PDR guys, Need advice

R

Reflections1

New member
I am seriously considering adding PDR to my detailing business. My questios are...



What is a start up cost,

What schools are there,

Is there a profitable market there besides just doing new and used car lots,

Is Joe Consumer going to buy this service,

Are there training videos I can buy that will explain PDR more in depth to me before I jump into a school.



The only school I have looked into at the moment is Right Look. They have called and sent me literature on the schooling. It seems for $5000.00 I can have a complete set of tools and training including the purcase of airfare and lodging for a week long course. I justr want to know that this is a good road to take before making a large investment. The work is right up my alley since I am a very detailed (no pun intended) :chuckle: person. I expect better than perfect results from myself all of the time.
 
Be prepared to spend AT LEAST six - twelve months practicing after you take your course. If you are good then you will make some bucks but you have to be good. There is no middle ground in the pdr business you are either good or you aren't and I have seen a flood of people enter (and leave) the business over the last 7 years. It is physically demanding as well. That being said, $5000 is not a lot of money to get trained and pay for tools etc.... I suggest you shop around for the best trainer and THEN negotiate a fair price to be trained by the best. Also, one week isn't a lot of time to learn and practice - I would suggest at least two with a top notch pdr man looking over your shoulder and helping. The only credible school I know of that I can recommend is Paint Bull in Michigan. Fred Alvarado is the guy you want to talk to there I think. I hope that helps.
 
Thanks Scott. I have been very picky on what schools I have talked to. Im in no rush to make this commitment as of yet. I am looking more towards the winter when thiings cool off here. I didnt think a week at a school would do much. I am looking at M&M that is in my area but I am also not against traveling either. I have brochure after brochure coming to the house and I have weeded out the ones that sound too good to be true and hesitant on the ones that sound good. As for being good, That has yet to be seen. I am the type that doesnt take the its good enough approach. For me, It has to be perfect. So maybe PDR is in my future. Living in one of the most populated states with a mall, parking deck, super market on every corner.... The work is definately here. I look at cars in parking lots and 9 out of every 10 have some sort of dent that can be removed with PDR procedures. I will keep you informed on how it all plays out. I have called Paint Bull and they are sending me out some literature.
 
If you can find one on one personal training this would be best. When you go to these schools there are cramming every thing into 5 to 10 days. It gets kind of hard to keep track of what’s going on. I trained one day a week for five weeks. I had the whole week to practice what I was learning.



PDR is a constant education. You have to be on your toes at all times and be creative to.



Good Luck to You.
 
I agree with the rest. One week isn't enough. Its best to fing 1 on 1 traingng. My business partner and I had two weeks with a trainer. I also went to Paintbull for interior repair and windshield chip repair so I seen a bit of what they were learning there for PDR and talked to the class. They were there for a week and it wasn't enough. They didn't get to go over everything that I did in my two weeks of training. Its also not for everyone. If you want the email address of the guy I trained with just let me know.



James
 
Flexin said:
I agree with the rest. One week isn't enough. Its best to fing 1 on 1 traingng. My business partner and I had two weeks with a trainer. I also went to Paintbull for interior repair and windshield chip repair so I seen a bit of what they were learning there for PDR and talked to the class. They were there for a week and it wasn't enough. They didn't get to go over everything that I did in my two weeks of training. Its also not for everyone. If you want the email address of the guy I trained with just let me know.



James
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Who did you train with at Paint Bull? Walter? I did most of my paint training with Dave and he was awesome. Fred is the master painter and he is incredible knowledgable too.
 
ShineShop said:
Who did you train with at Paint Bull? Walter? I did most of my paint training with Dave and he was awesome. Fred is the master painter and he is incredible knowledgable too.
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Yes. Walter.



James
 
Rollman said:
For you guys that trained with Paint Bull how would you rate them ? Pro's and Con's
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Top marks from me. I was getting dicked around by their Canadian "distributor" and the VP personally took over my dealings with the company and made sure I was taken care of and compensated for the trouble. I can't speak highly enough of the way they do business. It doesn't hurt that I make a pile of money off the training I received there either!

:up
 
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