I can`t comment on Recharge or the performance of it but as consumers and the fact coatings are the new rage we only had to expect what we are seeing now. When the first couple coatings came out for consumer use, mainly Opti-Coat there were never "special care" or specific products to use to maintain coatings. Coating makers are going to milk the coating fad for as long as they can if we are willing to buy this stuff. When people first started using Opti-Coat it was wash with ONR or a good shampoo and top with a QD or Opti-Seal if you want nothing special. You have to give Optimum props for saying you don`t need anything special to take care of it or install it. Now they have the Opti-Coat line which basically seem like slightly more amped up versions of the current products but cost more. Don`t fault Optimum for wanting to get on the coating maintenance boat.
We have panel wipes, coating primers, polishes, toppers, shampoos, trim, rim and glass coatings and we buy into it. Coatings are protective of all these environmental dangers, we should be able to wash our cars with a can of Coke and a sponge. They are trying to make as much money as they can off of really expensive coatings and maintenance products. Once products start coming out, and they are, that are easier to apply and give you coating looks, ease of maintenance and a year and change protection coatings will slowly start to loose ground. The biggest fault of a coating is being exclusive; the surgical prep, they have to be installed inside, cost, just by nature these products alienate a huge part of a customer base. Even getting a coating done by a pro is alienating the client because it`s so damn expensive for a pro to buy them. Not everyone has the time, facilities or money to invest in a coating that for some may be a car payment once it`s all said and done.
The rage will soon die down when they are out of creative ways to milk us for money, innovate better products or the prices are so high they alienate average consumers and pro detailer clients because the price for admission is ridiculous. Coatings are just the new carnauba wax. What`s next color charged coatings? I want 5% on the dollar for every sale made for that new innovation, I`m sure someone is working on it.