3M Corporation Renewable Energy Division

It turns out 3M does not provide the warranty as described in the written warranty agreement. They sell the film to the regional wholesaler/distributor (in this case Southern Films Distribution of Denver, NC) who then resells it to an installation company. Then the 3M product is sold with an installation package to a consumer. The installation company profits from the film charge and installation to the consumer. Yet it is 3M who provides the final buyer or consumer (me) with a warranty from 3M. In my case Carolina Premier Window Films, INC is an approved 3M vendor who sold me the film and did the instillation all for one price BUT..... Amazingly they installed the WRONG film. Furthermore they did a poor job at installation. Additionally some of the film is now peeling off of the windows (within the warranty period) and reported to Carolina Premier within a month of the installation from August of 2012. We have been working through this issue with the installation company Carolina Premier (Michele Minardi) and with Jim Passage of 3M. The warranty agreement is with 3M yet they do not enforce its provisions. 1. The wrong product was installed in my home. 2. The product in my home is peeling. 3. The product is bubbling. 4. The product is delaminating from the glass. The above issues are all specifically addressed in the warranty with 3M. Yet 3M has left it to the vendor for repair and has made no demand that they do the work properly. Beware, your warranty is with the vendor NOT with 3M. The following below is taken directly from the warranty agreement online.... __________________________________________________________________________________________ Sample Warranty 3M? Sun Control Window Film Residential Limited Lifetime Quality Promise Warranty ID 3M and the 3M Authorized Renewable Energy Division dealer (collectively referred to as ?Seller?) warrant that for as long as the original consumer of the 3M Sun Control Window Films owns and lives in the home, 3M Window Films will: Maintain Solar Reflective Properties without cracking, crazing, or peeling Maintain Adhesion Properties without blistering, bubbling, or delaminating from the glass Maintain Appearance without discoloration In the event the product is found to be defective under this warranty, Seller will: Replace the Quantity of Film proved to be defective Provide Removal and Reapplication Labor Free of Charge This warranty is provided only to the original purchaser and is not transferable. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ The representative from 3M met with me twice. The first time in March of 2013 after many delays then in September of 2013. In March he said " The job looks ok and there were no real problems, but he would approve up to less then 10% of the film be replaced. I had another 3M installation company review the work and they said the work was "entirely unacceptable" and they would have replaced it back in 2012. At the second meeting with Jim Passage in a coffee shop he suggested that "much of the window tint would need replacement". He also said he would arrange for a different company rather then Carolina Premier to do the work. My associate who was at the meeting asked Jim if he had the authority to make this offer. Jim said, "No not officially but his boss will certainly go along with this offer." He seemed confident in his statements and so reluctantly I agreed and asked him to provide this in writing to which he agreed within a week. Two and one half weeks later I received a response from Mr. Passage that was exactly the opposite of what was agreed. He said that only Carolina Premier could do the work. He did though mention that as an alternative I could have all the wrong film removed and the contracted film installed. I opted to have it removed and have not heard back from Jim Passage of 3M (who provided the warranty) nor from Carolina Premier. Bottom line: BEWARE! 1. Avoid Carolina Premier Window Films, Inc for sure. 2. 3M. They have not upheld the terms of the warranty nor acted with integrity. They rely on the installation company for all warranty work. 3. 3M. Sadly they do not back the consumer. Even with the wrong film and substandard work they back the vendor. I suspect the 3M film is probably OK to good but it needs proper installation. Amazingly 3M who allows only certain vendors to install the more expensive Premier product does not back up their warranty claims. BEWARE!