Bad PPF install?

[Iwantmy2dollarz]

The shop is reputable, great reviews, high end cars rolling in and out. Stated their prices were not the lowest in town because they are the best. This is Hexis bodyfence X and a lifetime warranty so I decide to go with them. Now when you pick up the car they tell you that you may see some bubbles, and what not but it needs to cure for 30 days. I drive the car home, and it’s been in the heated garage ever since. It’s been 9 days so I finally go out to install my new shift knob and see how it’s doing. I find quite a bit of edges lifting, residue trapped underneath the film on a headlight. They want me to bring it in next week for an inspection but I’ve got a feeling they are just going to trim off the excess and try to glue it down. Obviously some of the edges didn’t seal properly. I feel like I’m justified in saying this wasn’t what I paid for, and it’s not a job well done. Anybody else’s have spots like these? Did I get the B-team installer? I felt like this would give me a piece of mind and so far it just been the opposite.

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[crepr12]

let them fix it...its normal for a follow up visit with PPF...jmho..but if it was my shop and a ITS came in with say a GT3...My "A team" doing the GT3...just saying

 

[Brittania]

There are usually a few spots to fix on a follow up visit, but that is pretty terrible. Obviously a low effort, rushed job.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

let them fix it...its normal for a follow up visit with PPF...jmho..but if it was my shop and a ITS came in with say a GT3...My "A team" doing the GT3...just saying

No... I strongly disagree here.

You're not getting a discount because of your car being cheaper, and your money is as green as anyone else's. You're paying the same amount for the same service.

It's not uncommon for them to have to do trimming one month in. That said, there's nothing "high end" about that ppf install. That's just an okay job. True higher end shops you'll leave and have maybe two edges lift. You won't find bubbles, and if you do find anything they shouldn't even question replacing it.

The Integra isn't easy to wrap because of all the sharp angles. It takes a much more highly skilled person than a smooth bodied 911. Lots of hack jobs with ppf exist because most people aren't detail oriented, it's a cheap entry business (so many inexperienced people start and run them), and labor is the primary cost driver to keep down (so speed and cheap labor are important) . The actual manufacturers of the ppf leave the responsibility to the dealer so if you talk to them they'll typically tell you if unhappy to just sue or put a stop pay (claim services not delivered) on your credit card. If they can't resolve your complaints and they only trim when you have concerns about coverage, you can find another shop that does the same film and see what they can offer you. Just don't wait more than 45 days for a stop pay or any action on your end.

 

[Truemyth]

I got a front end ppf at a local shop that's a xpel authorized installer. It's a pre cut wrap I was told and 10 months in now with no edge issues. When I first picked up, thing looked spotless and i cant tell there was ppf there. I can feel the edges like around the bumper integra logo but no blemishes no nothing. They never mention these bubble issues or having to wait for things to disappear. All they told me is to bring it back for touch ups after a week and to not power wash or drive through wash for 30 days. I don't have ton of experience with ppf or wraps but this doesn't look right at all. Can't and don't want to comment on installers or the shop but I would be asking a lot of qustions.

 

[Iwantmy2dollarz]

Thanks for everyone's replies. It does back up what I was feeling. As with any shop I did as much research as I could. I did call and ask alot of questions. Heck I even did my own paint correction and decon hoping it would reduce the price some or make the install easier better. I will give them an opportunity to fix it but at this point it has left me very disappointed.

I got a front end ppf at a local shop that's a xpel authorized installer. It's a pre cut wrap I was told and 10 months in now with no edge issues. When I first picked up, thing looked spotless and i cant tell there was ppf there. I can feel the edges like around the bumper integra logo but no blemishes no nothing. They never mention these bubble issues or having to wait for things to disappear. All they told me is to bring it back for touch ups after a week and to not power wash or drive through wash for 30 days. I don't have ton of experience with ppf or wraps but this doesn't look right at all. Can't and don't want to comment on installers or the shop but I would be asking a lot of qustions.

This was a pre-cut as well.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

Just another extra note... I've seen shops spend a lot of time "trimming" after install when there are many lifted areas like this. Often, in an attempt to fix it they rush the cut and dig through the clearcoat. You won't see it until the ppf is removed because it's right on the edge, but it's something to look out for and scrutinize in detail! I've seen a local car where the guy paid to have ppf removed (on a used car he bought that had it) and afterwards there were cut lines everywhere in his clearcoat for which there was no hope in polishing it out. He ended up paying nearly $10k to repaint 3/4 of the car properly .

Take photos before and after of where you're asking them to trim/fix. Take it into another detailer to inspect the work if you're not confident in your own eyes/experience.

 

[Iwantmy2dollarz]

No... I strongly disagree here.

You're not getting a discount because of your car being cheaper, and your money is as green as anyone else's. You're paying the same amount for the same service.

It's not uncommon for them to have to do trimming one month in. That said, there's nothing "high end" about that ppf install. That's just an okay job. True higher end shops you'll leave and have maybe two edges lift. You won't find bubbles, and if you do find anything they shouldn't even question replacing it.

The Integra isn't easy to wrap because of all the sharp angles. It takes a much more highly skilled person than a smooth bodied 911. Lots of hack jobs with ppf exist because most people aren't detail oriented, it's a cheap entry business (so many inexperienced people start and run them), and labor is the primary cost driver to keep down (so speed and cheap labor are important) . The actual manufacturers of the ppf leave the responsibility to the dealer so if you talk to them they'll typically tell you if unhappy to just sue or put a stop pay (claim services not delivered) on your credit card. If they can't resolve your complaints and they only trim when you have concerns about coverage, you can find another shop that does the same film and see what they can offer you. Just don't wait more than 45 days for a stop pay or any action on your end.

This was an authorized installer and I did my best to compare brands and shops in this area. The other shop was an xpel installer. My thoughts are if they did all jobs like this there is no way they would have the reviews they do.

 

[Iwantmy2dollarz]

Just another extra note... I've seen shops spend a lot of time "trimming" after install when there are many lifted areas like this. Often, in an attempt to fix it they rush the cut and dig through the clearcoat. You won't see it until the ppf is removed because it's right on the edge, but it's something to look out for and scrutinize in detail! I've seen a local car where the guy paid to have ppf removed (on a used car he bought that had it) and afterwards there were cut lines everywhere in his clearcoat for which there was no hope in polishing it out. He ended up paying nearly $10k to repaint 3/4 of the car properly .

Take photos before and after of where you're asking them to trim/fix. Take it into another detailer to inspect the work if you're not confident in your own eyes/experience.

This is what bothers me as well. I'm already invested so I have to trust the shop. I was concerned that they would use some stronger glue that would ruin the paint if the PPF had to removed.

 

[Truemyth]

Hope this turns out well at the end for you man. It sucks to put your trust and money down and have it turn out not the way you expect or wanted to. Wish you the best.

All you can do is it turns sour is drag the shops name through the mud on any forum you can get your hands on lol.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

This was an authorized installer and I did my best to compare brands and shops in this area. The other shop was an xpel installer. My thoughts are if they did all jobs like this there is no way they would have the reviews they do.

You absolutely haven't done anything wrong by looking for the best results for the money you want to spend. You did your research and from your statements it sounds like you talked to the shop and you both agreed you're "paying a high labor fee to compensate for the higher quality labor" and you didn't get the service that was agreed upon. You have every right to ask them to fix it or tell them to remove it and refund you. If they refuse you have several legal avenues you can go down.

We (for the most part) have consumer protection in the US because the entire system is based on people like you, and the rest of us, spending money on frivolous wants we don't need. The shop I went to most recently did the same kind of crap. "we charge a lot because we're amazing" and so I paid them an amazing rate. I was not happy for about 6mo where I went back at least a dozen times to have them fix pulling, fingering, bubbles, and template mismatch. In the end I certainly won't be going back and they had to refund me nearly 25% and do extra free work to equate my time lost and frustration. It's okay now, but it was an adventure to get here. If I were to run into this again, I'd give them one shot to fix it all or just tell them to rip it off and move on to another installer. The audi dealer's installer guy did a better job .

Consumers have a voice, and credit card claims are super easy on the consumer. Don't feel like you're being unreasonable for requesting the service rendered matches the expectation set by the service provider with you.

 

[Iwantmy2dollarz]

Hope this turns out well at the end for you man. It sucks to put your trust and money down and have it turn out not the way you expect or wanted to. Wish you the best.

All you can do is it turns sour is drag the shops name through the mud on any forum you can get your hands on lol.

Yeah I believe they prob do work where it counts and In this case the only thing that can appeal to me is they admit the job done is bad. They have a good enough base that even if I put the truth out they prob do more good than bad it won't hurt them. It won't stop me from telling the truth though. These pictures speak for itself

 

[jedi03]

I saw a hard to get at spot between the bumper cover and the upper cover that was similarly lifting, unfortunately got in a front end accident and when they redid it they did a better job. Ill see if it has bubbles as time goes, but it looks pretty good so far

 

[SlippyFist]

This was an authorized installer and I did my best to compare brands and shops in this area. The other shop was an xpel installer. My thoughts are if they did all jobs like this there is no way they would have the reviews they do.

yeah so reviews can be misleading. a lot of business owners proactively bribe or coerce in some way their customers to leave them strong reviews. hell the ppf shop i used (a ceramic pro dealer) did that, he was basically strong-arming people into leaving him 5 star reviews while also providing a shitty rushed job.

i walked away from my PPF experience feeling like the whole thing is a big scam. it's grotesquely overpriced and its apparently too tedious and difficult for most people to actually put on properly.

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