Dealing with "hack" detailers

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RyanPaul

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Hi everyone just wanted to write a post about my experience at my first autoshow as not just a spectator but a detailer. I did 2 Landrover Defenders for some gentleman that are in the show, and have been working side by side other detailers. However, I have seen some stuff and heard some stuff that really made me want to throw myself into a bus.

Just some random incidents that stick out in my mind:

1.) Most detailers believe a 2 bucket wash is the worst way to wash a car

2.) Most detailers don't actually know how to use a polisher and hand polish everything

3.) (this one was the best and really made my head spin) At the chemical guys booth, they had a demo hood where they were allowing people to use a DA with their polish to polish the hood. Anyways, this old gentleman probably 65 was using it. He was holding the DA with so much pressure that it wasn't actually spinning it was just vibrating. I went up to him and said "excuse me sir, you see the pad is not spinning because you're using too much pressure and that is preventing it from "cutting" and removing the swirls. He stops and gives me this condescending smile and says "I know I am doing this to generate more heat". I had to grab onto the booth itself because I just about fell over. He then complains how he doesn't like DA's ect ect.

4.) Another detailer saw me air drying my vehicles after 2 bucket washing them, and said that was one of the dumbest things he's seen and that I have to dry using microfibers.

Anyways this was just my experience at my first autoshow being a detailer with my own business; where I realized there really are many "experts" that have no idea what they're talking about. All I replied with was "okay" for the most part when they would critique my work. How do you guys deal with hack jobs?
 
That will keep you up at night. Just keep doing it the best you can and bussiness will follow. I have been there, and now I after 16 years have figured that out!
 
What he ^ said


watermark.php
 
It's all about keeping your composure while you watch people destroy vehicles! Arguing with them will get you nowhere. Their "technique" is tried and true by their father, his father and his father before him! Let them think what they want, and when they actually want to start being a professional; direct them to AGO!
 
Just ignore them. If it works for them and their customers are happy with the results, so what.

Never attempt to drag people up to your level of knowledge and experience. It will just give you a sore back.
 
it really is amazing.. all the misinformed people and their techniques. I find it entertaining.
 
You know what they say. Opinions are like a holes. Everybody has one. Lol.

Many people think their way of doing something is the best and right way. 💀
 
Glad you mentioned people like this. I HATE people that do this. They make up some excuse and try and make it look like its the industry standard. For example, using armor all is the best thing ever or you will take off your finish by waxing...
 
You should be happy. If your competition doesn't know what they are doing, that is more potential clients for you. It's sad to say because we all love cars and want to see them being well taken care of, but as a business person, if you are much better than your competition, it's a big plus.
 
Cant fix stupid.

"Those convinced against their will are of the same opinion still"...dont even try to talk them into doing it right.
 
Bill1234 said:
Glad you mentioned people like this. I HATE people that do this. They make up some excuse and try and make it look like its the industry standard. For example, using armor all is the best thing ever or you will take off your finish by waxing...
Click to expand...

Hold it. You mean it's NOT?




:laughing:
 
Don't worry about educating hack detailers; if that was a paying job, we'd all have job security.

Educate clients. Pretty much everything an AGer does is founded in common sense and practicality. I've found that most savvy car guys can relate to that.

Blow drying a car? It makes perfect sense when you realize that you are touching the car less and not chancing towel-induced marring. Just need to understand that a towel can scratch, regardless of what the tag says. I don't think I've ever seen a tag that says the tag doesn't scratch.

2BM? You're suggesting that if I remove debris from my wash mitt, that debris can't scratch the paint?

Preaching to the choir, but I think you get where I'm going.
 
My father got me into detailing by applying wax do my first car... Little did I know as I watched him that you're not suppuesed to get wax on plastic pieces:) now I am much better educated and do not let him or anyone except for me touch my car.
 
RyanPaul said:
3.) (this one was the best and really made my head spin) At the chemical guys booth, they had a demo hood where they were allowing people to use a DA with their polish to polish the hood.

Anyways, this old gentleman probably 65 was using it. He was holding the DA with so much pressure that it wasn't actually spinning it was just vibrating.

I went up to him and said "excuse me sir, you see the pad is not spinning because you're using too much pressure and that is preventing it from cutting" and removing the swirls.

He stops and gives me this condescending smile and says "I know I am doing this to generate more heat". I had to grab onto the booth itself because I just about fell over. He then complains how he doesn't like DA's ect ect.
Click to expand...
OH...if I could only be 65 again.
And, (maybe): Genteel...not patronizing?
And could generate some "heat". (Hear that, old Woman!!)
And be able to stop this uncontrolled vibrating.



Bob
 
FUNX725 said:
OH...if I could only be 65 again.
And, (maybe): Genteel...not patronizing?
And could generate some "heat". (Hear that, old Woman!!)
And be able to stop this uncontrolled vibrating.



Bob
Click to expand...
LMFAO thats a good one Bob

I had guy at work that showed up with 6mo old black VW Passat that had so much buffer trails and swirls it glitter in the sun like it had pearl in it lol. I approached him and asked what happened?????:buffing: hahaha. He said he polished the paint last weekend. I said RIGHT- i told him that scuff pads are usually not good to buff out paint. Told him if he is interested i can fix that for him. Well he replied he will do a second stage next weekend. OMG lol. I just shook my head and wished him good luck and walked away in amazement and disbelief

Peter
 
Just in general, it's very difficult to approach strangers and tell them tactfully they are doing something wrong. It's very EASY to do it in a way that alienates someone. IME it's better to let people come to you and ask what you are doing once they see the results. I take my car to a lot of shows, and so many people comment on the finish that I take some of my detailer's cards with me, and I'm always happy to talk about how I maintain the car. People may not know what a swirl is, but they can see the difference in the gloss.
 
I had an older man tell me that if I kept using "That Stuff" (Meguiar's ... #16 in particular) that I would rub my paint off
 
Don M said:
I had an older man tell me that if I kept using "That Stuff" (##########) that I would rub my paint off
Click to expand...
Yep...Gotta be careful.

I remember a time when I was rubbing stuff so much,
that I almost went blind. And now that I'm in going
through my second childhood...


"Bobby"
 
At Detail Fest a few weeks ago, I was talking to the guys over at the 3D HD products booth when we were approached by this guy with long greasy blonde hair and a yellow, white and blue horizontally striped wife beater and some worn out brown Dickies work pants. He was quite hairy, sweaty and heavyset. I don't mean to judge but I had visions of this guy walking onto the set of an episode of "All in the family".

I try not to be judgmental but to be quite honest my interest was piqued as to what this fellow might have to say, so I stuck around to observe and listen as the HD guys were demonstrating HD Cut on a black demo hood. This fellow was quite jovial as he blurted out to the nice man doing the rotary, foam pad and HD Cut demonstration. He very loudly said, "You're doing it wrong!!!, You need a wool pad to cut those sanding marks!!"

I got a little chuckle out of the fact that this guy was schooling the 3D HD guys as they were buffing out the 3000 grit sanding marks I had just watched them instill into the black paint a few minutes before.

At this point, I hadn't introduced myself as someone who knows a thing or two about detailing. (I actually never did) As I watched this fellow trying to critique the work of the 3D guys he blurted again... "I wheel paint every day at the body shop, and you need some heavy duty compound for your initial cut!!" In the same breath, he went on to tell us how much splatter he gets all over his belly as he "wheels the paint" at the body shop he works at, and that "Presta Super Cut" is the best product on the market.

He then bellowed, "Man, that Presta Super Cut is some real gritty compound, it works great!!!" By this time I could tell the nice fellow working the 3D booth was becoming slightly agitated with this caveman type of body shop paint wheeler. The 3D guy never lost his composure though, but rather snickered just a little as he untwisted the lid from the bottle of HD Cut and handed it to the guy. He said "here, feel how gritty this HD Cut is."

I laughed out loud and actually had to turn in the other direction as this jovial fellow rubbed the HD Cut between his thumb and forefinger. He had the most confused look I've ever seen :confused: on his face as he very loudly said "This is a finishing polish!!!"

Bearing witness to this single interaction in the vendors tent was completely worth the air fare to get myself to Detail Fest, I shall never forget it.
 
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