These PRO coatings are getting ridiculous, any alternative ?

Thomas Dekany said:
Yes they do. You have to sign a waver. At least I did.



That is interesting. To my knowledge, this is probably not enforceable in some countries. The worst they could do would be refuse to sell you any more.
 
PiPUK said:
That is interesting. To my knowledge, this is probably not enforceable in some countries. The worst they could do would be refuse to sell you any more.



Well, I think that's the point. I don't think they could put your in jail.
 
cobraa said:
Guys, I would be ashamed to ask my client ( who owns a veyron) if he wants a coating applied for 400$ instead of 2 layer of Crystal Rock. so if you guys feel confortable ripping off your customer with Acura and such. feel free but I have respect for my customer and I will never charge them this non-sens price.



I feel that you are ripping your clients off by not offering them the best protection.
 
Your post seems to show that you have morals and would not "rip" someone off but the company you're supporting is doing just that every time they sell ANY wax! The wax you proposed in your post costs $1500.00 for 200ml. Thats less that a cup!! There's no more then 50 bucks total in all the products used to make it.
 
Mike, while I agree with you that high price wax is not worth it; I don't think we can say they are ripping people off. Let me explain, to me, ripping off is selling a product by fraud - like a fake Rolex or any knock off designer brand passing as the real deal. Folks that buy pricey wax know that it doesn't cost THAT much to make, but they are buying the image, the status, the bling of saying we use $$$ wax on your car. They are people out there that just love this kind of thing. We (us detailers) can laugh and say a fool and his money...., but if a person perceives that value then who are we to say otherwise. It's a different mindset, like my dad would say - more money than sense. But, he was born in 1909 and lived through many tough times. He would look for the value of something and not pay more for fluff.

The older I get, the more I see the wisdom in his advice. I shop and look for what works best - saves time, looks great, ease of use. That's why I don't spend a lot on LSP's, the look comes from the prep, and the only thing I want out of a LSP is easy on and off, slick, looks good and lasts at least 3 months. That way I can get the customer to come in quartely for a wash-wax and he doessn't have to spend a lot and I don't have to bust my balls buffing again.

I haven't got into the coating thing, yet................... But, I might, if the price comes down and the ease of use gets better. I was reading on another forum where CG has a new coating out, I wonder how the PMBA guys are going to spin it since their DP coating is much cheaper and according to the reviews - easy to use. I figure the "it cost more so it MUST be better" crowd will lap it up.

Damn, I just reread this post, I know, I rambled a bit but it's early Friday morning and I felt like it.
 
Tony, my response to him was directed more at the fact he was bashing manufacture set pricing. People are asking for these coatings by name and that's why so many people are trying to get it in their websites for SEO purposes. Did Swissvax not set a pricing structure by selling the wax at such a high price that you had to charge more to get some sort of a profit from applying it. The only difference is that these manufactures are willing to share some of the profit with the installers. Although I don't agree with some of the ways the recent pricing was set I do appreciate they were trying to stop some of the hacks who were vastly undercharging and giving their product a bad name with bad installs. We would all take a hit in some way with them if it got that bad.
 
You know I don't have the time to tell you how wrong you are on so many levels. You obviously don't do this for a living. And with your business acumen, that would be a good thing.



Suffice it to say.......................



"Profit is not a dirty word"



You need to make enough money to cover cost (all of them) and then make more profit than you could keeping the $ in the bank making .03% interest.



Good luck to you.



cobraa said:
Guys, I would be ashamed to ask my client ( who owns a veyron) if he wants a coating applied for 400$ instead of 2 layer of Crystal Rock. so if you guys feel confortable ripping off your customer with Acura and such. feel free but I have respect for my customer and I will never charge them this non-sens price.
 
I heard cobraa only bought one tube of OCP, and at $60 upcharge, guess the work speaks for itself. It's pretty obvious to see what a farce this truly is and what many on here are strictly against. Good luck on your search, leave the OCP for the real detailers.
 
cobraa said:
After offering opti-coat pro for 8 month and inquiring info about carpro Finest, I just felt of my chair lol Having to ask a minimum price is plain stupid so with that said.



Can you name me any alternative similar to these two ?



You could try Opti-Coat 2.0. Great protection for alot less cost.
 
bryansbestwax said:
I heard cobraa only bought one tube of OCP, and at $60 upcharge, guess the work speaks for itself. It's pretty obvious to see what a farce this truly is and what many on here are strictly against. Good luck on your search, leave the OCP for the real detailers.



Shocked_fans_omg_GIF.gif
 
David Fermani said:
You could try Opti-Coat 2.0. Great protection for alot less cost.



Agree 100%. And you aren't bound by any minimum pricing. Obviously, its in your best interest to charge for the added value of 10 years of protection. But if charging say, $325 instead of $400 using OC 2.0 vs Optimum Coating makes you feel better, then by all means do it.
 
apply a coating for no markup other than the cost of the product = you losing money overall over 2 years from not seeing that client again



charge more upfront like $400 for coating application and you will see an increase of $350ish on top of the detail, yet you will still lose overall over the course of 2 years from not getting 4 more wash wax jobs.



In the end, its great for higher income NOW, better protection for the hard work you did on the car, better durability for your clients car, but your pocketbook takes a small hit long term. However, get more clients over the two year and your business will continue to be profitable! for years to come, even when offering coatings and seeing the client only once every 2 years! I for one would rather correct 200 cars a year and apply a coating at the end rather than do a mini detail on 1000 cars a year for the same money...call me crazy!
 
Catch-22 said:
Still learning about all these different coating products. Which one is the best?



I've only used Opti-Coat 2.0 and Optimum Coating (the pro version) so I can't comment on the others but Optimum's coatings are terrific. I've had them on a customer's car and one of my parent's cars since the fall of 2009 and both are still going strong.



As to what Eric said, biggest thing I have noticed with the coatings is you get customers you'd not otherwise get. They aren't interested in regular details but something that makes care on their end easier. They don't want to be bothered with regular waxing/sealing, they want a long term solution and coatings provide that. I don't think it was at all a coincidence that when coatings really became popular last year that my business was up almost 40% and this year is up vs last year.



If you aren't offering a coating option, you are leaving a lot of money on the table.
 
Catch-22 said:
Still learning about all these different coating products. Which one is the best?



There are really only three that are restricted to professional use; Optimum Opti-Coat Pro, CQuartz Finest, and Modesta (which as of yet is not available in the US, but will be eventually -- though from what I've heard unofficially the price of entry and accreditation process will be much more stringent). Between the two currently on the market it's difficult to proclaim one or the other as a universal "best" because both have their strengths depending on a client's needs.



Opti-Coat Pro's claim to fame is as the "originator" in the semi-permanent coating game. It's a ceramic clear resin that won't wear away over time without the use of mechanical abrasion, though realistically I would suggest expecting to re-install every 5 years or so at minimum. It's a great choice for average daily drivers, cars stored outdoors, and for those clients whose primary concern is superior protection and minimal hassle from a maintenance perspective. You can see more technical information at Optimum Coatings : Accelerate Into The Future | Optimum Polymer Technologies



CQuartz Finest is a glass coating that boasts 18-24 months (2 years) of durability, provides superior gloss and the "slick feel" that many other coatings lack. Also as an installer it is compulsory to ensure that the vehicle being coated is corrected to take full advantage of these properties and ensure a proper bond. Since it does wear away over a couple year period, I would market Finest to those clients who are concerned by both having the superior protection and ease of washing that a coating provides along with keeping their vehicle looking its best by having it occasionally re-polished. Again, more technical information can be found at CQuartz Nanotech Ceramic Automotive Paint Coating



Ultimately which is "best" will be something you have to judge for yourself or by qualifying clients' priorities. Hope that helps!
 
Catch-22 said:
Great infoation Charles. I definitely will into these. Why are some coatings only available to professionals?



In part, it's due to the desire of the chemical manufacturers to provide a service as opposed to simply a product -- being able to at least in part control the quality of the prep work, which will maximize looks/durability/etc., as well as being able to set a price floor that builds value in the product.



Also, at least in the case of Opti-Coat, the professional coating is not always as user friendly as its consumer grade sibling, since it flashes and cures faster. The positive side effect of that is that the professional version cures harder and thicker as well.
 
C. Charles Hahn said:
Also, at least in the case of Opti-Coat, the professional coating is not always as user friendly as its consumer grade sibling, since it flashes and cures faster. The positive side effect of that is that the professional version cures harder and thicker as well.



I have to use 2.0 most of the summer here since Optimum Coating cures faster and 100 degree temps make it cure even faster. But I have full confidence in the protection that 2.0 offers and make sure customers are aware what they are getting.
 
Back
Top