Do you "cheat" when detailing the roof of SUVs?

I

imported_NHBFAN

New member
This weekend I detailed a friend's late model white Ford Excursion. The paint was in good condition so I washed it and applied AIO followed by S100. He was very pleased with the results.



When it came to the mammoth roof I took a shortcut. I used Meg's #6 cleaner wax and got good results. A few factors led me to using this one step product on the roof. 1) time considerations 2) costs 3) lack of visabiltiy.



Do you professionals take shortcuts on SUV roofs? It seems senseless to use your best "show car" products on a roof.
 
All depends on what he paid for, and what you think it deserved. If you feel you cheated him, then you should do the right thing and redo the truck. Otherwise, you did what you thought was best.
 
I weener out on the roofs, but then no one is paying me and I hate SUV's. So if family members don't like it, they can find someone else who gives free details to shine their roof. :) I enjoy detailing cars, but SUV's are not enjoyable. They are just work. I usually just toss a coat of MPPP up there and don't bother with any claying/polishing/etc.



Edit: Dang, sorry. I didn't realize it was the pro forum or I wouldn't have posted that. Obviously it isn't very relevant... :o
 
i say, just do surface prep than put a sealant that lasts real long on top so they know you did a good job(even though you only did a one step poly sealant on top ;))
 
NHBFAN said:
Do you professionals take shortcuts on SUV roofs?
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WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS CALLED FRAUD.



You are telling us that you lied to the customer. Contrary to most of the other popular replies in this thread that agree with what you are doing, it's not a very professional way to operate a business.



If you were a true detailing professional you wouldn't have even had to ask the question in the first place. You would have already known the answer.
 
I guess it depends on what you are calling fraud Frank ... is an AIO type product on the top fraud? I use Poorboys Polish with Carnauba so its getting killer protection :) I do see your point though, a detail should include the top no matter what.
 
mirrorfinishman said:
WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS CALLED FRAUD.



You are telling us that you lied to the customer.
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Frank,



You're over reacting ... this was a Freebie job for a friend. After I did his SUV I preceded to do his daughter SUV for free. I gave them 6 to 7 hours for no charge. I don't think I frauded anyone.



My question was a simple one directed at professionals. I wanted to know if they used premium products on the roofs of SUV's most of which have some kind of roof rack on them. I can't imagine applying PS or similar to a roof, but I wanted to know if Pros did.
 
I say do the job right even if your not getting pay for it. It only takes maybe 20 or 30 mins to do the roof of a SUV, thats not much time.
 
NHBFAN said:
When it came to the mammoth roof I took a shortcut.



Do you professionals take shortcuts on SUV roofs? It seems senseless to use your best "show car" products on a roof.
Click to expand...



When you take a shortcut and you don't tell your customer or friend it's fraud. It's a lie. Plain and simple.



Also, my replies are based on your original post. Not the excuses you are now posting.



You will never be a professional when you continue to take shortcuts and lie to your customers and friends.
 
NHBFAN - I always believe that "honesty is the best policy" in any busiinees as well as with friends. If you tell the customer or friend what you are doing and the reason's why, I'm sure 9 times out of ten then will go with your suggestion. Remember, repeat business is the recipe for success! Plus this way, you won't have a guilty conscience.



IMHO,



Blue
 
Cujo31 said:
I guess it depends on what you are calling fraud Frank ... is an AIO type product on the top fraud? I use Poorboys Polish with Carnauba so its getting killer protection :) I do see your point though, a detail should include the top no matter what.
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Cujo31,

I think you are beginning to see what I'm talking about here. When someone tells their customer or their friend that they're going to polish and wax their car; they need to be consistant. It's not a good idea to start taking shortcuts.



I think you'll agree that you really can't afford to ruin your reputation by taking shortcuts.



Your relationship between you and your customer or your friend must be based on trust. Not lies.
 
BlueZ71 said:
NHBFAN - I always believe that "honesty is the best policy" in any busiinees as well as with friends. If you tell the customer or friend what you are doing and the reason's why, I'm sure 9 times out of ten then will go with your suggestion. Remember, repeat business is the recipe for success! Plus this way, you won't have a guilty conscience.



IMHO,



Blue
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Blue Z71,



YOU'VE GOT IT RIGHT!!!



THANK YOU!!!
 
As a side note on the treatment of a SUV top. Even though it maybe a PITA to do certains areas of any vehicle require the maximum in protection. The roof is one of them. Extreme exposure to the elements ( UV, melting snow, sap, etc, etc). This is one of the areas that require the most prep (exposure damage) and the best protectant. Therefore, I would start with the roof first with the process I plan to use for the rest of the vehicle and proceed on to the easier and more rewarding ( who can see the tops of some of today's SUV's ;) )areas.

Everyone, I do not think NHBFAN had any fraud intentions by using an easier process on the roof. He was just inquiring about professionals using, not defrauding, simplier processes for difficult areas. A good one-step product ( cleans and protects) does not necessarily = fraud. Please refer to my introductory statement on how I personally would view/ do the roof of a vehicle before you jump. :wavey
 
NHBFAN, I dont like working on the roofs of SUVs either, but I dont treat them any different. I use the same process and products on the roof as the rest of the car. I agree with blkZ28Conv that the roof and flat surfaces require even more care than vertical panels. Most customers never even wash the roof when they wash it themselves, so you probably have even more work to do there.

I really dont think you are wasting premium product when you use it on the roof. You really wont save much money at all by switching to a cheaper product for the roof and its not worth the time and trouble to switch to another product,applicator and buffing towel.



Is it cheating??? Im not appointed as any kind of judge, but personally I think so. But so is a lot of the things I see many pro detailers doing.



Is it fraud??? No more than not removing all of the hardware when doing a detail. Or many other things that I could name. Remember, original detailers in the concours circuits removed all hardware inside and out ,detailing both the hardware and area underneath. It was very expensive,laborious and it was what defined a "detailer". By those standards, all of us here would be considered a fraud.
 
mirrorfinishman said:
When you take a shortcut and you don't tell your customer or friend it's fraud. It's a lie. Plain and simple.



Also, my replies are based on your original post. Not the excuses you are now posting.



You will never be a professional when you continue to take shortcuts and lie to your customers and friends.
Click to expand...



I didn't lie! Where in my post does it suggest I was dishonest or deceitful? My friend watched and I explained each procedure.



As I mentioned in my original post, time considerations was my number one priority in considering a "one step" product. I also wanted to do his daughter's SUV, which was badly oxidized. He was very grateful for the AIO and S100 job I did on his Excursion and the MPPC + VM + S100 job I did on his daughter's Explorer, even though I only applied Meg's #6 to his roof. He also appreciated the 6-7 hours of free labor I dedicated to his vehicles.



I did a good thing for a good friend and I don't appreciate your assessment of my character or my potential in detailing
 
Uhhhh, is anyone else getting that he did this for free????:nixweiss Might I also mention that he still did apply an application of Meg's #6 to the roof. I think eyebrows should frown if he didn't do anything at all but a wash to the roof.....that would be drawing the line, free or not. What's the big deal? This was not a paying customer or contractual agreement or something.....calm down people!! Go get the parties ready for New Year's or something!:D



Seriously, I admit that doing roofs of SUV's are a pain, and taking shortcuts is definitely not the anwser, but it is only fair that some kind of line should be drawn for a FREE detail on an EXCURSION!!:eek:
 
AJ,I get it. I dont see that he did anything wrong at all. He threw down free sweat and product. Hell of a guy. I think he is just questioning his own decision and trying to find out what others would do. Its kinda funny to see how some view his generosity. For free, a wash and a coat of Megs cleaner wax would have been generous.
 
"Do you professionals take shortcuts on SUV roofs? It seems senseless to use your best "show car" products on a roof."



This led to believe he does this on all the cars he details.. friend or foe.. free or with charge...
 
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