Grit Guard Dual Bucket Washing System RANT

[mg6045]

For the past month I have been replacing all my worn out detailing tools in anticipation of a new car I have on order. I went ahead and purchased this Dual Bucket grit guard system for 2 bucket wash's.

Normally I would go ahead and purchase a few buckets from Amazon but a couple features stood out to me about the system being offered by Autogeek. Product description below :

Grit Guard® Dual Bucket Washing System - CLEAR

I really liked the idea of having clear, graduated buckets as well as the WASH/RINSE labels.

The only problem with the system is the buckets. I dont know when they have changed but they are now narrow at the base/bottom. Making them WAY to small to fit the GG (Grit Guards). The GG no longer bottoms out in the bucket. They sit about 1 to 2 inch's to high and its very difficult to get them leveled out cause they are being wedged in place.

This causes 2 problems. First problem is you will now need about 1.5 gallons of liquid to pass the top of the GG. And secondly the GG is now less effective as the solution can slosh around underneath them as the bottom fins are rendered useless by not being seated against the bottom of the pail.

All in all I am very unhappy with the purchase. I find it difficult to believe that i'm the first person to point this out to Autogeek. And if thats true, I dont see why they would continue to sell this system to its customers. Just because a distributor has received a different product from the manufacturer than expected with a high cost, doesnt mean its fair for it to be passed on to the consumer to take the hit. Maybe i'm overthinking this one, but I do remember a thread about the problem with the buckets from over a year ago. I tried to search for the thread but I cant find it anymore.

Anyway, I do NOT recommend anyone purchase this product until the buckets are changed and its noted on the webpage. I should have just bought the parts separately and picked up 2 graduated painter buckets from Amazon like I originally intended to do.

 

[ijm5012]

Why didn't you just buy a different colour gamma seal lid & grit guard to distinguish between the soap and rinse buckets? I bought two standard 5 gallon Polyethylene buckets, marked that outside of the buckets in 1 gallon increments, and have a black gamma seal lid and grit guard to distinguish it as the rinse bucket, and a white lid/grit guard as the soap bucket.

 

[mg6045]

Why didn't you just buy a different colour gamma seal lid & grit guard to distinguish between the soap and rinse buckets? I bought two standard 5 gallon Polyethylene buckets, marked that outside of the buckets in 1 gallon increments, and have a black gamma seal lid and grit guard to distinguish it as the rinse bucket, and a white lid/grit guard as the soap bucket.

funny thing is I did EXACTLY that lastnight from amazon. bought a red and blue gamma seal lid combo and two graduated 5 gallon clear painter buckets. Basically identical to the old setup I just replaced. I put the Autogeek 5 gallon pails in the back of my truck and will use them to measure Hydraulic fluid from our 55 gallon drum. lol.

my point still stands, why is autogeek shipping these buckets if they know they dont work very well with grit guards ?? the setup isn't cheap. it cost me 120 dollars for 2 dollys and diamond plate splice plate.

 

[allenk4]

What did Autogeek Customer Service say when you called them on the telephone?

 

[sharpreflection]

Well one he got them off amazon but you can buy just the grit guard as and get a couple of buckets from Lowes or home do pot for about 3 dollars that will fit other buckets I have bought I have the same problem. But the Lowes ones work fine.

 

[swanicyouth]

IME only way you are guaranteed a bucket that fits GGs well is to buy it locally and bring a GG to the store with you. You know you can by these buckets & gamma seals at Lowes / Home Depot / any hardware store for a few bucks?

That way you will be guaranteed the bucket will fit the GG correctly. A lot of these buckets seem to change from time to time - so it's hit or miss wether a certain bucket fits.

All this being said, I'd be pissed if I bought them as a set & they were not right. However, I'm not sure exactly how high the GG sits in the bucket - but as long as it seals the edges it should work fine. Most don't sit directly on the bottom.

 

[mcochris]

Switch to one bucket method and be done with the GG. I had the same problem with the GG two bucket set I bought from AG a while back. Not fun.

 

[silverfox]

Two buckets...what's that? Since going to a coating, I have no need for such things. Foam it up, power rinse, final wipe/dry with waterless wash or Aquawax... Done....or wash with any good rinseless wash...done.

 

[mg6045]

What did Autogeek Customer Service say when you called them on the telephone?

I dont think I ever typed that I called them. My problems on that end are always taken care of by Meghan via PM. She's excellent. Always has been. thats not the issue. The issue is stated in my OP.

But it seems you missed that point so I will repeat it more clearly defined :

Calling Autogeek customer service does absolutely NOTHING to help out my fellow detailers to warn them to avoid purchasing this setup till the bucket issue has been resolved and sorted. Does it ?

 

[mg6045]

IME only way you are guaranteed a bucket that fits GGs well is to buy it locally and bring a GG to the store with you. You know you can by these buckets & gamma seals at Lowes / Home Depot / any hardware store for a few bucks?

That way you will be guaranteed the bucket will fit the GG correctly. A lot of these buckets seem to change from time to time - so it's hit or miss wether a certain bucket fits.

All this being said, I'd be pissed if I bought them as a set & they were not right. However, I'm not sure exactly how high the GG sits in the bucket - but as long as it seals the edges it should work fine. Most don't sit directly on the bottom.

I agree. Theres also 2 other options. Buy the grit guard matching pail (sold by grit guard). Or another online retailer sells a store branded pail and grit guard setup for a good price and they test them BEFORE shipping to customers. Something I would have expected AG to do as well.

 

[Nick McKees37]

For the past month I have been replacing all my worn out detailing tools in anticipation of a new car I have on order. I went ahead and purchased this Dual Bucket grit guard system for 2 bucket wash's.

Normally I would go ahead and purchase a few buckets from Amazon but a couple features stood out to me about the system being offered by Autogeek. Product description below :

Grit Guard® Dual Bucket Washing System - CLEAR

I really liked the idea of having clear, graduated buckets as well as the WASH/RINSE labels.

The only problem with the system is the buckets. I dont know when they have changed but they are now narrow at the base/bottom. Making them WAY to small to fit the GG (Grit Guards). The GG no longer bottoms out in the bucket. They sit about 1 to 2 inch's to high and its very difficult to get them leveled out cause they are being wedged in place.

This causes 2 problems. First problem is you will now need about 1.5 gallons of liquid to pass the top of the GG. And secondly the GG is now less effective as the solution can slosh around underneath them as the bottom fins are rendered useless by not being seated against the bottom of the pail.

All in all I am very unhappy with the purchase. I find it difficult to believe that i'm the first person to point this out to Autogeek. And if thats true, I dont see why they would continue to sell this system to its customers. Just because a distributor has received a different product from the manufacturer than expected with a high cost, doesnt mean its fair for it to be passed on to the consumer to take the hit. Maybe i'm overthinking this one, but I do remember a thread about the problem with the buckets from over a year ago. I tried to search for the thread but I cant find it anymore.

Anyway, I do NOT recommend anyone purchase this product until the buckets are changed and its noted on the webpage. I should have just bought the parts separately and picked up 2 graduated painter buckets from Amazon like I originally intended to do.

This question has been brought up in the past. A quick search found this thread:

AG wash buckets and grit guards

Here's a post from Mike Phillips in the same thread:

What's funny, is if the Grit Guard Inserts when placed inside the buckets were loose, people would complain they are loose.

I've sent the link to this thread to my good friend Doug Lamb for his input since he's the manufacturer.

I also just went out and placed inserts into the first two buckets on the shelf next to where the inserts are located and "yes" it did take some pressure to push them to the bottom and "yes" it did take some pulling to remove them.

You want these things to fit SNUG and stay at the bottom of the bucket once inserted. You don't want them moving around. As you use them the buckets will expand a little and the inserts will compress a little, they are only snug when they are brand new.

Here's some pictures...

And one from myself in the same thread:

The Grit Guard inserts don't have to sit flush in the bottom of the bucket for them to work properly. The "baffles" still work as designed and prevent dirt and grit from being reintroduced to your wash media.

If you'd like to exchange them, give me a call tomorrow and I'll have a return label sent your way.

1-800-869-3011 ext 215

To add to my post in that thread, we have confirmed with Grit Guard that the inserts do not have to sit flush to be effective. We'll adjust our copy to make this more clear on the product description.

Regardless, if you're unhappy with the purchase please give us a call. 1-800-869-3011

:dblthumb2:

 

[mg6045]

thanks for the reply nick.