Old Wax Emergency

ge234

ge234

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Hey Guys, I am in a jam and need help. An old customer called me today. Apparently I missed removing some of the wax on his car a few months ago. He called me today from a carwash and said they were having trouble getting the wax off. He wants me to get the wax off tomorrow. The car has matte grey paint...which is why I couldn't tell where the wax was and wasn't.

Does anyone have a tip for how I can remove the old, hardened wax? He's a great customer, I really need to fix this.

Please help!
 
ge234 said:
Hey Guys, I am in a jam and need help. An old customer called me today. Apparently I missed removing some of the wax on his car a few months ago. He called me today from a carwash and said they were having trouble getting the wax off. He wants me to get the wax off tomorrow. The car has matte grey paint...which is why I couldn't tell where the wax was and wasn't.

Does anyone have a tip for how I can remove the old, hardened wax? He's a great customer, I really need to fix this.

Please help!
Click to expand...
Something on the order of this will work:
Griots Garage Dried-On Wax Remover

And "Like removes Like":
Use some of the same wax (fresh),
to remove the old dried-up wax.

Also:
If he's such a great customer...
why was he at some establishment,
other than yours, for a car wash??

Bob
 
thank you bob, i will try to find this at a local auto-parts store. he wants me there tomorrow. hopefully advanced auto or autozone will have it.

he's a great customer because he has a lot of very nice cars that i can charge a premium for...i want him to be happy with my work. i've only worked for him once.
 
ge234 said:
thank you bob, i will try to find this at a local auto-parts store. he wants me there tomorrow. hopefully advanced auto or autozone will have it.

he's a great customer because he has a lot of very nice cars that i can charge a premium for...i want him to be happy with my work. i've only worked for him once.
Click to expand...
If they don't have the Griot's,
another dedicated dried-wax remover should work.

Don't forget about taking the tin of the wax you originally used.

You need to get this customer on a maintenance program.
Cleaning up this wax residue could do it!

Bob
 
i really appreciate your guidance bob, thank you again. i'm new to this business and hope that solid customer service will do the trick
 
would a 'quick detailer' work if i cannot find a specified wax remover?
 
ge234 said:
would a 'quick detailer' work if i cannot find a specified wax remover?
Click to expand...

Maybe, maybe not. If it's just wax, an All Purpose Cleaner will work. You will just have to re wax the area afterwords.
 
can i assume an all-purpose cleaner and a quick-detail spray are the same thing?
 
The best products I know of for old dried wax removal are Lusso Pant Cleaner and Swissvax Cleaner Fluid Regular.
 
I'd try using more of the same wax. This should re-liquify the old wax and make removal easy.
 
I'd try using an all purpose cleaner and a MF towel then re wax that area.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using AG Online
 
If it can wait 'til monday, you can also use p21s paint cleansing lotion. Available at the local Harley dealership.

Be careful. I learned a lesson the hard way that I hope you don't. I looked for customers before I looked for information. I did a great job on two of a great customer's cars, but on the third, left some dried wax on his black trim. Haven't heard from him since.

That lead me to this forum, and subsequently, massive amounts of research. I have learned so much from this site, things it would have taken me years of "burning bridges" like the one I did. $$ costly mistake...

There are some clues you're giving that say you could use some similar research.

I'd start here:

Ask the expert featuring Mike Phillips

The Vehicle Inspection Form comes to mind too

Another great article by Mike Phillips that seems applicable here

I could go on for days sending you every article that he's written, but as Mrs. Roosevelt said,

“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself. ”

One thing to remember, it costs a lot more to acquire a new customer than it does to keep an existing one! You're right to make him happy!

Last but not least! Welcome to AGO!
 
You can use a cleaner wax, QD, non-abrasive polish, waterless wash, APC.
 
i have a car wash solution specially made for matte finishes...should i apply that prior to re-applying the wax?
 
thanks CS.

i'll first wash the area where the wax is hardened. then apply some of the same wax over the hardened wax to hopefully moisten and loosen it up. i'll let it sit for a few minutes prior to rubbing it off. hopefully this works. i'll have to be extra careful with matte finishes moving forward...they are difficult. and considering this is a ferrari i will take even more caution.
 
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