Sent bike for painting. Lacquer still soft after 1 week. Is shop SCAM me? Help!!

[sprocketty]

I am a newbie to spray painting. I sent my bike parts for spraying a nice metallic color.

Color turned out really great. Shop said can install after 24 hours.

 

After 24 hours, the clearcoat was still quite soft. Its dry to the touch, but press fingernail will kena dented.

I left it another 2 days. STILL the same. Press fingernail can get a small mark. If press hard enough, can even dig the clear coat out with fingernail.

 

I compared to my other bike paintwork, the other bike confirm is super hard even if press fingernail (no dent).

 

I bring back to shop and complained about the softness, and I got some crap answer.

 

Shop: "Cannot use fingernail to press, it will be OK."

My Response: "How can it be? Where got paintwork use fingernail can dent one?" I then show them another sample piece I brought, and prove to them fingernail not supposed to dent paintwork.

 

Shop: "Don't worry, why don't you install first, any problem come back."

My Response: "No i will leave all the parts here, you can dry it, and I will come back when its hard."

 

So I left the parts there. After another 3-4 days, I called shop. Shop said "The paintwork is nothing wrong, we put in the sun. Don't use fingernail press it will be ok la. You come in 5 days la. I will check the paintwork again."

 

 

My question:

If after 1 week, paintwork still soft, is this normal? I read online that clearcoat if mix in wrong proportion, properly will never EVER be hard. Or if coating TOO thick without drying, will take months to harden. What is the average time required before the clearcoat is hard enough not to be dent by fingernail?

 

Any advice what I can do in my situation?

 

THANKS BROS!!

 

 

NOTE: The shop is supposedly a reputable one. I don't want to name it until I confirm being scammed.

[Saintjo]

I was ever advise by paint shop b4, the curing depends a lot on weather, if raining everyday, can take long