, quality might be subjective. 
 

Agree that it would be nice if more folks would add some updates. Particularly when new model years are released, even if it were to state that there are no changes. I'll make a personal effort to do a few myself when I see some roll in.
 
Is it possible to do an inline add every 4th or 5th post that says " Go premium to support the cause or your a just a drain on society" or something similar?

Also there are 64 sections in there, some of which never get posts. If they were all in one section it would look busier, so it's all how you look at it.
 

I've tried things like that. No one was interested in posting to areas that were roped off so I'm just going with the free model in hopes of generating more participation and paying the bill via sponsors.  

Premium paywall? Tshirts/swag or discounted membership for x number of useful submissions?

There are 4 new posts in it right now. A lot of people consult it, but not many are willing to share, only take. It's always been like this.
 
I haven't seen many posts from you there.

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.

A house of cards it is.