Tinted my windows and discovered a scratch, need some opinions.
 

I went to get my windows tinted at a reputable (RS member approved!) shop, and then noticed a scratch/scuff on my window the next day.

I can't really tell whether it's my window that's scratched, or the tint film itself. If I run my nail over it, I can scratch it and feel a rough texture. Best way to describe the texture is like running your nail along the back side of a porcelain tile. But if I rub it with my finger on the tint though, it feels smooth...

The shop said they can redo it for free IF it turns out that the scratch is on the window tint. But if it's my window that's scratched, he'll charge (quite a bit) for removal and re-tint again. I understand that logic, but it just sucks that it's become a gamble for me to decide now.

I'm trying to think how this kind of scratch would have appeared, and I just got my car 3 months ago, so not sure how this happened. I don't use my car for transporting any sharp or big objects that could have caused this.

If you guys have experience in tinting, what's the likelyhood of a tinter being able to create this by accident during installation? Or does this look more like my window was damaged to begin with?

http://oi68.tinypic.com/21b2bnr.jpg
http://oi68.tinypic.com/95mpsn.jpg
http://oi66.tinypic.com/1218row.jpg
http://oi68.tinypic.com/2akef7l.jpg

(Tried my best with the images, very tough to capture scratches with a crappy phone camera)

Did you take it in and they looked at it before giving you your options? I'd think a good shop would be able to tell if its the tint or the glass, just by looking at it.

I'd think it's incredibly hard to scratch glass, especially with the kind of texture you're showing in the pictures.

Is that the front passenger window? If so, save yourself a ticket and VI and just peel it all off again.

yes, he thinks it's a scratch on the window. He's not really sure though. But that was the 2 options he gave me.

So you're thinking it's more likely the tint that's scratched?

Damn, I must be blind. I can't really see what OP is talking about. Pics are quite blurry.

Personally I think it's the tint because glass is pretty hard to scratch. But who know's. Could actually be glass.

i'm 99% sure it's a scratch on the tint. Scratched glass isn't wide and foggy like that, it'll be a thin line that reflects light kinda like a thin scratch in your paint. I know because the tint shop here fucked up the tint on my brand new benz and removed it by using a bent exacto knife blade that put hundreds of little scratches on both my front windows that you can only see if it hits the light at a certain angle....

I developed a similar scratch on my windshield tint though after my friend hit the tint with something, (currently in china so you can tint every window here) and removed it with some fine grade meguires polish. It removed the noticeable scratch but left the area I polished slightly foggy. So if the scratch is on the outside of the tint ie. the side you can touch and not sandwiched inside between the film and the glass, it's up to you if you want a scratch, DIY it and have no scratch but a slightly foggy area, or take it back to the shop and have them redo it (and make sure they remove the tint properly with a flat edge razor blade and not use a bent exacto blade that fuck up your glass).

Well, i think its your glass. I am sure the people who did the tint on your windows would of noticed it after the tinting, and they would of redone the work instantly if it stood out THAT much. They did offer to do it for you for free if it was their fault. UNLESS they like to scam for business. LOL

Didn't know DK has already started a tinting business.

:lawl: :troll:

:lol
This place is legit. 30 years in the business, ICBC accredited.

The scratch is not that noticeable. It's actually tough to see, especially if it's day time with natural light in the background. That's why I didn't even notice it upon initial inspection before I paid. And it also depends on the amount of attention to detail the tinter had when he was working on it. If he didn't suspect anything in the first place, he probably could have easily missed it.

Also have to factor in he's spraying that application liquid on, which can basically make scratches impossible to see.

Looks like tint scratch to me. Glass does not usually scratch like that.

I really dont think that texture of scratch can be on the glass.

Why didn't you go to Larry Lee!!

He charge me too much. And he also only had 50 as his lightest tint.

Thanks for the opinions. Brought the car back to the shop today.
They removed the tint to find out my window wasn't scratched (so it was the tint).
So they redid it free of charge.

Now I'm happy.:)

Of course they are, that's why they put an illegal tint on your front windows.

Maybe I am being cynical but it looks very obviously like a tint scratch and the fact that the worker is leaning towards a glass scratch is because he didn't want to redo the work.