caution re: well known detailers

builthatch

builthatch

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i'm not going to name names, but i just want to say that if you are considering someone based on their past reputation, internet posts, write ups or even referrals - go see the work for yourself on other cars coming out of the shop before you go with someone. even if they did good work for you before, see what's going on currently at their place. people burn out, their minds change, they are going through personal issues...their goals change, etc. a lot of things happen that can ruin a service-based business and i experienced it first hand.

anyone, no matter how big the name appears, can end up causing you a lot of hassle and frustration...and money.

i picked up my wife's new Audi up at a dealership about 1:20 from me so i decided to use a very well known detailer in that area to do new car prep, clear film and Opti-Coat. oh, and front window tint. the car had only the large plastic removed to inspect the finish at the dealer, no dealer cosmetic prep whatsoever. looked great but was dirty.

i don't want to get into the details because the story is crazy and i don't want to use up all of AG's bandwidth, but it took a month, three round in crappy traffic, two different rental cars ($600 in rental fees), a lot of hassle/chasing/false promises and i ended up with a brand new car that still had issues - a poorly executed vinyl repair they did due to damage originally from them (had my local guy redo it to amazing spec), a door panel that was installed incorrectly (had to buy a new clip and have a local stereo shop address it), a 3/4" razor cut in the headlight (not fixable), b-pillars/gloss trim that look like crap (did one side myself and they look great, will fix other side as soon as i have the time) and rubber trim that is coated incorrectly with DLux (am removing slowly, a bit at a time).

that doesn't even start to cover the entirety of issues it had the first time i picked it up after they had it for ten days. that is a whole 'nother story.

and the main reason i brought it up there was the clear film work (i could have just driven it home and done the new car prep and coating). welp...the film had to removed by them for various reasons. they said it was the film's fault...but it was installed poorly. pre-cuts weren't even installed right, so they also blamed the plotter. it's apparent that they just can't install film to any reliable degree. that's the truth, and i learned it the hard way. some people want to be a jack of all trades and some trades require years of experience to master.

so all in all, i paid money, experienced immense stress and spent over a month trying to get something done that i could have just done myself and to a much higher degree to boot.

and if you saw this business's public info re: social media, etc., you'd never know any of this was going on. sad.

keep your eyes peeled and do the due diligence necessary to assure yourself that you aren't setting yourself up for massive stress.
 
I need start saying I'm sorry for you (a lot), but I cannot left this thread without telling you how much good you're doing opening your case to everyone.

We need constant reassurance, and I'll be working hard to never let this happen with a customer of mine. I wish I never let someone down like you are right now, people sell their 'souls' for such small 'tip' money, life is hard, but let's be, at least, honest.

I'll keep an eye not just detailing related, this happens in every aspect of human relationships.

Thanks for informing,

Kind Regards.
 
Very sorry to this.

Just read about a similar incident on a FB detailing page involving a pretty reputable detailer and how he didn't execute a proper coating and managed to dent up a hood in process. Bad situation for both involved.
 
I do not know where you are,but if I can be of any help let me know.
Theshineshopautodetailing.com
 
And the damage to one's reputation is done! The old adage of do good work and the customer tells one other...do poor work and the customer tells 10 others! In the age of the internet, multiply those numbers by thousands, maybe millions.
 
thanks all.

custmsprty said:
One word " Lawyer "
Click to expand...

i spoke to my attorney after i received the car back the first time and he said the path of least resistance is worth exploring, at least initially. he suggested i give him the chance to correct his mistakes and what i ended up with, eventually, was all of my money back for the film work and a very reduced rate for the detail. i mean, he ended up doing a good job on the paint and glass prep, it just took a second trip for him to do it. and yes, there was polish residue everywhere and some coating run off/high spots because he had JUST done it prior to me picking it up the second time after having it there for another week...but it's not quite enough overall to really pursue. though yes, i was seriously considering it.

it's funny - the one thing that bums me out the most is the scratch in the headlamp, because it's permanent. but because of the total gravity of the whole situation, i just want to be rid of this situation and not ever deal with this guy again as a customer. it ( the scratch) is not even that bad at this point, since he did try to correct it and coat it with Opti-Lens...but it's still there and coupled with the additional work i've had to do, it's just frustrating. not quite enough to pursue legally, though. i'm not over the edge anymore.

that is what this guy needs though. i think that would be a wake up call. he's not a bad person, he's just lost. i'll wait for someone else with an expensive exotic to do it though. someone who has the time and money to waste, haha.

Mike lambert said:
I do not know where you are,but if I can be of any help let me know.
Theshineshopautodetailing.com
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Mike, thanks. you helped me a couple years ago by doing a visual PPI on a car in MD. you are a good guy and i appreciate your offer.
 
Sorry this had happened to you! I will add to Mikes offer if you are close.
 
I didn't do it!!! (joke)

I don't know what to say brother other than I am sorry he ruined your "new car experience". Your advise is wise and commend you for remaining so calm writing your original post (without names etc..)

I do pray that you find peace in this turmoil. I sure hope the detailer in question learned from his experience and take his work (and the customer service/care) a little more seriously before he ruin what you report as a good reputation.
 
Jack of all trades and master of none! All too common these days.
 
i thought about just coming out with it after the first round of issues but decided that it wasn't worth it just yet. and now, a few weeks later, i feel like i just got over a month of stress because of this dude, i don't want to invite anything else.

i really think the best policy is to inspect what is currently coming out of the shop for yourself and make the decision based on that if you must use someone other than yourself to do work on your stuff.
 
swanicyouth said:
Name names... Why not?

Save the next guy the headache.
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I agree. If dudes not delivering the goods he should express who it is. It may save someone else a headache. You are allowed to voice your displeasure if it's due. :xyxthumbs:
 
Why not have him replace the headlight? And what about being reimbursed for the rental cars and the time you were w/o your vehicle?
 
custmsprty said:
Why not have him replace the headlight? And what about being reimbursed for the rental cars and the time you were w/o your vehicle?
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it's close - i weighed it out and i'd probably spend about that amount of money and time on seeking reimbursement. i'm down with doing stuff based on principle but i'm just over this whole situation. i think if there was true terminal damage here (past the lamp)...i'd pursue it. but it's just not enough to bother. it's really just a lesson learned for me. the headlamp...i'm going to give it a shot myself to see if i can get it out. judging on how he rushed everything else, who knows if he really attempted to do what he claims with the lamp? but yeah, i was so fed up with the whole thing i just wanted to essentially cut my losses and get the car back in my hands and let this guy get out of my life ASAP.
 
builthatch said:
but it's just not enough to bother. it's really just a lesson learned for me.
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Sadly companies are realizing that! They know majority of people will either:

A- Not be able to find a lawyer to take their "small" case
or
B- Don't have the time or resources to take them to small claims court

Customer service is out the window and bottom dollar profit is what it is all about. They figure every customer they loose they can replace with two.

Good work with good service is hard to come by these days.
 
TuxedoTaurus said:
Sadly companies are realizing that! They know majority of people will either:

A- Not be able to find a lawyer to take their "small" case
or
B- Don't have the time or resources to take them to small claims court

Customer service is out the window and bottom dollar profit is what it is all about. They figure every customer they loose they can replace with two.

Good work with good service is hard to come by these days.
Click to expand...

i agree. this dude built a good reputation because he used to do good work...so he has a lot of higher end stuff coming through there now. he's going to mess up with the wrong person, if he hasn't already. there is no way he would treat me like this and not have it occur with someone else. the whole thing was so bananas from the beginning i know it wasn't an isolated incident. he hinted that he had a bunch of come backs but the bottom line is he promised everything, followed through with very little of it and caused a lot of problems. again all i'm saying is keep tabs on what's really happening if you choose to use someone's services. you just can't depend on the synthetic picture they paint online or even what they've done in the past.
 
builthatch said:
i'm not going to name names...
Click to expand...
•Good for you!! :props:

•IMHO:
-Talking sh!t about people, or tattle-telling on people won’t make you look good. Just the opposite: It will make you look bad.
-If you start gossiping or ratting people out, you’ll start to earn a bad reputation, and no one will want to hang out with you after hours.

•Your business life should be a drama free zone.
-No need to court retaliation from a person deemed to be a wrongdoer:
-There's a darn good chance they'll have the ability for further wrongdoing.

•I prefer not to say anything rather than hurting somebody...even if the emotions says otherwise.
-This businessman has already incurred damages through his own accord...not only to your Wife's vehicle...but also to his business' reputation and himself.
-If I can’t help someone, it's better to walk away rather than doing more damage.

•BTW:
-How's your Wife holding up under these unfortunate circumstances?
builthatch said:
i picked up my wife's new Audi up at a dealership about 1:20 from me
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Bob
 
FUNX725 said:
-How's your Wife holding up under these unfortunate circumstances?


Bob
Click to expand...

thanks :)

she's been great, as always. she was pretty let down and i felt so bad for it all because it was my fault she had to deal with all of this but she seems very happy to finally be able to drive her car. she had her last car for a long time and drove it into the ground, so you can imagine she was excited to order a new car that is quite an upgrade from her old piece.
 
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