Detailers that hang out on discussion forums know more than detailers that don't...

I don't think it will have a major impact. The true "car guys" and those willing to DIY their car are a diminishing breed.

Case in point: A co-worker commented on how great my car looked when she spotted it in the parking lot and asked how it got to that point. I explained in very general terms what I did. Her immediate response was not, "I need to learn" or my "husband needs to learn", but "...So, I need to find a detailer?"

I'd me more concerned with a dying car culture than I would about the spread of the DIY hobbyist.
 
swanicyouth said:
I'm thinking, maybe if a car guy wants a paint correction, instead of paying you to do it - he goes on a forum and learns how to do it himself. Of course, this benefits the financial situation of retailers like AG and their employees in more products sold to more people.

Years ago when I didn't really know how to correct paint - but knew the difference between a "swirl and a squirrel" I probably would have paid someone hundreds of dollars to correct my car. In fact, this is what brought me to AG. Without the forums, I probably wouldn't know how to do it, as I'm pretty much completely self taught with the help of the forums.
Click to expand...

Most "car guys" do prefer to do as much as possible by themself. I pride myself on helping many of my friends out by showing them the proper techniques.

I as well am pretty much self taught. I have read many of Mike`s articles since I was very young helping my father clean his big rig. I thought, there has got to be better techniques. I learned to use a DA on old panels. I would still love to attend an AutoGeek session as you never quit learning IMO.
 
Thank you Mike and everyone for all the threads. We all learn a little something whether we agree or not. It just makes us better detailers overall. Mike your thread is spot on.

Thanks again and to everyone on the threads
 
Sicktred08fsi said:
I as well am pretty much self taught. I have read many of Mike`s articles since I was very young helping my father clean his big rig.
Click to expand...

The good son!


Sicktred08fsi said:
I thought, there has got to be better techniques. I learned to use a DA on old panels.
Click to expand...

A great way to start out... I always tell people don't try to learn how to use a rotary buffer on someone else's black Viper. Same idea... practice on something that's not important to anyone.


Sicktred08fsi said:
I would still love to attend an AutoGeek session as you never quit learning IMO.
Click to expand...

Well I always have cool cars that are messed up to learn on.... check out the cars my class will get to learn on in about 3 weeks....

Training Cars for the September Boot Camp Class





Kamakaz1961 said:
Thank you Mike and everyone for all the threads. We all learn a little something whether we agree or not. It just makes us better detailers overall.

Mike your thread is spot on.
Click to expand...


Thank you sir. Just an observation I've made working on forums since they were invented and comparing and contrasting the forum world to the Wagon Jobber world.


:)
 
Kamakaz1961 said:
Thank you Mike and everyone for all the threads. We all learn a little something whether we agree or not. It just makes us better detailers overall. Mike your thread is spot on.
Click to expand...

Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Thank you sir. Just an observation I've made working on forums since they were invented and comparing and contrasting the forum world to the Wagon Jobber world.
Click to expand...

See, now you taught me a new phrase Mike, "wagon jobber".
 
This thread couldn't be more true! The knowledge I have gained just from lurking and then becoming a member here is worth it's weight in gold. Plus having AG headquarters 20min from me helps too! LOL

That being said, what Mike and the whole AG crew does is nothing short of awesome for the detailing community. Even though I had quite a few years under my belt (mainly production work) before joining here, this site along with others have pushed me to step up my game with new products and better equipment and the results have been great! Now I find I am doing more correction work and coatings. I am only a weekend warrior, doing details by word of mouth from friends and such. This year I have been very busy and I owe a lot of that to being able to provide knowledge to the customer along with fair pricing and using durable products! Thank you AG!!!!
 
Setec Astronomy said:
See, now you taught me a new phrase Mike, "wagon jobber".
Click to expand...


And like me, you have shown yourself to be a

Perpetual Student

:dblthumb2:



Justin@FinalInspection said:
This thread couldn't be more true! The knowledge I have gained just from lurking and then becoming a member here is worth it's weight in gold. Plus having AG headquarters 20min from me helps too! LOL

That being said, what Mike and the whole AG crew does is nothing short of awesome for the detailing community. Even though I had quite a few years under my belt (mainly production work) before joining here, this site along with others have pushed me to step up my game with new products and better equipment and the results have been great!

Now I find I am doing more correction work and coatings. I am only a weekend warrior, doing details by word of mouth from friends and such. This year I have been very busy and I owe a lot of that to being able to provide knowledge to the customer along with fair pricing and using durable products!

Thank you AG!!!!
Click to expand...


And one thing I appreciate about you is your willingness to share your detailing projects to show others how to do top notch work and inspire others to follow in your footsteps.


:)
 
Setec Astronomy said:
See, now you taught me a new phrase Mike, "wagon jobber".
Click to expand...


I was a Wagon Jobber at one time.

That's why I originally purchased this old 2-door Chevy. I couldn't stand the thought of actually purchasing and driving a "White Van", the transportation of choice by most Wagon Jobbers.


1966 Milk Truck

MilkTruck3.jpg


MilkTruckFrontView1.jpg



:)
 
Thats a cool work truck.

I have learned so much on this forum. And while this is a little off topic, the knowledge I gained from this forum allowed me to clean what was otherwise an uncleanable shower. The tile had so much caked on grime, lime, calcium that no bathroom cleaner or apc or household cleaner of any strenght was touching it. I thought the tile was gone. Why not try to buff it off? Some compound, a correcting pad, and my trusty PC 7424 XP and the tile looks like new! I was about to call someone to re tile the shower! So an hour or so of work and I saved a thousand dollars or so? Bottom line, is, the knowledge I gained from this forum is beneficial in more ways than just making cars look good and gives anyone who spends time on it an advantage in not just detailing, but life hacks as well!
 
Mike Phillips said:
Detailers that hang out on discussion forums know more than detailers that don't...


onlinedetailer.jpg


It's just as easy to do things the right way the first time as it is to do things wrong all the time. Like I always say,


"Detailers that hang out on discussion forums like AGO know more than detailers that don't hang out on forums at all"
​

A great detailer brings four things to the table...

  1. Knowledge
  2. Skill
  3. Experience
  4. Passion

Knowledge is shared, transfered and obtained via detailing discussion forums better and faster than any other media.

Anyone agree or disagree? Make your case.


:xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...

I think that statement is true. One thing that I find very useful is the ability to ask other detailers about issues I might encounter. Having so many people with various experiences and skill means that there is a very good chance someone has encountered the problem I might be having and can provide a solution.
 
I am part of a Facebook Detailers group that attempts to do the same thing as this group here.

Discounting that many of the product suggestions that are mentioned there are not sold here, as much as their goal might be to help increase knowledge among the group, it does little to actually succeed in that mission. I joined it with high hopes of adding to the information I have, but it really comes up short.

That is less a complaint about that group than it is a compliment to this. Look - Are there topics here that don't interest me occasionally? Sure. But 98% of the time I spend on this forum is value added.

I don't think a person could read everything on this forum and be an expert without putting polisher to paint. But I do agree that even the least experienced of this group (including me) know more than 90% of the Facebook group I spoke about. So thank you!
 
Mike Phillips said:
Detailers that hang out on discussion forums know more than detailers that don't...


onlinedetailer.jpg


It's just as easy to do things the right way the first time as it is to do things wrong all the time. Like I always say,


"Detailers that hang out on discussion forums like AGO know more than detailers that don't hang out on forums at all"
​

A great detailer brings four things to the table...

  1. Knowledge
  2. Skill
  3. Experience
  4. Passion

Knowledge is shared, transfered and obtained via detailing discussion forums better and faster than any other media.

Anyone agree or disagree? Make your case.


:xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...

I definitely agree with that Mike. Another quality that they bring to the table is Beneficence. They share their passion and skill with others and want to see them succeed in the same industry/hobby that brings them joy.
 
Experience is king, but having knowledge allows you to start at a much higher level than someone who knows nothing and just experiments.

I don't often learn things anymore on the forums, but still just answering questions is a good exercise for things you might not be doing often, it
brings the knowledge back in your recent memory and makes sure it will be there when needed.

Also I often learn about new products here. So that is a good thing too. Of course trying the product is the best way to know if it is something that will
work better than what you are using right now, but if there is a concensus on the product being good, I think that is when you can say: "Ok I will give it a try when I
run out of what I am using".

So in my mind if you take two detailers with the same skills and experience, and one of the them is an active member on forums and groups, he should have better knowledge than the other guy. We all only have 24 hours in a day and can't try everything. Using the experience of other has allowed mankind to be where it is at now. So take advantage of it, this is the information age after all.
 
Vegas Transplant said:
First of all let me say how much I appreciate your leadership, knowledge, and passion in this discipline of vehicle maintenance.

Thanks for all that you do...and the way that you do it!

I've learned much here and have even altered my less than desired practices thanks to the forums and one on one guidance in pm's and phone calls.

One issue that has always caught my attention is the political correctness and restraint when questionable alternatives are posted. I realize that one has to cinsider the source, and that post count doesn't matter, but some responses to a dilema are highly objectionable.

There are those here that walk the walk, Setec, IID, oldmodman, Funx725, silverfox, and too many others to list...and when they talk the talk, I listen and compare my method/products to theirs. The fact that an old hand (50) like me can still learn and progress is a positive attribute that only forums can provide in this modern area of every jo blo having a soapbox to stand on.

Edit: as a matter of fact, I'll be ringing dad07's phone soon to get a little guidance in his technique for megs mf system, as I'm all about the Optimum Line.
Click to expand...


Well said
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top