A cover up!
- Thread starter Minor49
- Start date
Ron Ketcham
Active member
All the agreements have been signed and accepted.
Now we are working on the marketing approach. It will not be sold through mass market outlets.
The program we are preparing will be professional installation only, but trained and certified technicans.
One area of discussion is wether or not we will offer the product on our website to visitors, and this may not be a concern, as most who visit and purchase products are well versed in following instructions and application.
The key to the product is that it is "coating", not a "dressing" such as Rain-X , etc , the new Castrol product. Those are simply dressings of a silicone nature versus Aquapel, which is a flurocarbon resin.
The product will require reapplication every 3 to 4 months as it will wear off, as any coating will.
The silicone products have several drawbacks from our point. One, they wear off very easily, two, the fog the glass, affect the windshield wiper blades etc.
Will keep all posted as we move forward, thanks for the heads up, I had forgotten to keep you up to date.
:up
Now we are working on the marketing approach. It will not be sold through mass market outlets.
The program we are preparing will be professional installation only, but trained and certified technicans.
One area of discussion is wether or not we will offer the product on our website to visitors, and this may not be a concern, as most who visit and purchase products are well versed in following instructions and application.
The key to the product is that it is "coating", not a "dressing" such as Rain-X , etc , the new Castrol product. Those are simply dressings of a silicone nature versus Aquapel, which is a flurocarbon resin.
The product will require reapplication every 3 to 4 months as it will wear off, as any coating will.
The silicone products have several drawbacks from our point. One, they wear off very easily, two, the fog the glass, affect the windshield wiper blades etc.
Will keep all posted as we move forward, thanks for the heads up, I had forgotten to keep you up to date.
:up
Ron Ketcham
Active member
Email me direct, you are in Cincy?
ketch@autoint.com
:up
ketch@autoint.com
:up
I had a customer yesterday with an 07 Black Ford Expedition that just wanted the interior and exterior wax. This mom likes the free Ford tunnel washes regularly at the local Ford Auto Care Service Center right near her house. You can only guess what that black paint looked like!
I attempted to very politely explain what those tunnel washes are doing to her paint and even showed her the nice swirly scratches that covered her truck. While she understood she still simply wanted the inside thoroughly cleaned and the outside washed and just waxed (husband's direction).
The interior was absolutely trashed and took me all of 2 hours before I could even think about the outside. Then a nice thorough wash, a Z6 wipedown and then 2 layers of Z5. The result? A beautiful, shiny rolling mass of swirls (but very clean).
I absolutely hate coverups because 95% of my work is the full monty, i.e. at or as close to FULL correction as possible. I've had a string of BMW clients lately who want and understand what paint correction is all about but every once in a while you get these clients who just want "a wax". I clearly understand that but it still kills me. Another disadvantage I have with these customers is that I don't have much in my inventory to effectively "cover up". (Looks like another PAC order coming Angelo!!!)
As it turned out, she was amazed at THE INSIDE! She loved it and didn't even comment about the outside. Don't get me wrong, I clearly understand these customers but most if not all of you can understand how much that goes against my (our) philosphy. The only consolation I have is knowing she'll be running it through the tunnel wash again in short order! Another benefit to this job was it was only a 4 hour job instead of the usual 8 to 12 hour detail! The wife was surprised I was done so fast.
No real point to this post other than releasing a bit of frustration and unfulfilled potential. Bottom line though, the customer was absolutely thrilled.
I attempted to very politely explain what those tunnel washes are doing to her paint and even showed her the nice swirly scratches that covered her truck. While she understood she still simply wanted the inside thoroughly cleaned and the outside washed and just waxed (husband's direction).
The interior was absolutely trashed and took me all of 2 hours before I could even think about the outside. Then a nice thorough wash, a Z6 wipedown and then 2 layers of Z5. The result? A beautiful, shiny rolling mass of swirls (but very clean).
I absolutely hate coverups because 95% of my work is the full monty, i.e. at or as close to FULL correction as possible. I've had a string of BMW clients lately who want and understand what paint correction is all about but every once in a while you get these clients who just want "a wax". I clearly understand that but it still kills me. Another disadvantage I have with these customers is that I don't have much in my inventory to effectively "cover up". (Looks like another PAC order coming Angelo!!!)
As it turned out, she was amazed at THE INSIDE! She loved it and didn't even comment about the outside. Don't get me wrong, I clearly understand these customers but most if not all of you can understand how much that goes against my (our) philosphy. The only consolation I have is knowing she'll be running it through the tunnel wash again in short order! Another benefit to this job was it was only a 4 hour job instead of the usual 8 to 12 hour detail! The wife was surprised I was done so fast.
No real point to this post other than releasing a bit of frustration and unfulfilled potential. Bottom line though, the customer was absolutely thrilled.
imported_wfedwar
New member
GEP + BFWD would go a long way toward hiding those swirls if that's what the customer wants.
imported_Luster
New member
I would have to say that MOST of my customers are the same way yours was! They want the minimum and they want it cheap!
My classic car customers are different of course, but the every day driver people, more times than not, will cheap out!!!:banghead::banghead::banghead:
wfedwar, do you mean P21S GEPC? I have some of that and haven't used it in a while. I wasn't aware of it's hiding capabilities but that's good to know.
Bill, thanks for sharing the fact there are an abundance of these customers out there. I've been targeting the higher end customer and a lot lately have come from the BMW forums with detailing subforums. Those guys have some knowledge of paint defect removal and that's what they expect. I'm happy to oblige because I like to do every vehicle like it's my own. If my wife said she wanted just a wash and wax she'd still get the full package. When the customer says this is all I want to pay for that's what they get.
Bill, thanks for sharing the fact there are an abundance of these customers out there. I've been targeting the higher end customer and a lot lately have come from the BMW forums with detailing subforums. Those guys have some knowledge of paint defect removal and that's what they expect. I'm happy to oblige because I like to do every vehicle like it's my own. If my wife said she wanted just a wash and wax she'd still get the full package. When the customer says this is all I want to pay for that's what they get.
imported_Luster
New member
Yeah, I'm slowly getting away from the Soccer Mom customers, although I do have a few regulars in that area. I get less of the classic car customers, but I certainly enjoy doing them more!!!!:thumbup:
imported_wfedwar
New member
imported_BretFraz
New member
Women are much more interested in interior cleaning/detailing, while men are more interested in shiny paint and polished wheels.
Instead of using an expensive product like Z5, I'd suggest a good one stepper with some kind of polymer protectant. Something you can buff on and wipe off ASAP. I think Meguiars makes a product that has some good polishing action with a little protection.
Ultimately, if this type of client is only 5% of your customer base, I wouldn't worry too much or get worked up about it. You can afford to blow them off if you want to since they really aren't adding to your bottom line. If you decide to keep the clients, at least make sure the jobs are profitable. Jobs like that are more about customer satisfaction than personal satisfaction.
Instead of using an expensive product like Z5, I'd suggest a good one stepper with some kind of polymer protectant. Something you can buff on and wipe off ASAP. I think Meguiars makes a product that has some good polishing action with a little protection.
Ultimately, if this type of client is only 5% of your customer base, I wouldn't worry too much or get worked up about it. You can afford to blow them off if you want to since they really aren't adding to your bottom line. If you decide to keep the clients, at least make sure the jobs are profitable. Jobs like that are more about customer satisfaction than personal satisfaction.
imported_Luster
New member
There is some absolute truth!:thumbup: I thought I was the only one to notice!
Tuck91
New member
I would say about 70% of my work is daily driven cars and trucks that just want the exterior wash/clayed/waxed, and the interior done, some will go for the engine.
I would say for those one step wax jobs I will reach for an AIO cleaner wax such as Meguiars M66 Quick Detailer, ColorX, or M20 Polymer Sealant.
I would say for those one step wax jobs I will reach for an AIO cleaner wax such as Meguiars M66 Quick Detailer, ColorX, or M20 Polymer Sealant.
imported_Bunky
New member
My guess someone else is getting this business and probably could make good money at it.
Good point Bret.
With this job I satisfied both. She was tickled with the interior and the husband that sent her loved the exterior gloss and shine I'm sure.
I was going to ZAIO before the Z5 but decided against it as she wasn't paying for the extra step. In hindsight I probably should've done just the ZAIO and be done with it.
With this job I satisfied both. She was tickled with the interior and the husband that sent her loved the exterior gloss and shine I'm sure.
I was going to ZAIO before the Z5 but decided against it as she wasn't paying for the extra step. In hindsight I probably should've done just the ZAIO and be done with it.