WRAPT C5Z06
New member
- Nov 12, 2009
- 12,615
- 0
Sorry for the novel!
I was contacted by a friend of a friend to detail his 2005 black Nissan Sentra SE-R. I don't know the guy, but I talked to him over the phone about his car. He was interested in having his car clayed. He told me the car has 25K miles and the paint is in pretty good shape. I went off his word and figured a clay and wax would suffice. I told him I'll get his car looking good!! I could tell he was excited! So, he brought the car over today and after looking at it for 2 seconds, it was in far worse condition than he stated! Swirls up the ying-yang, scratches everywhere, water spots, and oxidation. I wouldn't consider it a "beater", but the paint was in poor shape. Anyhow, I told him I would call him when I'm done. I should have explained to him right there that what I was going to do wasn't going to do much good, but I didn't. I gave myself the benefit of the doubt that it might somehow look better. It took me awhile to clay the car alone, there was a ton of embedded contaminants. I finished the car after 5 hours and in the bright sun it looked like crap! Granted the clear coat was a lot cleaner and smooth, but the swirls were gleaming like crazy. I was hesitant to call the guy because the car was in desperate need of a machine polish, but it was as good as it gets for what he wanted done. However, not knowing much about detailing, I think he expected the car to look like it was machine polished. I called him and told him it was ready. He got to my place and I had to point out to him all the swirls and how claying won't remove them. I told him he definitely needs a machine polish to make the car look much better. Anyhow, I felt bad taking his money when the car didn't look very good. I did not mislead him, but I gt myself in a hole by not knowing the true condition of the paint, then telling him his car would look great! He was cool about it and tipped me $20. He said he'll contact me about a machine polish in a couple months, but we'll see if he does...lol.
From here on out, I will be hesitant to quote anything without seeing the car in person and explaining what needs to be done. Is this how most of you detailers go about it?
I was contacted by a friend of a friend to detail his 2005 black Nissan Sentra SE-R. I don't know the guy, but I talked to him over the phone about his car. He was interested in having his car clayed. He told me the car has 25K miles and the paint is in pretty good shape. I went off his word and figured a clay and wax would suffice. I told him I'll get his car looking good!! I could tell he was excited! So, he brought the car over today and after looking at it for 2 seconds, it was in far worse condition than he stated! Swirls up the ying-yang, scratches everywhere, water spots, and oxidation. I wouldn't consider it a "beater", but the paint was in poor shape. Anyhow, I told him I would call him when I'm done. I should have explained to him right there that what I was going to do wasn't going to do much good, but I didn't. I gave myself the benefit of the doubt that it might somehow look better. It took me awhile to clay the car alone, there was a ton of embedded contaminants. I finished the car after 5 hours and in the bright sun it looked like crap! Granted the clear coat was a lot cleaner and smooth, but the swirls were gleaming like crazy. I was hesitant to call the guy because the car was in desperate need of a machine polish, but it was as good as it gets for what he wanted done. However, not knowing much about detailing, I think he expected the car to look like it was machine polished. I called him and told him it was ready. He got to my place and I had to point out to him all the swirls and how claying won't remove them. I told him he definitely needs a machine polish to make the car look much better. Anyhow, I felt bad taking his money when the car didn't look very good. I did not mislead him, but I gt myself in a hole by not knowing the true condition of the paint, then telling him his car would look great! He was cool about it and tipped me $20. He said he'll contact me about a machine polish in a couple months, but we'll see if he does...lol.
From here on out, I will be hesitant to quote anything without seeing the car in person and explaining what needs to be done. Is this how most of you detailers go about it?