norahcrv said:
That said . . .I will apologize now for the following rant, but the tone of those replying that "it's only $100" & "If I can afford it, anybody can (Zesty - you're 16 & still living at home - lucky you!!), just has me riled . . .
While maybe I could swing the "just a $100" for a PC, I realize that is just the initial investment, and that I will need pads, backing plate, etc. So quickly that $100 grows to $200, and that is just out of my budget right now. I have other expenses which must take priority right now.
I thought I had found an activity which I could enjoy with my 17 year old son and teach him some valuable "life lessons" which his father won't be around to teach him. But now you're telling me that my wallet is "too thin" to be allowed in this elitist group. Well, phooey on you, Jngrbrdman!
I have been called a lot of things in my life, but being called 'elitist' is a new one. Read my site at ocdetails.com and tell me if that sounds elitist to you. My whole focus is on educating and helping people learn how to do the job so it looks as good as possible. You made a big investment in your car when you bought it. Maybe even tens of thousands of dollars. Why wouldn't you want to invest two or three hundred bucks into keeping it looking good? $100 for a PC
isn't that expensive when you consider the value of the object you are using it on.
The reason that I say that this isn't a hobby for the thin wallet is because after awhile you will want to try out new products. And then you'll hear about something else and want to try that out. Ask anyone here how much money they have spent on car care products and you'll see what I'm talking about. Trying new stuff becomes habit forming and once you try some of the things you can't get locally, then I am sure you will get hooked. You already demonstrated that you understand that principle by your comment about how once you get a PC you'll want to get better pads. Trust me... once you get better pads then you'll want to get better polishes. And then you'll want better towels. Then you'll want better waxes. It happens to all of us.
If you are content to shop at WalMart for your detailing supplies then that is fine. You can get a lot of good stuff at local stores. But once you start reading forums like these, you may realize that there are a lot of other products that aren't on the shelf that you want to try out. If most of us sat down and added up all the money we have spent on car care products over the years, it would probably stun us. I know people who aren't out detailing cars for money that can easily go through several hundred dollars a year just in trying out new products on their own cars. Not all of us here do this for a living. Many of us are just obsessive about detailing our own cars.
My tone wasn't that of someone saying "if I can afford it then so can you." I understand about how other priorities take precedence sometimes. I've got a family and I don't get to spend as much time detailing as I used to because its not as much of a priority. I'm not saying that you should drop the money on it. I'm just saying that when you are considering getting a $40 buffer at WalMart, think about saving up for a tool that will last for a lot longer and really give you results that you want. If this is going to be an activity for you and your son then I would think that you would want to use something that will last. I think it would be more fun to make a list of the things you want to get and then save up for it so you can get them. Why settle for something less when saving money is always an option?
Who says you have to eat the investment either? Get the right products and you and your son can learn how to do the job right. Then let your son learn the value of starting a weekend business detailing cars for the neighbors or for his friends. Teach him how to pay back the investment. There are lots of ways you can turn that into a learning experience if that is your goal.
I'm not saying that this is an elitist club that you have to be rich to be involved with. I'm just saying that if money is tight for some people, then getting involved in a hobby like this may not be the best idea. If you are able to save up and get involved, then more power to you. I would just hate to see people bouncing the rent check so they could buy a jar of wax. My comments were more directed at the lady someone was talking about rather than to everybody.
