Difference in quotes for one-step paint correction?

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deacno

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I'm comparing some quotes I got for doing a one-step paint correction on my car. All of the quotes were from detailers in the same metro area and seemed to have a steady clientele just from my visit to their shops (had some cars that were getting detailed when I stopped by and had some people waiting in the waiting room if that's any indication). The quotes were also based on washing the car, claying it, polishing it to remove swirls and minor imperfections and applying a protectant like a wax or sealant.

A couple of the quotes were in the $150 range and one was around $300.

Any idea what if could account for the difference in pricing? The cheaper quotes mentioned a compound was used but the more expensive one mentioned it was polishing being done.
 
Why not ask the detailers about the difference in price..
 
My main motivation for getting all of my own supplies was that I could do it all for the same price that someone would charge and I could do it multiple times and do other people's cars and get my money back.
 
deacno said:
I'm comparing some quotes I got for doing a one-step paint correction on my car. All of the quotes were from detailers in the same metro area and seemed to have a steady clientele just from my visit to their shops (had some cars that were getting detailed when I stopped by and had some people waiting in the waiting room if that's any indication). The quotes were also based on washing the car, claying it, polishing it to remove swirls and minor imperfections and applying a protectant like a wax or sealant.

A couple of the quotes were in the $150 range and one was around $300.

Any idea what if could account for the difference in pricing? The cheaper quotes mentioned a compound was used but the more expensive one mentioned it was polishing being done.
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The cheaper quote mentioning compound seems right. (As in faster job with bad results)

As that sounds to be More production.

The guys that said polish is the more professional logic, because compound with a one step more then likely is going to leave haze and micro marring compounding swirls.

That is why is multi step correction is needed.

The first step takes out the damage but leaves its on damage, then the finishing polish and polishing pad takes that out and leaves a flawless finish.

So a one step is traditionally used with a mid grade polish, like 3d speed.

You shouldn't take that customers were there into affect, thousands of people go thru a 3 dollar automatic car wash a day does that mean that its good Car care NO.

instead you should ask the following questions.

What kind of polish are your going to use ?

What kind of machine are you using ? A rotary or a da polisher.

Are you using a all in one product, or a polish then sealing step.

How many hours do you plan on spending on my paint.

Those are the things you should answer.

I would stay away from the 150 quote.

Anybody that knows what there doing wouldn't do a interior and exterior good one step then a sealant. That just tells me that there using cheap products and a rotary and going over your car in 30 mins with 3 guys buffing.

A good one step is around 2-300 and you can expect a 40-75- defect removal depending on how hard or soft your paint is as well as how bad it is.

You have to take into consideration the products the detailer is using.

Soap
Clay
Pads
Polishes
Detail spray
Towels
Sealant
Wax

All that stuff is expensive if you buy quality. You can go to autozone and buy 5 over the counter stuff and spend 100$

Let alone premium stuff.

And stay away from the guy that said compound for a one step.

That just tells me he's using a rotary and a abrasive compound that's going to leave rotary hologram swirls all over.

That's not professional anybody can do that.

You want some of the most knowledgeable passionate people in the world for detailing your car ?

You found it your on this forum so that means you are smart. Post a thread that your looking for a detailer in your area.

And We have some of the nicest educated people in the world of detailing here.
 
thanks for the comments.

I did ask some of those questions that were suggested. Both of quotes would require the car be left all day but I got the feeling that the more expensive quote was more tailored to the individual car and not just following a set procedure with set products. The more expensive quote was using a DA and they didn't seem set on what products that were going to use for polishing whereas the less expensive quote would be using a wool pad and seemed to have a product they used for that application (I asked him what it was but couldn't remember the name).

I'm a little confused about one-step paint correction when using a compound vs. just a polish. Is a compound usually applied with a buffer meaning a faster application but a less flawless finish compared with a polish applied with a DA?

As long as it gets rid of the swirls (as opposed to concealing or masking them) without leaving hazing I would be happy. The less expensive quotes said they would be doing an additional step to correct the hazing that the compounding left but it seemed hard to imagine all that work could be done for that price.
 
I would shy away from the lower end/less knowledgeable quote. That old saying, "You get what you pay for" rings true in the auto refinishing world. Remember that the knowledge to do a quality job also costs money.
 
deacno said:
thanks for the comments.

I did ask some of those questions that were suggested. Both of quotes would require the car be left all day but I got the feeling that the more expensive quote was more tailored to the individual car and not just following a set procedure with set products. The more expensive quote was using a DA and they didn't seem set on what products that were going to use for polishing whereas the less expensive quote would be using a wool pad and seemed to have a product they used for that application (I asked him what it was but couldn't remember the name).

I'm a little confused about one-step paint correction when using a compound vs. just a polish. Is a compound usually applied with a buffer meaning a faster application but a less flawless finish compared with a polish applied with a DA?

As long as it gets rid of the swirls (as opposed to concealing or masking them) without leaving hazing I would be happy. The less expensive quotes said they would be doing an additional step to correct the hazing that the compounding left but it seemed hard to imagine all that work could be done for that price.
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You are a bit confused here and its okay. First off Das never really use wool pads, rotaries do, when they mentioned wool pad, it would be a hack job as they just dont know what they are doing usually.So yes, these 150 dollar jobs for doing a whole car means bad work.

A one step is like a half way between the two. It will cut out defects like a polish but not leave behind micro marring and hazing like a Compound.It is not going to work on every car but will work on mos. All liquids are applied with a Da or rotary, not one using one machine and one using the other. The buffer you are talking about is a good machine in the right hands or is known as a rotary, but in the wrong hands (150 dollar job) ,it can be horrible.

A DA corrects in less time but cannot burn through paint and is easier to handle. So from an economic standpoint, shops go for a rotary but often provide bad work which is why alot of good shops use DA and even rotaries if they are skilled
 
It's really sad, I've talked to a few places that have a car wash and claim they do car exterior detailing. Ill ask them what kind of clay they use or methods to clean the surface paint. Their reply, what's Clay? Or I use a light compound to clean the paint surface! Sad.
 
Kenny94 said:
It's really sad, I've talked to a few places that have a car wash and claim they do car exterior detailing. Ill ask them what kind of clay they use or methods to clean the surface paint. Their reply, what's Clay? Or I use a light compound to clean the paint surface! Sad.
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yes it is, like hiring a crappy, unorganized contractor
 
deacno said:
thanks for the comments.

I did ask some of those questions that were suggested. Both of quotes would require the car be left all day but I got the feeling that the more expensive quote was more tailored to the individual car and not just following a set procedure with set products. The more expensive quote was using a DA and they didn't seem set on what products that were going to use for polishing whereas the less expensive quote would be using a wool pad and seemed to have a product they used for that application (I asked him what it was but couldn't remember the name).

I'm a little confused about one-step paint correction when using a compound vs. just a polish. Is a compound usually applied with a buffer meaning a faster application but a less flawless finish compared with a polish applied with a DA?

As long as it gets rid of the swirls (as opposed to concealing or masking them) without leaving hazing I would be happy. The less expensive quotes said they would be doing an additional step to correct the hazing that the compounding left but it seemed hard to imagine all that work could be done for that price.
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In my post above I explain why a rotary is bad and a dual action is better for a one step.

A one step with a rotary wool, and compound. is a recipe for disaster.
 
ok, appreciate clarifying that up for me Bill, NextLevel, and others. I appreciate your expertise. Thank you for your help.
 
This might be the opportunity for you to pickup a basic kit, learn and hit your cars a couple times a year.

We are all here to help you learn and help you succeed if you want to tackle it yourself.
 
As I always said,one hr to wreck it,eight hrs to fix it.I would do it my self invest in some starter polishers and a all in one polish.
 
GSKR said:
As I always said,one hr to wreck it,eight hrs to fix it.I would do it my self invest in some starter polishers and a all in one polish.
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Wise quote.

I had a guy bring me a s550 completely hammered with swirls scratches and rotary holograms all over. (And it was black)

The guys that used the rotary really tore the paint up I was getting measurements of 2.9 2.8 mils in some areas.

The highest reading I got was 4.1 on the trunk.

Not only did they make the paint worst by there "buffing" God knows how much paint they took off as well.

Forget about rotary holograms, people are paying people to seriously make there car worst and take half there paint off lol
 
Stevedotmil said:
I would shy away from the lower end/less knowledgeable quote. That old saying, "You get what you pay for" rings true in the auto refinishing world. Remember that the knowledge to do a quality job also costs money.
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A FREAKING Man! :dblthumb2::buffing:
 
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