Opti Seal for high volume details - Lower Quarter Panel Only?

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Modified ? Look at line 1 of post 13 above ..... And if its ONLY about Opti -Seal .. why are all the elaborate "proposed" business plans and dribble taking up band width... If you don't want comments on you marketing don't post them. You asked if Opti-Seal was a good plan on the bottom panels .. Scott said you might as well do the complete car .. He also has critiqued your business plan and he isnt said to be rude ..... Some of the things pointed out were to help you NOT fail. Your going to market this to "new"dealerships? Have you researched how many open per year in your area or over the US in fact. The other thing is the lot car wash attendant is the low guy on the totem pole and when it comes to health coverage most employees dont even qualify via the company and unless its a union shop its not even supplied, it may be offered but it is employee paid. And if it is offered most lots find a way yo release the person before his trial period is over.

  Sorry . I miss read your post .. its not "new" dealerships .. its "new car" dealerships.


Constructive criticism is not an insult.
 
Jesstzn said:
One towel doesn't equal the Gary Dean method.. Adding some form of wax to your wash media isn' t "Hand Washing & Waxing " a car .. , your story and objectives have changed from the start.


I think your trying to get us to help you convince yourself this is a good plan ... I'm sorry.. Personally I think its a fail. You don't want us/me to evaluate your process because if we do you don't like seeing the faults. I even asked if you have tested this to see if you could constantly do 6 minute washes with a team of 3 and you never replied .. I was giving you a chance to prove us wrong.


Now you can call me ignorant and pompous and what ever you like but I think one of the reasons others aren't chiming in is because they see where its going and they have nothing constructive to add.


This isn't even really a detailing subject as such , most of us here don't consider a bastardized 6 minute wash with a wax emulsion additive detailing.


You may want to try focusing one one objective and perfecting it before you branch out. You seem to be going 6 directions at once .


Have a good evening
Click to expand...


 


I agree with everything you've been saying from the beginning and especially this last post.  I don't really see the point of opti-sealing the lower portion of the car.  It's not going to protect against rocks and just having the lower portion of the car sealed isn't going to do anything to keep an entire car clean.  Either the car is dirty or it's not.  I also don't see how even with a team of 3 people you can knock out 1 car in 6 minutes (and did i see 3 minutes thrown out there as a goal???) let alone keeping that pace up for a full lot while doing a job that's worth a crap.


 


I have yet to see anywhere Jess has been rude or insulting.  He's just given an honest opinion on your plan and shot holes in it (which you've already said everyone else you've talked to has done the same....maybe there's a reason for that pattern) and you took it way too defensively
 
To say that what I am doing is not detailing, and to suggest that I am doing paint scams

Are both insulting. I do enjoy your "House of Wax" What a great detailing name.


Now, you don't think that Opti sealing the lower quarter panel will help with rocks?

I thought that it would mainly help the lower panels stay cleaner, During test drives and such.


3 minutes is definitely possible, and I will show you all another time in a video.

I have done 6 minute vehicles presently, and maintain a good quality.

Is this boutique work? Nope. Last time I checked, Autopia catered to many facets

of detailing.


I am excited to try and attain Scotts time of Opti - Seal at ten minutes (apprx).

Considering that one can easily charge 30 dollars for a 4 month seal, this would

equate to 180 an hour.


Is ten minutes doable for me? Currently, no. It does drive me to improve.


I am also considering selective application of Opti Seal doing surfaces such as

windshields, Windows and side mirrors at request. I also have a customer who

detests smudges on the inside of windshield at night. While I need to test it first,

I think that sealing the inside of his windshield might satisfy him.


Where Opti sealing parts of the car, like rims and lower panel, would only be

to help the car be cleaned in subsequent washes. This seal would make the brake dust

just rinse off with a hose, being perfect for that anal customer. With its low cost, decent

durability and quick application, I see many uses for this product.


I had a customer ask if this seal would stop fog inside windshield. Testing is needed.


I am excited to test this on a few jet skis that sit outside. As they are covered, the owner

wants a barrier between the paint and cover. Plus, it would be good while being rode.
 
What your proposing is express car washing ,,,,, detailing is paying attention to detail ..,  polishing .. paint correction and in some cases just a wax job but not slapped on on selective spots. 


 


   Opti-Seal or any other coating/sealant wont help protect from rocks .. only products like the 3M film etc will help there. If it did 3M and the other companies that make that film would go out of business.


 


 Others have already stated the Opti-seal is of no benefit.


 


  And I'll repeat again for the hard of understanding " you" no one suggested you were doing paint scams .. At the start when your post was very vague and lacking information "I" said "IF" you were I didn't say you were nor did I suggest you "were" doing the scam paint protection package nor anywhere did I say or suggest your paint protection was a scam.


 


   Please refer up to posting #10 , paragraph 5 line 4 and remember, "we" didn't bring up the subject of your wash program .. you did , and you state in the aforementioned post that "everyone I talk to says this is impossible"  well that pretty well makes it unanimous.   


 


 


  You keep saying other people are insulting you ...    Ever thought you might be insulting our intelligence?


 


  Kind of reminds me of the day I was watching the army cadets in the parade and the lady said " Look at that , everyone is out of step.. but my son "
 
I see no point on OS'ing just the lower panels. If you are going to apply sealant to a vehicle - apply it to the entire car. The vehicle is going to get dirty regardless.


 


As one business owner to another I have a few questions about your propsed busniess model.


 


Where are you located that dealers are paying $4/car for the lot washers to come out an do what they do? Having looked into this before the prices I found were $.50-1.00.


 


Assuming you are correct at the $4/car - you want to charge double that rate. I do not see dealers paying for this.


 


Have you had a chance to run this on any dealers yet? What was the feedback you received?


 


I agree with Scott - you are overestimating the dealers concern with the need to keep the vehicles protected.


 


I hope this all works out for you and you prove me wrong and make loads of money.
 
At this point it seems as though your mind is set in stone about all this and the only thing to do now is put your plan in motion and prove everyone wrong
 
Jesstzn said:
Modified ? Look at line 1 of post 13 above

 
Click to expand...


 


Jess, before you start telling me to reread this thread, may I ask that you please


reread the first Original Post


 
bunkeroo26 said:
I am focusing on quick high volume work for dealers.

If I Opti Seal the entire vehicle, I have just lost further

changes to clean their car as it will be good for months.

Optimally, I would like to get called one a month to do an

entire lot of cards at a dealership.


My thoughts went on how to protect my job.


What if I only Opti sealed the lower body of the car or truck?

The top part would still need wanted and waxed, and the bottom would

stay cleaner and protected from rocks and such.


Is there anything that I am not factoring in?

Would it look bad to have the bottom sealed?
Click to expand...


 


I am asking about Opti-Sealing from the get go, specifically the lower quarter panel.


It has been talked about how they do not think that this will help.  I understand those


opinions. 


 


My "dribble"  (which is an insulting term in itself) was all in response to your needing to


critique EVERY SINGLE facet of my business plan.  You are the one that has taken


this thread away from its intended purpose.  Again, reread my original post. 


 


Thank you, and you can cut out your "constructive" critique on my thread. 


If anything, you are acting pompous, and you are attempting to break down every


part of my business plan in detail, because you feel that it is unfeasable. 


 


Again, read the first post, and see that I asked about Opti-Seal. 


 


and Thanks.


 


 


 


 


House of Wax,  it is not that my mind is "made up", and I need to go experiment


and see if it works.  This is the same thought that Jess was taking, that I need to


go and "get my neighbors" and see if it works with their help. Both of you forget


to realize that I may not be at the stage that you assume that I am.  Perhaps I am


not the newest kid on the block, and perhaps I know a little bit about business


management.


 


I am working this system now.  I appreciate your information about how you think


that Opti-Seal would not help in my situation.  I am not completely convinced, but


I am going to test out my theory on just the lower quarter panel. 
 
<span style="color:#ff0000;">To stay strictly on topic and I quote


I am focusing on quick high volume work for dealers.

If I Opti Seal the entire vehicle, I have just lost further

changes to clean their car as it will be good for months.
<span style="color:#ff0000;">Opti-Seal ( or any other sealant / coating ) will not keep a car cleaner
<span style="color:#ff0000;">so they will not need less washing , you would not loose business ,
<span style="color:#ff0000;">there is just no gain as stated by the others in theis thread.

Optimally, I would like to get called one a month to do an

entire lot of cards at a dealership.


My thoughts went on how to protect my job.


What if I only Opti sealed the lower body of the car or truck?
The top part would still need wanted and waxed, and the bottom would

stay cleaner and protected from rocks and such.

<span style="color:#ff0000;">As stated by the others it won't stay cleaner and it won't protect against rocks.
<span style="color:#ff0000;">Matter of fact a lot of freshly waxed or sealed/coated cars build up a statuc charge and attract dust.


Is there anything that I am not factoring in?
Would it look bad to have the bottom sealed?
<span style="color:#ff0000;">After a day or 2 no one will notice the difference if they initally notice it at all. Usually a good portion in the
<span style="color:#ff0000;">visual difference is in the prep before the sealant and usually a new car is pretty shiny to start.


I concur with the others that have posted replies " no benifit "


I have tried to stay strictly on topic per your first post and factual. Not pompous , rude or critical of proceedurs.
 
you have to pay business insurance and workmans comp, taxes, factor in supplies, etc for those 3 employees....good luck with that on the number you have provided!
 
Scottwax said:
I can't imagine a dealer is going to spend money again beyond a wash to wax a car again. I think you grossly overestimate how much they care about what's on their lot. . 
Click to expand...


 


Been around dealers for the last couple + decades.......Like Scott said dealers don't care enough about their cars to want/need them protected. The gesture is nice, but again if it isn't making them profit, I don't see how they would care? 


 
bunkeroo26 said:
Now, you don't think that Opti sealing the lower quarter panel will help with rocks?

I thought that it would mainly help the lower panels stay cleaner, During test drives and such.


 
Click to expand...


 


No. There's no point in sealing any part of the car really. They aren't exposed to harsh enough conditions to where you/they will see a benefit. 90% or more of the lot cars don't even get driven, and then the 10% that do may not even see harsh enough weather (driving in the rain) to benefit from the protectant applied. Plus,  a protected car is still going to have a oily film anyways. It just won't has as much of the heavy particulate stuck to it. So,factoring this you might only be helping a handful of vehicles. Plus, dealers typically get their lot cars (new/used) washed atleast once per week. 


 


If you don't mind me asking.....are you currently doing any work for dealers? And if so, what? There are products that work great in used car applications. 
 
it seems like the main problem with the OP is that he misunderstands both what OptiSeal can do and in some cases it seems he misunderstands the difference between OS and OC. a few posts up Jess is spot on. And the rest of the guys as well. You are gaining nothing by putting OS on any dealer car and losing the cost and time to use the product. If you want to propose something, use ONR with wax and try to meet your goal time. Use more than one towel though because that's nowhere close to the garry dean wash and the main point of that is to minimize how much crap you drag around the car. also dont forget his method requires 2 additional towels (1 damp for the initial dry and 1 dry for the final drying/buffing before moving on to the next panel). one towel total per car is just as bad as those chamois/power washer guys.
 
I am currently working for both used and new dealers.

I must agree with you that this is beneficial more for used vehicles.

I do think that there is marketing potential in Opti Seal on their cars,

as a method to up sell Opti Coat.


How do I think this holdall would work:

Imagine purchasing a new car and finding out that

as a bonus they added a sealant that will last from 2 to 6

months. Now I can take the vehicle home and see how the

seal performs for me. The dealer had told me that I have 5

months to return and upgrade to the warrantied permanent

coating.


The seal didn't cost much for labor or product, so I do believe

that it can be an added value to customers. It can be one way that

a dealership stands apart from the competition. Realistically,

I do not think that sealing only the lower quarter panel will help,

but I am going to test it on a few cars that I do just maintenance washes.

If it makes my monthly job easier, it might become beneficial.


One thing that I did not think of until now, is offering seals and coatings on

their loaner vehicles and company cars, so that they retain

their value.
 
Dfox : I definitely understand the benefits of the Gary Dean

Wash Method, and I have found a way to make it a little less

wasteful on towels. I use approximately one wash towel per

car, and if I am diligent then my dry and buff towels last for

much longer than one vehicle. If works well for me, and i

am still protecting their paint.


I also understand the difference between Opti Coat,

Seal and Guard. That is not my problem, but I appreciate

you attempting to locate my problem. The main original

suggestion for Opti Seal was to quicken wash times on

subsequent washes, and to provide a less receptive surface

for dust to settle on. Many people have said that it is not

worth the effort, although I have not heard from a single person

who tried sealing just the lowest quarter panel. My curiosity drives

me, and it "could" help in the right situation.
 
Oh man, do I understand where you are coming fro!

It almost didn't seem worth it when you just look at the

numbers, without looking at the Grand scheme of this plan.


This hedges around 6 minute, paint only washes.

I stress paint only, because this speeds things up drastically.

There are ten panels to a normal vehicle, so one panel would

need to be completed in 36 seconds. I can finish a panel in

10 seconds easy. Working as a team is where efficiency comes in.

One person would need to pick up and put down the wash,

the buff and the drying towels. This is all wasted time.


If I get 3 teams all averaging around 6 minutes, then I am

making 30 dollars an hour (without upgrades and add ons).


I understand how what I suggest seems difficult, but I just believe

that creates a stronger niche in the market.
 
Jess, you don't think that providing a sealed surface will

help the car stay cleaner in subsequent washes? I definitely

dissagree with this. Perhaps this is where a large

disconnect had come from. I believe that it will help greatly.


If waxes will not bond to the seal for as long a period, then my

standard deduction would lead to the same view for dust.

While I understand that this won't stop huge chips, I am just

looking for something to keep car a little cleaner.


I have a dealership that is allowing me to test this theory out.

It will be a week until I am allowed to test, then a few weeks afterwards

to see results. I did some tests with coated screens (cell phone),

and while it still shows finder smudges, dust does not collect

as easily on the surface.


If none of this works, then you all are correct as there would be diminished

reasoning to deal new and used cars.


Right now I am a kid with a lawn mower. Sure I would rather

be mowing the millionaires yard, but right now I have found a method

to cut regular yards more efficiently and with better quality.

I just need to fully research if it is worthwhile to fertilize while I cut.

Bad analogy, but it does have some similarities.



David, I just saw how you mentioned that they get washed once a week.

This is the business that I want. I want my company to be

their weekly wash, and not the dirty shamois crew.


This might not be for every car in the lot. One new dealer that I am

working with us interested in just doing his cats with the largest margins.

He views it as a way to add value, at a lower cost.
 
If I purchased a new car and found there was a sealant added for FREE I'd be happy but you missed my post above about many people not paying for sealant add ons without prior approvale. You also missed my point on sealants on used cars . Used cars need prep to make the sealant look good. Dealers won't pre pay for this but on select cars.


As for sealant only on the bottoms ... A lot have tried it including myself ... Note our numerous comments above about it not being woth the effort. I did a lot of experementing like that on my and my neighbors cars. The only benifit between a sealant/coating and nothing at all is for the first few washes it beads better thus making it easier to dry and in your therory with adding wax to the ONR etc you will have that beading. ( thats if adding wax to the waterlass wash doesn't change the chemestry and screw it up) . The car will still get dirty. <----- not refering to washing but to end results of sealants.


Btw your way off topic here ... Isn't this about Opti-Seal ... Your talking washing in the post above ... And your modified GDWM , i think if your method is better than Garry Deans, you best put out a video showing this. How come I get crapped on if I critque you wash method but toyotaguy doesnt.
 
bunkeroo26 said:
Dfox : I definitely understand the benefits of the Gary Dean

Wash Method, and I have found a way to make it a little less

wasteful on towels. I use approximately one wash towel per

car, and if I am diligent then my dry and buff towels last for

much longer than one vehicle. If works well for me, and i

am still protecting their paint.
Click to expand...


Is your wash towel the size of a beach towel?
 
House, the math doesn't work out that way.

There are 10 panels and 8 different sides to the towel.

All that is needed, is to do both of the door panels on

each side together. If you with from the top down, this is

not a problem , because it is the bottom that is dirtiest.


Sure sometimes, is needed to change out early, if car very dirty etc.


Jess, things can be asked politely, without insulting my work and saying

that it isn't Detailing at all. If that was the case, you should lobby to remove

all talks of rinse less washes from the entire forum. He didn't insult me, intentionally

or unintentionally. And, you do know that ONR comes with wax, right? You are

even questioning me doing this, as it will "change the chemistry, and screw it up."

This is another part that doesn't need questioned in the method that you ask it.

Again, talking about coatings and you use the word scam. Why do you revert to these

Insulting terms.


You sir/maam have shown zero professional courtesy to me, including the way that you

pose your "concerns"
 
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