Dealership Coating Contract

[Chris Thomas]

We do offer a dealership program in addition to the pro installers program, but it's not what the OP is looking for. He is talking about subcontracting things lot washers can't provide.

Our dealership program solicites already productive installers to make a sales commission based on providing training and relationship management with a dealership that does have a trainable full detailing department.

I've read a couple of comments here that are only assumptions or based on a unclear understanding of the program. I've personally been active with this program from conception and am pleased with the commission and time involved for my dealerships.

Being a public forum, please go to the source for this our info and don't rely on non active installers for your information. It's simple to understand that they didn't want to offer a warranty for their work or didn't want to offer Opti-Coat® at the new pricing, but spreading misinformation about the details is just unprofessional.

Regarding warranty claims, We expect participants to quickly and efficiently assess the claim, report validity to us, and make the necessary local arrangements with the dealership and the client to resolve the matter. It doesn't matter if you do the labor yourself or supervise the work. We don't micromanage, we simply expect service in exchange for the commissions. It's pretty simply.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Thanks for providing that information, Chris.

Just out of curiosity, are you at liberty to say how many new car dealers (nationwide) are active in that program?

Does OPT see this as a way to increase volume for the company or is it a way to help installers be more profitable?

 

[RaskyR1]

We do offer a dealership program in addition to the pro installers program, but it's not what the OP is looking for. He is talking about subcontracting things lot washers can't provide.

Our dealership program solicites already productive installers to make a sales commission based on providing training and relationship management with a dealership that does have a trainable full detailing department.

I've read a couple of comments here that are only assumptions or based on a unclear understanding of the program. I've personally been active with this program from conception and am pleased with the commission and time involved for my dealerships.

Being a public forum, please go to the source for this our info and don't rely on non active installers for your information. It's simple to understand that they didn't want to offer a warranty for their work or didn't want to offer Opti-Coat® at the new pricing, but spreading misinformation about the details is just unprofessional.

Regarding warranty claims, We expect participants to quickly and efficiently assess the claim, report validity to us, and make the necessary local arrangements with the dealership and the client to resolve the matter. It doesn't matter if you do the labor yourself or supervise the work. We don't micromanage, we simply expect service in exchange for the commissions. It's pretty simply.

It's from the source, Chris. I won't post info if I can't back it up but I will call it out when someone "sugar coats" the truth....please explain which part is misinformation. FYI, I do have the Dealership Program PDF as well as the Optimum Dealer Presentation-CT2 power point. So again, explain the misinformation.

 

[jrs1418]

Being a public forum, please go to the source for this our info and don't rely on non active installers for your information. It's simple to understand that they didn't want to offer a warranty for their work or didn't want to offer Opti-Coat® at the new pricing, but spreading misinformation about the details is just unprofessional.

Not tryin to start an argument, but i see (saw) thing differently, and thats why i cancelled our OC relationship. You guys are covering your bases, we also have to cover ours. Just like opt cannot 100% verify the quality of an actual installation, we cannot 100% verify whether the coating failed or if it just wasnt compatible for whatever reason. Thats why your warranty reads to that you will cover product replacement, and the installer covers the actual repair. But if we know we did everything right, and the surface has a failure or defect, as an installer we are the ones who have to take hours to repair it without coverage for our time. Thats basically putting full faith into OPT, that there'll never be a bad batch or something, or that the product was incompatible with the surface. And the potential for a circular argument on whos responsible, the product or the installer, is always a no win for the installer because at the end of the day, the customer is ours.

The reason why this bothers me is because ive gotten into a bit of trouble installing OC pro, on a single stage paintjob. You personally told me that OC pro would act as a clear coat for this type of surface, then the answer changed sometime after i performed the work, then the new warranty said it would not cover single stage paints. It wasnt a warranty pack application just product only, but i put my rep on the line, charged the customer a hefty fee, and then was left with no backing at all. 6 mos later or less it was oxidizing again, and since then ive buffed it out twice on the house. I just dont like the feeling of being looked at as a snake oil salesman from this guy.

In other words i rather buy a product thats 1/4 of the cost and just warranty it on my own. Or, choose not to claim it lasts forever or 5 years i think is the new claim from OPT. I tell my coating customers 2-5 years depending on how its maintained.

 

[jrs1418]

Sorry, in looking back it was Ronald Doyle who told me OC would act as a clear coat, or a 2nd stage.

 

[Chris Thomas]

It's from the source, Chris. I won't post info if I can't back it up but I will call it out when someone "sugar coats" the truth....please explain which part is misinformation. FYI, I do have the Dealership Program PDF as well as the Optimum Dealer Presentation-CT2 power point. So again, explain the misinformation.

First, misinformation is not the same as lying. I'm not saying you're lying Rasky. What I mean by misinformation is that since you have had no first hand experience with a warranty claim, you don't know that we handle claims situationally.

As the regional manager for eastern US I have mediated and OPT is always fair. We troubleshoot and identify the issue of possible but always take care of the customer. I have helped resolve problems where the failure was deemed installer error, where we could not determine the cause, and where one installer had to repair another installers work. We have had installers redo their work, paid an installer to redo their work, and paid an installer to repair another's work. Each situation was fair for all parties involved and left no hard feelings in any direction.

Not tryin to start an argument, but i see (saw) thing differently, and thats why i cancelled our OC relationship. You guys are covering your base...Sorry, in looking back it was Ronald Doyle who told me OC would act as a clear coat, or a 2nd stage.

There are certain foods that upset my stomach and I steer clear of them based on past experience. So I understand that when we chose to provide warranty services that you weren't on board with, you chose to bow out. Regarding single stage paints, Opti-Coat® was developed for modern clears and works fine on modern paint systems bar none. This includes tinted clears and post 2000 single stages. Older paint single stage paint systems have been reported to work and to fail equally. Based on the small percentage of these cars there is no way to determine whether prep or product is to blame. We give you a safe margin with the warranty so that you don't get into a situation where you're on the hook for special situations. The warranty is a great proof of authenticity and value for the customers spending $1k with you guys. It is a good thing for all but a handful of guys that seem to be very vocal about their dissatisfaction with the loss of a bulk product. We offer a satisfaction warranty on our retail chemicals and the exposure for returns is figured into the retail price. Likewise, the best way for installers to cope with your concerns is to 1) insure that you do each job systematically and accurately as we suggest to avoid install issues and 2) build a small percentage into your prices to cover claims (legit and frivolous). Statistically, less than half of one percent of coatings we sell have any complaint...and most full blown claims have been resolved by redoing a small section and not the whole car. While I can see your concern, it's not a deal breaker to keep me from offering a reputable, durable product.

Sorry for the book.

 

[FinishingTouchA]

As the regional manager for eastern US I have mediated and OPT is always fair. We troubleshoot and identify the issue of possible but always take care of the customer. I have helped resolve problems where the failure was deemed installer error, where we could not determine the cause, and where one installer had to repair another installers work. We have had installers redo their work, paid an installer to redo their work, and paid an installer to repair another's work. Each situation was fair for all parties involved and left no hard feelings in any direction.

^^
This is why I became an OC installer, a good company to work with!

 

[jarred767]

Not tryin to start an argument, but i see (saw) thing differently, and thats why i cancelled our OC relationship. You guys are covering your bases, we also have to cover ours. Just like opt cannot 100% verify the quality of an actual installation, we cannot 100% verify whether the coating failed or if it just wasnt compatible for whatever reason. Thats why your warranty reads to that you will cover product replacement, and the installer covers the actual repair. But if we know we did everything right, and the surface has a failure or defect, as an installer we are the ones who have to take hours to repair it without coverage for our time. Thats basically putting full faith into OPT, that there'll never be a bad batch or something, or that the product was incompatible with the surface. And the potential for a circular argument on whos responsible, the product or the installer, is always a no win for the installer because at the end of the day, the customer is ours.

The reason why this bothers me is because ive gotten into a bit of trouble installing OC pro, on a single stage paintjob. You personally told me that OC pro would act as a clear coat for this type of surface, then the answer changed sometime after i performed the work, then the new warranty said it would not cover single stage paints. It wasnt a warranty pack application just product only, but i put my rep on the line, charged the customer a hefty fee, and then was left with no backing at all. 6 mos later or less it was oxidizing again, and since then ive buffed it out twice on the house. I just dont like the feeling of being looked at as a snake oil salesman from this guy.

In other words i rather buy a product thats 1/4 of the cost and just warranty it on my own. Or, choose not to claim it lasts forever or 5 years i think is the new claim from OPT. I tell my coating customers 2-5 years depending on how its maintained.

Interesting, I had a very similar thing happen when applied to an RV even though I was told by OPT that it wouldn't and I must be doing something wrong for it to react that way. I've been back a couple times to buff out the oxidation that reappeared on my own dime. That was one of my last OCP jobs I did, but it still seems to haunt me, and I feel bad that "my work" won't stand up to my own standards.

It's part of life though, I've moved on with no regrets (or at least minimal). OCP is a great product 99% of the time, so those that use it, I hope you continue to have great success with the product.