PPF Installation Recourse Help

[OutofThyme]

I just had PPF installed yesterday and it really did not turn out the way I thought it would. I had my car buffed and polished a while back, and this PPF installer told me after washing and clay barring the car, he applied the PPF. However, he blames the polisher before that they didnt remove all the compound. He installed the front bumper ppf and now theres white compound spots all over my bumper. He didn't call me during the installation to tell me, he installed it anyways and now wants $475 to remove the front wrap, remove the remaining compound and then reapply the PPF.

In addition there seems to be bubbles, but I'm not sure if those will dry up, and I see dirt underneath in one section as well.

What can I do? Can anybody with more ppf experience or dealing with installers give some sage advice right now?

 

[SMAlset]

ew, I can't always see what people are trying to show with their photos but can definitely see the white residue under there. If he was responsible for prepping the car prior to PPF I don't see how you should be responsible for the removal or reinstallation of a new piece. Was this company a certified installer of whatever film you bought? If so you probably could contact the manufacturer for assistance. I know Xpel has some guarantees towards work and product.

As for the bubbles this is normal and the reason why your detailer probably asked you to come back within a few days for any adjustments. It can take a few days during the drying period for the bubbles to emerge and while the film is still pliable they can be worked out. They will also check for edges adhering during this visit. Very important maintenance visit for people to get back to them for.

Good luck. Let us know how it works out.

 

[OutofThyme]

ew, I can't always see what people are trying to show with their photos but can definitely see the white residue under there. If he was responsible for prepping the car prior to PPF I don't see how you should be responsible for the removal or reinstallation of a new piece. Was this company a certified installer of whatever film you bought? If so you probably could contact the manufacturer for assistance. I know Xpel has some guarantees towards work and product.

As for the bubbles this is normal and the reason why your detailer probably asked you to come back within a few days for any adjustments. It can take a few days during the drying period for the bubbles to emerge and while the film is still pliable they can be worked out. They will also check for edges adhering during this visit. Very important maintenance visit for people to get back to them for.

Good luck. Let us know how it works out.

Yeah this is a certified Xpel Installer. I'll wait a few days, and report back. Thanks.

More images for clarity

 

[Rich Meister]

If he's a certified Xpel installer, you should be able to warranty the work. If you need additional help, you can send me a message.

 

[KenC]

A bit weird. Why would a professional installer, install over a finish that hadn't been correctly prepped? He's going to know the customer won't like it, and blame both the installer and the detailer. Then to make the customer pay to have it removed seems idiotic. Shouldn't have begun the install, called the customer and had it correctly prepped.

 

[SunTek]

Removal of any compound would have/should have been a part of their prepping process. Sorry to hear you're dealing with that and hopefully you get it rectified.

 

[03DSG]

Yeah this is a certified Xpel Installer. I'll wait a few days, and report back. Thanks.

More images for clarity

Looks to me like he never prepped the car. Even if he did clay bar it the remaining contamination prior to the PPF install would have been obvious. This is on him.

 

[OutofThyme]

He did say he clay barred the car. I reached out and asked for it to be reapplied and fixed. I'm awaiting his response now. Here's a few more issues I found this morning. Missing paint coverage, seams not lining up. I'm hoping for a quick resolution, and possibly doing it elsewhere just for peace of mind.

 

[jkoya]

Here is Xpel's 24 Hour Customer Support phone number: 1-210-678-3700. Give them a call and let them know what happened.

 

[OutofThyme]

He told me, he'll contact Xpel to see if they will warranty the film. And apparently its primer not compound. I spoke to the shop that polished my car and said, that there is absolutely no way that they applied primer to my car. In addition to that, the PPF installer told me that the moisture from the PPF near the end of the installation when it was drying, made it show up, and is not visible otherwise.

Although I washed the bumper with ONR and hand towel-dried it plenty of times and have never seen this white substance.

 

[NathanielHrnblwr]

If this is how they deliver their finished product to you, they have no idea what they're doing or flat out DGAF. Air bubbles happen and can be fixed easily by the detailer, but there's apparently something else on the paint/under the ppf. If you spent more than $50 on this work you got ripped off.

go somewhere reputable and pay to have it done right. if you want a top notch referral for the SD area, let me know.

 

[OutofThyme]

Xpel is warrantying the work and labor. he just wants me to pay for paint correction. still waiting for the second opinion.

 

[juls_esp]

ugh thats horrible on the installers part, had he claybarred the car he would have saw the residue and it would have came off on his clay..
not only that why install the product on a dirty surface

 

[Burrito]

at this point i would demand money back/ dispute credit if you didnt pay cash and go elsewhere. tell him to take it off and keep the film

 

[OutofThyme]

ugh thats horrible on the installers part, had he claybarred the car he would have saw the residue and it would have came off on his clay..
not only that why install the product on a dirty surface

What he told me is that he claybarred the car, nothing showed up, it only showed up after the PPF was nearly finished and the moisture from the PPF was drying which made it visible? I'm not sure of anything from Xpel application that makes invisible things visible. But what do I know?

 

[moogoo]

I had a rather large bubble, removed it by inserting an insulin syringe and aspirating it. But the OPs ppf is a pretty crappy job . Mines had a few imperfections and lint in the ppf from rodz in OC but I'm not gonna be ocd about them.

 

[OutofThyme]

Resolution achieved. Today, the charge back completed successfully and the case is closed. Thank you everybody for your input.

DO NOT GO TO EXOTIC AUTO TINT in Northbrook, IL.

 

[Dana1]

I just had PPF installed yesterday and it really did not turn out the way I thought it would. I had my car buffed and polished a while back, and this PPF installer told me after washing and clay barring the car, he applied the PPF. However, he blames the polisher before that they didnt remove all the compound. He installed the front bumper ppf and now theres white compound spots all over my bumper. He didn't call me during the installation to tell me, he installed it anyways and now wants $475 to remove the front wrap, remove the remaining compound and then reapply the PPF.

In addition there seems to be bubbles, but I'm not sure if those will dry up, and I see dirt underneath in one section as well.

What can I do? Can anybody with more ppf experience or dealing with installers give some sage advice right now?

Small claims court and negative social media reviews.