can you see it from a distance, like the doorway?

Not from the doorway, but definitely from the edge of the shower

Yes, sometimes the quality of the tile can have an effect, however, in your case it looks like a rushed cut job. Or an old bad blade on the saw or cutter. I don't think sanding down will help any since it appears it's completely installed (sorry). Either have the installer fix it (hopefully you haven't paid him in full yet) or see about having someone else fix it (although such a small thing not many installers would want to touch - especially if they find another issue. And they probably wouldn't want to do it for free)

I have Daltile Rittenhouse subway tile, not at all expensive. None of the cuts look like that. I don’t know anything about tile setting, but wonder if the correct saw was used. I’m sure that someone who is actually knowledgeable will express an opinion here.

I don't think you're being too picky. Those edges should have been cleaned up with a rubbing stone. IMO skipping that step on boils down to flat out laziness on the installers part.

I rented the Home Depot tile saw (ooh, it was nice!) and used Home Depot $0.44/sf tile and had perfectly smooth edges. It is not the tile. Maybe the blade needed replacing?

Ditto, it’s a dull blade. If they’re a reputable company, they’ll replace it.

Thank you all! Appreciate you taking the time to comment. You gave me the confidence to have a more direct conversation with my contractor. Happy Holidays!

He could have spent a few bucks for a blade that is the issue here. Now he will have to replace it.

I hope he waterproofed correctly behind the tile. If he was too cheap to put in a new blade, I'd be worried what else he cheaped out on.

The thing is when you see this kind of crappy finish work, it makes you wonder about the waterproofing. The waterproofing is the most important thing. My real tile pro made my cheap Home Depot tile look like a million bucks. A bad pro can make really expensive tile look like crap. But still, the most important thing is the waterproofing because you don’t want to rot out your house with a leaky shower. Please ask him about the waterproofing. And if you have any in progress photos post them here.

There is really no thing as cheap subway tile. It is all inexpensive, whether it be Daltile, American Olean, etc. It's the blade and the installer. Beware.

The guy hasn't bought a blade in three hundred tile jobs. Moron tile setter. How much rust is on his truck and is the inside filled with coffee cups, beer cans and burger bags ? . Bet me it is.

@JAN MOYER - You are such fun. I love your take on things. Absolutely hysterical, but true.

Poor workmanship and it is rewarded by not paying until it is right. I am no pro tiler and I would never install that for a client. I do agree the saw blade was probably past its prime but that is on him. I do wonder too about the actual waterproofing with so little care in this instance.

@JAN MOYER LOL Makes me think of this one guy who came into my work to pickup a tile order and no lie - the bed of his truck was overflowing (not sure how stuff wasn't falling off whenever he would turn) and the inside only had room for a driver. It seriously looked like someone was sitting in the passenger side. He just shoved the few boxes of tile somehow in the back so that they wouldn't fall out. I'm sure there was some damage in those boxes... How do some guys get hired?? If they look like a slob, smell bad (either by BO or drugs), I would never let them do work for me....