Does anyone wash dealer lots by themselves?

Real Riders

Real Riders

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I hand washed, dried, and wiped down the wheels on 49 cars, trucks, suv's, and mini vans last week in 3 to 4 hour shifts. I still have these left and more and then I get to start all over again. Does anyone else wash dealer lots by themselves?



 
Sharply Dressed said:
I haven't but have thought about it. I am curious what you use and your process.
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Most lot wash companies I have seen use a water tank and pressure wash the cars and dry with a chamois (no washing). I hand wash each car, wipe down the wheels, and dry the car with a Water Sprite chamois. I can wash 3 to 4 cars an hour. I spend at least 15 minutes on each vehicle and more time on the full size trucks. i use a 100ft Craftsman hose, and in the future I will be using a bend and spray nozzle which is the best for dealer cars
 
Just curious, what do they pay you per car? Dealerships are notoriously cheap.
 
I've done it back in the 90's its mind boggling work.If you hit a home run with a dealer 3.00 a unit,1.50 to 2.00 is the norm.Even at 5.00 your killing yourself for a tiny profit.
 
Real Riders said:
I hand wash each car, wipe down the wheels, and dry the car with a Water Sprite chamois.
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The Water Sprite. The mark of a true detailer that puts in alot of work... I've been meaning to pick 1 up, because eventually trying to keep up a steady supply of ready to go waffle weaves can become unrealistic.
In your opinion, does the Water Sprite scratch?
 
Eldorado2k said:
The Water Sprite. The mark of a true detailer that puts in alot of work... I've been meaning to pick 1 up, because eventually trying to keep up a steady supply of ready to go waffle weaves can become unrealistic.
In your opinion, does the Water Sprite scratch?
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Do dealerships care about scratches and swirls? I could tell you a story about what I observed a couple years ago when I was shopping at a dealership and three guys were "washing" the cars on the lot. But I'll stop there, as the sun glistening off of the swirls on hundreds of cars was blinding.
 
GSKR said:
I've done it back in the 90's its mind boggling work.If you hit a home run with a dealer 3.00 a unit,1.50 to 2.00 is the norm.Even at 5.00 your killing yourself for a tiny profit.
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I agree. Even at $5.00 a car there is not much money to be made but there is steady work that never ends. It is grueling in the hot sun every day
 
custmsprty said:
Do dealerships care about scratches and swirls? I could tell you a story about what I observed a couple years ago when I was shopping at a dealership and three guys were "washing" the cars on the lot. But I'll stop there, as the sun glistening off of the swirls on hundreds of cars was blinding.
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The used cars are all scratched so the dealer is not too worried. I am careful with all cars when washing. I use two buckets with Grit Guards with a microfiber wash pad. I also dry with ONR in a spray bottle to give more lubricity while drying
 
Eldorado2k said:
The Water Sprite. The mark of a true detailer that puts in alot of work... I've been meaning to pick 1 up, because eventually trying to keep up a steady supply of ready to go waffle weaves can become unrealistic.
In your opinion, does the Water Sprite scratch?
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I dried around 15 to 20 new cars this week with a Water Sprite with no problems. To avoid problems I spray the cars with ONR in a pump sprayer while drying to give more lubricity.
 
Eldorado2k said:
The Water Sprite. The mark of a true detailer that puts in alot of work... I've been meaning to pick 1 up, because eventually trying to keep up a steady supply of ready to go waffle weaves can become unrealistic.
In your opinion, does the Water Sprite scratch?
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no it doesn't scratch.
 
custmsprty said:
Do dealerships care about scratches and swirls? I could tell you a story about what I observed a couple years ago when I was shopping at a dealership and three guys were "washing" the cars on the lot. But I'll stop there, as the sun glistening off of the swirls on hundreds of cars was blinding.
Click to expand...

It's not just dealership cars that get dryed with Water Sprites... You could tell me about that time at the dealership, but I could tell you about a very well known detailer I had the fortunate opportunity to work for in the recent past.. It's not polite to name drop, but lets just say Mike Phillips knows him personally. Lol.
And what does he use as his drying towel? The Water Sprite:)

Funny thing happened once when I curiously asked about his choice in using it, [didn't matter if it was a Bentley or a Chevy. The Water Sprite was the drying towel after a full wash] He said, "there's always going to be a minimal amount of scraches induced while washing & drying a vehicle"... Did I fully agree with that statement? No. But who the heck was I next to him? Nobody, that's who. Lol. I was there to work [and learn], and learn I did... But ever since then I'm never surprised when I hear successful detailers mention the Water Sprite. Even AGO sells it:)
 
Eldorado2k said:
It's not just dealership cars that get dryed with Water Sprites... You could tell me about that time at the dealership, but I could tell you about a very well known detailer I had the fortunate opportunity to work for in the recent past.. It's not polite to name drop, but lets just say Mike Phillips knows him personally. Lol.
And what does he use as his drying towel? The Water Sprite:)

Funny thing happened once when I curiously asked about his choice in using it, [didn't matter if it was a Bentley or a Chevy. The Water Sprite was the drying towel after a full wash] He said, "there's always going to be a minimal amount of scraches induced while washing & drying a vehicle"... Did I fully agree with that statement? No. But who the heck was I next to him? Nobody, that's who. Lol. I was there to work [and learn], and learn I did... But ever since then I'm never surprised when I hear successful detailers mention the Water Sprite. Even AGO sells it:)
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I have dried thousands of cars with a Water Sprite over the years with no problems. I worked at a Chrysler Dealer for 20 years and we dried every car with a Water Sprite including the Plymouth Prowlers
 
The key to using water Sprite is keeping it clean.If not you will be dragging dirt residual all over the car and glass.I don't use it cause I have the habit of using it drying jambs which contaminate the water Sprite.using it out in the sun you can't fully dry a car with no spots,then you have to go over it with something else.I prefer towels one swipe and it's dry with no spots or streaks.But working in volume it's ideal washing at a car lot.
 
So wait, you're doing a conventional wash? And using ONR as a drying aid? Have you thought about using ONR for the wash and whether that would speed things up? Do they pay for the wash soap and ONR?
 
Setec Astronomy said:
So wait, you're doing a conventional wash? And using ONR as a drying aid? Have you thought about using ONR for the wash and whether that would speed things up? Do they pay for the wash soap and ONR?
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Probably not,and can imagine you will wipe yourself out using onr.rinsing would be quicker and less labor wiping ever panel dry.at 5.00 a car I would be cheating like crazy.rinse chammy and done no soap or hands on washing.just rinsing you could be doing 7 to 8 cars a hour alone.
 
Yeah, I guess. I've never heard of a dealer even paying close to $5 a car, but even at that, I'm trying to help the guy go faster!
 
Not like saying it but major cheating has to be illustrated in his situation.I would skip every other one and no roof.Down here they don't bother with that,cars stay cleaner longer due to great weather.when you go to a dealer here in south Florida you pick the car you are interested in,then the salesperson pulls it around back to a touch less automated wash and presents you with a acceptable clean car.
 
I think the guy has a pretty good deal and he seems happy with the steady work, I wouldn't want him to shortcut and lose it.
 
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