Are you happy/satisfied being a window tinter?

TinterforLife · August 7, 2007

So I've been tinting windows now for fifteen years. Seems like a blink of an eye. I've been getting the feeling lately that it's time for me to grow up and figure out what I want to be in life. Never once when someone asked me when I was kid what I wanted to grow up to be did I respond with, " A Window Tinter."

I just started doing it because my job prior sucked,and my buddy used to tint windows so I figured I'll try or do that for now.

Now it's fifteen years later, and all I do is watch the hack shops come and go.It makes me wonder do they go out of business because they suck? or do they go out of business because they are smart and realize there is something better out there?

Customers usually don't care about the work. They mostly care about how much it costs...how long will it take...and when can you do it? So going out of my way giving spotless and impeccable jobs seems kind of a waste anymore since most of them couldn't tell a good tint job from a bad one. I can't believe how many traffic signals I sit at and can look at the car in front of me, and roll my head, my eyes, and scream out the window "You paid money for that tint job?????" :spit :lol6 :beer

I'm thinking I've only hung in being a window tinter for so long because I'm a lazy bastard I suppose. I mean face it for "trade type" jobs it's pretty darn easy. Problem is now being 38 and having been a window tinter for the last fifteen years what the hell to do? I could go apply for a job somewhere and my qualifications are, " Well I've run tint shop by myself for 15 years and can tint your car in about 45 minutes to an hour and half depending on make and model".

I dunno...maybe I'm venting...maybe I'm bored....maybe I'm sick of being a one man circus act...beats me.

Just wonder what everyone else thinks about being a "Tinter For Life" and do you really want to be?

August 7, 2007

me too

Mdog · August 7, 2007

I am not happy being a "tinter". The older I get the more unhappy I get.

Thats why I have decided to try and be a cop. I have to get on with my life and get a good job with good insurance and retirement.

Window tinting is still fun but I just cant see myself doing this much longer.

August 7, 2007

I turn 40 this year. I'm not happy being in the back of a car anymore. I am currently going threw the background to become a Deputy Sheriff. Window tinting has always been a good trade, but it's not the greatest to support a family, at least not in my area. I dont like not having a good health care, retirement, paid vacations, and a future for my new family.

So I know what your saying, and feel you'll figure it out.

Mdog you too? Cool!

August 7, 2007

Sometimes I love it... Sometimes I hate it.... I love it when people understand that there is value for paying more for a better product, professional representation and long list of references. I love it when people understand that I am in business to make money and invest for my future, not to put beer in my refrigerator tonight.

I hate it when potential customers ask me why I'm two or three times as much in cost. I hate it when hack shops get good jobs at ridiculous prices when the purchaser should know better than to buy anything from them. I have gotten jobs with bids nearly twice as much because one of them shows up drunk, frightens female employees and offends potential clients. Somehow or another he still closes deals and stays in business.

Today's example, I quoted a security film job 20 minutes out one way for a code tempering issue. I returned the gentleman's call promptly have a nice discussion with him regarding ICC requirements IAS certification for films etc. I quoted him $135 to come out and film his windows, provide him with copies of the ICC ER reports and a printed invoice for the inspector. Completely reasonable considering the amount of time I will have invested into the small job. He says he will call me back shortly with the customer address.

I followed up with him at 8:15 this morning and he informed me that someone else is going to do the work for $30.00. I have been waiting for this drunk to go out of business and do everyone else a favor. There is no way he is making any money unless he is selling saran wrap as film. He is selling film for what most companies were getting 10 years ago and he's been around for 20 years! He must live in his van down by the river or some :spit

Ahhhh good post, feel better. Now I can go back to feeling good about the fact that I make more gross sales in a day than he does in week :lol6

TintWizard · August 7, 2007

Dayum..I can only say the opposite for me..sure I get my days I chuck my squeegee across the shop , but every job has it's form of squeegee throwing doesn't it?

I honestly think it depends on how you've got yourself set up and the kind of customers you draw to yourself.

Every tinter that has ever come to visit me personally has thanked me for showing them a better way of doing it . I don't mean being the best tinter, I mean knowing how to run a successful SMALL operation while having a life and supporting a family. It can be done, when I look back 10 yrs and see what I was making and how the tinting was running me compared to now..what a difference :lol6

August 7, 2007

Dayum..I can only say the opposite for me..sure I get my days I chuck my squeegee across the shop , but every job has it's form of squeegee throwing doesn't it?
I honestly think it depends on how you've got yourself set up and the kind of customers you draw to yourself.

Every tinter that has ever come to visit me personally has thanked me for showing them a better way of doing it . I don't mean being the best tinter, I mean knowing how to run a successful SMALL operation while having a life and supporting a family. It can be done, when I look back 10 yrs and see what I was making and how the tinting was running me compared to now..what a difference

Thats awesome TW :spit

I am very pleased with the way things are going with my business with the exception of my shady competitors and..... The hours I put in during the summer. Here in Michigan, I think it is more seasonal than in the southern states. You get it while its hot here which means 60-70 and even 80 hours per week. Lets just say I'm on autopilot now and I can't wait for Halloween when I can watch football and drink beer :lol6

August 7, 2007

but every job has it's form of squeegee throwing doesn't it?

Doesn't get any more true than that, Tinting isn't my first and it certainly will not be my last venture. But know whatever you do go into you'll get the occasional "squeegee throwing" urge, lol.

TintWizard · August 7, 2007

I am very pleased with the way things are going with my business with the exception of my shady competitors and..... The hours I put in during the summer. Here in Michigan, I think it is more seasonal than in the southern states. You get it while its hot here which means 60-70 and even 80 hours per week. Lets just say I'm on autopilot now and I can't wait for Halloween when I can watch football and drink beer

That's what I'm talkin' bout :lol6

Doesn't get any more true than that, Tinting isn't my first and it certainly will not be my last venture. But know whatever you do go into you'll get the occasional "squeegee throwing" urge, lol.

:beer

August 7, 2007

sure I get my days I chuck my squeegee across the shop , but every job has it's form of squeegee throwing doesn't it?

This is a good point. It doesn't matter what you do. If you're not throwing a squeegee, you're throwing a stapler, a hammer, ram module or forceps. Anything you do is going to have its days....

I certainly love being my own boss and having the freedom to make my own business decisions. I most definitely love the scenic places I am lucky enough to do my work everyday :lol6