I think I got hosed

[Guest FieroDoc]

Hello all. I'm new, but I found this forum and thought someone could give me some advice. Last year around September, I took my Pontiac Fiero to a local tinter. I prepaid (which was a mistake) and dropped off the car. I picked up the car after the tinter left his shop (he left the key under the mat) and it was getting dark, so it was hard to see the tint job until the next day. The rear window was horrible - the edges look like they were cut by a 3 year old. The passenger side window had 2 small bubbles near the bottom edge - I managed to push them out so they look a little better. I let it dry without driving for 4 days (although the tinter did not leave me with any instructions for care or a warrenty card). Within a week, the driver's side started to peel from the front bottom corner every time I rolled down the window (I have to show an ID every time I drive past the security gate at work, so it didn't take long before it was half crinkled and clinging to half of the window so I pulled it off. I tried calling, emailing, taped a note to his shop door, etc. within days of the tint job, but he didn't return calls. After a month or so with no reply, I called a tint manufacturer that he deals and explained the situation - I then found out he did not use this type of tint - at this point I finally got to him by phone. He seemed angry at me for calling a tint manufacturer. After I explained how bad the tint was and asked why he could not return a phone call after 2 months (and some additional aggressive negotiations) he agreed that maybe he just "slapped in on in a hurry" and he would retint the car. After another several week?s worth of calls and emails, he finally replied in an email saying he did not forget about me. Well, apparently I was forgotten - our last communication was before Thanksgiving and I'll have to pull the passenger side off because its peeling also. I'll have the consideration to not mention his name here yet - maybe he?ll see this and can give me an answer? I'm located in southern Maryland. I have no way to get ahold of this joker, so it looks like I got hosed. I should take pictures of his garbage tint job before I remove it all. I even pulled the headliner, side rear plastic trim, etc. to make his retint easier ? so I?ve been driving with half of an interior for months. I could add more to the story, but you get the point. Any advice? Sorry for the rant, but thanks for listening (or reading).

[Guest VOLTRON]

Well man Im sorry to hear that you got a bad experience, and yes it is a bad experience, and with it taking so long for him to contact you and fix the problem it does sound like you got the short end of the stick. That being said I hope this incident doesnt steer you away from getting your car tinted or the industry itself.

I would say just try and get your money back from this guy for I think if you have him do it again it will result in the same outcome, and for how long it took to get intouch with him and all the hassles he has caused, you dont want to go through that again im sure. Take the car to another tint shop and look at some of thier work before you commit to see if it meets your standards.

[Guest FieroDoc]

Thanks for the reply. Any advice on how to get my money back? I suggested that to him in one of the messages I left, but I can't get in touch. I hear that the Better Business Bureau is a waste of time unless he is a member. Does anyone know of a reputable shop in southern Maryland?

[Guest Stratusrtrida]

wow, sounds like you had a terrible experience. Its things like this that really get me upset. Not only do you have to go through the hassle of chasing him down for your money, and have to go through cleaning your windows up. You have been straight out screwed by this guy. He obviously has no intention of re doing your tint job if its been that long. Im sorry to hear about your experiance. Hopefully next time around will be a little more enjoyable.

Nick

[TintWizard]

I'll have the consideration to not mention his name here yet

[*]362641

Thanks for refraining from doing so as this forum isn't a launch pad for disputes between customers and tinters

That being said, based on this 1 sided story ,it does sound like you are having difficulty with getting resolution. You may have to through no fault of your own have to go to someone new altogether to get it done right only now you'll be a wiser man with eyes wide open

[Guest Beeline]

Any well known shop would have given a warranty unless it was !llegal... is it? did you get a receipt?

[Guest willie]

sorry dude you did get hosed

[tigerstripe]

Any well known shop would have given a warranty unless it was !llegal...  is it?  did you get a receipt?

[*]362678

you can always try small claims court.

[oldtinter]

Man, lets not be so quick to recomend the snake lawyers that are ruining this country. What happened to fightin your own battles, and the inevitible, life isn't always fair? I say deal with it, and move on, I doubt it was that much money to make such a big deal out of.

[tigerstripe]

your right Im sorry.

my new sugestion: find out where his shop is and spray paint a swasticka and "all races and gays should die"

Ill bet you get your moneys worth of laughter out of what happens next