Ryan'sAutoDetailed - 2007.5 BMW 325i sedan
- Thread starter RyansAutoDetail
- Start date
Troy@Protekt
a.k.a. Troy@DetailCity
:bonk:
I know I am biased and before I actually used the higher end products I would have agreed with you and in some instances I will agree.
Having tried most of what I sell as well as some I don't of the more expensive products not found OTC (over the counter), I will say that if you're after the best results you are more apt to find it using products that are made with only the best ingredients.
One thing that is important when evaluating a product is it's true cost. For example some people say that products like Ultima Paint Guard or Wolfgang Deep Gloss Sealant are way too expensive because they base it on cost per ounce. The true cost of a product should be determined by how many uses you can get out of it. The same is true with a wash mitt, microfiber towel, polishing pad...
Another factor is time. Will the product be easier or faster to use? That should have value if your time means anything to you. I know with me being in the business I am very sensitive about how much time it takes to get the results I want.
Just some food for thought.
To me your statement is like saying "Who needs steak when you can eat a burger?" Again I am biased because I sell these products but this is my opinion.
:cheers:
GearHead_1
Long Time Member
It's like anything else in life. You can find great products if you are willing to look and that includes OTC. I've received excellent results with a good number of products I've picked up at PepBoys or the likes. That said, I've also got some real dogs and been disappointed. It also comes down to meeting my expectations, I consider mine to be pretty high. Some rave about Turtle Wax's ICE product or Mother's Showtime Liquid Wax as being top notch products, those are two that come to mind as products I would just give away. They don't meet my expectations. In contrast another product that has received similar hype to Turtle Wax's ICE product is Meguiar's NXT, it's a pretty decent product in my eyes. I think it's also fair to say that if you haven't tried a particular product to make an informed comparison/evaluation you'll never know what you're missing and it doesn't matter anyway. You'll probably be happy as a clam with what you're using.
As a general rule I've been more satisfied using various boutique products/brands. I've also found what Troy said to be correct. The true value of a product isn't just the price. At the end of the day the way my vehicle looks when finished is 90% what and how I do it and 10% the product I use. Now if I can make the process a little easier, last a little longer, spend a little less time doing it or even if the product smells better when using it, it's worth consideration in my mind. These considerations all carry weight in the overall value of a product for me (your results may vary). Long live DetailCity and those others that sell me the boutique products I choose.
As a general rule I've been more satisfied using various boutique products/brands. I've also found what Troy said to be correct. The true value of a product isn't just the price. At the end of the day the way my vehicle looks when finished is 90% what and how I do it and 10% the product I use. Now if I can make the process a little easier, last a little longer, spend a little less time doing it or even if the product smells better when using it, it's worth consideration in my mind. These considerations all carry weight in the overall value of a product for me (your results may vary). Long live DetailCity and those others that sell me the boutique products I choose.
RyansAutoDetail
Weekend Warrior
i will be getting into boutique stuff when i can afford a lil extra coin but im happy going with the best OTCs i can find ! and i also believe its how your work is done with the products not just the product itself !
Bunky
Detailing Gnosis
As Gearhead_1 says, do not think OTC are cheaper. It depends on how many applications you can get and you cannot often get some products in bulk.
For example, I have seen some NuFinish fans say how cheap NuFinish is (about $6?) but several admit that they use a significant amount each time. This is a false economy.
If you are really on a budget stick to the paste waxes like Mothers paste or Collinite. They usually are more durable and very very cost effective. The trade off is ease of application (little more care needed to spread very thin).
If you want to do to make money, I would start keeping track of your expenses (car products, supplies like towels, gas) and time for each detail. This will give you an idea of how much you are putting into each job. This way you can see how you have to price jobs. You will see why detailers that charge $20 for wash do not last very long.
For example, I have seen some NuFinish fans say how cheap NuFinish is (about $6?) but several admit that they use a significant amount each time. This is a false economy.
If you are really on a budget stick to the paste waxes like Mothers paste or Collinite. They usually are more durable and very very cost effective. The trade off is ease of application (little more care needed to spread very thin).
If you want to do to make money, I would start keeping track of your expenses (car products, supplies like towels, gas) and time for each detail. This will give you an idea of how much you are putting into each job. This way you can see how you have to price jobs. You will see why detailers that charge $20 for wash do not last very long.
Troy@Protekt
a.k.a. Troy@DetailCity
It's been said many times on here that the process is more important than product and I have never argued otherwise but to get the best results, using high quality products is necessary.
Does price tell you that it's a high quality product? Absolutely not. I wish it were that easy. Most of the time you do get what you pay for though.
I know I personally don't see the need for spending lots of money on a glass cleaner. There are good cheap glass cleaners as well as bad expensive ones. That's the case with any product or service for that matter.