Clear-bra cost question

CDepp

Just got my quote back from a local tint shop. They're fairly large and part of Sunstoppers. The quote they gave me for the clear bra, full hood only modification, was just at $1000. That doesn't seem right at all. I used to work vinyl in HS and we'd wrap an entire car for under $1200.

Any suggestions on vendors or shops in the Charlotte area that does quality work?

Realale

Mine was 500 just for the front bumper.

CDepp

No way! That's maybe $220, with markup, in material and 2hrs labor. Ugh. I gotta find 'a guy' down here who knows 'a guy'. Lol

Realale

Hes gonna do the full hood. mirrors and side skirts for 200 more as a package. Just havent had time to get it done. You also have to remember that I have a Nismo and the curves on the bumper are harder to deal with.

Tazicon

I have seen up to $1,800.00 for the front bumper, hood and mirrors. The cheapest I saw was around $800. I figured for $1,800.00 I could have the front repainted!

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newyen27

I got Ventureshield done on my bumper, mirrors, a portion of my fenders, and about 1/3 of my hood for $400 by a guy who did it on the side. A few of the shops I called quoted me ~$700. If you can get it for cheap, the peace of mind is worth it alone. It'll also protect you from people scraping the side of your bumper when they back out of a parking spot and not just rock chips.

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Ni55anPat

i got my bumper, partial fenders, partial hood and mirrors for $400

Realale

I really don't think it matters what you pay for it. As long as they do a good job and your happy with it.

CDepp

It would be cheaper to run up to body shop and pay 700 every 3 years to redo bumper and blend into panels and hood at $1000 for the vinyl, I guess. I was expecting around 600-700 for the job, lol. I guess I've been out of the market too long to adjust for increase in cost.

DR_

You are paying for a piece of mind that you can drive down the highway and not worry about everything.

Realale

And some paints are a hell of a lot easier to deal with. My PW is a b***h

Japanjay

I paid $1k for full bumper, hood, front fenders, roof, mirrors, and partial rear fenders and partial spoiler. Bumper and fenders in clear and everything else in Di-Noc carbon fiber.

CDepp

Outside the pillars and doors, that sounds almost like an entire wrap; I would fully understand that price for that much work. Here, I'm only getting partial front fenders, hood, bumper and mirrors. I was ready to get this done this week until the quote came through. (grumble grumble)

Japanjay

Well about half a wrap. Still the pillars, trunk, doors, and rear bumper plus door jams, so I think about $1k for half the car is fair. Plus I was just posting what I got for the same amount your quote was. So yes you are right that, that isnt close in price for what you want done. I would think about $600-700 for what you are wanting. I would think there are more places in Charlotte than one that does vinyl work.

CDepp

Not to try to argue, but I'm not even getting 1/4 of the car done.

Parts covered:
1/2 front fenders
front bumper
hood and mirrors

Parts not covered:
1/2 front fenders
pillars
doors
skirts
rear fenders
roof
rear bumper
trunk
spoiler and splash guards

It's not about the price I want, but the price of the product (3M Premium 8mm per yd. incl 20% markup) and cost of labor(unless they pay over $20/hr). We're not even looking at lettering (which could explain the jump in price per character if not by yardage)

I've spent over 2 years working professional signage and even produced quotes and won bids on local police department contracts for the business. Mid-America Airport and the Gateway Speedway outside St.Louis were all my work. Every last baggage carrier and response vehicle. Every sign for the lot and sign in the entryway at the speedway.

I agree that there must be more places here in CLT to get it done. I'll just have to spend a little more time looking. Again, this was way back in the mid 90's, so I'm most likely out of the loop on product costs.

Thanks for the replies guys. I was just hoping to find that I was being 'duped'. It appears that it seems pretty standard for cost unless I find 'a guy'.

(side story I always reflect on in humor: my boss bought himself a new Cobra on those bids, I got a $1/hr raise [plus the experience and work towards my apprenticeship])