First day working at a pro shop..

I think one thing that is important for everyone here to remember is that at least some of the shops that do business in this manner do so because it's what their customers allow them to do. I have dealt with customers for 11 years in detailing andcan tell you that the overwhelming majority do not respect the amount of time and dedication it takes to do a truly competent job of detailing a car. I choose to either educate these people (if possible) or simply not to deal with them at my shop. How can you honestly expect anyone to do a good job for what most people are willing to pay and in the amount of time most are willing to give up their car? I can't tell you how many people I have had in that need a complete 3 or 4 step compound and wax done and want it done in an hour or 2. I just wanted to give the flip side of the coin here. There is no excuse for half *** work but customers have to accept at least part of the blame for perpetuating the problem.
 
I used to take my car to be detailed till I started paying attention to what some of the empolyees are cleaning my car. One guy contaminated his towel with acid based wheel cleaner and used to clean my tinted window. The tint had to be retinted.
 
ShineShop said:
I think one thing that is important for everyone here to remember is that at least some of the shops that do business in this manner do so because it's what their customers allow them to do. I have dealt with customers for 11 years in detailing andcan tell you that the overwhelming majority do not respect the amount of time and dedication it takes to do a truly competent job of detailing a car. I choose to either educate these people (if possible) or simply not to deal with them at my shop. How can you honestly expect anyone to do a good job for what most people are willing to pay and in the amount of time most are willing to give up their car? I can't tell you how many people I have had in that need a complete 3 or 4 step compound and wax done and want it done in an hour or 2. I just wanted to give the flip side of the coin here. There is no excuse for half *** work but customers have to accept at least part of the blame for perpetuating the problem.
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Second!
 
I think for the most part, folks don't really know any better, assume that it does not get any better, or are bascially sold a load of BS. Case in point being my "friend" with the Pledge. (search carwash horror stories thread).



Long before joining this forum, I knew this stuff was not good to use on car paint, but this guy seems to know everything (being sarcastic there), and has been continuing to use it on people's cars. He also uses very low end stuff, a lot of which is not even meant for cars. His carwash is dishwashing liquid, his glass cleaner is windex or something else. I've never seen before, his wheel ceaner is 409, but when he gets a tough wheel, he goes to either the sponge with the scuff padd, or steel wool. Ive seen this guy wipe off cars with everything from paper towels, to old clothes, to bath towels.



I watched this guy work on a really nice car once for almost an entire 1/2 hour. I offered to help, but he told me worked faster on his own (didn't really want to help, just reduce the damage he was going to do). A paint panel he was doing was originally in good condition, by the time he was done, the finish had all sorts of scratches in it and became dull. When the customer finally came for the car, she did a walk around inspection, nodded her head, and then went on to ask him about doing the inside. She even gave the guy a tip on top of all that.



I'll say this much for my "friend" though, he really knows how to talk a good game to his victims. If it were me trying to get that job, I doubt she would have even paid me any attention cause it would've taken me three times a long, and would've cost at least twice as much as my "friend" to do the job using the right products and techniques.:grrr
 
Sounds like the shop im working in now. There isnt any kind of order there its just do this, do that, take this car back etc etc. The shop isnt as bad as the one mentioned in this thread but its close. I just do things the way i know are correct and deal with the morons that dont. I try and teach but they complain about how long it takes and how is much more work. This is the first shop ive worked for so im just there until i get some experience then i plan on moving on to a better more organized shop.



-Willie
 
Intel486 said:
There are a lot of "Pro" detailers out there. Some better and worse than others. I've always considered 'Pro' just means you do it for $.
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Exactly. There's a big difference between the definitions of "professional" and "expert." Being one definitely does not require that you are the other. They should not be used interchangeably.



Definitions according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

"Professional: engaged in by persons receiving financial return."



"Expert: having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience."
 
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