06/23/2026
๐ Transparency has always been one of the foundations of how we operate at Cornerstone.
We've recently seen this video making the rounds, and it perfectly captures why we made the decision years ago and were one of the first shops in the nation to walk away from the XPEL dealer network over this.
๐ As the very first XPEL Platinum Dealer in Kansas City, we were deeply invested in the brand and proudly represented it for many years.
But after the company became publicly traded, we began witnessing changes that simply didn't align with our values.
โ ๏ธ We experienced:
โข A noticeable decline in film quality.
โข Increasing resistance when it came to honoring warranty claims.
โข Corporate-owned locations being opened to compete directly against the very dealers who helped build the brand.
โข Long-standing dealership relationships being taken away.
โข Pricing agreements with auto manufacturers that forced independent shops into severe margin compression.
Unfortunately, when margins are squeezed hard enough, some shops feel pressure to survive by cutting corners, overselling, or even bait-and-switching customers into lower-grade products.
๐ซ We refused to participate in that.
๐บ๐ธ In fact, we became one of the first shops in the country to publicly take a stand and leave the network.
This wasn't about money.
This wasn't about negotiating a better deal.
This was about principles.
โ๏ธ When we began making the transition, XPEL flew a representative to our shop the very next day.
But by then, our minds had already been made up.
We sat down face-to-face and told them that our decision wasn't based on incentives or pricing.
It was based on integrity.
๐ฏ And integrity is one thing no company can take from you.
๐ Looking back, leaving was one of the best decisions we've ever made.
Since switching to Autobahn, our business has grown tremendously, and we've realized just how much we had been missing.
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Exceptional film quality
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Industry-leading warranties
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A company that stands behind its products
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Dealer support that actually supports dealers
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A manufacturer whose values align with our own
๐ค What we're most proud of isn't the growth we've experienced since making the switch.
It's knowing that we chose to do what we believed was right, even when it meant walking away from something we had invested years into building.
In business, reputation is earned over decades and lost in moments.
And while products, brands, and partnerships may change, principles should not.
We're incredibly proud to partner with Autobahn and to provide our clients with products, warranties, and support that reflect the same standards upon which we've built our reputation.
โค๏ธ Thank you to everyone who has trusted Cornerstone over the last two decades.
That trust means everything to us, and we intend to keep earning it every single day.
