Car Demister Damaged during professional tinting

Branagorn

2 weeks ago, I took my car into a local tinting place, to have my rear window and side tinted on my MX5 RF.

I had messaged several tinting businesses for quotes, and was pleased to find one for slightly cheaper than the rest, at £100, I got 2 other quotes at £130.

This led me to believe that the £100 was a respectable price, expensive enough to expect professionalism.   But saving a little money off the other two.
I took more confidence with this decision, as albeit a new company.  They have many positive Google reviews, a very active instagram page with daily posts if their work, inc
using many expensive cars and list 20 year’s experience.  So I guess they’re starting out new on their own, and drumming up business.  The point of this thread isn’t supposed to be about whether I should expect better or not. But I include this for the overall picture.

They complete the job, and on the spot it seems well.  I drive home.  In the comfort of my home, I inspect the job and feel less confident about it. But decide to give it time to ‘settle in’ as some internet posts suggest.  A week goes by, and the quality of the job is evidently, sub-par.   I consulted a car enthusiast Facebook page to ask their opinion, to be sure I am not being too picky.  The overwhelming consensus is that it is a very poor job.  

I contact the business with these photos, and the immediately apologised and offered me to come back in at my next convenience to fix it.

During my Facebook group discussion, several people raised the issue of removing a window tint, also stripping off the cars demister element, rendering it useless.
im anxious about this, so look up how this can be avoided.  There are methods, using steam that can help avoid this from happening.  I take confidence when I see one of their instagram posts showing them using such a method on another car, so I’m hopeful the same will be used for mine.

I arrive at the tinting place, and am greeted with a smile and apology.  And a hypothesis, that perhaps the bad job was owing to the units sliding door being left open while the original work was carried out, and that there may have been dust contamination because of the road works being carried out immediately outside.

They get to work, starting with a heat gun, not the steamer I had hoped for, and start stripping it back.  I feel dread, and wonder if I should have specifically asked for the steaming.   But they’re the professionals right? I feel bad questioning their methods, but with hindsight (wonderful thing) really wish u had raised this point.

Once the job is finished, they invite me other to inspect, and immediately my fears are confirmed.  They have stripped parts of the conductive paint.  I know it’ll no longer work.   

Now I am by no means a confrontational person, but I managed to express my disappointment.  “I’m really not happy, you’ve stripped the demister lines”.

*quick point of reflection, this was for me to point out.  I’m convinced had I not, they’d have let me go on my merry way, nonethewiser.

The finger try’s to allay my concerns. “This is inevitable, it’s not possible to remove the tint without this happening”.  “Don’t worry, the line paint colour has come away, but it’ll still function.  

*next note, I was not informed by the tinter BEFORE  the removal was underway, that the loss of the demister lines was a potential risk.  I only knew of it beforehand because of my Facebook group post.

The tint itself is also subpar, and requires a 3rd attempt at a new install.  So the tint is removed, and they try again.

They try to install the tint again, this time with be operating the folding roof to leave in in a perhaps more accessible location.

At this point, I feel so dam awful.  My demister is ruined, I’ve no idea how much that might cost, and the new tint job, although better than the 1st and 2nd times. Still isn’t bubble free, or what you’d be 100% happy with.

At this point, I’ve expressed my dissatisfaction, but asked for no ‘resolution’ of any particular point.  I’m just staring at my car, wondering what on Earth to do.  I hate conflict and awkward situations, and disappointment.  I’m the one disappointed, and I don’t know what to do about it.

He says, “as I gift, we can make up for you some 4D plates”.  I say to him I have no interest in 4D plates, I don’t know what I want.

it feels like we have entered a barter/haggle.  I’m not asking for anything specifically, Im too busy thinking this is rubbish, please can I not be here.

I say to the tinter “I feel awful, I’m sure you do too, it’s not a great job is it?”

he then says okay, we’ll give you half the money back.

I then point out some small bubbles on the side windows, can you do something about these too?  

He gets to work on the sides, but it dosent really do much.

He then apologises, and offers me the full £100.  Are you happy?  I only want you to leave happy.

in truth, I’m not happy.  I just want a working demister, and nicely tinted windows.

I reluctantly accept the refund, and leave.

Now being away from the business unit, I don’t know what to think/do.  And just wanted to put it out to the forum for any sort of advice what you may do if your were me.  Last photos are the end results 

tightauldgit

Seems to me that the correct outcome of this situation is that at best you should have tinted windows and a working demister and at worst the car put back as it was before the work - so no tinted windows and a working demister. 

I'm not sure to the ins and outs of tinting and whether it can be removed once applied but I'd be taking the car elsewhere to get a quote for fixing the demister and fixing or removing the tinting and then asking the original place to foot the bill for that. 

They have a responsibility to do the job to a reasonable standard and not to damage your car in the process - while it probably would have been sensible to raise your concerns about the demister before they did the work that shouldn't be your responsibility. They are the professionals and should be expected to have expertise and to advise you of any adverse effects of what they plan to do. 

I don't think the fact you've already accepted a refund should affect your rights unless you've indicated that was a final resolution to the matter. 

You probably need to get an idea of what this will cost to put right and then see what they say about paying for that. If they don't seem receptive to compensating you then court is an option but that depends if it's worthwhile. 

born_again

Given they have fully refunded, I don't think there is anything further you can do.

Maybe find a 2nd hand rear window & swap over?

diinozzo

Can you explain why you thought cheapest was the best option. I know you have tried to but it's still unclear.

km1500

the remedy is simple - go to your garage and find out what it will cost to fix your demister (it may involve a replacement rear windscreen I'm not sure)

You then contact the tinting company and ask them to pay this to you and if they refuse you go to the small claims procedure

powerful_Rogue

Branagorn said:

He then apologises, and offers me the full £100.  Are you happy?  I only want you to leave happy.

in truth, I’m not happy.  I just want a working demister, and nicely tinted windows.

I reluctantly accept the refund, and leave.

That's the important bit., especially if you follow the advice above and look at instigating small claims court action.

Branagorn

diinozzo said:

Can you explain why you thought cheapest was the best option. I know you have tried to but it's still unclear.

I thought their reviews would stand up. They are all positive.
they showcase many customers with cars much more expensive than mine being trusted with them.
Their price wasn’t a million miles away from average.  Had it been significantly less, it would’ve raised suspicion, but I didn’t think it was.

sheramber

Branagorn said:

diinozzo said:

Can you explain why you thought cheapest was the best option. I know you have tried to but it's still unclear.

I thought their reviews would stand up. They are all positive.
they showcase many customers with cars much more expensive than mine being trusted with them.
Their price wasn’t a million miles away from average.  Had it been significantly less, it would’ve raised suspicion, but I didn’t think it was.

Are these  reviews and pictures genuine?

Branagorn

sheramber said:

Branagorn said:

diinozzo said:

Can you explain why you thought cheapest was the best option. I know you have tried to but it's still unclear.

I thought their reviews would stand up. They are all positive.
they showcase many customers with cars much more expensive than mine being trusted with them.
Their price wasn’t a million miles away from average.  Had it been significantly less, it would’ve raised suspicion, but I didn’t think it was.

Are these  reviews and pictures genuine?

I really cannot imagine the possibility of them being fabricated.  If you go on their Instagram feed, which is quite active.  They have a lot of cars going through their shop.

m0bov

Quote for a repair and then send them a letter and ask for the cost of replacement.

sheramber

Branagorn said:

sheramber said:

Branagorn said:

diinozzo said:

Can you explain why you thought cheapest was the best option. I know you have tried to but it's still unclear.

I thought their reviews would stand up. They are all positive.
they showcase many customers with cars much more expensive than mine being trusted with them.
Their price wasn’t a million miles away from average.  Had it been significantly less, it would’ve raised suspicion, but I didn’t think it was.

Are these  reviews and pictures genuine?

I really cannot imagine the possibility of them being fabricated.  If you go on their Instagram feed, which is quite active.  They have a lot of cars going through their shop.

Add your poor experience  and see what happens.