JOHNNYBTINT

I can't say I noticed VW specifically but I see plenty of newer vehicles with failed film in GA. If it is bubbling then most likely is cheap film. If it is just faded, I have seen brands like Suntek show fading in 4 years in GA. Also, could be Florida vehicles that have a combination of a lot of shops using cheap film and the harsh climate.

I top install everything and tape off any doors that have felt edges(Wranglers included). I never tinted at a shop that pulled sweeps or panels, so I never learned how to do it. I have zero issues with felt since I tape it off. 

This philosophy would seem to come dangerously close to negating what I do for a living...what we all do..... as we would only be left with those customers who want to darken their windows..they already have the benefit of such "efficient" UV and SHG rejection as to negate window film in it´s current state for vehicles it would seem. We progressed past the 80´s and 90´s era of the typical scenario where darkness was almost the only determinate of performance to where we are now mostly due to the need for better performance. It is true that glass has become more efficient, but we need to realize that these films today are where they are because we and our customers expect a much greater enhancement over oem performance as  the oems have not reached on their own where we can take them. 

I would have to respectfully disagree. While a factory tinted window is indeed already shaded, that does not translate to energy efficiency as the heat rejection can be very poor given that perhaps not all but many vehicles have no UV properties in that coating other than the minimum required by federal statutes for automobile glass. My customers are very very content to have me use a very light ceramic film in the rear of the vehicle and find, as I have  personally experienced, that it makes a big difference on heat rejection without adding much darkness to what is there. An 80-50% film is a very noticeable improvement and is a market we can honestly serve. 

My little suburb was quiet and boring place. Two guys came in from FL. with flashy cars and opened a tint shop down the street from my parents. Always had cool cars there and working on them. I started hanging out with them. Later they gave me a job. After about a month or so they told me "you may be good at many things, but you will never make it as a window tinter." I left and started buying film through a friend of mine's dad's business doing cars anywhere I could. 3 years later I bought the shop of the guy who sent me away. Two years later I opened two more stores in FL. Parents convinced me that tint was not where it was at....although I was making good money by then so I sold my shops and went back to school still tinting with one employee. Graduated with a master's degree and tried to give up tinting for good, but the phone never stopped ringing. Now I have been at it ever since. This February will be 32 years. Glad I never gave up.  

Yeah no worries. Solargard is the only film Ive tried but it seems from the youtube videos I've inspected.. my film doesn't move as quite well. It doesn't shrink or stretch at all. It's very thick and sturdy. I tried to stretch some old film with my hands just pulling on it and it really has no give.
 
I'll try a different film. Even when I put it on the window before I squeegee it, it has a lot more fingers than some of the videos I've seen and I think it's the film

Why as a new person would you automatically rule out arguably one of the best cleanest techniques there is? Learning to bottom load which mostly involves removing a seal or panel could eliminate the majority of all those problems you're having. 

Llumar will pull dealer rights to anyone they catch selling film out the back door. Regardless you cannot warranty it so it would make no sense to go that route. If everyone else is carrying it why would you want to join them? Global, Solar FX, Express all could get you a great film and you would be different and stand out. You can also set different prices....Same film=same selection=same price and you ultimately lose at that game if anyone low balls the rest of you. I would not want the same thing everyone else has. In our area everyone knows Llumar as they actually market and advertise, but Global is pretty solid as well. All depends on your area and market.