Need critique/ Suggestions

[ChevyFan]

I get a lot of people asking me what exactly Wet sanding, Compounding, polishing, waxing, etc means and does... I have to try and explain it everytime, so I decided to make a pamphlet to give out to make it simpler. I could use some suggestions on anything I missed or didnt explain correctly. Thanks



Clay Bar

Removes any contaminants on the vehicle a wash cant

Leaves vehicle with a soft smooth finish

Sets up vehicle for paint correction or a perfect wax





Wet Sand

Used for paint surfaces with severe scratches/ imperfections

Requires compounding and polishing after



CompoundCorrects Heavy Swirls/ Holograms/ Marring

Corrects minor Scratches

Corrects moderate/ Heavy Oxidation

Leaves the Surface ready for polishing



PolishCorrects minor swirls

Corrects Compounding Swirls

Brings vehicles Gloss and Shine back

Gives vehicle its maximum potential for shine



Wax/ Sealant



Provides Protection for vehicle

Has some “shining capabilities”, but polishing is the true reason for shine

Beads water

Protects against swirls and Light scratches

*Does not remove oxidation/ swirls/ minor scratches/....Only Hides them temporarily

 

[Accumulator]

Chevyfan- Those are good, concise summaries :xyxthumbs



I'd add that:



Clay removes *above-surface* contamination; stuff that's "on top of the paint" (as opposed to stuff that's down in the pores/micro-fissures/etc. of the paint).



Wetsanding *levels* the paint, thus removing/reducing stuff like orangepeel as well as correcting serious scratches.



Waxing/sealing provides a "sacrificial layer" on top of the paint. And some sealants can "sheet water" (alternative to beading).

 

[ChevyFan]

Thanks Accumulator... Appreciate the input... I now have a new question for you. I was doing an estimate for this lady and she had pretty decent swirls. So I gave her an estimate and she laughed saying she couldnt see any swirls and to just throw some wax on it. So, my question is... Do I print a pamphlet that maybe shows pictures of vehicles with swirls/ scratches/ holograms, etc.????? I do believe that maybe some people just dont know what to look for, and their vehicle has been that way for so long that it looks normal to them... Ignorant, I know, but true I think also. Heck, before I started reading this forum and other, I didnt "really" know what these things looked like either.

 

[Brad B]

Thanks Accumulator... Appreciate the input... I now have a new question for you. I was doing an estimate for this lady and she had pretty decent swirls. So I gave her an estimate and she laughed saying she couldnt see any swirls and to just throw some wax on it. So, my question is... Do I print a pamphlet that maybe shows pictures of vehicles with swirls/ scratches/ holograms, etc.????? I do believe that maybe some people just dont know what to look for, and their vehicle has been that way for so long that it looks normal to them... Ignorant, I know, but true I think also. Heck, before I started reading this forum and other, I didnt "really" know what these things looked like either.

Great idea. Actual test panels of paint before/after are good as well. Seeing and touching really make a point.



Customer education, no matter what form you use, is the key to selling more services and getting paid appropriately for your labor and expertise. Remember that you need to come across as being the expert, so the more tools you employ to get this across the better.

 

[Accumulator]

I now have a new question for you. I was doing an estimate for this lady and she had pretty decent swirls. So I gave her an estimate and she laughed saying she couldnt see any swirls and to just throw some wax on it. So, my question is... Do I print a pamphlet that maybe shows pictures of vehicles with swirls/ scratches/ holograms, etc.????? I do believe that maybe some people just dont know what to look for, and their vehicle has been that way for so long that it looks normal to them... Ignorant, I know, but true I think also..

This is probably more of my Autopian Heresy, so maybe you oughta see what other people here think, but anyhow..here's my long-winded rant on the subject:



Most people *don't* know about this stuff and they don't care. They don't want to know and they don't want to care. They generally won't care after they've been "educated" either, at least not enough to change their ways/opinions/views. It's just not something they value, so they won't pay for it.



You can try to educate them, but I'd take it easy and watch that you don't try to impose your values. They don't *have* to care. It doesn't *really* matter. And remember that most people don't like to, uhm...have their ignorance and/or other shortcomings pointed out to them :grinno:



If somebody just wants a wash and wax, then that's all they want. The rest of the world isn't Autopian



Heh heh, I'm actually amazed that the pros here have so many customers who *do* appreciate this stuff! Not one person I know would even think of paying for a top-shelf, "Autopian level" detail. No, not even the people who are really into the whole car thing, not even the people with more money than God.

 

[Bill D]

Another trap you can fall into is when you do do a detail for pay you become frustrated you can't get it to your Autopian standard after a long hard day even though your client is delighted. Detailing is a lot like building sandcastles so you still have to find the enjoyment in it.

 

[MirandaDetailin]

I really like this thread, I feel that most, well really all, with the exception of 1 client we have, do not even care about swirls. Even though some do notice holograms. To try to educate people about swirls, holograms, clay, polishing, waxing, is great, but sometimes we have to keep it simple. Some people do want to learn or at least understand what we are doing, so I think the pamphlet idea is great. I want to implement that info on our brochures.

 

[Accumulator]

Another trap you can fall into is when you do do a detail for pay you become frustrated you can't get it to your Autopian standard after a long hard day even though your client is delighted...

I'd hope the detailer quickly learns to separate those Autopian standards from the main objective. It's not about "making the world more perfect, one car at a time", it's about keeping the customers happy to keep the money coming in. (OOOH, more of my Heresy )

..Detailing is a lot like building sandcastles..

Good analogy, especially perhaps with regard to correction...that "tide" is gonna come in again.



As I posted in another thread, just *washing* correctly is such a big challenge that for a pro to do that right (not instilling any additional damage) oughta be considered a big deal. A proper wash, some kind of prep, and an LSP...all done with no mistakes, now there's my idea of a reasonable goal that reasonable customers oughta pay reasonable money for (on a regular basis).

so you still have to find the enjoyment in it...

[comment deleted as I'm being naughy enough :chuckle: ]

 

[Bill D]

I'd hope the detailer quickly learns to separate those Autopian standards from the main objective. It's not about "making the world more perfect, one car at a time", it's about keeping the customers happy to keep the money coming in. (OOOH, more of my Heresy )

Exactly my point and so I made the sandcastle analogy. :xyxthumbs

 

[Dan]

I agree, most people will dwell more on a window that has a streak or a crumb in a seat rail than they will about swirls. And good for them, I was better off not knowing what a swirl is/was.

 

[Bill D]

I was better off not knowing what a swirl is/was.

Great line! And so often it's so true! :xyxthumbs

 

[Nth Degree]

I agree about most people not caring to know. But educating potential customers is often part of the sale, otherwise they will go to the local "Tunnel of Horrors" rather than pay for a good detail. For this reason I like the pamphlet idea. My advice would be to also have a brief explanation of the limitations of each process. For example, why wet sanding isn't always an option because of the limited thickness of the paint and the above mentioned limit of clay. This would help potential customers understand why separate steps are necessary.



I always have a couple of small photo albums of cars I have detailed to show my work. Once they see the potential in the before/after photos I usually have their attention for at least a little longer.