MIAMI AUTO SPA — Local services in Miami

TL;DR: This business engages in FRAUDULENT window tinting claiming to install Xpel tints and instead installing some other brand of tint. You can call Xpel to check yourself - Miami Auto Spa IS NOT AN AUTHORIZED XPEL DEALER.

I went to Miami Auto Spa (561 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33130) on June 5, 2021 to have Xpel Prime XR+ Black 55 installed on my car's windshield. After the tint was installed, I noticed that I had not received a written pre-estimate of the work - detailing what exactly was to be done to my car, what tint would be installed, or the price. I also realized that I was not provided an XPEL warranty card - therefore giving me no proof of warranty and making my warranty un-transferable. I reached out to them immediately after installation to try to get a warranty card, but they refused to do so...

Later on and with more time behind the wheel, I noticed that the tint was particularly grainy and hindered my visibility, particularly during night-time driving but also during daytime driving. I went back in-person to Miami Auto Spa and shared my concerns regarding the graininess of the film, but they said it looked fine and wanted to charge me $250 in order to replace it. Unhappy with how I was treated, I decided to go to another Authorized XPEL dealer to remove and replace the windshield tint. Upon removal of the tint installed by Miami Auto Spa, the owner of the other dealer informed me that the tint I had installed was neither Black nor 55 - he used a VLT meter to show me that the VLT was 67. In other words, I neither had XPEL Prime XR+ Black installed nor 55 tint installed either.

I proceeded to notify Miami Auto Spa of the problem and request a refund of the money I had paid, at which point an employee by the name of Harold refused to provide me a refund - claiming that since I went to another dealer he could not provide me a refund and that if I had gone to him he would have gladly replaced it (Note that I did go to him previously and he wanted to charge me $250 then...). After refusing my request for refund, I notified him that I would file a complain with Xpel and a Fraud Complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services which oversees Motor Vehicle Services. To which, he responded that I should have the other dealer call him to corroborate my story otherwise he could not verify that the tint I had removed was indeed the tint that he had installed. I gladly agreed and called him shortly thereafter with the owner of the other dealer on-the-line ready to corroborate my account, only to find that he had blocked my number and no longer responded to my text messages. I even tried calling from a different phone number, to which he responded - but after telling him I had the owner of the other dealer on the line, he proceeded to hang-up and block that...

I have two reviews from two different experiences.

I came here back in September 2020 to get my windows tinted. They did a fantastic job, however their customer service was poor. I specifically came the day prior to the work being done to ask for an estimate. I received an exact quote $250 - but if I come in before 10am tint removal (addt’l $50) is free, so $200 + tax. I showed up at 8am the next day and that was not the case. I let that slide, because the quality of work and tints wasn’t worth an argument.

Secondly, while I understand it takes a long time to do tints properly (which they exceeded my expectations) I was there from 8am - 2pm and not once did the manager/supervisor that took my car give me a status update - that’s a clear lack of simple customer service skills in my opinion.

My second visit was in late Feb 2021 , again the same issue with customer service. I pull in and the attendant who I believe is a manager/supervisor lacks simple customer service skills! I ask for a regular wash and heated seat cleaning, his immediate response “we don’t have time for that today” but the way it was said, again, was in poor taste and no mention of when is a good time to come in and get that taken care of... My wash was good, not great... there was no attention to detail, still a few spots remaining where birds had a field day and the inside detail they did not touch the dashboard, clean inside the crevices, cup holder or steering wheel. For $30, I was not completely satisfied.

I would love to continue to patronize this place, but unfortunately they have a little cleaning up to do for me, beginning with customer service it’s piss poor. and while it’s great business is booming , it’s never a good look to leave an “average” customer with a bad taste in the mouth.

Definitely recommend them for window tinting, they do a stellar job. Nonetheless, it’s a no for me on the wash, and a big no on...

Used to be a great place. I set up an appointment to get my windows tinted. I call multiple times to confirm because I never received the text message confirmation I was promised. I was given the man word and I arrived at the shop. I get there and tell Fabian about the tints I want to get and before I can make an educated selection from their catalogue he begins quoting the most expensive one. I tell him I want to see the options and weigh them for my self so he kindly invites me inside. I start looking at their Prime selection which is not a ceramic coating but is comparable. I like the features it provides including UV protection. I ask for the price and again he sneakily tries to give me the price for the ceramic. I ask him about the law and he doesn't seem to have a clear understanding on %. He then begins to try to gaslight me. I ask him for a few minutes to try to make my decisiob. I take about a minute and decide to either go with Prime XR version. The ultimate premium of the Primes tint which I'm lead to believe is not ceramic but has an additional heat protection. He then tells me to set an appointment for next week. I tell him I have an appointment and they don't have me on file. Apparently they never told the Tint specialized Partner about my appointment. I call the number on Google and speak to a man who then tells me there is no problem just go and talk again with Fabian. It ends up becoming a back and forth with a new appointment. If you even made it this far I also just got this new car because after a car wash I had there my jetta was drenched on the inside and the windows stop working from a cleaning I got here. Personally I am willing to call it coincidental, but God damn. What a way to...