This is my review of the July detailing boot camp.
Settle in for this journey, because I have a lot to talk about. But I can sum it all down into one word... Amazing!
I did a lot of research before I settled in on doing one of these classes. I wanted to make sure I was not going to be spending this kind of money and going to a place and watching a bunch of video presentations, and sitting through advertising gimmicks of a company. I wanted to be able to learn new things and be able to use them in a real world atmosphere.
You can sit and watch videos, you can read all the detailing forums in the world. But what you cannot do is have the level of expertise, or the products on hand that you get from this class! This class will put EVERY tool you want to try out in your hands, with an instructor giving you the proper procedures, and abilities to use the tool or product correctly. This is not standing around watching them do it, this is not about that at all. Each tool is explained, each product is explained, then put directly into you hands, and you are set free to do what you came to do.
When I looked at how the course was going to be set up, and was on the fence on what I would actually be getting out of this class, I did not believe we would be given every aspect that we were. We all look on the posts from Mike, we have read the past reviews, and we have looked at the pictures. But the pictures only show so much. This is 3 days of intense training, 3 days of hands on, with very little sitting time. As Mike said at the end, we were not even sure if there would be time to get to everything, because they pack so much into so little time.
If you plan to attend, be prepared to work! Wear comfortable clothing, wear shoes you can be comfortable standing in, or kneeling in all day. Mike sends an email out prior to the class stating to get a good nights rest before the first day... you will need it. You get out of this class what YOU put into it. They will give you everything you ask for, and more. I do not know of any other class that will put a basically pristine GTO Judge to a bunch of strangers, hand them tools that they may never have used before, and tell them to put a machine to it...and fix it!
Let me be honest, the pictures only tell part of the story of these vehicles. Some were absolute nightmares when they came in, and we made them better. This is not all about working show level cars either, the Avalanche and the work truck were real everyday cars, and they brought it all the way down to the real world of detailing.
Not only did Mike brain dump his knowledge to us, but Nick was right behind him as the Autogeek Wikipedia of the products we were using. If we were not using a product, Nick was still there to answer any questions for anything they carried, and even was able to give comparisons to stuff they may not have.
Every tool or product was explained as they were the company representative of that product line. There are no favorites, there are no "Best" it is just real world experience with everything offered.
The running joke of the class was "Mike has an article on that..." But its not a joke, he truly does his best to give you everything he knows from a lifetime of detailing and instructing. Try teaching a lifetime of your knowledge to 20 strangers... Not an easy task, and then try to do it all in 3 days... again, an almost impossible task. But somehow he does it, and does it very well.
If you leave the class with questions, it is because you did not ask them. There is plenty of opportunity to ask anything you want. Mike and Nick did their best to give the knowledge to everyone when the question has been asked 100's of times before, or even if they had never heard it asked. No question was ever treated as if it was the wrong question. It was always truthful, and always answered in a manor that was understood by all.
This class is designed for EVERYONE! If you have never picked up a machine, or washed a car in your life, to the professional detailer that puts food on the table for their family. If you are looking to improve your beater, or work on the elite, each aspect is covered.
This is a first class operation, and it shows. Confidence is gained through the class.
Some of you may be saying to yourself... why doesn't Autogeek do this all over... I can answer that question for you very easily...Cost! The facility is huge, the tool selection is outstanding, and the products used are all right there. I was amazed at how much was right there at your fingertips... But think about trying to do this at another location, and the sheer magnitude of the class becomes very apparent. We used an average of 300 Microfiber towels per day. We had 10-20 machines of each type sitting on the tables, we had chemicals, extension cords, vacuums, extractors, steam machines etc. Not to mention the static hoods and items used in the wet sanding portion. To put all of this equipment in a truck, move it to another location, and then find 20 outlets that will handle the power consumption, parking spaces, and a climate controlled facility on top of all of that is a logistics nightmare. Then find someone that is willing to drop their car off to 20 strangers with power tools on top of all that, and be of the quality that Mike works with. It is just not feasible.
Just to summarize all of this, if you are thinking about doing this... just sign up, you will not be disappointed.
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