Absolutely that is why the people who go into detailing for $200 ultimately hurt the the image of the detail business. They have no equipment, little knowledge and little or no overhead and thusly are not able to command legitimate pricesby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gina that is why I say if you know you are not the lowest price for your services, cut this customer loose. A price buyer is not a loyal customer and won't be back next time finding a lower price. Bud Aby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Another thought on the issue of quoting prices on the telephone: "What difference does it make if you post prices on a menu board or on a menu? You do not need to see the car if your prices are posted." That is why I advocate "estimate" prices. Knowing your hourly shop rate and looking over the car and bidding based on an estimate of time to do the work. But, if yby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
That is correct, " I will make them a deal they cannot refuse."by buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Andre (or is it Morgan?): What do you define as "detailing?" If you ask a "back-alley" detailer what the absolute necessities are the answer will be quite different than asking a professional in the industry. What I consider absolute necessities are: EQUIPMENT Pressure Washer Buffer Vacuum Soil extractor SUPPLIES White wool cutting pad Poly Wool cuttiby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
If you want to go to a site where you can ask a question and get a reply without others popping in with their comments. Just ask a question and get a rely go to www.detailplus.com and register for Ask the Experts and ask away. You will get an answer promptly. Regardsby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gina Depending on how the customer sounds on the phone when asking for a price. I will sometimes, in a friendly, courtesy way, ask: "Are you looking for price or quality?" This kind of stops them for a moment as they are not expecting that kind of reply. So then I say that "I don't mean to be rude, but there are a lot of back alley detailers out there or detailers wby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
The Midwest Carwash Association will conduct a full day seminar on full service and express detailing in conjunction with their convention and expo on January 31, 2012 in Novi, MIchigan. The session will be divided into two sessions: a. Morning - What is express detailing and how to set up an express detail business b. Afternoon - How to set up and operate a full service detailing busineby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gina you are commended for your efforts to gain and expand your knowledge needed to be called a professional in the detail industry. It is unnecessary for me to say this, but for others "keep learning." Regards Bud Aby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
The steam iron was the method used by DETAILERS on red and tannin stains to create the heat transfer of stain to towel before the advent of vapor steamers. It works if a steamer is not available. You have to use "wet" heat Bud Abrahamby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
The carpet is nylon and nylon fibers are porous and it is likely the green dye in the candy got into the pores. Use a red stain remove stain remover. Put a damp white towel over the stains and then shoot the hot steam of a vapor steamer into the towel over the stain. This may work. It works for red stains and "lifts" the dye out of the fibers. Try it a couple of times. Let usby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gina And to you and yours, a very Happy & Prosperous New Yearby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bill I am not aware of any sealant that takes days to cure. Maybe 24 hours, but I have never come across one that takes days to cure. Can you give me the name of such products I would like to check them out. Bud Abrahamby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Guys Read the MSDS on these products you will find they are all close to being the same. A smart chemist can adjust the ingredients to ehance one feature over another. For example, you can make a product have a great shine than another but you willl find that it will not have as much durability. Or, a product that is more durable will not leave as high a shine as another. Hard to finby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
What we have learned after 30 years in this business as operators and consultants to detail operations in dealerships, car washes and free standing operations: 1. NEVER hire experienced detailers. Their experience is only good if you let them do what they want to do. Then who is in charge? 2. Here is the foolproof ad either in the want ads or on Craig's List AUTO SERVICE TRby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bill Have a Holy & Joyful Christmas & Holy and Prosperous New Year 2012. God bless, Bud Abrahamby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bill do you know how to clean an interior? Tell us what your process is for shampooing carpets and cleaning leather without damage. BOB: Be careful in purchasing a vapor steamer, they have their place but they are not a "solve-all" for interior cleaning. We sell them, but I tell buyers they are just another tool a professional detailer should have in their arsenal of cleaningby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bill You make it sound as though paint is at the mercy of the elements? If that were the case the auto manufacturers would not guarantee a paint finish on a factory car for 10 years. Not one of the Owner's Manuals I have ever read indicate that YOU MUST coat the paint finish with wax or paint sealant. They do not even mention a word about the paint protection plans that dealers selby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Expensive Ginaby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
When we started in the detail business in the late 70's the typical thing was to spray the wheel wells with black paint. That gave way to simply spraying the wheel wells. after a good cleaning with a pressure washer with a high shine water based dressing. Hard to do with a 32oz hand spray bottle, you got to have a sprayer that puts out chemical with a constant spray. Regards Budby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Pro_Tech Read the information on the independent tests. No question, it was an independent lab. It does exist and they were hired by the company to test the AT-5. The problem is that they do not provide the protocols used in the test to determine how the AT 5 was better. And, they do not provide the other products against which the AT 5 was tested. In the Comparative Study of Automoby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Profile: There are two kinds of soil in carpets/fabric seats: a. Dry soil - 85% b. Oily soil - 15% (on fibers) The professional cleaning process is to: 1. Thorough vacuum to remove all dry soil 2. Apply appropriate stain removers and hand remove stains (vapor steamers work well) 3. Apply light mist of carpet shampoo to emulsify the oily soil on the fibers 4. Hand scrub or useby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bill Good thought! But we exist in a fallen world. Humans are not perfect, we are not God. The English languages has words like accident and mistake. They are something that happens unintentionally with all of us. So when an accident occurs or a mistake is made we must know what to do. Regardsby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
As we have discussed how to deal with a complaining customer is very important in an unsettling economy to retain their business and make them an advocate for your business. Here are some things you can to when dealing with a complaining customer: #1. Get on their side. That is the only starting point you need to be on the same side of the customer and it shows them that you care. You neby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Great post Robert, everything you state I have found to be true in my 30 some years in the detail business. Regards Bud Abrahamby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Protech is correct take it to the dealer and complain like he'll. Don't accept in BS tell them you want them removed. Of course if they have uncertified and untrained DETAILERS they will take compound, a cutting pad and buffer and grind the spots off. What should be used is a water spot remover which is an acid-based chemical that dissolves the solidified minerals and allows youby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Who is experienced in Bio-Hazard Cleaning? Tell us about what you do? Regardsby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
There is no primer, I was just making a verbal statement. There are schools you can attend to learn how to do BioHazard Cleaning. I wrote an article a few years back on biohazard cleaning and will try to find it and will put it in our first DETAIL PLUS newsletter which we are introducing FREE of CHARGE in January every two weeks. If you want to sign up send an email to: aimby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
In Part I we thanked the customer; aplogized for the inconvenience and took ownership of the problemm. In Part II we fixed the problem and fixed it cheerfully without question or complaining. Now, we have a customer who is at least moderately satisfied and should not complain about your detail business to their relatives and friends, or anyone else who will listen. So go a step further andby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bob Was your DeWalt a rotary buffer or a orbital or dual action tool. Was the pad a foam or wool pad? What is "pink glaze?" A compound, a polish? The condition you describe would seem to require: a. A rotary buffer b. Cutting pad (foam or poly/wool) c. At least a light compound It is hard to answer your question without more information. Regards Bud Abrahamby buda - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts