Not a good day - (56k warning)

onthespot

onthespot

New member
Today wasn't a good day. Had a trashed 99 Toyota Sienna mini-van.

Ran into a big problem. There was some unidentified sticky stuff on the dash. Appeared to be sap or something similar. Stoners Trim Cleaner wouldn't touch it. Tried Simple Green cut with water = wouldn't take it off. Tried straight Simple Green = Wouldn't work... Finally in desperation, I made a detailer's mistake: Grabbed a product called "Goof Off" which claimed it would remove anything! It took the sap-like substance off immediately - Amazing! Unfortunately, It also took the dash paint off...

Wow! Was my heart beating on this one...

See the following picture:
 
Feeling more and more like an idiot, I ran to CarQuest and bought some vinyl paint to attempt to match, and some 3M tape...

So after my feeble efforts (I'm not a good painter) here is the pitiful result:
 
Dont beat up on your self. If that was a Ferrari or Z8 Alpina ;). I would be worried the car's state was already so bad they wouldent have even noticed. So just finish the detail and forget about it. The dash looks good, I wouldent use Goo Off its pretty strong I used it once on my carpet it left it this wierd brown color then turned to grey in a couple of days and it still stinks.

For that kind of Job next time I would try Meguiars Heavy Duty Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner. Or some Rubbing Alchoal 50/50 with water.

P.S I like what you did with the extension cord. Got any more pics of the carpet after you cleaned it that thing looks terrible.
 
Conclusion

Here's the conclusion of this story:

I felt awful over the dash situation. I didn't think that my fix-up job was very good at all... I brought the owner out to see it after I was finished completely.... Took her all around the vehicle, and pointed out everything - Including the dash... Then presented her with the bill on which I marked "Complimentary Detail - No Charge".

I then told her to sent me a bill for the difference in repairing the dash....

She wouldn't hear of it. Insisted on paying me.... I insisted on her NOT paying me. I told her I was a perfectionist. The best detailer around, and when I make a mistake like this - I couldn't in all good faith take any money for it...

She said she was very happy with the job, and if I wouldn't charge her for it could I please accept a tip???
After I reluctantly agreed to take a tip - she proceeded to write me a check for $190................. AND said she'd be referring me to everyone...

Am I crazy for hanging my head in shame?


Here's an exterior after I was finished:
 
Fr0zen,

Thanks for the compliments and tips...

I didn't take very many "after" pics. I think I was kinda' disgusted with myself...

I did take this one though... Note that there were still some remaining stains in the carpeting...

Yeah, this van was bad...

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day..... The tip was nice, but it felt like a slap in the face - I don't really do this for the money. I do this because It is what I do... The money follows, sure... but on days like today, even though it was a 7 hour project, I still don't feel like I earned anything I made....

This is the psychological trauma that goes with being one of those perfectionist detailers.... :rolleyes:
 
Just out of curiosity and partly because I've done it so many times, but how many times did you give up detailing cars forever durring that job? Myself, I would have quit at least 3 times. I still would have finished it but I would probably feel the same way you felt. I've got to have things perfect too and it just really buggz me when i screw up or am not able to do something the way I think I should be able to. You do good work. Remind me to bring you my car if I'm ever in your area. :)
 
nah its not a slap in the face just a suggestion for next time. The car looks amazing after that much crap and crud im suprised it came out so good I couldent tell that the dash was damaged.

By the way Did you use an extractor on the carpet. ?
 
Detailing "The Fuzz's" bitchin' Camaro??!!! It would be an honor... :D

I swore off detailing forever quite a few times during this job... I actually started thinking about those comfortable office jobs I used to have. I can't do the office thing anymore though... I'll lose my sense of machismo and turn into a "pencil neck" again (Not to mention the great tan I get from this - :cool: )

Fr0zen,
Yes I have an extractor that I used on the carpet. I have to heat my water with my generator and an immersion heater since the extractor doesn't have a built-in heater... I actually scrub by hand first using lotsa carpet shampoo foam to loosen everything. By the time I'm finished my water is heated, and I spray and deep pull them... Love that clear nozzle so I can watch "God knows what" being sucked up in there....

Onthespot
 
Oh Fr0zen, - You misunderstood me.... I meant the tip that the customer gave me ($190) felt like a slap in the face, when I felt like the job had gone completely south....

Yer tip was very much appreciated..

When I get time - I'm setting up that can of Goof-Off in my backyard, and getting the 357 out for some much needed "venting".

Onthespot
 
Oh oh ok. Yeah I love the Clear Nossil to see the green and brown water gettin sucked up. Watch out with that goo off crap its flammible. :)
 
Great job !!!

Remember that there is a reason why that car was in that condition. Your hard work was greatly appreciated becaude the owner probably thought that the van could never look that good again !!! And as stated earlier this was not someones prized Ferrari, but a daily driver. I must admit that when I first started out detailing I did a lot of my rotary "practice" on light colored high mileage daily drivers. I also "try out" new products on lower end vehicles and if I were satisfied with the results the product become part of my aresenal. BTW... Your commitment to providing such a high level of service will not go unnoticed and word of mouth referrals will be flying at you soon !! Be ready !!!
 
Onthespot

I once took a very small (1/8" x 3/4") slice of paint out of a 2000 Suburban front bumper. I probably could of disguised it but told the owner immediately and offered to pay or fix it myself. A week later I got a bill for $375 from this guy!! He took it to a body shop who convinced him that the whole bumper had to be repainted. Then he had the gall to tell me that there is no primer under the paint on those bumpers as I was writing him the check.

I like the outcome of your story better.

Good for you!!
 
We have all had jobs like that at least once..:) .. You did the right thing by offering the customer a free detail. And trust me on this you do not want a office job..( i'm there now and hate it very much ) the thing is you did your best and the outcome was as good as it gets the customer appreciated the fact you were honest and did your best thus the tip and many referals to come. I would have done the same as i'm sure we all would of. don't beat yourself up you did a great job considering what you had to work with!!!!:) IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT GIVE US ALL A GOOD NAME AND IMAGE!!:) FEEL GOOD NOT AWFUL YOU DID WHAT YOU FELT WAS RIGHT AND THE CUSTOMER REWARDED YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT NOT THE OUT COME!!! I think I can say we are all proud of you GREAT WORK!!!




Jason
 
I have definately had those times when I just want to give up. The one time when I got distracted and accidentally let Megs #9 set on a BLACK Explorer for that entire hour, then had to buff it off by hand, and I had not learned the QD trick yet. During that time, I really wished I had a normal job. But when I saw the customers face when they saw this absolutely perfect car, it made it all worth the while.
 
If something like that happens to me what I do. I point out what happened and then offer to have the job taken care of. I have a local buddy that's in the vinyl and leather repair and he's mobile.

The fact is that you did get the van up to speed at the best that you could or that any one could have. I always tell to he customers I'm a detailer not a magician. You can only expect to get some things out.
One lesson that I have learned on jobs like those is. Go over the car real well when quoting the job and point out the problem areas so that when its done there will be no surprises.
Oh by the way great job!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Integrity, very important when you are doing business. I know that when I am dealing with a professional who demonstrates that have integrity I stick with them knowing that I can trust them completely. On The Spot if you keep doing business with those values word wll spread.

BTW minivans are the worst cars to detail, never done one that wasn't trashed. When someone tells me they have a minivan, I generally cringe and expect to charge them slightly more when I inspect it.
 
Onthespot,
Great Job on the trashed mini-van. We all have bad days at the office. I agree with what has been said about intregrity, honesty, offering to pay and the free detail.

Eric
 
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