Pro detailer?
- Thread starter Kar Glow
- Start date
Apollo_Auto
New member
Kar Glow said:
If you can arguably compare your works with the likes of detailers like Bob Willis, David Fermani, Todd Helme, Kevin Brown, Barry Theal, Bryan Burnworth, Paul Dalton, Paul Townsend, etc. etc. than you would probably be able to call yourself a "pro". If not, read their threads carefully, as there's a lot to learn from them
. Washing cars thoroughly and having a reputation for "getting it clean" doesn't make one a pro... there's a whole lot more to it than that. - Jesse O'Connor
Welome to the site. I just left from the ROCK.
Yeah, Check the click and brag, before and after sections and compare your work to the best.
I mostly do this as a side income/hobby but I stay pretty busy.
Post pics of your details for the quickest "opinions" on if your a pro. They will let you know...
Yeah, Check the click and brag, before and after sections and compare your work to the best.
I mostly do this as a side income/hobby but I stay pretty busy.
Post pics of your details for the quickest "opinions" on if your a pro. They will let you know...
Thomas Dekany
New member
If you do this for a living you are a pro. Do you however do good work?:think:
Richie's Custom Detailing
New member
tdekany said:
Not necessarily Thomas. The fact that you do it for a living alone doesn't make you a professional. What makes someone a true professional is consistancy and the level of quality they provide along with how well they are respected in their field.
All because you go down to Pep Boys and buy a bucket of detail products and do wash n waxes for $40.00 does not make someone a pro.
JohnKleven
New member
This debate could go on forever. I consider myself a pro, but feel like many so called "detail shops" are not pros. You need to offer something to a customer that they themselves can't achieve. If someone is getting paid to wash a car, they are not a detailer. If you are performing multiple step paint corrections, and leaving a halogram free finish, you're a pro.
MirrorDetailing
New member
Richie Carbone said:
Parts of this are no true. I know certain professional detailers in the field that are complete assholes. I do not respect them for as far as I can throw them. So respect in our field has nothing to do with it.
In my opinion a professional detailer is someone who does this for a living and does a good job to the point customers would recommend them and also return for their own personal service. But again most of us do not know someone or have seen there work first hand to really judge what there level of skills are. We only judge most by the pictures they take and its not difficult to hide something with a picture.
a_guerrajr
New member
Apollo_Auto said:If you can arguably compare your works with the likes of detailers like Bob Willis, David Fermani, Todd Helme, Kevin Brown, Barry Theal, Bryan Burnworth, Paul Dalton, Paul Townsend, etc. etc. than you would probably be able to call yourself a "pro". If not, read their threads carefully, as there's a lot to learn from them
- Jesse O'Connor
you forgot your name in the list!
Apollo_Auto
New member
a_guerrajr said:
I forgot Richie's and a few others too
. Thanks buddy!sacdetailing
New member
I heard if a pro is some one that gets payed for what he does. If people could of done something like paint correction themselves like we do we would not have as much customers.
Apollo_Auto
New member
Kar Glow said:
So some things that separate the "pros" from the "Joes" (not you Mr. Fernandez
) are the things that they know about cars, car interiors, car paints, etc. Also the things that they know about the products that they use. Some things pros should know: Why polishes behave the way they do. Why pH values are so important when washing a car or even cleaning different types of leather. What affect do wash & waxes have on already waxed surfaces. How can clay scratch a car. How to clean an engine bay properly with a pressure washer and what types of cars to be careful with. What wheel cleaner is safe for what kind of wheel. Why you have to wait for "X" time before applying another layer of wax. Why you can't layer "X" wax with "Y" wax or vice versa. What the difference between a sealant and 'nuba' is. The list can go on for miles...
I humbly admit, I still learn about detailing every day. Being a "pro" doesn't mean you know everything... it means you try to master what you already know and you continually try to make it better.
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
Apollo_Auto said:If you can arguably compare your works with the likes of detailers like Jesse O'Connor, Bob Willis, David Fermani, Todd Helme, Kevin Brown, Barry Theal, Bryan Burnworth, Paul Dalton, Paul Townsend, etc. etc. than you would probably be able to call yourself a "pro". If not, read their threads carefully, as there's a lot to learn from them
- Jesse O'Connor
You're too kind Jesse. I modified your post to give you props back.
Kar Glow: Here's some interesting discussions regarding being a Pro and posting on Autopia. It's not a do all-be all, but more or less a reference:
http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/129481-people-only-post-pictures-autopia.html
http://www.autopia.org/forum/profes...minimum-details-completed-considered-pro.html
autoconcierge
New member
I was wondering when Joe @ Superior would be mentioned as he and his crew "Get it done" everytime.
Apollo_Auto
New member
I mentioned Joe too .
.Richie's Custom Detailing
New member
David Fermani said:
Just out of curiosity David, how many posts did you have on here before you posted your first write up?
BTW nice home page.:dig
Envious Eric
New member
top-notch results, branded name, and professionalism make you a pro!
if all you do are wash and waxes, you are not a "paint reconditioning pro"
if all you do is wash cars, you are not a "pro detailer"
if you can produce show car type results on a routine/consistent basis, then you would be a "paint reconditioning pro"
thats my opinion on the matter! I see quite a few "pro detailers" in my area who offer washes and wash and waxes claiming to remove oxidation and swirls with waxing....even heard of and saw the results of one "pro" who used a wax with a rotary and a wool pad on a black car....YIKES
There is a market for each type of auto detailer/reconditioner. people should just market themselves in the correct one
if all you do are wash and waxes, you are not a "paint reconditioning pro"
if all you do is wash cars, you are not a "pro detailer"
if you can produce show car type results on a routine/consistent basis, then you would be a "paint reconditioning pro"
thats my opinion on the matter! I see quite a few "pro detailers" in my area who offer washes and wash and waxes claiming to remove oxidation and swirls with waxing....even heard of and saw the results of one "pro" who used a wax with a rotary and a wool pad on a black car....YIKES
There is a market for each type of auto detailer/reconditioner. people should just market themselves in the correct one
Bunky
Detailing Gnosis
toyotaguy said:
So what do you want to go these pro's that do basic corrections, washing, and waxing well?
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
Richie Carbone said:
Seeing that I've been a active member here since 8/04, I'd say that I must have had atleast a couple thousand posts before starting my 1st Click N Brag back in 2/07. I like to think of Autopia as a place to discuss detailing, not just a tool to market your business. OTOH YMMV.