Sometimes it can be tempting to take on a steady tinting job, especially one with a car dealership. But if the conditions aren’t just right, is it worth risking your reputation as a professional installer to land the deal? That’s a conflict one tinter recently debated.

“I have a dealership that has 100-plus cars that need to be tinted,” says David DeRocha, owner at Adhesive Pro DFW Commercial Window Tinting in Dallas, Texas. “They offered me a lift bay to tint in; the problem is the giant doors are open on both ends of the shop and there are two giant turbine fans overhead. They said if I don’t want to tint in there that’s fine, they have a guy who will tint them all out in the parking lot. Of course I told them I didn’t think it would be a good idea to tint outdoors in the wind, dirt and sun, but he just got frustrated with me and said he’s seen guys tint outdoors a lot. I have standards … Am I being too picky or do I have a real concern?”

According to several dealers, DeRocha is on to something.

“No way; stick to your guns,” says Junior Cassius, Custom Automotive Styling Solutions in Derbyshire, U.K. “I would have said, ‘You get what you pay for and I provide quality work. If you want sub-standard work, call a mobile guy that will do it in those conditions.’ I never work anywhere that risks contamination.”

“Don’t lower ur standards,” adds Chris Salas, owner of Eclipse Tinting in Greenville, S.C. “A lot of air moving means [it’s] hot and dusty, and they’re going to want a cheap price doing 100 [cars]. Stay in your shop.”

The problem isn’t uncommon, notes another installer.

“I just ran into this situation at a Ford dealer the other day,” states Matt Lipnick, manager and tint tech at JSR Detailing and Window Tinting in West Chester, Pa. “They wanted it tinted in the shop, both doors open on either side. Let’s just say it was not fun and I was not happy with the final results.”

Whiles several installers suggested setting up a mobile tent in the dealership parking lot, ultimately DeRocha determined because of space limitations at the dealership, it wasn’t the job for him.

“I’m walking away from this,” he says. “There is absolutely no room on the lot for a tent anywhere; I am going back to the drawing board. I’m going to take care of my other customers who actually … [care] about quality. I’ve tinted cars in the wind before; it’s not worth stressing over. I can’t help wanting the work to turn out good.”

How have you handled similar situations in the past, and what recommendations do you have for other installers in this position? Comment below or email the editor at cneeley@glass.com.