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TIFU by not checking if permanent marker can go through transfer tape

I work at a sign shop/digital print shop. We print on, and cut, adhesive vinyl for signs. In order to apply this vinyl properly, we need to use something called transfer tape (you've probably seen some videos on YouTube or TikTok from a couple of shops where they use large rolls of what looks like masking tape; well, that's what transfer tape is). You apply the transfer tape on the vinyl, then apply the vinyl onto the surface, then tear the transfer tape away. It's easier to apply vinyl this way, especially when it has intricate cuts.

Last week on Monday we had an order come in from a big company a couple of cities away that wants to wrap the doors and windows of their offices with a special kind of vinyl known as frosted vinyl or sandblasted vinyl. It's over 50 large windows and a couple of doors, averaging 40" wide by 70" tall each. The vinyl was scheduled to be applied today (Wednesday at the time of typing this post).

Every single one of us in the shop has their own work area and their own machines. My vinyl cutter is the largest and fastest; therefore I was assigned this order. However, I didn't begin working on it up until Friday last week because a bunch of other unrelated orders had come in, and I didn't have time. Needless to say I had to stay after hours and rush through it.

Now, usually, you have to weed the vinyl before applying transfer tape so you know exactly what goes where by looking at its design. But frosted vinyl is very delicate. The first time I worked with it, I weeded it then applied transfer tape like I would do with any other adhesive vinyl. But my boss (who went with a coworker to apply the vinyl) told me to cut it again and to not weed it, because apparently the frosted vinyl bubbles up under the transfer tape if you weed it before applying it (I've never applied frosted vinyl myself so I couldn't tell).

So our MO for frosted vinyl, from then on, has been:

  1. Cut the vinyl.
  2. Apply transfer tape.
  3. Apply vinyl on surface.
  4. Remove transfer tape and weed vinyl once applied.

That's exactly what I did this time as well, except because it was a large number of vinyl sheets to apply, every single one of them had to be labeled with dimensions and a code to be checked against a list so the installation team knows where to apply each vinyl. As soon as one vinyl sheet was done cutting, I'd immediately apply transfer tape and label it.

I used a permanent marker to label the vinyl sheets because it's more visible than a pen. At first I was writing on the paper behind the vinyl (the flip side of a vinyl sheet is paper, which you have to peel off). However I began writing directly on the transfer tape instead, because you have to roll the vinyl with the paper facing inward; otherwise the vinyl will stretch or bubble up. I didn't think to test if the marker would go through the transfer tape because it didn't go through the paper...

After I was done, the installation team, along with my boss, picked everything up and travelled to the next city.

Well...

It turns out that the permanent marker went through the transfer tape. It stained every single one of the vinyl sheets that were due to be installed today. My boss messaged me and sent pictures. To say she was absolutely furious is an understatement. I suggested using acetone or even the old high school trick of scribbling whiteboard marker on permanent marker to erase it. She hasn't replied yet.

This is an ongoing FU. I will have potentially lost the business a lot of money, and my own job in the process, because of my stupid mistake, if they can't remove the stains. In the meantime I have other orders I have to work on. Lunch break is over.

TL;DR I wrote with permanent marker on transfer tape, marker went through transfer tape and stained the vinyl, every single vinyl sheet is stained, over 50 sheets, it won't come off, I'm definitely getting fired for this

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