Most metropolitan areas have an abundance of tint shop choices. In the San
Francisco, CA area alone, there are 30 different tint shops within a 30 mile radius.
How does a discerning consumer choose the tint shop that does quality work?
We at KING TINT Window Tinting Guides suggest that you do a little research. First,
compile a list of 5 potential tint shops that would likely do good work. Ask your
friends and co-workers who have tinted their cars which tint shops they chose, look
in the Yellow Pages and mark down the tint shops with large professional
advertisements,
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1. How long have you been in business at this location? Do you have other shops in the area?
Good tint shops prosper despite local competition by offering good service at reasonable prices. We suggest
that you find a tint shop that has been in business for 5 or more years at the same location. This shows a
stable business that will be there years down the road if somehow the tint goes bad.
Often times, successful tint shops open car tinting branches in neighboring cities. Although the installers of
the branches may not be the master tinter of the bunch, since opening new shops means training new
employees; however, branches are a sure sign of a successful tinting business.
2. What types of films do you carry? What warranty do you offer on your work?
Quality tint shops carry complete lines of window film from one or multiple window film manufacturers. They
should carry dyed, hybrid, and metallic window films in a variety of colors and darknesses. Beware of tint
shops that only carry one or two lines of film, and sells them aggressively. They may have acquired this film on
sale, and may not be thinking of your unique requirements and concerns.
The warranty on the car tint varies depending on the window film you choose. KINGTINT.COM recommends
that you install only window film backed with a lifetime warranty for materials and labor. Most films don't
guarantee color and fading, it is recommended that you also choose one that does.
For the warranty to take effect, remember to get only legal window tint for your car. Illegal tint can nullify any
manufacturer's warranty. When you purchase your tint, be sure you get a manufacturer's warranty card from
the dealer with the date, the window film used on each window, and the total cost of installation as well as the
receipt.
3. Can I visit your tint shop? Can you show me a sample of your work?
Tint shops can sound like the best shop on the phone, but 15 minutes on-site should tell you all you need to
know.
Good dealers pay attention to customer service. They should be happy and willing to spend the time to talk to
you and explain how their shops work. Remember, if they don't spend time with you now, will they spend time
with you when something goes wrong with your tint job down the road?
A tint shop's work area should be indoors and clean. Their tools and window films are organized in a
professional manner. If the tint shop is outdoors or in a parking lot, this is a negative since it is critical to
remove all dust and dirt from the windows before applying window film.
Avoid rear window tinted in strips and make sure window tint on black fright border is secure. Now take a look
at a car they have already tinted, and look at the rear window. Is the window film applied in a single piece or is
it cut into strips that surround the defroster lines? The best tint shops always apply film in a single piece. Now
look at the borders of the rear window, in many cars there is a black 'fright' edge on the window, Make sure the
window film is securely attached to the fright as well.
Pay attention to side-windows. The window film should be applied to the inside and be completely flush
against all 4 edges of the window. Now look at the window film itself. Don't worry if the film looks slightly
streaky and discolored, window film takes a couple weeks to dry out and become completely clear. If there are
bubbles of air under the film or the film itself is not complete flat against the window, this is a sure sign of
sloppy tinting.
Get price quotes from each dealer for the exact darkness, color, and type of window film you want. Never
compromise because there are plenty of other dealers out there that will offer your perfect tint. With these price
quotes and your research on each tint shop, make the decision. Refer to the cost of car tint article to help you
rank the dealers.
After you make your decision, remember to always make an appointment with the tint shop before you tint your
car. Even if they say "drop-ins accepted" or "bring it over any time", you want your tinter to be calm and
prepared for you when you arrive. Tinting may take a couple hours to half a day, so either arrange a ride or go
to a nearby coffee shop with a good book. Enjoy!
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