Quote:
Originally Posted by live2well
Calflan,
This disclaimer is already on the instructions....  . |
True, but it also says satisfaction 100% guarenteed.
My installer did everything he possibly could. He mixed up the exact application solution from Rider's instructions and applied it correctly. He DID also use blue marking tape to lay out where the stripes should be applied, including the correct 6.5 inch gap down the centre. The stripes were applied from the top (windshield) of the hood is indicated in the instructions and were worked on, again, following the instructions. Sadly as the stripe worked down the hood it started to curve out from the blue tape down the centre which inidicated the application line. The stripes do have a slight curve to them anyway, but when the stripe was edged back to centre to meet the line the outer curve became overly exagerated. There was no way to make the stripe meet the layout lines, and even with the indicated wet application using the correct solution there was not enough play in the vinyl to do it.
So he asked me what did I want to do, and we decided on a compromise. The stripes do slightly get further apart as they run down the hood which minimises the outer curve. If we had kept the 6.5 consistant all the way down the hood that curve you can see in my photo would have been a LOT worse. The stripe would have been wider at the windshield and curved down almost in a V shape to the nose. We just could not get it to fit straight, true and parallel, with equal width stripes. In hindsight I should have photographed the installation, with the guide tape on the car at the same time.
Finally, just to clarify my comments about quality. Please forgive my ignorance. I know nothing about vinyl, so when two different companies, both with many years in the industry told me that the vinyl would not last and was poor quality I had to take their word for it. I guess time would be the true test of telling, but as I said I have no knowledge of this material or technique, so I would take the word of a professional. Sadly, they said if I left the stripes on the car by the time it did start to decay it would be too late as when removed I would have "lines" in the paint finish.
If other members have had successful installations and the stripes have held out you have my envy and congratulations. I WISH my car had gone smoothly without a hitch and I couldn't be happier with what was sitting in the driveway, but it did not go smoothly. And it has been a lot of stress and somewhat heartache. I have not been rude to anybody here, and have only tried to explain in as much detail what happened, to hopefully avoid it happening again.
I have said everything I think I can say, so at this point I will take a step back. After everything that has happened and I have been told I am going to move away from vinyl stripes and have them painting down the road once I recouperate enough money.
I hope RiderGraphix will refund my money for the two sets of stripes, as installation was followed to the letter, and they do not match the indicated graphic (do not run straight, parallel and equal width).
And finally, I will apologize to RiderGraphix for any negativity that you have incurred as a result of my report. Trust me, I have received a lot of abuse for my trouble (I do not relish being called a prick on a public forum). I did not mean to come across as impatient, but when I recieved no answers I did feel like I was getting the cold shoulder, so my initial post may have been written in the heat of the moment, so again, I apologize. I wish you nothing but the best.