Anybody Ever Feel This Way?

OCDinPDX

OCDinPDX

Paint Ph.D
I am usually very thorough in my details, especially with new clients. Usually I'm not in business during winter months but my neighbor wanted his Volvo XC90 done while he was visiting family in Argentina. I really needed the money so I agreed. I don't know what it was about this Volvo that got me so upside down and backwards I simply could not focus. I stumbled about like a novice, feeling my way through things I could usually do with my eyes closed. Maybe it was the weather.

The car first threw me into a funk with the alloy wheels being badly stained. That right there ruined the job for me; wheels are a HUGE point of contention for me. If the wheels look bad, the car looks horrible. So from this point, the car can only look mediocre. He had also requested I remove wax rubbed onto pretty much every black plastic trim surface on the car. He had some kid do it last time and I will say he really trashed the trim.

I bought a specialized dried on wax remover and even that struggled to remove the hardened wax. I nearly emptied the bottle with minimal improvement. So I was down 2 for 2. Wheels stained and still look horrible and dried wax still smeared all over black surfaces. I feel this guy paid me $200 to spit on his car (I could not bring myself to charge him the usual $250).

And because of this, I began to forget things that are usually so natural, I don't even think about them. I got ready to deliver and I hadn't cleaned the windows or the door sills. I was running around touching things up before delivery. Honestly, I'm glad I didn't document this car in photographs. It's probably one of the worst I've ever done (a definite 1/10) but he seemed to be very happy with the results. I really don't know why it (the Volvo) got under my skin like that. I gotta get my game face on for the summer. :(

Thanks for listening. I hope I'm not the only one who's felt like this.
 
that has happened to me before... especially if its an older car or one has been abused and the owner expects a miracle at a basic/regular price.

P.S. - For wax removal off trim, use either:
1. APC 6:1 and agitate with a brush
2. IPA with a MF towel
 
There are good days and bad days at any job..detailing is no different...Some times your rhythm is off....the cold weather doesn't help either IMO
 
I definitely feel your pain.

Damaged wheels, carpet with permament stains, pitted paint. I hate working on cars that aren't going to look good no matter how good you are. I run into that the most with friends and family too which means I'm usually doing the car at a discount. :surrender

I'm glad that most of the cars I do aren't that way. Don't get me wrong I love detailing a neglected car as long as the damage is repairable and the results are there.
 
my wife and I got rid of our XC90 earlier in the year. I hated that car for all the black plastic trim on it. But, 4" sponge paint brush and PB's Trim Restorer worked great at keeping it looking good. APC diluted, mentioned above, worked for me on removing the old wax when i first got it. Also the wheels did have a few light brown stains that were imbedded in and would not come out. they were very small stains and did not bother me that much.

Once spring arrives, I am sure your game face will be on.
 
Once you get back into your regular frequency of work you'll forget all about this (I hope). I've had these jobs too and if the customer (usually friend, neighbor, family) return they get the full A game. Try to put this one behind you and know you do better.
 
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