Why are pad washers so expensive?!

T

trekkeruss

New member
Joined
Nov 25, 2013
Messages
1,072
Reaction score
0
I have no doubt they work, but they seem wildly overpriced. I'd buy one if it was $40 or so, but I'd feel like a fool paying $135 for one. I mean, a PC DA costs less, and it requires a hellalot more engineering and manufacturing to make a polisher than a plastic bucket with some other plastic bits and bobbles.
 
I agree. Can't wait for someone to make one available at a reasonable price.
 
Same here I would pay for one around $60 bucks looks like I'll make one
 
This is the one I like, because it separates the clean/dirty solution, which is better for occasional users...but the member who reviewed it said his Flex wouldn't fit, and besides it sprayed water out the sides...and it's $170!!

Detailer’s System 3000 Deluxe Pad Washer

It seems like a lot of engineering went into it...but not much testing? Since one of the most popular polishers won't fit, and apparently whatever polisher you use sprays water out the side.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-deluxe-pad-washer.html?highlight=system+3000

Didn't seem to be any response to those issues from AG or Lake Country.

I guess one of the reasons they are expensive is there are a lot of expensive injection molds for parts that they don't really make many of. Of course, it could just be that they are charging for the convenience...like when you are in Target looking at the plastic storage containers...is there really $10 of plastic in there, or are you paying for the organization of your belongings?
 
$135 is the perfect price - I'm not tempted to buy one for that much!
 
I am so glad I'm not the only one that has questioned the price of these things. How much does it cost to mold a piece of plastic than charge as much as some DA polishers? But, at the end of the day if people will pay for it why stop.
 
I have the universal pad washer and I love it. I bought it when it was on sale but man I will not go without it. Makes my jobs easier, makes pad cleaning and maintaining much easier, speeds up my process, and it very convenient to use and take on a job.

While it may seem expensive to a person who does it as a hobby, its certainly with the price tag for someone like me who does this for money. Keeping my pads clean and usable for as long as possible means less money I have to spend on replacing them.
 
Saves me time and time=money. They work great to keep your pads clean and quickly.

I don't mind paying the price.
 
I had one years ago and sold it. I have never missed it one bit.
 
I did not buy a pad washer last year when I was purchasing all I needed for detailling because I felt it was too expensive for a bucket with a grit guard and a small water pump. Now, I must admit not doing so have made me waste so much time washing pads that I will very likelly purchase one in the days to come. I really liked the design of the one Ammo NYC is using. I think it's called the detailler's cart or something like that where the pad washer is on a mobile cart where you have room for your Tools and products as well as the pad washer. That is very likelly what I will buy.
 
BuckeyeR/T said:
at the end of the day if people will pay for it why stop.
Click to expand...

Maybe they feel like since it is the only one on the market, they can charge whatever the feel the market will bear. Maybe it costs more to make than I think...although I doubt it. I just think they would sell a LOT more if they were lower priced.

There are lots of detailing products I question the price of, but the pad washers sticks out more to me than most. Take Nanoskin towels, for example. Those can't be very expensive to produce either. I still hesitate to buy one because I can get really cheap clay on fleabay, but at least I wouldn't feel like I was being taken for a fool for buying one. Waxes is another. I suspect those are like cosmetics for men; the $200 wax don't cost that much more to make than the $10 waxes. You're paying more for the pretty packaging, and the exclusivity of the product.

I know there is no answers here. I am mostly just thinking out loud. The main thing I guess is that having to spend more than a C-note for a detailing product just doesn't sit well with me.
 
trekkeruss said:
Maybe they feel like since it is the only one on the market, they can charge whatever the feel the market will bear. Maybe it costs more to make than I think...although I doubt it. I just think they would sell a LOT more if they were lower priced.
Click to expand...

Well, there is the Grit Guard pad washer, and then the Lake Country System 2000, and then the Detailer's System 3000 made by Lake Country (which may be a PBMG exclusive), so there are 3 available from 2-3 suppliers.

I think mostly they are charging you for the time you save, if you are a production shop, or a full-time detailer anyway, I would think these things would pay for themselves pretty quickly vs. washing pads by hand (I used to throw them in the washer but you had to do so much hand prep it seemed easier to just hand wash them) if you are cleaning 20 pads a day. And if you are cleaning 20 pads a day, then you change the solution every day, which is a problem for the weekend guy who cleans a few pads and then next week the solution is rancid.

That's why I liked that 3000 since it separates the clean/dirty fluid, and I might have gone for it during a good sale except for the bad review (Flex won't fit and splatter).
 
Calendyr said:
I really liked the design of the one Ammo NYC is using. I think it's called the detailler's cart or something like that where the pad washer is on a mobile cart where you have room for your Tools and products as well as the pad washer. That is very likelly what I will buy.
Click to expand...

It is the same pad washer. The cart just has a hole in it. You can buy them separately of together:

Grit Guard Universal Detailing Cart, Grit Guard Universal Pad Washer Detail Cart

Grit Guard Universal Pad Washer & Detailing Cart Combo, pad washing cart, clean buffing pads

That's another that has me scratching my head. On the one hand it is more convenient to have the washer up higher...no stooping to use it. But the cart is also less useful, because the washer takes up a lot of real estate. I'd have to buy a second cart to hold my stuff.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Well, there is the Grit Guard pad washer, and then the Lake Country System 2000, and then the Detailer's System 3000 made by Lake Country (which may be a PBMG exclusive), so there are 3 available from 2-3 suppliers.
Click to expand...

I know there is one by Megs too. I haven't seen any up close; I just assumed they were all the same, just rebranded like the foam cannons.
 
trekkeruss said:
I know there is one by Megs too. I haven't seen any up close; I just assumed they were all the same, just rebranded like the foam cannons.
Click to expand...

I forgot about the Meg's one, I believe that is a rebranded Grit Guard. The GG, the 2000, and the 3000 are all different though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top