Bub Abraham's Certification artice.

detailbarn

detailbarn

Professional Detailer
For those who have a subscription to Professional Carwashing & Detailing, what is your opinion on the article in the September issue titled "Is it time for certification?" Written by Bud Abraham.
 
NO don't need certification! Who’s going to govern it anyway? I like it the way it is friends telling friends about good detailers. I sure in the hell don't want any more gov. laws looking out for me or looking over my shoulder.
 
I'm not a pro by any stretch but this doesn't seem like a biz that needs any type of certification or regulation. There are no safety issues like with a mechanic, no engines to blow up like tuners, etc. If you do good work word will get around, if you suck you won't be getting much business, simple as that.
 
There are no safety issues like with a mechanic, no engines to blow up like tuners, etc.
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I'm not trying to pick on you, but there are safety issues in this business. What about the noise from a buffer, a generator, a gas powered pressure washer. You could fall off a ladder while buffing an RV or Semi-truck, and some products can be harmful to you. So there are safety issue in this business.
 
TRUCKERBAER said:
I'm not trying to pick on you, but there are safety issues in this business. What about the noise from a buffer, a generator, a gas powered pressure washer. You could fall off a ladder while buffing an RV or Semi-truck, and some products can be harmful to you. So there are safety issue in this business.
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I know there are for the detailer himself, but I meant in regard to the customer. Get a lame mechanic and you could have brake failure, wheels falling off, etc. Pretty hard for a detailer to make a car any more unsafe than it was when you got your hands on it.



As for the detailer safety, if your not concerned enough to know the proper way to handle chemicals and operate the machinery when it's your *** on the line, then it's natural selection hard at work.
 
I haven't read the article, but here's what happened my my industry about 10 years ago with certification...



An industry organization started offering two levels of certification (CAS, MAS). It's BS. Pay your money attend a couple of hours of classes and get your certification. Becasue of my level of sales, I actually qualify to *buy* my certification-no classes required (about $2,000). It's all about the money. It can be a huge profit center for an organization if it catches on-classes, continuing education, etc. In my industry, it doesn't mean squat. The majority of top producers in my industry are not certified-the wannabes are. I have a competitor right now that is touting her 'MAS' to everyone she meets-she's been in the business less than 90 days, probably won't do 1/10th the sales I will, but hey, she's 'certified'.



I'm not saying that all certification is bad, but there is a slippery slope-it becomes about the certifying agency collecting money rather than assuring quality.
 
It doesn't sound like any of you have read the article (nor have I), so you are just speculating as to the content. I agree with Kompressor that some "certifications" are just a way for people to feel good about themselves, and impress their bosses and (hopefully) get a raise. There is an organization that was running a course for a half-day on Saturday for 8 or 12 weeks and at the end you got a "Certified ***** Engineer" diploma....those poor saps going to engineering school for 4 years to become an engineer!



Anyway, more on topic, I can see from the customer's viewpoint some valid reasons for using a "certified" detailer, who might know that some scratches can't be polished out because it will reduce the clearcoat thickness and compromise the paint job....but hey, this is the real world, where most people just want the car detailed before they bring it back after their 3-year lease (during which it's never been washed..."hey, it's only leased!").



Now I'll butt out of this and let the pros who have read the article talk about it.
 
Well as already expressed certification has its ups and downs. Those offering the certification see the "ups" and those the certification is aimed at usually see the "downs" :D



Mr. Abraham and I have butted heads over this issue and many others and we have also agreed on many issues and Mr. Abraham is a nice guy who really loves detailing and the aspects of detailing and he also dresses well!



Bud, and many others like Ron Ketcham with ValuGard, see certification as a way to place standards within the detailing industry, such as prices, technique, correct diagnoses of paint problems, meeting EPA standards, etc. This is the GOOD aspect of being certified as one, seeking to call themselves a "pro" would be recognized by the public as having the proper insurance, training, etc. to properly detail their cars. So while detailers may not be mechanics there is a HUGE safety prioroty within detailing that is either overlooked by most detailers or just not known period. Like working with hydroflouric acids, what speeds to run the rotary at, using improper dressings on seats and pedals, etc.



So Bud is seeking to close shop on all the hacks out there and give credit to, or perhaps better would be to "legitimize" those detailers seeking to be called Profesional. We wouldn't want to go to a doctor who is working out of his garage with out dated tools and his last medical book he read was a Readers Digest "condensed" version :eek: We would want a doctor who is certified, has gone to school for proper training in all aspects of his or her chosen field of medicine. This is how Bud and many others in the industry would like auto detailing to be seen as and perhaps modeled after.



This though will never happen unless, IMHO, insurance companies become involved in some manner AND the next reason is that there are far too many "garage" type detailers out there. Kids going through college seeking some extra bucks or kids doing it for summer work will always be doing it because it is easy to get into and the only way to stop it, or at least thin the ranks, would be to make it illegal to operate such a business without the proper license. Doctors spend years in school to learn about the human body and medicine but this is because they are dealing with human lives. Detailers feel they are qualified because they have done their own car for years and never made a mistake so why not offer that service to others, it's just a car right, not a human life? Insurance companies make huge profits because people NEED doctors. People don't NEED detailers for their cars so you will never see insurance companies paying detailers to detail their clients cars. Detailers, like a house maid, are a privelage and not a necessity.



When insurance companies and perhaps car dealers see the advantage of having cars cleaned and detailed on a regular basis they may offer programs where "certified" detailers can make some money but until that time you will never get a mandatory certification plan into action because there is nothing in it for the detailer. Besides that, there are some GREAT "garage" type detailers out there who have more than enough business and having a "certificate" nailed to a wall will not make them nor break them.



My long winded opinion...

Anthony
 
You know what I think Carwashing shops that do a large volume of cars would think of something like that. More cars more $, they are afraid of the independent Detailers taking there business away from them.
 
detailbarn said:
For those who have a subscription to Professional Carwashing & Detailing, what is your opinion on the article in the September issue titled "Is it time for certification?" Written by Bud Abraham.
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Once again, Mr. Abraham has put together a very well written article. This time it's about a subject that is long overdue. Just read the title; 'Is it time for certification?' He's basically asking us to think about the need and the benefits of certification. This is what a good leader does. They lead people in order to put change into motion.



In my opinion, Mr. Abraham is simply trying to get detailers and detailing business owners motivated to take action. After all, things won't change until people change.



Personally, I would give Mr. Abraham the credit he is due for being at the forefront of our industry for the past three decades.
 
The only real problem I see with certification is what kind of follow-up would there be? How do you ensure that a business issued a certificate in say...2005 is still detailing cars in the proper manner in 2007? I see a potential for abuse with certification if there is no follow-up. Just like people who buy car insurance to get their registration renewed then cancel it 2 days later. Unscrupulous detailers may go through a course of proper techniques and chemical use to get certified, only to revert to their hacker ways back at their shop.



Not sure how you can prevent that though. :nixweiss
 
I think the only people that would be scared by a "real" certification program are those who wouldn't be able to pass it. The many "certifications" available in the detailing industry from chemical suppliers don't mean squat because for the most part they are a tool to sell more product - not make someone a better detailer. The purpose of certification is to improve the image of the industry by trying to ensure that those that become certified can are properly trained and can meet a minimum standard with respect to knowing what they are doing. After being involved in the detailing business for the last 12 years I can assure you that anyone truly commited to (a) becoming a great detailer (b) running a reputable detailing business would only benefit from such a thing happening. Does it mean that everyone that gets the certification will be a great detailer? Absolutely not and it never will in any industry. It will however mean that someone who meets the certification will at least know something about the trade which you can't say is going on now.

The people I hear bitching about it are the same people who don't want to deal with any of the serious issues that face this industry. Either way it doesn't really matter to me as the hackers just make more work for me to fix!
 
ShineShop said:
Does it mean that everyone that gets the certification will be a great detailer? Absolutely not and it never will in any industry.
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And that could be a potential problem. Certification doesn't mean much if it is used to get people in the door who then receive a lousy detail. Next time that person sees a certified shop, they may just drive on by.



Any ideas on how to prevent that or at least reduce abuse to a minimum?



I mean, look at car dealerships. You'd think they'd have strong motivation to have a well qualified and competent detail crew to ensure the cars they sell look their absolute best. I think we all know what type of work most dealerships put out. I can see them sending one person through a certification program to get the certificate and then going back to business as usual.



Some sort of detailer training/certifying is an excellent idea, I just hope there is some sort of follow up that goes along with it.
 
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