Shop screwed up my seat...

[Branden]

So I finally decided it was time to get my windows tinted after putting it off for a while.

I took it in on Friday with a car seat in the rear. I didn't think much of it, and just assumed they would be smart enough to remove the seat properly. I was wrong. I have a pretty thick bath towel doubled up under the child seat to prevent any markings. They removed the seat, placed it in the front seat, and at some point applied significant enough pressure to cause a decent sized deformation.

I know this leather/vinyl material is softer than full/real leather, but this is ridiculous. I've been going back and forth with the assistant manager who is supposed to talk to the GM and decide what they will do.

Is there any type of leather treatment that might "massage" this back into place? This "leather" is ridiculously soft, I almost want to take it to the dealer and complain. If it wasn't so thin this wouldn't even be an issue.

Appreciate your thoughts guys, curious to see if anyone else had any similar experiences.

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[MichaelKael]

So I finally decided it was time to get my windows tinted after putting it off for a while.

I took it in on Friday with a car seat in the rear. I didn't think much of it, and just assumed they would be smart enough to remove the seat properly. I was wrong. I have a pretty thick bath towel doubled up under the child seat to prevent any markings. They removed the seat, placed it in the front seat, and at some point applied significant enough pressure to cause a decent sized deformation.

I know this leather/vinyl material is softer than full/real leather, but this is ridiculous. I've been going back and forth with the assistant manager who is supposed to talk to the GM and decide what they will do.

Is there any type of leather treatment that might "massage" this back into place? This "leather" is ridiculously soft, I almost want to take it to the dealer and complain. If it wasn't so thin this wouldn't even be an issue.

Appreciate your thoughts guys...

I'd try and heat it gently with a blow dryer, if it's vynil it should help it get back in its original shape... I dont think leather would react this way... gotta be vinyl to me

 

[Asharus]

ouch, this is why i remove everything from the car before i hand the keys over to someone.

 

[oilfieldtrash]

I'd try and heat it gently with a blow dryer, if it's vynil it should help it get back in its original shape... I dont think leather would react this way... gotta be vinyl to me

I didn't know the 15 had vinyl as an option?

 

[RevvdMedia]

WTF did the tech try to sit in the child seat? That's ridiculous.

 

[Asharus]

prob put the child seat on the front seat, then folded it up which squished the child seat deep into the seat bottom for im guessing a good few hours while he was installing the rear tint.

 

[Kevin08]

I didn't know the 15 had vinyl as an option?

Vinyl is used as a leather substitute for cheaper application, since top grain leather is neither cheap or practical in economies of scale. Vinyl fabric is pressed into a pattern that resembles leather grain and isn't nearly as thick or durable as hide. The other common short cut these days is bonded/blended leather, in which low quality leather shreds are blended with other materials (polyester, for instance) and basically glued onto fabric paper and coated with polyurethane. If you've ever noticed leather 'peeling' and showing a crosshash looking fabric underneath, it's bonded/blended leather. I feel like it's a bit dishonest in branding so many pleather/vinyl surfaces are leather, but some companies are starting to more honest about it. Mazda for instance says 'leatherette seats.'

It's very hard to find actual raw-hide leather anything now without spending major cash. few to none of those leather couches you'll see at Ashley, Rooms to Go, etc are pure leather. Took me months to finally settle on a pair of couches that hopefully won't just peel apart within a year.

 

[Branden]

I didn't know the 15 had vinyl as an option?

Something like that. IIRC they are "leather trimmed" and the middle sections are vinyl material. They definitely don't feel like the leather on my old Audi. I could have hauled 100 pounds in the front seat without any blemishes in that car.

WTF did the tech try to sit in the child seat? That's ridiculous.

That's what it looks like. Probably leaned on it getting in or out.

Edit: Asharus has a good point, they probably had the back pushed forward and jammed it down.

 

[Branden]

I'd try and heat it gently with a blow dryer, if it's vynil it should help it get back in its original shape... I dont think leather would react this way... gotta be vinyl to me

Should I do anything after that? Just slowly heat it with vinyl and it should return somewhat to normal?

 

[yellowragtop]

I am not taking sides, but you are saying you "dropped it off to get window tinting", but you had a carseat installed (at the area where the tech needs to reach).

I have installed carseats over and over, including into the back of a mustang (and I put towels under the carseat to protect the seat.) Often times you have to rotate the carseat carefully to avoid damaging the inside of a car. It can be sort of annoying. I would personally prefer to be the one "removing" a carseat carefully, instead of asking someone else to do this.

The tech should have taken the carseat completely out of the car entirely. To me, the tech may have been worried about putting the carseat anywhere that is "dirty", so they felt better leaving it inside the car to protect the car seat since a child sits there.

I would be glad the damage to the seat is the only bad thing that happened.

The techs STILL should have been careful. But really, the car seat should not have been inside the car at all. I wonder if it fits in the trunk? Hope you get this resolved.

On the bright side, this seat cover situation looks "fixable".

 

[Branden]

I am not taking sides, but you are saying you "dropped it off to get window tinting", but you had a carseat installed (at the area where the tech needs to reach).

I have installed carseats over and over, including into the back of a mustang (and I put towels under the carseat to protect the seat.) Often times you have to rotate the carseat carefully to avoid damaging the inside of a car. It can be sort of annoying. I would personally prefer to be the one "removing" a carseat carefully, instead of asking someone else to do this.

The tech should have taken the carseat completely out of the car entirely. To me, the tech may have been worried about putting the carseat anywhere that is "dirty", so they felt better leaving it inside the car to protect the car seat since a child sits there.

I would be glad the damage to the seat is the only bad thing that happened.

The techs STILL should have been careful. But really, the car seat should not have been inside the car at all. I wonder if it fits in the trunk? Hope you get this resolved.

On the bright side, this looks "fixable".

I agree, and I originally intended to take it out myself. I had my two year old with me and he was yelping because he wanted to go play, so I was a bit distracted. When I handed the guy the keys and my wife was ready to pick me up, I was mostly thinking of getting the kid back home without him throwing a fit.

When I realized I didn't take it out on the drive home, I thought oh well, they can't screw anything up by moving a car seat. I was mostly concerned with them not being able to find the latch disconnect. It didn't even cross my mind that they would put harsh plastic on soft vinyl and apply enough pressure to leave a big mark.

It easily fits in the trunk. That's normally where I put it when it needs removed.

I kick myself for not moving it myself, but at the same time it's a car seat. It's not rocket science to move it around without damaging the cars interior. Especially at a place that specializes in tint, audio, wheels, and automotive accessories.

 

[Asharus]

That's the thing though. Service providers don't give a hoot about your car and just want to get the job done.

 

[whokilledkaji]

I think the seats are pretty easy to indent too.
I have a circular indentation on my passenger seat from putting my work bag on it.
It's not even that heavy...

Let us know if the blow dryer fix works!

 

[fionic]

Something like that. IIRC they are "leather trimmed" and the middle sections are vinyl material.

are we talking with the interior trim upgrade? definitely leather in the middle sections.

 

[MichaelKael]

Should I do anything after that? Just slowly heat it with vinyl and it should return somewhat to normal?

I think it should go back to normal progressively yes... But not too much direct heat eh

let us know how it goes !

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