Feel like I was duped here with detailing and ceramic coating

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Just so everyone knows, I meant no sarcasm when I quoted the members washing tips. It truly is life changing for me because I didn’t know any of that stuff in regards to taking care of this expensive vehicle and want to keep it as pristine as possible.

I’m truly thankful I came here and sure do appreciate all of the kind help.

Also, I’m supposed to pick it up today so I’ll report back. Going to have a member here inspect it as well if he’s able to squeeze me in and give me his opinion.
 
Question, it’s raining out today so should I wait to drive this vehicle out of his garage? My plan is to take it home and it can sit in my garage for a while as I don’t need to immediately give up my old vehicle. Just curious if driving it in the rain will mess with the coating on it this soon. Any thoughts?
 
Also, he sent me over some photos like these. So he’s either actually doing something to the vehicle or going out of his way to make it look like he is.

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Too much how he has 3 guys taking two days when he did it the first time in one day no problem. He has a nice big shop, of course maybe he can afford that if he's pumping out $1700 jobs without actually doing any work on them.

I'm kind of amused, he's got the one guy with an organic vapor respirator, he looks like the guy applying the coating, and the other two guys that are buffing, look like they are wearing dust masks...maybe that's why the guy in the middle looks woozy, from breathing coating fumes. Did the boss tell them that the dust mask would protect them from the solvent vapors? Maybe I'm wrong, maybe 3M makes disposables like that with charcoal in them...I'd have to look it up but I'm too lazy right now.
 
Geez, maybe he’s nervous but now he’s sending me all kinds of stuff. I guess this is what he was supposed to be sending me before.

Anyone know what the heck he’s doing here? Really confused now as to what this process is.

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Keep it dry for at least 24 hours. I'd wait more if possible. But it depends on if this guy can keep your car in his shop until there's no more rain so you can drive it home when it's dry.
 
BSoares said:
Keep it dry for at least 24 hours. I'd wait more if possible. But it depends on if this guy can keep your car in his shop until there's no more rain so you can drive it home when it's dry.
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Thank you. He actually wrote me and said I couldn’t drive it home today due to the weather and to pick it up tomorrow afternoon if possible.
 
Donnation said:
Geez, maybe he’s nervous but now he’s sending me all kinds of stuff. I guess this is what he was supposed to be sending me before.

Anyone know what the heck he’s doing here? Really confused now as to what this process is.

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I guess I owe him an apology, if he's spraying the coating then those particulate masks will protect the buffers from the aerosol, if not the solvent vapors. I guess they are spraying it with the gun, leveling it with the microfiber sponge, then buffing after a minute. I guess.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
I guess I owe him an apology, if he's spraying the coating then those particulate masks will protect the buffers from the aerosol, if not the solvent vapors. I guess they are spraying it with the gun, leveling it with the microfiber sponge, then buffing after a minute. I guess.
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Not uncommon for ceramic pro installers to spray. IMO it just wastes product. But as long as it's done and looks good.
 
Justin at Final Inspection said:
Not uncommon for ceramic pro installers to spray. IMO it just wastes product.
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Not only that, but this way overspray gets everywhere, even on parts that will not be covered fully, will not buffed properly, and should not be covered by a coating at all in the first place, like brake discs and stuff.

If he's really spraying the coating the way depicted in the video, then he's grossly incompetent and irresponsible. But honestly, I wouldn't even take for granted that he's actually spraying a coating solution there, and not just water vapor or something.
 
Sheesh, are you guys cynical! I don't know why you would say that just because the first time he charged the OP $1700 and didn't even touch the vehicle apparently.
 
Ugh. After reading this I'm not feeling too optimistic about this. I guess I'll see it when I pick it up. I'll be posting pictures tomorrow and if it isn't good I'll be challenging this with my CC company. This entire process has made me nauseous. Live and learn I guess.
 
I died a lot reading this thread. The OP went into this thinking he was doing the right thing for his vehicle. Gets the whole top to bottom package for the price of a mortgage payment and gets zero in return other than what appeared to be a $10.00 car wash from a "reputable" detailer. Spends numerous hours trying to stay on top of the re-do only to be kept in the dark when he was trying to get any sort of photo documentation of what was being done.

For $1700 I would have had the car for more than 2 days, done the entire job myself, sent photos of my progress (I do this anyway even on small jobs) and walked around the vehicle with the customer prior to allowing them to pick it up. Even when working with a punch list there is always a chance to miss something and having the customer with you as an extra set of eyes is never a bad thing. Besides, I believe I can speak for everyone here when I say that we are proud of the work we do and LOVE showing it off, especially when it's a great before and after.

With all that being said, I really hope the OP's car comes back looking like he put $1700 into the cleanup and correction.
 
The crazy thought is that this guy supposedly installs Xpel protection film too. I can only imagine him covering that filthy denali and returning it to the customer. lol
 
Donnation said:
Geez, maybe he’s nervous but now he’s sending me all kinds of stuff. I guess this is what he was supposed to be sending me before.

Anyone know what the heck he’s doing here? Really confused now as to what this process is.

YouTube
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Might just be me, but it doesn't look like he's actually spraying anything in the video, looks like just air to me. Also, you want even, controlled spraying of a coating, not the zig zag flailing he was doing all over the fender and half of the wheel.
 
MikeC78 said:
The crazy thought is that this guy supposedly installs Xpel protection film too. I can only imagine him covering that filthy denali and returning it to the customer. lol
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Yeah I also thought about that. I did actually see a Tesla being coated with the Xpel while I was there and it was amazing looking. I swear I really get the feeling that this guy is concerned with his high end Tesla and Range Rovers and my Yukon is a vehicle he just kind of half assed it on. I swear if it's not perfect tomorrow I'll lose it. I'm a big guy (6'6 215lbs) and could break this guy in half. I would never get violent but I'm not opposed to getting in his face if things don't look right.
 
It looks like they actually spray ceramic coating (video on their FB page)


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Sad to say but that’s what I hear a lot of from that coatings installers. I re do a lot of the work they do.
 
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