Autopia Detail Day at Meguiar's

Spoiledman...I misunderstood your point. I get it now. :xyxthumbs



I suppose in retrospect, it was "stirring the pot" to a degree. It was not meant in that fashion...but I see how it could be seen that way.
 
a.k.a. Patrick said:
Chris, nice sig ! "PC hurting......" LOL...

Hey the Megs event uses PC's pretty heavily, but they dont ...oh im just going to sheddup.....

It is a nice event, and its all about learning technique, not so much product characteristics....I went to the same one Jimmy is referring to and had a great time, although I WASNT CATERED TO LIKE HE WAS! Nonetheless, good folks, good times, good learning, and good fun....
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That first Autopia event was KILLER! Lots of "famous" people were there.:D Patrick, I'm sure you will be a celebrity this time!

:grinno:
 
I've never been to the training day. But my expectations are:



I expect them to use Megs products.

I expect them to pitch and sell their products.

I expect to learn how to properly take care of the car's paint

I expect to learn how to use a PC (whether it's a PC or the Megs rebranded one - GP100)



I don't expect them to twist our arms to buy their products. Doing so will only leave a bad taste in our mouths and may actually refuse to buy megs products in the future.
 
I've been to a lot of seminars provided by various companies. Some have been marketing fluff with little useful information of any kind, others have been intensely technical and incredibly useful for getting real work done and, oh yeah, they happen to demo with their own products but anybody's similar products would work too.



Having been to Meguiar's classes I would personally put them in the latter category. Mike Phillips concentrates on the describing the process, what types of products are used, how to evaluate your progress and how to achieve your goals. Of course they use Meguiar's products. Strangely enough they have a lot of experience with them and know how they work.



When they teach claying they give everybody a wad of their Quik Clay and a bottle of their Quik Detailer and have them go to town on a car. I guess you could call that a promo for Quik Clay but are you going to use Sonus, Mothers, Clay Magic or anybody else's clay any differently?



Is anybody going to have to unlearn the technique for using a Meguiar's branded G100A PC with Meguiar's pads if they buy a Porter-Cable labeled 7424 PC from Lowes and outfit it with LC pads?



So, do they promote the Meguiar's company and its products? Absolutely. Does that make it's just a sales pitch? I guess if one chooses to ignore Meguiar's recommendations for the overall process and techniques for performing each stage it might as well be.



Everyone I know who's gone to one says they learned a lot and is glad they went. My own experience is the same.





PC.
 
It's less of a sales pitch and more a community service. There you get the oppurtunity to learn the process, and having knowledgeable people demo what the proper technique is.



Sure, it gives Meguiars to DEMONSTRATE the product to you, but you don't have to buy it, nor do are you pressured to buy it. You can choose other products if you like.



The fact is, is that you are getting real hands on training from real professionals. Do you think they really get significant amount more sales by holding these free seminars. I doubt it.. i doubt that a couple of people attending these little seminars are going boost their sales up to any significance. Meguiars will get by just fine without doing this for us.



We instead get people like Mike Phillips who actually take their time out and teach newbies the proper way to detail. These seminars CONTRIBUTE to the detailing community by educating us the proper technique. And at these seminars you get demonstrations of products, if you like it buy it, if you don't like it - don't buy it.
 
the other pc said:
..Having been to Meguiar's classes I would personally put them in the latter category. Mike Phillips concentrates on the describing the process, what types of products are used, how to evaluate your progress and how to achieve your goals. Of course they use Meguiar's products. ....
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That is exactly what my expectations were.. The way Matt M made it sound as if it were one of those time share sales thingys, and I didn't see that as the case. I have more respect for Meguiars than that.
 
NYC2SoCal said:
...sound as if it were one of those time share sales thingys, and I didn't see that as the case. I have more respect for Meguiars than that.
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As do I.



Those are certainly out there in the world and there are a few car care product peddlers are among them. It's reasonable that one be concerned about the possibility of getting suckered into one.



I can assure everyone from personal experience that this is quite the opposite.





PC.
 
I spoke with Mike Phillips a week before the class even came up. He said that it was a about learning technique. Sure they want you to use their products and we all do or have, but that's not wht it's about. Here is a quote under his sig.



"Find something you like and use it often"



I think that says it all.
 
I have my stuff loaded up. If you want a sample of some 1Z, PB, or some 3M stuff I will bring it. I don't have very many sample bottles though, bring some if you have them.
 
I am really looking forward to tomorrow! Darn nice of you guys to offer up samples - I just wish I could do the same but I haven't been doing this hardcore detailing thing long enough to have a large enough inventory to make that sort of offer :furious:



Maybe next time?!
 
I bet you guys are having a great time right now at megs HQ scarfing down some pizza and buffing like crazy people. :buffing: I wish I could be there to learn some of the techniques they are teaching, but they're having the get together on the wrong coast!!
 
Jimmy Buffit said:
Maybe the Special Guest is ME!



And maybe not...



I was actually invited to the first Autopia Day! Mequiar's covered the hotel and most food! We limo'd to the Peterson Mueum, and Jay Leno's Garage!



I'm debating going this year... on my own dime. But frankly, I'm not sure it would be the same as my original four day visit.



It was a milestone in my career.



Hmmmm!



Jim
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Same with me. I had a great time and it was very generous of Meguiars to do so much for us-especially with no pressure on any of us to promote their product line. In fact, they were very open to discussion of other products and what we liked about them.



I may try to go next year though.
 
a.k.a. Patrick said:
It is a nice event, and its all about learning technique, not so much product characteristics....I went to the same one Jimmy is referring to and had a great time, although I WASNT CATERED TO LIKE HE WAS! Nonetheless, good folks, good times, good learning, and good fun....
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YOU LIVE THERE! ;)



The class I took stressed technique over product...but yes, we did use Meguiars products in the demonstrations.
 
Mikeyc said:
I bet you guys are having a great time right now at megs HQ scarfing down some pizza and buffing like crazy people. :buffing: I wish I could be there to learn some of the techniques they are teaching, but they're having the get together on the wrong coast!!
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*Burp! whoops...pardon me...that Lampost Pizza was sure good.... :grinno: I had another great time, lots of good information and demonstration of technique today. I had fun, it was good to talk to fellow Autopians that share the same enthusiasm for detailing as I do.



Buddha
 
I certainly hope that everyone's expectations were met today!



I'll guarantee that 90% (or more) of today's attendees will choose (or at least consider first) Meg's products for the rest of their lives... and for good reason.



Barry has been using this 'simple' demostration technique for decades. It works, apparently.



I certainly am not exclusive to Mequiar's products, but (with few exceptions) I could be! I'll place a regular $450 order on Monday.



Mike Phillips is the real deal.



Jim
 
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