customer wants pre-purchased product on car...read on.

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pointillistic_practitioner

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I have a customer who only wants his car washed & coated with a product he bought called xzilon...seems like one of those "permanent" coatings that the dealerships try to sell you on (he bought it aftermarket though). It says "lasts 3 years". I was just wondering if any of you have had experience with this product before. If the customer wants it done, I'll most certainly apply it, but should I even attempt to explain to him that the product may not be all it's cracked up to be? Thanks:)
 
maybe he's hoping it will make his detail cheaper...

not sure but I remember that flyinion had that on his car. He's since come over to the light side though...

might want to pm him
 
Its simply a paint sealant, not a coating. Its often over hyped and sold thru dealers with a warranty. I would however use what he wants just make sure he is paying for it.
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
Its simply a paint sealant, not a coating. Its often over hyped and sold thru dealers with a warranty. I would however use what he wants just make sure he is paying for it.
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Inform him that it is strictly a sealant better than some,but not the cure all that it is hyped to be. and buying it off fleabay means he didn't get the warranty which makes it a for the most part a waste of money. but if he wants it on make sure that he understands that you still need to polish and correct any paint defects,before applying the xzilon. and that it should be topped with a carnauba base waxed.
 
Should some paperwork be signed on this? Since it isn't your method for detailing, and you are basically just providing the labor, you should not have to provide much in the way of a guarantee. Just a newb asking the question.
 
We recently had a customer e-mail us and ask about what he can do to his Jeep that had this applied at the dealer and I told him polish it off and start from new and also said take a look at this specific one and then you know its a scam

"Can I use a buffer or machinery on my vehicle, that has Xzilon® applied on it?

We don’t recommend any machinery or abrasives to be used on your vehicle’s paint."

Tell the guy you would have no problem applying it but make him sign something that you are not authorized to apply it and do not make any warranty claims and that you in fact advised him against use of it and that you recommended you apply something else in your arsenal of products.
 
It is an overhyped product and it is what the dealerships around my area are usually selling their customers. You still need to charge him for all the prep work involved and tell him that it will not last 3 years unless he literally has it garaged. My customers bought it for their cars and they wished they had called me earlier before buying the product from the stealership.

My customers commute to work like crazy and I started to see the coatings effects diminish after 8 months. Maybe its because they drive 2 hours to work each way?? I will say this, the first months the coating was on there for really made the water sheed off the car.
 
Pockets @Poorboy'sWorld said:
We recently had a customer e-mail us and ask about what he can do to his Jeep that had this applied at the dealer and I told him polish it off and start from new and also said take a look at this specific one and then you know its a scam

"Can I use a buffer or machinery on my vehicle, that has Xzilon® applied on it?

We don’t recommend any machinery or abrasives to be used on your vehicle’s paint."
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Yeah when I saw that on their site I was like whaaat? lol.
 
kimtyson said:
Should some paperwork be signed on this? Since it isn't your method for detailing, and you are basically just providing the labor, you should not have to provide much in the way of a guarantee. Just a newb asking the question.
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Yeah, I'm going to talk to him about it. He failed to tell me before that his car was a week old. I'm assuming he got the product at the dealer...so I'm going to have *him* go to the dealer and make sure they are not voiding *his* warranty by selling it to him and having him apply it...If he wants me to do it I'll have him sign something saying I'm not ellligible if your warranty is void, you're the one who bought the product from the dealer and were at first planning on applying it yourself. I will also advise him that the sealant will probably not last as long as stated. Thanks a lot everyone! I wasn't expecting many responses!
 
itsinthedetails said:
Also, do clearcoats' paint really need to "set" for 30 days before waxing? If so I'm reluctant to even take the job...
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new car finishes are cured prior to delivery and ownership, only repainting and repairs should concern you.
 
itsinthedetails said:
Also, do clearcoats' paint really need to "set" for 30 days before waxing? If so I'm reluctant to even take the job...
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Unless the dealership had to re-spray for a "damaged-in-shipment" defect, the paint from the factory should be cured. If in doubt, talk with the service manager...they're supposed to be upfront about this, moreso with the buyer. Good luck getting the truth out of 'em, though.

If I were you I'd follow Pockets(Chris)@ PoorBoys advice as given in post #6. Just a suggestion.:)

Bob
 
As long as the customer is willing to pay for my time, I'll apply whatever they wish me to. Its a great way to try new products w/out the expense
 
Thanks all! I'm going to take the job. I'm not going to do any prior polishing or anything b/c the car is new. (Unless I see that he instilled any noticeable scratches in it). He wants the product he spent money on to be used. I'm going to explain to him that it probably won't last 3 years, and that I'm not liable if the warranty voids in any way...I'll probably put it onto paper. Thanks again!
 
itsinthedetails said:
Thanks all! I'm going to take the job. I'm not going to do any prior polishing or anything b/c the car is new. (Unless I see that he instilled any noticeable scratches in it). He wants the product he spent money on to be used. I'm going to explain to him that it probably won't last 3 years, and that I'm not liable if the warranty voids in any way...I'll probably put it onto paper. Thanks again!
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Sounds like a great plan. Minus the "In Writing" disclaimer. Tell him/her your sceptical of the companys claim, but your excited to have the opprutunity to try them out. No one likes being made feel like an idiot
 
bought a mercedes e 63 from a dealer and they had already put it on. damn. it was fine but as a detailer and my own car i polished it off and started from scratch. now i love opti coat on my cars which gives me time for the customers ones. dealer charged 800 which is a rip off. just listen to the boards here and let him have his way they dont act kindly when they already know it all. it wont hurt his car.
 
Flash Gordon said:
Sounds like a great plan. Minus the "In Writing" disclaimer. Tell him/her your sceptical of the companys claim, but your excited to have the opprutunity to try them out. No one likes being made feel like an idiot
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daveinsweethome said:
bought a mercedes e 63 from a dealer and they had already put it on. damn. it was fine but as a detailer and my own car i polished it off and started from scratch. now i love opti coat on my cars which gives me time for the customers ones. dealer charged 800 which is a rip off. just listen to the boards here and let him have his way they dont act kindly when they already know it all. it wont hurt his car.
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I agree with these guuys. I am not a pro but I wouldnt P>.O. the Client.
 
I agree with the points being made to stay positive and even excited to try a "new product". I still think it is important that any detailer protect themself from future action against them, or their reputation. So, I say paperwork is needed.
 
embolism said:
maybe he's hoping it will make his detail cheaper...

not sure but I remember that flyinion had that on his car. He's since come over to the light side though...

might want to pm him
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Yep I did. The dealer told me "5 year warranty" and stupidly I just ran it through touchless washes for the first 18 months. Finally I realized it was not working, and my PC came back out of the hibernation it had been in for a few years and I am now an AG addict with much better looking paint. My paint was looking dull and flat, now without worrying about that stuff and doing it my own way, my paint is shiny and the metallic pops out like crazy. That's without any polishing yet either, just clay/pinnacle paint cleanser/couple coats of SSII.

edit: I don't mean to say the paint was looking oxidized or anything, it was "shiny" but the metallic just kinda blended in and didn't really stand out. The paint is now shinier and as I said the flake is popping off it. I will now never ever buy a dealer "paint sealant" again. (sadly this was the 3rd car in a row I fell for it too)
 
Did you offer the process of claying? They say that even brand new cars collect bonded contaminants. Paint cleaner may also be a good prep. Jeweling perhaps?

Upsell your services. Clay and paint cleaner may necessary rather than extra services.
 
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