Too many times we see great products fall mercy to the hands of consumers who do not know how to properly care for something the way it should be cared for. Yellowing of urethane films is often one, if not the biggest, complaint. Yet, what a lot of people do not realize is that the yellowing is not a direct result from UV exposure from the sun, but rather from products that contain dyes being applied to them. We tell the consumer to ‘wash and wax frequently’, but ‘with what?’ is the question that needs to be clarified.
For example, ‘Joe’ just had film installed on his white car and is told to keep the material clean and waxed frequently in order to get the maximum performance from the product. Joe does just what he is told and uses a nice yellow paste wax once to twice a month. The material maintains a nice, smooth, shiny finish, but starts looking more yellow every week. After a few months, Joe returns for what he sees as an arguable warranty issue for yellowing. What Joe doesn’t realize is the damage was caused by him, but at the fault of the dealer for not educating him properly on what type of products should and should not be used on the film. These types of situations can be avoided by simply providing a detailed care/maintenance sheet along with the warranty.
As dealers, go the extra step and take the guesswork out by providing the customer with a micro-fiber cloth and a can of Plexus (or a similar product) that is safe and easy to use – this will keep the film looking new and provide plenty of protection. Make sure the customer is aware that anything that can potentially damage the painted surface can also damage the film. It is important to regularly clean your car as dirt, grime, road oil, insects, and bird and tree droppings will cause permanent damage. The same goes for the film and should be noted in your warranty. Remember, the kind of education that we teach is the key.
