Shades Of Texas Window Tinting

Went wonderfully, quick, good price. They were great during sales quote meeting, great on the phone and great in person installing the film.

everything went great

Excellent work will use them again.

Excellent service and workmanship.

The staff was super helpful and answered all of my questions. The installers did a great job, were very polite and cleaned up after the job was completed.

it when fine

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On first visit set an appointment for the actual work  The job was done on time and in less time than estimated.  Very good job.

We called Shades of Texas to see it they could install window tinting that we had bought online from CollidEscape to keep birds from hitting our upper windows.  After much discussion, Rosemary McIver, the owner of the company, said that she was confident her crew could do the job.
  
 Within the next two weeks, two guys came out with their scaffolding to work on the windows.  At first glance, it looked like they did a good job; but, on looking at the windows several days later, we realized that it wasn't so good after all.  The edges around the windows were cut too short and are jagged.
During a subsequent conversation, Ms. McIver let slip that her employees called her during the installation as they had doubts whether they could do the job--that they really didn't know how to work with the vinyl material.  She said she had to guide them through the process over the phone.
With the money that was spent, we feel we should have gotten a more professional job.  
 We wrote to Ms. McIver via her website to express our dissatisfaction with the work.   She did not elect to respond.

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We dropped our car off and it was ready to go and looking great when we picked it up at the time we were quoted it to be done by. We have used them 3-4 times now and everytime we have had great friendly service and work done. Thanks!

They did a good job.

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***Please read to the end, this is a great story, and ended the best way I could have ever imagined***

First Review
They were very professional with the car tinting. Price was great, quality was great, and so far so good with that. They also applied window film to my whole house - a fairly decent size job. Price estimation was very transparent, and they stuck to the price. Where things started to go a little sketchy was in documentation. I got the the upgraded warranty to $1,500 per window, as well as submitted for my rebate to Austin Energy. The first set of issues came with the Austin energy rebate. For whatever reason they just didn't do the paperwork to submit for the rebate which was upwards of $650. I had to hound them for over a month just to submit, with a very respectable albeit timid elderly woman apologizing and finally submitting it for me. The second issue came on the window warranty - they informed me that he windows may experience a breakage in the seal as a result of the film, and would also lose their manufacturer warranty because a film was applied. As such 3M replaces the warranty, and given some of my windows are big 70x70 picture windows, the standard $500 warranty would not be enough - I got the $1500. Although I have an email chain a million miles long, they didn't put the warranty on the invoice although they insisted that it was filed (I have the documentation). I received a mailing from 3M only showing $500, which shades refused to correct. Roll the clock forward 18 months and of course the seal on my picture window failed - and water leaks everywhere. I tried to reach out to Shades but they have completely ignored my emails. Firer more, I'm already out $1,100 because I had to replace the window, and will incur another $500 repairing the window sill. I was thrilled with their service initially, but being out $1,600; having a full paper trail to validate what I'm saying, and no response from Shades of Texas has obviously left me with a very sour taste in my mouth.

Second Update
I got a followup call from Shades of Texas following this review.  Rosemary McGiver (sp?), one of the owners / general manager, seemed genuinely disheartened by the details of my review above.  I say genuinely, because obviously nobody wants a bad public review, but she seemed more perturbed that I was let down.  Said another way - she seemed to care more about me the customer, than the reputational hit.   That's a pretty strong plus, and certainly is much more in line with how our initial relationship operated.  Rosemary acknowledged the dropping of the ball with respect to the warranty, and has been working diligently (through the writing of this note) to get the warranty item corrected with 3M.  She also said that she was putting a check in the mail for the window as of yesterday, to make me whole (the $1100+/-), understanding that she potentially will be out some portion of that.  It's only been 24 hours since she confirmed the reimbursement, and as such i have changed my grade from a "D" to a "B".  Assuming i get the check within the next two days or so, I will be changing the grade to an "A".  Assuming from there, they can actually correct the warranty issue with 3M, and get it to cover all my windows at the right $1,500 platinum level - then not only would I give them an A+ which is not actually double, but i would unequivocally say that anybody would be crazy not to use them for window tinting, home film, etc.  Everybody hates a screw up and the hassle.  But seeing how they recover is almost more important than doing the job perfectly the first time.  I'm still on the fence until all the pieces fall into place, but from this vantage point - Holy Cow what a company if everything follows through.

Third Update
Check received, Upgraded Warranty Received, Close out call received!!  As far as I am concerned, this is the only company to do business with.  As I referenced in my second update, if everything flows through as discussed, it would be insane to do business with anybody else.  Nobody likes a bad experience, but only when it happens do you know what you paid for.  I know now with undeniable certainty what i paid for.  I will not go to anybody else ever for tinting, window treatments, auto films, etc.  I was disappointed, but honestly, they are the best!! 

Explanation and review of options and planning including my last minutes additions were handled expeditiously.  The job was scheduled and completed as expected.  The quality of the installation seemed fine.  No subsequent problems appeared and we are still very happy with the installation and the benefits in protecting our home interior.

it went great professional job did 3 large windows

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