<HTML>You may also want to consider finding a temporary "real" job for the winter months. Living in Michigan I can tell you that it's just godawful miserable in the winter. And that's for detailers that have a shop or access to a place where they can work indoors. And that's the hard, cold, honest truth. Let's face it. Here in the Northern climates, nobody givby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Chris-Are the wheels actually painted so that they match the car? Or are the spots actually areas where the clearcoat has deteriorated & worn through so that there are blotches on the wheels and the edges of the spots that are chipping away have turned a yellowish-brown in color? If the wheels are actually painted with paint, then the old paint will have to be removed & the wby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Right you are Ketch! I've used watered down dressing and it works very well! I've also just thoroughly cleaned them with a pressure washer and not dressed them at all. As a rule, the customer never comments. they just like to see that the whole car is clean before they drive away and that there's no visible dirt as they walk up to the car. I haven't had a customerby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Scott-If I recall, you've got a Paint Bull paint system, right? If so, give them a call to see what kind of help they can give you in setting up the paint side of your business. I know here in the U.S., there's no special equipment or requirements regarding spraying as long as the area being painted is less than 9 s.f. If you get into larger repairs, then you need the downdrby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I second the Mop N Glo. Works as good as anything else I've ever tried. Tends to last a bit longer because it dries hard. Although, it is a wheel well and usually are junked up again within a week's time.</HTML>by Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Scott-I've been there with dealerships too. Except with me it happens when they get a new UCM which is about every 6-12 months. He comes in & brooms out all the salespeople & either cuts the vendors already low prices or he inspects every car personally after the vendor spends an hour walking the lot & writiing them up, and you're lucky if you get one car to do!by Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I've seen tiny yellow pollen spots from Maple trees. When you wash, use hot water. It should remove most of the spots. If not, you can use a clay bar on the car which should remove all but the most persistent spots. for those you can use prep solvent or mineral spirits in a spray bottle. Spray it on, let it set for a minute, then wipe it off with a microfiber towel. If you haveby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Great advice, everyone! Thanks! I've decided to scrap the "incentive" plan. I decided that at $90/detail, I really can't afford to go any lower. In fact, I did another car for the Chevy dealer today & he wants me to start doing the touch up work on his cars. So, I'll charge $30-$50 for stone chip & minor scratch touch-ups. Since I mix my own paint &by Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I have a Chevy dealer right across the street form my shop who is starting to bring me cars. He has a shop he's been using for 3 years, but likes the idea of me being so close. He's sent me a couple vehicles already & was real happy with the work. When we started out, he came into our shop & saw all the Benz's, Lambo's, BMW's around and he said to meby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>The Viper Club of Michigan had their Fall rally at our shop yesterday. The subject matter of the day was wheels & tires. My associate has a Hunter Road Force wheel balancing unit at his shop so the Hunter rep & him did some demos. We also had a wheel repair specialist from Alloy Wheel Repair come in & demonstrate how he polished wheels & straightened a bent wheel. Veby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>You got it, Joe! But, check with a Porsche dealer first before you go pulling the rear seat out. I know on some MB's & BMW's, the batteries are located in the trunk, but there's a "jump connector box" under the hood where you connect jumper cables in order to start the car. Also, if you're mobile, it's a good idea to carry a portable jump box wby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Pinstripe eraser on the end of a drill may also do the trick. But the best way is probably a heat gun. Get a cheap one at Home Depot for about $20. No need to get fancy. Just one with low & high setting is fine.</HTML>by Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>What's been said so far is the truth. You must have a roatry (and know how to use it) in order to offer the full gamut of truly professional detailing services. They're really not terrible compicated to use. A few things to keep in mind are to make sure the vehicle hasn't just been painted & to measure the thickness of the paint before buffing. Just remember to aby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>If I'm not mistaken, I don't think clearcoat was introduced to the consumer market until 1989. Up to that time, the paints being used were either single stage lacquer or a single stage urethane based paint of some type. I'm quite that your paint is not clearcoated unless it has been repainted since it was new.</HTML>by Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>What did you finally end up painting the whitewalls with?</HTML>by Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Why not just have the tires re-mounted with the black side out? I've come across cars that have done this as well as truck owners who don't like the white lettering.</HTML>by Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Thanks Ketch! I understand what you're saying about the thermal stress cracks, but the only place they appear is on the left door. Otherwise, the paint is really in good condition as it has been extremely well-maintained. However, I agree that stripping & repainting as you described is going to be the best way to go. As for the "feeding" theory, while that may appeby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>The patient: 1986 Mercury Capri RS. Everything is original on it, including the lacquer based paint. Background: The Customer inherited the car from his father. It sat in a garage for 4 years. It was kept covered in a garage in Michigan with a light duty (cheap) car cover with a blanket kept on the hood for extra protection. It never got wet, but the garage was unheated, so it got hoby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>1. Target Market: High-enders, UMC professional types too busy to do it themselves, lease turn-ins, used car sales prep, any boat owner. 2. Advertising: Since I'm housed in a high-end service center, many customers just see me working in their & come up to me & start talking to me. I listen & find out if they need anything, tell them in laymen's terms what I canby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Excellent thread started here, Bud! Great input Grump, Mark & Paul! I totally agree with you. It seems like a newbie could come to this forum and within a week, know all they need to about products & technique, but little or nothing about how to run a business. Quite frankly, this forum, for the most part, has become rather mundane in that all that anyone talks about is the bby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Doug-I for one, have found your posts to be among the most informative and un-egotistical on the forum. Your matter-of-fact style is much appreciated. I like the way you talk to us rather than at or over us. Considering that most of us here are not scientists, but rather business people and technicians trying to become better at what we do, I find that your layman approach and responsby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>All things being equal as far as training and given that they're all legitimate detailers, there's literally no difference in the quality of their work. The more experienced guy should get the job done quicker because they're further ahead on the learning curve regarding learning some ways to work smarter and should know how to correct any situations he comes acrossed.by Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>They're something else, eh' Scott? I wonder if they've been adding something to the water in our neck of the woods! And it's always the POS cars. Never the high-end cars that need attention but kept in decent shape overall. Never a problem here. In fact, it almost always results in additional or referral business. Mark-Very funny, indeed. When I used to adjust claby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I completely agree with you Wayne. There are so many variables that I think it's really impossible to say one wax or sealant outshines, outlasts all the others. The only way to ever to this test fairly would be to take every wax/sealant on the market today and test them in every climate from the Florida Keys to Fairbanks, Alaska using identical application methods on every type oby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>So far, most everyone has missed the boat. I'm not asking for the definition of a professional or technical gibberish that's supposed to impress (but usually bewilders) the consumer. What I'm asking is...what do you say to the customer who asks that question? What do you say to seperate yourself, to stand out, from the other 50 legitimate detailers that don't cheatby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>We all know that there's plenty of competition in our line of work lately. Some old and a lot new. Dealerships, independents, back alley ops, etc. So, let's say a customer calls you saying he's got a nice car he wants detailed. He's a saavy customer and is very familiar with what we do and has had cars detailed in the past. He asks you this simple question: "by Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Brian has a valid point. But, the normal customer is not necessarily the ones who are going to give us problems. We're concerned about the ones that bring a car to us for service when they knowingly have a problem (unbeknown to us) and they fully intend (and do) try to collect from us after our work is done for the problem we allegedly caused. I had a '92 Lexus that I detaiby Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>What 5 things would you want most to warn your clients about if they were going to take their car that you just detailed to a car wash? What are the biggest complaints you've heard about automatic car washes other than the obvious "my car got scratched/dented/dmaged", etc.?</HTML>by Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>If you were trying to educate your clientele about what they should watch out for when turning in a leased vehicle or trading in a used car at a dealer, what would be the one thing you would want them most to be warned about and what should they do to prevent it?</HTML>by Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>If we were to develop a detailer's code of ethics, what key elements would you absolutely include in it? Things like: deliver the car when promised at the agreed price. Call the customer when a concern arises that will cost extra to correct and advise them how much more it will cost them. Use only OSHA approved products, etcc.</HTML>by Rod W. - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts