Everyday Driver Podcast - Nick Griot

I just heard this podcast and was going to post the same thing! I`m a little behind.

What I found interesting was his comments regarding new products coming out this summer with a "whole new chemical line" and "new tools". In both cases he said they`d be out in "about a month", so that would put it somewhere in the next couple weeks. It was a great discussion and I found his explination as to why Griots hasn`t gone into coatings pretty interesting. I`ve never been dissapointed by Griots and will keep looking for ways to get their products in my garage.

I`m really glad to see Griots sponsor the Everyday Driver TV show on Velocity. Todd and I were friends in college and it`s great to see thier TV show and podcasts really taking off.
 
Thanks for sharing!

I spend a lot of time in the car (commuting), so I`m always looking for good podcasts to help shrink the miles. I`m also a big Griot`s fan, so looking forward to checking it out.

Hmmm. Whole buncha new stuff in the works for this summer - Just got a $100 gift cert for them for my B-day, looks like I`ll have to hold off on putting in an order...
 
Accumulator said:
It appears that the majority opinion here regarding Griot`s has improved recently. Glad to see it.
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Was it bad at some point? I`ve been happy with the few products I`ve tried and it seems their BOSS products and polishers are pretty well recieved. I don`t think they have hits across the entire line like McKee`s seems to be scoring these days, but they do seem to have some decent performer. My only dissapointment was the durablity of their One Step Sealant, which only lasted about six weeks. The gloss and correcting ability were pretty good.
 
Desertnate said:
Was it bad at some point?
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Wasn`t that long ago that I was about the only guy here who stuck up for them. The hating was simply....extreme. Anybody who bought anything from them was a "sucker" who "threw his money away" and so on. Yeah, really...seemed like you couldn`t even mention `em without somebody going off.

Admittedly, back then some of their stuff was, uhm...not so hot. And Yours Truly was unfairly placed on their [crap] list, didn`t even receive catalogs (oops, "Handbooks") for ages, had to use the ones they sent my wife, so it`s not like I didn`t have reason to pile on. But hey I stuck with them in large part because of my respect for and admiration of Richard (even if we sure don`t agree about everything). They even started sending me catalogs (uhm...Handbooks) again after a while :D
 
Griot`s was always a Boutique seller and pretty high priced.. They offered a lot of choices for many, many, different products, and catered to guys that really liked being in the garage with their "baby".. :)

Long ago, most Detailers who were in the business could not really afford those higher prices, that were competing with well known brands that catered specifically to Detailers...
My observations have seen Griot`s move from that early business plan to offering some pretty good things according to many on here that use them professionally..

I really liked it when they used to sell these what looked like awesome tool sets from Italy, etc., that were really nice but again, expensive...Was it Fabco?

They used to and perhaps still do have an awesome lifetime warranty on their random orbital machines.. I remember on a few Forums back and a decade or more, their machines were going out as quickly as they were returning and they always honored their warranty.. No one else was doing that... And perhaps no one is doing that today except for Griot`s..

Have been to their store in WA. a few times when I lived up there, and since that time it has expanded to even bigger and more things...

It is obvious from looking at the results from Mike Lambert and Chad Raskovich, that some of their compounds and polishes, and some pads really work well..

Perhaps they offer discounts to business users, that would be nice if they did.. I don`t follow them on social media, etc.., so perhaps they do offer plans, etc...
I have seen Richard Griot`s picture in catalogs from so long ago, it is now hard to believe he has gotten older.. :) He seems to be a very smart, nice, guy..
Dan F
 
With the talent they have brought on board, I think you’re going to se some exciting new products. The Boss line works as well if not better than anything on the market. The machines are excellent and in my opinion better than The Rupes I used to use. And the lifetime warranty can’t be beat! Maybe that’s either company that got us away from the rotary and forced rotation, is now selling them?
 
Stokdgs said:
I really liked it when they used to sell these what looked like awesome tool sets from Italy, etc., that were really nice but again, expensive...Was it Fabco?
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Maybe...I can`t quite remember. They did sell Facom tools from France for a while...some really nice stuff but hopelessly unreliable ratchets with an apparently now-worthless "Lifetime Warranty" (scare-quotes intentional). Sigh.

They used to and perhaps still do have an awesome lifetime warranty on their random orbital machines..
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Their original 3" electric RO was pretty lousy..first one sorta-worked... for about 15 minutes...and they`d only replace it once (with another just like it).

Have been to their store in WA. a few times when I lived up there, and since that time it has expanded to even bigger and more things...
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I`d simply love to check their Flagship Store out!


I have seen Richard Griot`s picture in catalogs from so long ago, it is now hard to believe he has gotten older.. :) He seems to be a very smart, nice, guy..
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Yeah, an interview with him in one of the big Auto Magazines really resonated with me even though I initially approached it a bit cynically. I`d rather spend my $ with him than with some others I can think of.
 
Mike Lambert- I suspect that they figured out that plenty of non-professionals are interested in, capable of properly using, and willing to pay for, stuff that isn`t entirely idiot-proof. And that plenty of people *won`t* put up with stuff that doesn`t work both effectively and efficiently.
 
Stokdgs said:
Griot`s was always a Boutique seller and pretty high priced.. They offered a lot of choices for many, many, different products, and catered to guys that really liked being in the garage with their "baby".. :)
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Funny you mention this. On the podcast Nick was asked a question about coatings, and while he acknowledged there are some great ones on the market, one of the main reasons he mentioned they haven`t offered one yet was because coatings put vehicles owners into a maintenance cycle where they touch their car far less. He specifically stated their target customers are those who love to be constantly touching their vehicles. His other reason for not doing a coating was the difficulty in making them and since they are dedicated to producing their own products in-house at the Indy production facility, it would be a huge investment to produce a coating.
 
I really don’t think we need anymore coatings, it’s gotten out of hand! Tons of private label ones, only a few make they’re own stuff.And now everybody has a Primer as Modesta has had, and now everyone has a different topping product. Way to much!
 
I used to lump Griots in with Adams - brands whose niche was getting people to step away from store brands and spend a bit more money for dedicated "car culture" products. The desire to have every conceivable product in the lineup resulted in some mediocrity. Griots, at one time, had no polishes, LSPs, or QDs that got me fired up.
Then the BOSS and PFM products came along and changed all that for me and I think a lot of us.
New products coming? Very exciting!
 
Desertnate said:
...they haven`t offered one yet was because coatings put vehicles owners into a maintenance cycle where they touch their car far less...
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Heh heh...certain kinda-cynical thoughts come to mind ;) Like...Heaven forbid somebody not have to reorder product...oops, uhm I mean "rewax or maybe CORRECT their car"...on a regular basis.

He specifically stated their target customers are those who love to be constantly touching their vehicles...
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Eh, then I`m not in their target demographic and would wonder about myself if I were. But gee, I`ve still spent thousands there ever since the days when Richard answered the phone himself, and have recommended them constantly since then...and thus kinda wish they didn`t dismiss customers like me, who have other priorities, that way :(

Eh, maybe I`m in a prickly mood, but that bugs me. I was debating watching that podcast (and I *never* watch internet stuff like that), but I think I`ll better maintain a positive view of them if I just don`t. I thought that kind of talk was just ad-copy hyperbole that nobody was serious about.

His other reason for not doing a coating was the difficulty in making them and since they are dedicated to producing their own products in-house at the Indy production facility, it would be a huge investment to produce a coating.
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Ah, now there`s a perfectly reasonable explanation that shouldn`t rub anybody the wrong way. Wish he`d just said that.

EDIT: Oh [shoot] now I`ve gone all negative towards a company and people that I esteem and have [crapped] all over FIDAG14`s perfectly fine thread about something many would enjoy viewing :o Note To Self (again)....
 
Hey Bud,

This is Jeff, the Product Developer at Griot`s Garage. I wanted to chime in and express my appreciation for the support and loyalty to Griot`s Garage. That is something none of us at Griot`s take for granted. We all get up every morning and "Strive for Perfection" and deliver products we love using ourselves.

As for Nick`s Podcast, I just had the opportunity to listen to it and it reminded me why I love devoting my life to this company. Please remember that doing a Podcast is not always easy, as you need to have an immediate responses that may not always come out as you intended. Personally, I`m not a fan of doing them. :unsure: We at Griot`s Garage do tend to enjoy "Having fun in our Garage", which motivates us to constantly be caressing our babies. Just because that is our passion, does not in any way mean we scoff at people whom have a different care regimen or strategy. We recognize the benefit of ceramic coatings and will continue to explore that technology. If and when we launch a system, it`ll be our own and something that stands above the rest. I`ve got one of my personal vehicles coated and can attest to the benefits and drawbacks. Regarding the concern for a reduction in sales.... that is not our priority. Our priority is to continue to develop solutions which help car lovers achieve their goals. Its not about sales. There are plenty of products to develop for maintenance of ceramic coatings... :) Again, your support and loyalty over the years is highly appreciated. Thank you :D -Jeff
 
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