Does anyone actually work professionally in a detail shop

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Wc3

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I'm interested in getting into the business, how did you guys get hired? Did you have experience already when applying or did you learn as you go?
 
I was always interested in keeping my cars clean, but I never had a clue what I was doing. While looking for a shop to rust-proof my Camaro, I happened upon a shop that did both rustproofing and detailing. I got started talking to the owner, who showed me the car he was currently working on. When I saw the results he was getting (using Meguiars compounds, polishes and waxes) I knew I wanted to learn how he did it. I began asking questions and he let me run his buffer over the hood of the car he was working on (he used GEM orbital buffers).

I learned the very basics from him, but 20 years later, I really accelerated my learning curve when the internet really kicked in and I picked up a PC. So after being on at least 3 different Internet forums and watching hours of videos from multiple sources - including that guy who is famous on YouTube for his How-To videos, I feel that I can probably better the results that my former boss gets (as long as I don't get impatient).
 
I was on autogeek for two years and had plenty of experience on my own before I got hired almost two months ago. I submitted an application saying that what all I have experience with and then did an interview. Pretty much the same as other jobs I've had.
 
Jeff Wagner said:
Go to Mike Phillips boot camp class and you will get what you need to get into the business. I took the class and yes i detail full time now.

Best thing i ever did.

I never owned a buffer before the class and check out what i have done in less than a year. I am only one of thousands in here who detail professionally.
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Thanks for the kind words Jeff.... it was great having you here at our boat detailing class too....


Marine 31 Boat Detailing Class Pictures - April 18th, 2015


Here's Jeff.....

Marine_31_Boat_Detailing_Class_020.jpg




:dblthumb2:
 
Mike i had a blast at the boat detailing class. I am pretty much ready to polish and protect anything now. This weekends boot camp class marks the one year mark for me taking it. A few months after is when i made the career change and quit my job to detail full time. You have some amazing cool cars once again for the class. Have fun!
 
Getting a job in a detail shop should be no harder than getting a job at McDonald's. They are generally entry level jobs
 
Don M said:
I began asking questions and he let me run his buffer over the hood of the car he was working on (he used GEM orbital buffers).
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I find it strange that a professional detailer would use such a machine. When my father was younger, in the early 70s, he worked at a Ford dealership detailing. He has told me even they used to use a type of rotary.

Personally I couldn't detail a whole car without at least a PC and 3" backing plate as well. I would throw a fit if I was limited to a polisher that had a fixed 8" pad. :cry: Props to that guy!

I realize that single stage is easier to correct but did he achieve good results with the GEM?
 
Kengo123 said:
Getting a job in a detail shop should be no harder than getting a job at McDonald's. They are generally entry level jobs
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True. Throughout H.S. I worked at several dealerships detailing. A RV place and a Cadillac dealership (I was part detailer/courtesy washer/lot attendant). The RV place was terrible. I was a part maid on the interiors and the exteriors all we did was wash and then apply literally watered down paint protection. I had a co-worker who was a salesman, he was putting himself through nursing school nice guy. Anyways the paint protection cost was $2000 and went up from there. I nearly had a heart attack. But they would sell 110+ brand new Tiffan Motorhomes a month so I guess they have that going for them.

At the Cadillac place it was marginally better. Mostly because I got to drive CTS-V's once a week. But the detailing there was economy class. You think that buying/leasing a $50,000+ car would entitle a good detail. But nope. New cars got a basic interior, wash and spray wax. For a paint correction it was a rotary and wool followed by some cheap wax. And don't get me started on courtesy washes...
 
At the Cadillac place it was marginally better. Mostly because I got to drive CTS-V's once a week. But the detailing there was economy class. You think that buying/leasing a $50,000+ car would entitle a good detail. But nope. New cars got a basic interior, wash and spray wax. For a paint correction it was a rotary and wool followed by some cheap wax. And don't get me started on courtesy washes...
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I worked on the wash rack of a Cadillac dealership a couple summers when I was in college (my dad was the General Manager). The stuff that went on back there would make your skin crawl. Needless to say I never allow any dealership to wash my car.


David

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
North26 said:
I find it strange that a professional detailer would use such a machine. When my father was younger, in the early 70s, he worked at a Ford dealership detailing. He has told me even they used to use a type of rotary.

Personally I couldn't detail a whole car without at least a PC and 3" backing plate as well. I would throw a fit if I was limited to a polisher that had a fixed 8" pad. :cry: Props to that guy!

I realize that single stage is easier to correct but did he achieve good results with the GEM?
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Yes, his shop is very successful with the middle/upper end clientele. He does a 5-step correction & seal that I would say is up to Auto Geek standards, with all but his compound being Meguiar's products. Swirls and scratches are nonexistent and the finish is near perfect and 90+ percent of his business is in newer / higher end cars and sports cars, although I have seen him take an abused car to new again more than once. It takes him and another detailer working on one car two days to complete a 5-step, so he's not blowing through anything in a hurry. I don't think he even has a rotary in the shop (he didn't when I was there).
 
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