First, I've used this Inspection Station for years and have always had a good experience. And even this experience was great right up until I noticed some damage to my windshield film and returned to report it.
All of the guys working there on this visit were (as usual) professional and personable, except the manager. Even he was friendly until I had this issue, at which point he became very dismissive, rude, and blame shifting, accusing me of wrongdoing.
My front windshield has clear ceramic film. I had this installed professionally by a local shop just for the sun UV protection to prevent skin damage, as I drive a lot in the sun for my job. It is absolutely clear, non-reflective, and transparent, and I was told by the installation shop that it is legal. They have an excellent reputation, so I took them at their word. The ceramic material has a very slight bluish hue, but this is not tint, it's just result of how the ceramic filters the light. The material is so clear that nobody even realizes it's on the window.
Unfortunately, I forgot to point this out to Jimmy who removed my old sticker, and when he took his tool to the window, it removed a chunk of the film in the process. Nobody said anything to me, and I didn't notice it until I was halfway home. When I did, I turned around to go and let them know so they would be an amicable resolution.
When I returned, I waved to the manager to come over and take a look, with every intention of having a cordial and polite conversation. He saw me waving and waved me off. I waved a second time and he reluctantly came over and asked what I wanted. I said, "I want to show you something," and pointed at the sticker. I asked, "Do you see the damage?" He immediately became defensive and began shifting the blame to me saying any "tint" (it's not tint) on a window is illegal, and that he wouldn't have passed me if he knew it was on there. I explained that the shop that installed it said it was legal because it is clear. He just shook his head and kept rudely waving me off, very dismissive of my complaint. Mind you, the damage they caused will cost $300 to replace (I have an estimate from the shop.)
At this point, I began to get a little irritated, because the manager just kept blaming me for having clear ceramic film (he called it tint), telling me it was illegal, telling me there was nothing he could do for me, and then waving me off and cutting me off because he didn't want to hear any of it. He gave me a sheet of paper to contact the group that oversees them, and sent me on my way. I was very disappointed and somewhat angry, and I made sure he knew it as I left.
I then contacted the number they gave me and was referred to the DPS. D. Cannon assisted me. She was truly helpful. She informed me that the clear ceramic was legal, then looked up the statutes, and a debate broke out amongst the deputies. Apparently, this is a grey area in the law, and there's some debate about it, even though the statute does seem to backup the manager at the inspection station, and not the installation company on this.
All that said, I should have made them aware of the film. That was my negligence, and I don't blame Jimmy or the guys there. What is very disappointing is to know that so long as things go smoothly, the experience is great, but if there is an issue, they have a manager on staff who really doesn't care about customers, will behave very unprofessionally, and will do everything he can to shift blame to the customer. I doubt most people will have this experience with this location, but if something does go badly, and if your property is damaged, you were warned.
Best of luck.
P.S.
I learned from DPS that they had a photo of the inspection sticker they applied, so it is likely the manager already knew they had damaged the film before I returned, which would explain his defensiveness right off the bat. Just a terrible way to treat customers. read more