Concours.John
Auto Detail & Restoration
C. Charles Hahn said:
A dealership I approached for picky clients asked if I could do a few classes.
Contemplating....could be a double edged sword...
Dealership aggravation rant by Garry Dean - Tampa, FL
- Thread starter Garry Dean
- Start date
A dealership I approached for picky clients asked if I could do a few classes.
Contemplating....could be a double edged sword...
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
99.9999999% of people just want clean & shiny cars! It ain't gonna change to where dealers need to make it better. Some shops that do work for dealers are much better then others, but that's a whole nother story. It is literally the blind leading the blind at dealerships. What is even more pathetic is the high end / luxury brands (Lexus/BMW/MB) have no problem charging $125++ per hour to have a "factory certified" technician doing mechanical repairs, but they still are charging $200 for a "complete detail" to this same person that is spending thousands on other BS maintenance issues. What this does is brand/stamp what people expect to pay for "high end" detailing. It's such a joke really.
But think about it, where is the dealer going to get real world, high end/proper advise or training on the world of detailing??????......From their chemical supplier (Ardex/Auto Magic/ Carbrite/Pro, etc). These guys are just as negligent as the dealer as to the proper way of doing things as well. Again, blind leading the blind.
Believe it or not, most volume auctions clean cars better then dealerships and detail shops because they have a more structured approach to doing them. That, and their QC is more thorough too.
But think about it, where is the dealer going to get real world, high end/proper advise or training on the world of detailing??????......From their chemical supplier (Ardex/Auto Magic/ Carbrite/Pro, etc). These guys are just as negligent as the dealer as to the proper way of doing things as well. Again, blind leading the blind.
Believe it or not, most volume auctions clean cars better then dealerships and detail shops because they have a more structured approach to doing them. That, and their QC is more thorough too.
C. Charles Hahn
CCH Auto Appearance, LLC
David Fermani said:
By "better," I think the real issue is no more burning trim and panel edges, ridiculous buffer trails all over everything, etc. And yes, I realize Ardex/PRO/CarBrite/AM don't have systems designed around DA use (yet) but my bet is it will happen at some point.
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
Actually, Auto Magic has a DA (Cyclo) system that has been out for years:
Auto Magic Risk Free Auto Detailing System
But,,,,,,,it sucks!
And, they also have an extensive training program offered to dealers/detail shops, but again, it's very outdated.
Auto Magic Risk Free Auto Detailing System
But,,,,,,,it sucks!
And, they also have an extensive training program offered to dealers/detail shops, but again, it's very outdated.
Swanicyouth
New member
Watched a guy at my BMW dealer "polish" a new car with a rotary and a foam pad. The pad had a huge chunk of foam missing, like a dog took a bite out of it. The pad was so dirty, it looked like the guy wiped his *** with it.
Best part about it, there were a bunch of new pads still in plastic sitting off to the side.
Best part about it, there were a bunch of new pads still in plastic sitting off to the side.
Ron Ketcham
Active member
About 13 or so years ago, AutoMagic and Toyota teamed up and had a traveling training school for all Toyota dealers, focused on used vehicle reconditioning and some new vehicle prep.
Dealers sent their people, and then they, in most cases, left it up to the Service Manager to impliment the program.
The Service Manager did their normal thing, went to the local yokel, bath tubber chemical company for supplies, as they were cheaper and that meant more bonus money in the Service Manager's pocket at the end of year.
During my time in the business, put together the Driver's Mart recon training program, taught it all over the country, they folded into AutoNation and cheaper products went in to the shops.
We did the Chrysler Canada Master Prep program for them in 97, privated labeled products for MoPar, went all over Canada, trained close to 250 of the dealers, same thing, in a short time, the dealers let the Service Manager's return to the old ways and supplies.
Did a series of 4 hours class room training sessions, over three days, for all of Hyundia's Field Service Engineers, they were provided a two inch training manual and went to their dealers attempting to get them to up their quality of new car and used car work. Not much happened, Service Managers again.
In 92, I did a complete process and procedure system for Mazda's field engineers, using Finish Kare at that time, not much happened, even though the Mazda field engineers stressed to the dealers the importance of following the system.
Mazda came back for me last year, but since retired, turned it over to Tim and he did a series of field training seminars, etc and nothing really changed.
Nissan and I were working on a program just before I retired, they pushed the button to start it last fall, Tim went out to several field training programs for their Field Engineers and several of their top volume stores to train. Nothing much has happened there either.
Then there was the FordStar training event.
Keep this in mind as you consider these things--All of the car companies mentioned, have TSB's for the use of correct, tested and proven methods, processes and procedures, using Automotive International's ValuGard products or the products that Automotive International private labels for them (MotorCraft/MoPar, etc). Yet, the dealers go back for the cheapest products, and the fastest, cheapest labor, the "get it done and make it shine for a couple of weeks" approach.
If there is a warranty issue resulting from the use of damaging products or processes, they just lump it in to what the car companies refer to as the Big Bucket, under "fit and finish" warranty claims,and sell cars, get their $60 to $80 an hour internal warranty labor rate paid.
Over my professional career I have easily taught in excess of 3,000/4,000 detailers, and it doesn't make a dent in the big picture.
Money talks and people go on doing what they think is the fastest cheapest methods as long as they can get away with it.
Grumpy
Dealers sent their people, and then they, in most cases, left it up to the Service Manager to impliment the program.
The Service Manager did their normal thing, went to the local yokel, bath tubber chemical company for supplies, as they were cheaper and that meant more bonus money in the Service Manager's pocket at the end of year.
During my time in the business, put together the Driver's Mart recon training program, taught it all over the country, they folded into AutoNation and cheaper products went in to the shops.
We did the Chrysler Canada Master Prep program for them in 97, privated labeled products for MoPar, went all over Canada, trained close to 250 of the dealers, same thing, in a short time, the dealers let the Service Manager's return to the old ways and supplies.
Did a series of 4 hours class room training sessions, over three days, for all of Hyundia's Field Service Engineers, they were provided a two inch training manual and went to their dealers attempting to get them to up their quality of new car and used car work. Not much happened, Service Managers again.
In 92, I did a complete process and procedure system for Mazda's field engineers, using Finish Kare at that time, not much happened, even though the Mazda field engineers stressed to the dealers the importance of following the system.
Mazda came back for me last year, but since retired, turned it over to Tim and he did a series of field training seminars, etc and nothing really changed.
Nissan and I were working on a program just before I retired, they pushed the button to start it last fall, Tim went out to several field training programs for their Field Engineers and several of their top volume stores to train. Nothing much has happened there either.
Then there was the FordStar training event.
Keep this in mind as you consider these things--All of the car companies mentioned, have TSB's for the use of correct, tested and proven methods, processes and procedures, using Automotive International's ValuGard products or the products that Automotive International private labels for them (MotorCraft/MoPar, etc). Yet, the dealers go back for the cheapest products, and the fastest, cheapest labor, the "get it done and make it shine for a couple of weeks" approach.
If there is a warranty issue resulting from the use of damaging products or processes, they just lump it in to what the car companies refer to as the Big Bucket, under "fit and finish" warranty claims,and sell cars, get their $60 to $80 an hour internal warranty labor rate paid.
Over my professional career I have easily taught in excess of 3,000/4,000 detailers, and it doesn't make a dent in the big picture.
Money talks and people go on doing what they think is the fastest cheapest methods as long as they can get away with it.
Grumpy