Do you ask customers before trying new products on their car?

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SR99

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Just wondered how those of you that detail for hire deal with this issue.

If you do ask, do you ask for everything new, or only certain things. If you don't ever ask, has that ever come back to haunt you?

Also wondered, if a customer wants you to try a product you've never used, will you do it?
 
I have never asked... I typically try to test things on my personal rides first, though, so I have an idea of how they behave.

With anything "new" I always bring it up as an added benefit with the customer. This helps build excitement about the detail and provides a better overall experience for the client. I call it "positive positioning."
 
I try first on personal vehicle or ask permission to try on coworkers autos.
 
Absolutely not. I tell them after if I used a new product if im happy with it.
 
I will occasionally test out polishes and pads on clients vehicles if I have the time, but when it comes to protection, especially coatings, I always test them out on my own vehicles or my test panels first.

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No, not at all.

If someone is curious what products I use I'll be more than glad to share it with them but this is my business and I'm at the helm. It's my responsibility to ensure the vehicle comes out nice and meets the customers expectation...
 
My truck is my testing ground. If it passes that test on to my wife's car. If it still does a nice job then onto my customers car. I never had a customer to concerned with what products I use.

I think if you start "experimenting" on a customers car it will definitely come back to haunt you.
 
If I'm maintaining a car on a regular basis and they are just paying for a wash, and I wanna test out a wax I just toss it on there and let them know I waxed the car for free to test something out. They are always happy to be my test subjects. But I won't test something that abrades paint on a customers car unless it's in for correction work and I let them know up front. I'll go about it as safe as possible until I see what the product will do. I love testing new products and only have so much room on my personal cars and with a bedroom full of chemicals I need more test subjects!
 
Never, it may frighten them and turn them away next time because they may not like being the test dummy.

I used to use my personal vehicle, but since I bought my new truck I go to the junkyard and pull out a few scrap pieces to test stuff on; plus, they are always the dirtiest!
 
I'm not a professional detailer. In my daily business, I only use products that I know will meet or exceed my customers expectations.

I won't risk using a product that might cause a customer to go elsewhere.
 
I would never test a product on a client's vehicle that had the potential to harm it. I wouldn't have a problem testing a wax on a customer that comes to me every few months, but I wouldn't test a new compound or wool pad on a clients car. I just wouldn't want to risk not knowing how aggressive it may be, or what it could do to the paint. Just my .02
 
:/ - wouldn't try new products on a client's ride.... seems a bit risky. If you are used to buffing with a more "wet" compound, what happens when you try a new compound that dries up quickly?!?!? Or if you use a "new" carpet cleaner, what happens when you notice discoloration of their carpets?!?!? Even longevity issues arise IMO with some products. You don't want to put a protectant on the interior that may last only a couple of days. Seems to be a risky venture, Id try on my personal vehicles first for sure.
 
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