Detailers... top mistakes customers make

The thing I hear of most is people who take their cars to a touchless wash and then dry the car afterwards not realizing there is still some degree of dirt on the paint.

Or choosing the cheap detailer and then coming to me to fix it and wanting me to match their price.
 
Anthony Orosco said:
Hey, if these people did not trash, abuse scratch and dent their cars what would "professional detailers" do for a living? Just how many Ferrari and Bugatti owners are out there with cream puffs that need to be detailed?

Almost 30 years doin this and I have come to at times hate seeing cars pull up at our shop BUT I know this is what keeps the lights on and doors open, not the high end stuff but the daily driven dirt collectors with dents, tree sap and swirled to hell.

Anthony
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You hit the nail on the head. Thank goodness people abuse their vehicles. Heck, I'll detail the same car weekly if I'm paid. IDK, show me the money
 
2011 Kona Blue said:
You hit the nail on the head. Thank goodness people abuse their vehicles. Heck, I'll detail the same car weekly if I'm paid. IDK, show me the money
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^^This.
I might service half a dozen garage queens/show quality cars per year and I always enjoy the opportunity to do so - it's such a nice change from the norm. The guys that own those cars truly care about the condition of their paint but more importantly they understand what's required to achieve and maintain the level we as detailers bring it to. It's nice to be appreciated.
The 99% of the cars I do that aren't quite as prestigious are daily drivers and as such see the daily mishaps (spills, muddy interiors, discolored fabric/carpet, etc.) and light damage by owners who have the best of intentions but the least amount of time and knowledge to use the right tools/products to achieve what we do every day. And all of them are grateful and appreciative of my services. So, the appreciation is there from both classes of owners, it's just that they're on different levels.

To the customer who's car I service once or twice a year who religiously washes it weekly with an old t-shirt and dries with a bath towel and,
to the customer who decides to apply wax to the entire vehicle at once and the sun bakes it on and,
to the customer who also applies it to the entire car but forgets they did so to the passenger side (usually it's the passenger side that gets forgotten) and drives it for a few days before realizing what they've done,
and finally and especially, to the customer who brings me their vehicle after they had it "detailed" by somebody else who only charged $59.00 for the mess they created to whom I confidently and empathizingly charge at or very near full price to undo the situation,
I say Thank You. Thank you for everything you do to your vehicle that ensures the longevity and prosperity of my business.
 
Coach Steve said:
^^This.
I might service half a dozen garage queens/show quality cars per year and I always enjoy the opportunity to do so - it's such a nice change from the norm. The guys that own those cars truly care about the condition of their paint but more importantly they understand what's required to achieve and maintain the level we as detailers bring it to. It's nice to be appreciated.
The 99% of the cars I do that aren't quite as prestigious are daily drivers and as such see the daily mishaps (spills, muddy interiors, discolored fabric/carpet, etc.) and light damage by owners who have the best of intentions but the least amount of time and knowledge to use the right tools/products to achieve what we do every day. And all of them are grateful and appreciative of my services. So, the appreciation is there from both classes of owners, it's just that they're on different levels.

To the customer who's car I service once or twice a year who religiously washes it weekly with an old t-shirt and dries with a bath towel and,
to the customer who decides to apply wax to the entire vehicle at once and the sun bakes it on and,
to the customer who also applies it to the entire car but forgets they did so to the passenger side (usually it's the passenger side that gets forgotten) and drives it for a few days before realizing what they've done,
and finally and especially, to the customer who brings me their vehicle after they had it "detailed" by somebody else who only charged $59.00 for the mess they created to whom I confidently and empathizingly charge at or very near full price to undo the situation,
I say Thank You. Thank you for everything you do to your vehicle that ensures the longevity and prosperity of my business.
Click to expand...

Now that's what I'm talking about bro. Thank you for jacking up your vehicle's paint. Thank you for putting swirl marks all over the hood. Thank you for putting all those scratches into the clear coat by drying it off with your wife's favorite bath towel.
 
Coach Steve said:
^^This.
I might service half a dozen garage queens/show quality cars per year and I always enjoy the opportunity to do so - it's such a nice change from the norm. The guys that own those cars truly care about the condition of their paint but more importantly they understand what's required to achieve and maintain the level we as detailers bring it to. It's nice to be appreciated.
The 99% of the cars I do that aren't quite as prestigious are daily drivers and as such see the daily mishaps (spills, muddy interiors, discolored fabric/carpet, etc.) and light damage by owners who have the best of intentions but the least amount of time and knowledge to use the right tools/products to achieve what we do every day. And all of them are grateful and appreciative of my services. So, the appreciation is there from both classes of owners, it's just that they're on different levels.

To the customer who's car I service once or twice a year who religiously washes it weekly with an old t-shirt and dries with a bath towel and,
to the customer who decides to apply wax to the entire vehicle at once and the sun bakes it on and,
to the customer who also applies it to the entire car but forgets they did so to the passenger side (usually it's the passenger side that gets forgotten) and drives it for a few days before realizing what they've done,
and finally and especially, to the customer who brings me their vehicle after they had it "detailed" by somebody else who only charged $59.00 for the mess they created to whom I confidently and empathizingly charge at or very near full price to undo the situation,
I say Thank You. Thank you for everything you do to your vehicle that ensures the longevity and prosperity of my business.
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EXACTLY how I felt when I was in the business. I never had the opportunity for a show car or garage queen, just daily drivers. They kept me busy, put food on the table, and were most appreciative when the job was complete. Most returned for regular maintenance for which I was most appreciative. Bring me your tired, dirty, and faded..........
 
octane said:
taking a freshly polished car to a brush type car wash...

spent 10 hours polishing a beat up black BMQ Z4 bought at auction, the guys call me a couple of days later, says that there was pollen on the car, so he went to the car wash, and all the scratches reappeared....
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Sounds like more business for you, no?
 
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