- Thread starter
- #21
Since I value this forum and hate to be misunderstood, I wanted to add one last post clarifying my intentions in starting this thread.
Although I may have come across to the contrary, I have no desire to uncover trade secrets (who makes what for whom). Companies have an obligation to make great products and remain profitable. I simply wanted to suggest that (I believe) not every company makes every product they sell. Being able to identify similarities between product lines is useful for detailers trying to get good results at the lowest cost.
For the person who details his car twice a year, using a high-end product line from start to finish makes perfect sense. Despite the extra cost, they can be assured that a top-notch company will stand behind a great product. Some of the cost undoubtedly covers marketing etc, however, using the products twice a year on 1-2 vehicles is well worth the premium price. For someone in this business, however, extra cost bites into operating margins. I see nothing wrong with the following observations (made up examples) being shared on this type of forum: “I’ve used lots of pink soaps in the past and have found that the 3D product works just as well as the others for half the price”. “I love P21S wax and have found that S100 performs just as well, seems the same to me (no proof, just observation) and costs much less”. “I typically use B&S pads and have found what appears to the ones I use branded and sold on this website for less. They sure seem the same to me”.
To the casual detailer, the piecemeal product approach isn’t worth the effort or risk. For the professional trying to make a living, using multiple products on each vehicle, multiplied over many vehicles/year, saving a little on each product (with the help and advise of his colleagues) makes perfect business sense.
Although I may have come across to the contrary, I have no desire to uncover trade secrets (who makes what for whom). Companies have an obligation to make great products and remain profitable. I simply wanted to suggest that (I believe) not every company makes every product they sell. Being able to identify similarities between product lines is useful for detailers trying to get good results at the lowest cost.
For the person who details his car twice a year, using a high-end product line from start to finish makes perfect sense. Despite the extra cost, they can be assured that a top-notch company will stand behind a great product. Some of the cost undoubtedly covers marketing etc, however, using the products twice a year on 1-2 vehicles is well worth the premium price. For someone in this business, however, extra cost bites into operating margins. I see nothing wrong with the following observations (made up examples) being shared on this type of forum: “I’ve used lots of pink soaps in the past and have found that the 3D product works just as well as the others for half the price”. “I love P21S wax and have found that S100 performs just as well, seems the same to me (no proof, just observation) and costs much less”. “I typically use B&S pads and have found what appears to the ones I use branded and sold on this website for less. They sure seem the same to me”.
To the casual detailer, the piecemeal product approach isn’t worth the effort or risk. For the professional trying to make a living, using multiple products on each vehicle, multiplied over many vehicles/year, saving a little on each product (with the help and advise of his colleagues) makes perfect business sense.