Which is the best dealer?

Having your windows tinted can be a daunting task. Open the Yellow Pages and you're inundated with a myriad of companies, all promising to be the best, have the best product, most experience, be the cheapest and so on.....

I've been around for a while and know most of them. There are some very good tinters out there, they may not be the best advertisers and get lost in the pages. Pity for them. Then there are the great advertisers..... well, as they say, paper prints anything. Get my drift? Unless you have dealt with a company before, you don't know what you are going to get.

How can you better your odds?

My suggestion?

First, see if they are a member of an Association. Now this is not a guarantee of getting the best, but it is better to deal with someone who at least supports the industry and tries to abide by a code of ethics.

Second, phone the number in the book. Get a feeling , if you are dealing with someone acting professional. Sometimes a phone may go to answerphone. After all, if your person is up a ladder or holding a piece of film in their hands, it is difficult to answer the phone. Leave a message and see how long it takes for them to get back to you. If it takes longer than an hour or two, they need a pretty good excuse.

Thirdly, ask them questions. Not about what kind of films they recommend, but things such as:"How long have you been in the trade?" or "Do you have tinting skill or just selling it?"

We find that the best advice usually comes from experienced installers; they know what each type of film will do to your property. After all they see a clear window and walk out after it is tinted.

One other thing: You get what you pay for! Do not haggle too much with a good trades person! If things go wrong with an installation, a good installer will look after you. Your cheap guy will not. Believe me, I've seen and heard it all.

I do also suggest you get more than one quote. But please be reasonable, a $200 job does not need 5 quotes. Look after the environment and reduce unnecessary waste of fuel.

Here is another sign of quality: Look for a member of Master Tinters NZ. These people are experienced, use good quality films and have a system in place to mediate, should things go wrong. Hint: No mediation has been needed to date.

Tint Waikato is a Huntly based Window tinting business, specialising in residential and commercial window film installations. We have an extensive network of experienced tinters in most places around New Zealand.

Ph 0800 846 892