Polished vehicle not noticed!

My neighbor always tells me when she see a car I detail around town how great it looks. She keeps telling me that she wants me to detail her vehicle. Only problem she wants to make arrangements. Her reputation is pypayment is made in favors. My wife would not approve. My other neighbor lets me detail his pickup I make arrangements with him as he is a mechanic and he repairs our cars based on me buying parts at discounted prices and he takes care of the labor. That works for me. He always compliments and recommends me for his customers. I have him make the arrangement for payment and I use his shop and he pays me a fair price for the work I do
 
A lot of my customers come to my shop and say they heard about how we make paint shine and want us to detail their car.
I go outside my office to look at it only to see the paint is a wreck, I have to point it out to them.
In most cases their shocked and want it corrected.
They have no idea.


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Eandras said:
My neighbor always tells me when she see a car I detail around town how great it looks. She keeps telling me that she wants me to detail her vehicle. Only problem she wants to make arrangements. Her reputation is pypayment is made in favors. My wife would not approve. My other neighbor lets me detail his pickup I make arrangements with him as he is a mechanic and he repairs our cars based on me buying parts at discounted prices and he takes care of the labor. That works for me. He always compliments and recommends me for his customers. I have him make the arrangement for payment and I use his shop and he pays me a fair price for the work I do
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For years, my neighbor would maintain my lawn in exchange for car washes. I was also able to do a LOT of experimentation of products and processes on his cars.

A few others tried to get in on the exchange, but I had to charge them. The other great thing about my neighborhood is that there are six drummers (like myself) in twelve houses.
 
This past weekend I went to the Mecum auto auction in Kissimmee, FL and I would say about 98% of the 3,000 cars for auction have tons of swirls and various paint defects. The "detailers" there didn't help at all, they were using 303 Speed Detailer or Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Detailer with two dirty rags and doing multiple vehicles. The few owners that really cared for the paint were the ones that I seen doing their own detailing with multiple products and clean towels. It was pretty shocking to me, but that was my first big auction I've been to.
 
As others have mentioned, sadly it's the norm. Even at enthusiast event like Cars and Coffee or car shows, you'll see paint that is neglected and mistreated. Last spring, I was driving to work and witnessed a guy with a brand new Sakhir Yellow M3 paying to put his car through a tunnel-o-swirls car wash. I wanted to yell out my window, "DON'T DO IT" as I drove by. Sad part of the story is this place has a touchless wash in the in the bay right next to the swirl creating one.

Car ownership isn't what is used to be. I'd be willing to bet 99% of the population view their car no differently than they do their refrigerator or dishwasher. It's simply an appliance, and they couldn't care less how it looks or how it drives.
 
58LesPaul said:
I guess I'm fortunate. I detailed my parents Rav4 and they can't stop talking about how good it looks. My mother-in-law and her aunt noticed my wife's Rav4 and they mention how great it looks and want me to do theirs also.

Of course I spent about 7 hours at my parents house detailing their car so they know how much work I put into it.
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Agree, if they see the time spent on their car, they will mention it.
 
Desertnate said:
Car ownership isn't what is used to be. I'd be willing to bet 99% of the population view their car no differently than they do their refrigerator or dishwasher. It's simply an appliance, and they couldn't care less how it looks or how it drives.
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There is so much truth to this right here.

People don't take pride in their cars anymore. They are just a means to an end and when they hit the end of their lease, they trade it in. Rinse, repeat.
 
IMO:

•This scenario of yours can be best
described as one that falls into the
realm of: Phenomenon(s).

•Being so:
-Then it's time to enlist the steps of
"The Phenomenological Method".
-After all:
The goal of any phenomenological
exploration is recognition.



Bob
 
Most people don't even notice when you wash a car, let alone when it's been properly detailed and corrected.
Just do it for your own enjoyment :xyxthumbs:
 
I think people notice a 'polished car' more when it has some age on it.

Wife's car is a 2000 Subby and she (and I) have had quit a few folks ask, "What year is that?" Maybe being 'black and shiny' helps, but they are surprised it is that old.

Bill
 
It used to drive me nuts after I would spend a better part of a weekend detailing my wife's car and all she would say or ask is thanks for washing my car! WTH! There are a lot of people that only care that their car gets them from point A to B my wife included! LOL Don't feel bad been there done that.. :)
 
At least my wife appreciates the level of effort I go to on our vehicles...mostly because she watched her father take such good care of their vehicles. My daughter is getting it, too. The other day she asked me to work on the interior of her car....the dash had dust on it.
 
Funny story. A few years ago I bought a 1991 300ZX that had been sitting a while. The finish was in dire need of help. During the week or two I was driving it around before detailing it, I got waves and thumbs-up left and right, and people would frequently compliment the car or ask me about it at gas stations etc. I was very surprised as the car definitely looked its age.

After correcting to a lovely deep shine on that candy red paint, hardly ever a word again from the general public.

To this day it's one of the most baffling things to me.
 
OP - if noone noticed that means you didn't make it shiney enough ��

Jk. On a serious note, my whole family always notices when I detail our cars. Probably because I make them help. My kids double as creepers and hit the low spots.
 
Good idea having the kids help, at least then they get a little taste on how much work is involved in making a vehicle look great, and get schooled at the same time :)
 
I have a 8 week old car in my shop, a $60.00 Ford Expedition , black in color.
Lady brought it to the swirl -o-magic and wrecked the paint.
Inside is a total loss, nasty and it's only two months old, she drove two hours to me to get it corrected.
So sad!


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HateSwirls said:
I have a 8 week old car in my shop, a $60.00 Ford Expedition , black in color.
Lady brought it to the swirl -o-magic and wrecked the paint.
Inside is a total loss, nasty and it's only two months old, she drove two hours to me to get it corrected.
So sad!


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Click to expand...

It's only worth $60.00 after 8 weeks?


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