15% Window Tint

I can say this much: You made a decision on tint shade, which was applied as purchased and directed. Any dissatisfaction you have is 100% on you and not the place you bought it from. I would expect it should cost more the second time, because of the extra labor to remove the old stuff. It’s not the vendors responsibility to hold your hand and pat your head on such things. It’s up to you to understand what you’re buying. So if they happen to offer any sort of concession at all on your mistake, it would be best if you got down on your knees and promptly kissed their backside.

As far as actual shade goes, I’ve always had a preference for 35%. That works well for me, day and night.

 

This is solely up to the installer. My installer and I went over the various percentages. I made my choice and upfront they informed me if I wanted darker they would go over it again without additional charge.
Happy with my outcome, I didn't ask or need more work.
Did you talk about customer satisfaction before the job? Did they show you examples of different percentages on any other vehicles?
Again, it would be their discretion should they choose to reapply for you...but in name of good customer service I hope something works out.

 

5% has been no issues for me on the past 4 vehicles. Only time I roll the windows down is at the drive through.

Good luck OP. If you’re not comfortable driving with 15% then you’re doing the right thing by getting it changed. I personally wouldn’t be expecting a discount, but maybe the shop will offer something.

 

How's the cooling factor with 5% tint? Does it feel like an igloo in the summer? What fan speed do you keep your AC on?

 

When I got mine matched they did 20% ceramic. Matches well, keeps cool and looks. Idk how another 5% darker could be total darkness at night.

 

Wow! Was it hard to adjust to 5% tint at first? Has anybody had any issues when they drive your cars?

Thanks for the sincerity! I have been driving with it for the past two days. I really do like it in the daytime, but most of my driving is at night. Unfortunately, I live in a city where people slowly jay walk across the street at night when there's already barely any streetlights. Driving safely is one of my biggest concerns. If I feel that I can't safely see, then someone else driving my truck may have issues too.

My only complaint that I have about the tint (of course, other than the visibility) is that the inside windows don't match. The two front windows are darker than the back windows, but from outside, the windows match pretty closely. Although the front are slightly darker. I'm assuming it's because the back tints are faded. It's kind of funny, really. When I was at the shop, I told them I wanted the front windows to either match or be lighter than the back because I didn't want the front to look darker than the back because it would look weird. Funny thing is that even though they got it to match correctly from the outside, on the inside it's what I didn't want. From the inside, it's kind of annoying when I'm driving and looking behind me and the front two windows are darker and the back are lighter.

 

If you got 15 it will probably really be like 13 or 12. They have the little guns to tell you exactly eheee it’s at. The back mirrors are just smoked it’s not a real tint that blocks uv rays or keep heat out

 

You received what you asked for, not the shops fault. Your lucky they don’t charge you more the second time for removal and a re-tint.

 

Honestly, me and the lady that was working the front counter didn't talk about customer satisfaction. But we did go through the many packages and percentages and even the heat lamp demo. She was EXTREMELY helpful and polite. I told her this was my first time ever getting window tint as well. She also mentioned that they will remove the tint if I ran into any legal issues. I was literally about to choose 35% ceramic, but the tint installer walked into the room and said that 15% would match the way I wanted and that he was sure about this and keep on saying that he was the number 1 installer in SoCal. I honestly felt kind of pushed and rushed into getting 15%. I most likely would have chosen 35% if the installer never walked in. But it is what is it. I'm sure we've all been in a situation when our decisions were influenced by another person in the room. Especially if you guys ever been to a dealership hahaha

But anyway, they are a reputable shop with the number 1 installer that only does window tint and nothing else. So, I'm hoping we can work out something in the name of customer service. I'm an honest person. So i'm not looking for a refund at all... and I'm more than happy to pay the removal fee in full because I know the removal process is all labor, and it can be tedious at times.

 

Good to know! Maybe they went darker on mines, because from the inside the front windows are noticeably darker than the back. From the outside, it's not as noticeable.

With 15% at night, I can see the headlights on the car, but I can't see the outline of the car. Also, if there aren't many streetlights, it's sort of like looking at a dimly lit area, but you can't determine how far you are from an object. So for safety reasons, for me at least, it's kind of scary not being able to determine how far I am from an object when I'm moving at a certain speed at night, especially when the painted lines on the streets are already faded and are in need of repainting.

 

Interesting! I always that it was tinted... good to know

Maybe I'll have them test it to see what it really is

 

Its good that you are able to realize that you are uncomfortable with how it looks at night. Could be unsafe without even knowing it if you were to be ignorant about it. It would be nice if the shop would cut you a break but it's doubtful and realistically not expected.

 

Thanks! I'm definitely concern about the safety aspect, as well as for the safety of the other family members who would drive my truck.

I really appreciate your words and not just slamming me for my mistake... In hindsight, once it was all set and done, I obviously know that it was a mistake on my behalf, but it was a rookie mistake since I never had window tint before.

They are a reputable shop. So, I'm hoping they will offer SOME satisfaction, but it's not to be expected. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow

 

It’s good you’re going in knowing you’ll probably be paying the same amount you just paid. Being charged to remove tint that was just put on shouldn’t happen. I’m pretty sure it peels off very easily if it was just put on, I could be wrong, I don’t do tint.

If you feel they’re jerking you around, giving attitude, or overcharging beyond whatever is fair, and live close enough to drive to south Los Angeles, I’ll refer you to my go to shop. Pm me for details.

 

Just had my fronts tinted to match the factory tint and they put on 20%. I have heard that most Toyota’s factory tint ranges from 18%-22% on the tint gauge. Haven’t driven at night yet, but have had cars before that I would have 20% put on all windows and didn’t think it was bad at night. I am sure darkness levels would affect everyone differently.

 

The older I get, the less cool I am and the more concern I have with function. I like to see at night. My fronts are 35%. Although I might prefer 20-25% during the day, I do like to see at night. 35% front is perfect for an old dude like me. Also, I work nights, so I do a lot of night driving.

And yeah, you want it done over, expect to pay what it costs. If you asked for 5% and they gave you 5%, they did their part. If you want to change it, that's on you. The satisfaction aspect has to do with the quality of the install or defects in the product, not your actual like of the product you asked for.

 

hmm, this is the second time someone mentioned it being in the 20% range... Maybe the tint I got really is actually darker

 

Mine is at 20% Lluminar up front and the windshield . My back windows also got tinted and they are even darker. As time goes on it will get easier to see at night and I do believe you will experience the same. Things that helped me out was turning down the dash lights and stereo lighting. Less reflections. Upgrading the headlight helps a lot too. My last vehicle had 5% all the way around. That was hard to see at night.

 

Good advice Regnar & I agree, becomes easier to drive with. Good Luck

 

It will take a longer time to fade cause ceramic is a better grade tint and honestly that is not bad of a tint I have 5 all around and 35 windshield ceramic tint and I have no problem driving at night…. You just got to get used to it… all my vehicles are tinted this dark…if your struggling that bad roll all your windows down at night. If you can’t deal with it just get a lighter tint but keep it ceramic for the heat.Don’t expect a discount because you asked for it and they provided it so expect to pay the same price to do it all over again

this is how my tint looks