Opticoat 2.0 discontinued, OptiCoat Pro sees price increase

[expdetailing]

Nano coatings can be purchased by the quart or gallon online for $200-$300 online. Coating applications range from paint, glass, fabric, vinyl and leather. just a little fyi

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I work a full-time job and only detail part-time. Being a mobile detailer in Central Indiana means I can only offer my services part of the year (8 months out of 12, at best). Saturday's are my OC days. I'd love to be able to do 24 OC jobs each year, but the demand just isn't there, at least not at the price point outlined by OPT.

Yeah, sorry, here I'm thinking that all your jobs are OCP, which of course they are not.

So let me throw another musing out there--is it possible that Optimum hasn't been making any money on OC 2.0 and OCP? And that they had hoped that volume would turn that around but it hasn't? So they have accepted the reduced volume and increased the price to a profitable level?

That's the opposite of what Builthatch suggested about the coatings being underpriced for their performance and that this latest move was just the realization of that.

 

[VP Mark]

You're full time, right? I saw one of the hard-core Optimum guys posting on another forum, and he's not in a rural market, saying he wasn't sure how these higher prices were going to fly for him.

Yep. My OC Pro sales took a big dip last year after the price hike they did. I don't want to base my whole business off selling coatings so it would be hard to get this price point without really gearing my business towards it. I can buy something like Cquarts (not finest) straight off the shelf, sell it for less than half of OC Pro with the new prices.

I respect optimum, love their products, and will continue to support their company, but I feel like this latest push is going to drive many detailers that don't primarily sell coatings away from them.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using AG Online

 

[KillaCam]

OPTIMUM PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS ANNOUNCEMENT
.

New Optimum Products, including a dedicated Opti-Coat line available in coming months:

OptI-Coat Spot Remover
Opti-Coat Iron Remover
Opti-Coat Prep Solution
Opti-Coat Maintenance Wash
Opti-Trim Restore
Opti-Trim Protect

As labels and packaging are available these products will be introduced.

YOUR OPTIMUM TEAM

Hmm sounds like they are desperately trying to copy another top brand. *Cough Carpro cough.*
I'll stick with my iron x, spotless, eraser, reset, and DLux.

 

[Driven Auto Detail]

Another thought popped into my head with all this...

I wonder what the status of Opti-Glass is. I love that product and hope I can continue to get it. If not, I hope Gloss-Coat works on glass.

 

[Vivant511]

Hmm sounds like they are desperately trying to copy another top brand. *Cough Carpro cough.*
I'll stick with my iron x, spotless, eraser, reset, and DLux.

Perhaps I'm opening a can of worms here, but have you heard of TAC System?


Back on to topic, as an authorised applicator of OCP, I'm not all that phased by it all, or perhaps it's just my obvious inability to read between the lines...

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Another thought popped into my head with all this...

I wonder what the status of Opti-Glass is. I love that product and hope I can continue to get it. If not, I hope Gloss-Coat works on glass.

It says (like OC 2.0) "not recommended for glass". I wondered also if the consumer versions of Opti-Glass and Opti-Lens were in jeopardy. Is there really a consumer version of Opti-Lens or is it the same as the pro version? I know the glass products are supposed to be different, they have different durability.

 

[FUNX650]

Following the continual chronicling of all the Opti-Coatings' undergoings...reminds me of the literature subgenre known as Bildungsroman:
Wherein the goal of the leading character is the gradual attainment of maturity---"the coming of age", if you will.

Bob

 

[Inuyashas_bro]

Just placed an order with amazon for a batch before it runs out. Might save it for my next new car :buffing:

 

[Jean-Claude]

so i guess i should snag some opticoat while its in stock places....

I tried to purchase 20 tubes of 2.0 and just got confirmation that 8 will come my way. I'll probably flip them in a month.

 

[cleanmycorolla]

Perhaps I'm opening a can of worms here, but have you heard of TAC System?


Back on to topic, as an authorised applicator of OCP, I'm not all that phased by it all, or perhaps it's just my obvious inability to read between the lines...

I've seen them....looks like they might supply some folks. I tried emailing them, never heard back.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I tried to purchase 20 tubes of 2.0 and just got confirmation that 8 will come my way. I'll probably flip them in a month.

Uh-oh...the OC 2.0 black market begins! I hope for your sake Gloss-Coat actually is an inferior product, although I guess OC 2.0 is still 2/3 the price.

 

[Inuyashas_bro]

I tried to purchase 20 tubes of 2.0 and just got confirmation that 8 will come my way. I'll probably flip them in a month.

LOL - good for you. I just got one for myself because this coating seems interesting. If I mess up the application I will know to hit you up for a discounted batch :xyxthumbs:

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Funny how the AG store says backordered but the ACC doesn't--they both can't be right.

 

[zmcgovern45]

Yep... I've always been a big CarPro/Finest supporter. Seems like I will no longer be offering OCP. I used to offer it as a lower cost alternative to Finest, but there are plenty of other products that will suit my needs, and for a much better price.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

This is certainly not the slickest launch of a new product.

Maybe the Optimum marketing department (do they have a marketing department?) missed a big opportunity by not predicting what happens when insufficient {info} is presented to the market.

Thinking about this--I doubt this was intended to be the product "launch". My guess would be that the OCP price increase outrage caused this leakage of what OPT thought was going to be a confidential message to the pro installer base. I'm also guessing there is a lot of scrambling around this morning in the OPT and reseller offices trying to get the message straight, which is why we haven't heard anything yet.

 

[Dr_Pain]

After some thought, the price of $60 for one 10cc tube of Gloss-Coat is very competitive with CQuartz UK.

CarPro is currently charging $55 for a 30ml kit of UK with a sample bottle of Reload.

Based on the preliminary reports I've heard, the Optimum gloss-coat will probably have an easier application process than UK (though nothing beats C.A.R. Products' BulletProof in this area) and will not need periodic "refreshes" like UK does.

Here is my thought on your "need periodic refreshes" statement. Although I do agree that Carpro advocate using Reload in the maintenance, it is NOT because the product needs it but because the coating does not provide the slickness most come to desire (or are looking for). Reload does not add to the coating same as the PBL booster does not add to the coating.... It just enhances the properties (while the base properties remain).

I personally have CQUK jobs that never gotten a maintenance with Reload and their look and hydrophobic qualities remain, HOWEVER to touch them, they feel "grippy" (after a nice Reset bath). To be honest, Finest "grippy" as well (similar to squeaky clean glass). Reload just provide slickness (and makes for a ridiculous bead show).

I've used Reload on DP and PBL coatings as well as OC2.0 and OCP, and obviously on the CarPro coatings (as expressed above). I recommend it to ALL my coated clients with the same reasoning I shared above.

Is it just me or does it seem like nowadays everyone is trying to copy the entire CarPro line of products?

Sent from my N9810 using AG Online

Nicholas, you and I are thinking the same!! Often imitated but never matched. I wish AG would carry more of their lineup. You think we can start a petition??

From what I keep reading, it seems that everyone is mad about the loss of 2.0, but it seems that only the people complaining are not the pro level guys. Are you guys mad because you were using 2.0 to make a side gig work, and now you don't have that anymore, because it seems to me that if you were just using it on your car or truck and you have already installed it, that you would have plenty enough product left to redo said vehicle if it ever needed it.
I think it is a good decision for a coating company to offer "Pro Only" applications, and stand behind the pros and also give them a radiused territory. That is just my opinion. I have one vehicle that I coated with 2.0, and that was a no charge detail for the owner of the shop I use. I have not used the rest yet, but if I do, it would be on my vehicle.

HUMP

Hey HUMP, a lot of the busy PRO installers choose to remain in a quiet revolt against, not only the recent changes, but many unresolved issues that OPT has had over the years. We've heard an increasing number of stories that non-PRO could plea themselves into getting the PRO version for "personal use" (as a 1 time type courtesy). The quiet revolt I have seen is a general push towards other PRO coatings (albeit Finest, Modesta, 9H etc..) Many installers with multi-certifications are dropping OCP altogether (or as one mentioned OCP will organically drop out of the line up) since installers prefer the product, exclusivity, support etc... of a different PRO company. OPT is a great company but WHAT A MESS!!!!

Don't know how much longer I will be a pro installer with this news. The minimum $300 purchase alone guarantees you have to 'pay' at least $3600. A year out of pocket to be a pro installer.

I just don't sell that many coatings. Especially at a minimum of $495 at each sale in my rural market.

Looks like I'll be soon switching to only selling DP Coating and something a little higher end. Maybe EXO or cquartz. These moves have basically cut the guys that don't serve really high end markets out of the coating game.

On to bigger and better things I suppose!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using AG Online

Finest has been my only PRO option and I guess now CQUK and PBL will be my only 2 entry level coating option:nomore:

My current 50ml bottle of CQUK has put two coats on a large sedan, one coat on a large SUV, and one coat on two motorcycles. There is still about half a bottle left.

It never fails to make me laugh when people discuss the fact that 10cc of OC product = more product and coverage than a 50ml bottle of UK. My undergrad was in biochemistry and back then (1992) 1cc=1ml. Did something change since that time?

Hmm sounds like they are desperately trying to copy another top brand. *Cough Carpro cough.*
I'll stick with my iron x, spotless, eraser, reset, and DLux.

LOL!!! You and me both brother!!

Uh-oh...the OC 2.0 black market begins! I hope for your sake Gloss-Coat actually is an inferior product, although I guess OC 2.0 is still 2/3 the price.

It was bound to happen!! If they did it with Twinkies, they will do it with OC2.0. I am staying out of that rat race. I just gave away my last 10cc to a fellow geeker.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Seems like I will no longer be offering OCP.

Another part-time pro bites the dust, so to speak. Have to wonder whether this was OPT's objective?

 

[VP Mark]

Another part-time pro bites the dust, so to speak. Have to wonder whether this was OPT's objective?

If that is true it is fine if that is the model they want to follow.

That being said, it seems like a loss to me to lose half of your installers, even if they didn't do 2+ installs a month (enough to keep pro installer status by purchases).

I get removing 2.0. It really is a comparable product to Pro, but dumbing down the pro installer ranks with adding new restrictions seems counter productive.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using AG Online

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Hey HUMP, a lot of the busy PRO installers choose to remain in a quiet revolt against, not only the recent changes, but many unresolved issues that OPT has had over the years. We've heard an increasing number of stories that non-PRO could plea themselves into getting the PRO version for "personal use" (as a 1 time type courtesy).

Are you saying that those "personal users" then turned around and tried to sell an OCP installation? Or are you saying that those users became a lost sale to an authorized applicator?