I_Guess's car detailed.

[SCP_Celica]

I_Guess

I did I_Guess's car another TR members car today. I took the job on after he brought his car to a Clearwater detailer. The detailer didn't do a good enough job so he had brought it to me.
I ran into a few issues, one being the front bumper had what I thought "bugs" still on the paint. I then later found out it wasn't bugs it was just from the bugs sitting on the paint for such a long time beating in the sun it killed his clear coat, destroying his paint.
We also then later ran into a small problem with neglected acid rain on the windows. All an all, the car was a success. The major scratches that were on the truck were buffed out to the best ability I could do.

The products I used will be listed below for all the viewers who wanted to know what I used for a vehicle like this:


Products:

Meguiars Mirror Glaze #62 Carwash Shampoo & Conditioner
Meguiars Mirror Glaze #62
Mirror Glaze #2 Fine Cut Cleaner
Meguiars #21 Synthetic Sealant 2.0
Meguiars Mirror Glaze #9 Swirl Remover 2.0
Meguiars NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0
Break down on each item:

The powerful cleaner/polisher in #9 Swirl Remover pulls up dirt and grime and reduces the appearance of swirl marks and minor scratches.
Meguiars Mirror Glaze #62 Carwash Shampoo & Conditioner: This ultra-sudsy, non-streaking formula is pH balanced to protect all clear coat finishes. The free-rinsing conditioning agents and paint nutrients provide sparkling, streak- and spot-free results.
#21 Synthetic Sealant 2.0 visually eliminates fine swirls and scratches to render a flawless finish. Your paint will appear darker, glossier, and smoother than ever
Meguiar’s #2 Fine Cut Cleaner to bring back the smooth, flawless finish of their prized vehicles.
Meguiars NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0 introduces a new dimension of gloss and protection! Nothing even comes close to this amazing product. NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0 glides on and off easily leaving behind shimmering evidence of the protection it’s supplying! Gaze through the crystal-clear shell at the depth and richness of drenched color below. You'll be surprised how easy it is to reveal a dazzling new finish!

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb169/flinstoneman/detail1copy.png

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb169/flinstoneman/detail2copy.png

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb169/flinstoneman/detail3copy.png

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http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb169/flinstoneman/detail6copy.png

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb169/flinstoneman/detail8copy.png

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb169/flinstoneman/detail9copy.png

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb169/flinstoneman/detail7copy.png

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb169/flinstoneman/detai10copy.png

[SCP_Celica]

BTW; Pictures of the actual car was never edited, only the ones with my self in it.

That picture with me in front of the front door with the canon camera is not a mirrior but the front door it self.

[Outkasted24]

wow?

[DC5_babe]

you look like a fag.

[I_Guess]

Man you come on hear like you did a bad ass job. The only thing good you did was getting rid of the 3 little nicks on my doors. You did not even wash my truck when I got there. I have wax in all my seals around the doors and windows. So it took you 5 hours to buff and wax the truck. It was taking so long I took you not to do the inside. Most of the work you show is bull shit cause you did not even know what you where doing. I could of done the same shit with my Wal-mart buffer. I lost time and gas on this shit.

Don't get work done by Joe or what ever name he is going by now. I will tell you this. He can talk a good game but now the game is fucking him.

Thanks for nothing, Kevin

[Presidential_Detail]

Wow, thats not a good review. Well, I guess you know who to come to next time. Funny thing is, is that SPC_Celica came at me saying the 10-12 hours I spend doing my full correction was way too long! This explains everything! I always do a rewash after Im done polishing for this very reason..sorry about your experience "I Guess".

[im_DTF]

Man you come on hear like you did a bad ass job. The only thing good you did was getting rid of the 3 little nicks on my doors. You did not even wash my truck when I got there. I have wax in all my seals around the doors and windows. So it took you 5 hours to buff and wax the truck. It was taking so long I took you not to do the inside. Most of the work you show is bull shit cause you did not even know what you where doing. I could of done the same shit with my Wal-mart buffer. I lost time and gas on this shit.

Don't get work done by Joe or what ever name he is going by now. I will tell you this. He can talk a good game but now the game is fucking him.

Thanks for nothing, Kevin

:lol: owned

[I_Guess]

Wow, thats not a good review. Well, I guess you know who to come to next time. Funny thing is, is that SPC_Celica came at me saying the 10-12 hours I spend doing my full correction was way too long! This explains everything! I always do a rewash after Im done polishing for this very reason..sorry about your experience "I Guess".


Bro he is full of shit!!!! He did not take 10 hours. I was there maybe 5 and he was doing other things like talking on phone,looking for thing to work on my truck but could not find ( cause HIS comp. trailer had most of it in there), and trying to get somebody to help him.

I even asked him about washing after all was done. He said no dont have to. I am just mad at I went out there for what I got. He told me he was the best.

[I_Guess]

Now his bro is trying to say he did a good job. He did an ok job. He is not the best like he said he was. I mean come on he typed up 4 windows but did not do around front window or the middle of the back window. Just a fuck ass job.

Look here. This is where his bro is talking me he is good.


Quote:
Originally Posted by c.j.dono View Post
To be honest, joe is a fuck up and alot other things but I do have to admit he does do a good detailing job.


Your truck was messed up and yet it turned out pretty dam good besides your hood.. nothing detailing can really do to your , your clear coat on your front end is chipping away.

He did ok on my truck bud. It was going to be a full detail. When I got there it was raining some so he did not wash the truck. ( first thing I let go) Then he he went to getting the 2 fuck up's out of the door. He started going all over the truck. ( here and there kind of thing) He then gets you up to help him cause his girl did not have a ride. There was just soo much bull shit that he did not need to do. The things I needed done that did not get done before (and I pointed them out) he did not do. I was there almost 5 hours bro. He did not even get to the inside so I told him dont do it. So it was an OK job.

The hood I know about but the rear window had shit around it still, wax all over the seals, no inside work, all of these thing add up. Plus he had YOU do some of the work. DID YOU GET SOME OF THE MONEY? Just two much for me man. He told me he was the best. He said if he does not not do a 100% best job I have seen the job would be FREE. Also the next detail would be free. So I was nice to give him what I did. He just made it sound like he was the best ever. He was not the best or even close. If I would have known this I could have got me own buffer and done it myself. If you need me to show you pm's about what he said let me know.

Thanks and sorry to post this in here.

[Presidential_Detail]

Check out some of my details in my forum, you will notice that EVERY seal/doorjamb/light/etc is taped up. this is completely neccesary to make sure you dont touch anything your not supposed to and possibly burn it with the buffer. I spend sometimes half hour-to one hour just prepping the car with painters tape before i even touch the car with a buffer. I also found it a little funny that he only taped up the side windows???

[ThE iNfAmOuS p MoNeY]

wow that kid fails at life...what a fuckin stooge...hahaha...wanna-be detailers ftl

[I_Guess]

Check out some of my details in my forum, you will notice that EVERY seal/doorjamb/light/etc is taped up. this is completely neccesary to make sure you dont touch anything your not supposed to and possibly burn it with the buffer. I spend sometimes half hour-to one hour just prepping the car with painters tape before i even touch the car with a buffer. I also found it a little funny that he only taped up the side windows???


I have been looking at your work bro. Looks very good. He taped 4 windows and thats it!!! Just too much bull for me. It took him maybe 5 mins to do that tape job and he did not even tape it good. That is why I have wax all over.

Also about the burning stuff with the buffer...... He did that tooo. He hit the top part of the bed where the cab and bed come together. I will go get a pic late just so nobody things I'm talking shit.

When I get on my feet I will be calling you.

[Presidential_Detail]

I have been looking at your work bro. Looks very good. He taped 4 windows and thats it!!! Just too much bull for me. It took him maybe 5 mins to do that tape job and he did not even tape it good. That is why I have wax all over.

Also about the burning stuff with the buffer...... He did that tooo. He hit the top part of the bed where the cab and bed come together. I will go get a pic late just so nobody things I'm talking shit.

When I get on my feet I will be calling you.

Thanks, look forward to it!

[TIM TIM TIM]

that sucks... I cant wait to have my car detailed by mr presidential. to bad it couldnt have been this week :(

[Todd Helme]

Out of curiousity, what did you pay for this service?

[I_Guess]

Out of curiousity, what did you pay for this service?


It was going to be $100 but I was not too happy.. So I gave him $55. I also drove to him and that is about an hour and 15 min drive.

[Todd Helme]

To be honest you got a HELL of a deal at 55 dollars (and at 100).

It seems to be that the detailer is new to the game and trying to make a name for himself. He probably promised you the moon with out fully knowing the limitations of his abilities (and with out seeing the condition of your paint). So he misled you into believing you where going to have a great job for a huge bargin. Sound good and I don't blame you for being upset, but the old addage is you get what you pay for.

To give you a good example, most OKAY detailers in the Tampa area charge 40-50 per hour. Of course they have to cover product cost, advertising, insurance, and other factors that greatly eat into what initialy looks like a large product margin. Given the size of your truck, even a basic, some what quality detail would cost around 200 dollars, and this would not include polishing or interior work.

There are of course detail shops that pay a bunch of people 6-8 dollars an hour, might do the job for cheaper, but in the end you are getting cheaper quality (8 dollar an hour work).

Leaving wax in the seems is just bad performance and not excusable of course, regardless of the amount paid. But the fact that most body shops (which do the job improperly, using glazes to "polish" the paint) would have likley charged 75-100 dollars for just removing the small marks on the paint, you made out okay.

Proper (high level detailing) takes time. Corners should never be cut, but corners should be cleaned, polished, and detailed.

It starts with proper washing, decontamination and rinsing. Most detailers will look at your paint, make bold claims, then when you view the paint later you will still find imperfections that the detailer will claim "where just too deep to take out." But how does the detailer know, does his eye contain x-ray, cross sectional vision that allows him to gauge the depth of the paint defects? Is he using a device to measure paint thickness and taking the time time to diagnos every defect? This adds considerably to the time but it is the only way to safely make paint perfect. Even on a small car, doing the job correctly will take a minimum of 8-10 hours, though more like 20-30 if he is truely getting all areas perfect. At this point (even with a cheaper detailer) you are at a huge cost, though comparable to a new paint job.

I am rather famous in the detailing community and considered amongst the best in the country for making paint look its absolute best. I have detailed several "best paint" cars at Pebble Beach, had cars sweep Platinums at Cavallino, etc. I have clients in 3 countrys and 11 states (soon to be 12) and my work speaks for it self. I make cars perfect, then I make them better. However, at a rate of 75/hr, my work is a luxury that not all can afford.

However, if you view the links to my work here, you can see the difference in not only the prep, work involved, but the outcome.

Forum Member's Gallardo
La Bella Firma, Round Two. 50 hours on a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder (330 pics, long) - Autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/110556-la-bella-firma-round-two-50-hours-lamborghini-gallardo-spyder-330-pics-long.html)

7 Ferrari's
A tale of 7 Ferraris (139 pics) - Autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/100749-tale-7-ferraris-139-pics.html)

2 New car prep's on F430's
New F430 in Grigio Silverstone perfected by Bella Macchina - Autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/106362-new-f430-grigio-silverstone-perfected-bella-macchina.html)
2008 Ferrari F430 in Rosso Corsa, presented by Bella Macchina - Autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/107076-2008-ferrari-f430-rosso-corsa-presented-bella-macchina.html)

Classic Ferrari for concours show (crazy detail, almost like a restoration)
La Bella Firma by Bella Macchina (100+ pics/video) - Autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/107901-la-bella-firma-bella-macchina-100-pics-video.html)

Classic Jaguar (74 E-type)
http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/106788-bella-macchina-perfection-1974-jaguar-e-type-roadster.html

Black Cars done right (GT2, 2 911's, F430)

http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/108111-bella-macchina-black-gloss.html



of course the list goes on and on, but I will not bore you too much!

So for the dollar you made out well. However it seems like a case where you were promised Crystal work for a Natural Light price. As a leading expert in car care I believe strongly in consumer education as it prevents situations as this where nobody wins. You loose because your expectations where not met and the detailer looses because of bad word of mouth.

Also as a side, you may notice in several links that I am working with a gentlemen named Brian Brice. He worked for me for several months and now owns a company dedicated to doing the same quality work. His company is FinerFinish and it is based out of Tampa if somebody truely wants a boutique detail on their car on the Gulf Cost.

[finerfinish]

To be honest you got a HELL of a deal at 55 dollars (and at 100).

It seems to be that the detailer is new to the game and trying to make a name for himself. He probably promised you the moon with out fully knowing the limitations of his abilities (and with out seeing the condition of your paint). So he misled you into believing you where going to have a great job for a huge bargin. Sound good and I don't blame you for being upset, but the old addage is you get what you pay for.

To give you a good example, most OKAY detailers in the Tampa area charge 40-50 per hour. Of course they have to cover product cost, advertising, insurance, and other factors that greatly eat into what initialy looks like a large product margin. Given the size of your truck, even a basic, some what quality detail would cost around 200 dollars, and this would not include polishing or interior work.

There are of course detail shops that pay a bunch of people 6-8 dollars an hour, might do the job for cheaper, but in the end you are getting cheaper quality (8 dollar an hour work).

Leaving wax in the seems is just bad performance and not excusable of course, regardless of the amount paid. But the fact that most body shops (which do the job improperly, using glazes to "polish" the paint) would have likley charged 75-100 dollars for just removing the small marks on the paint, you made out okay.

Proper (high level detailing) takes time. Corners should never be cut, but corners should be cleaned, polished, and detailed.

It starts with proper washing, decontamination and rinsing. Most detailers will look at your paint, make bold claims, then when you view the paint later you will still find imperfections that the detailer will claim "where just too deep to take out." But how does the detailer know, does his eye contain x-ray, cross sectional vision that allows him to gauge the depth of the paint defects? Is he using a device to measure paint thickness and taking the time time to diagnos every defect? This adds considerably to the time but it is the only way to safely make paint perfect. Even on a small car, doing the job correctly will take a minimum of 8-10 hours, though more like 20-30 if he is truely getting all areas perfect. At this point (even with a cheaper detailer) you are at a huge cost, though comparable to a new paint job.

I am rather famous in the detailing community and considered amongst the best in the country for making paint look its absolute best. I have detailed several "best paint" cars at Pebble Beach, had cars sweep Platinums at Cavallino, etc. I have clients in 3 countrys and 11 states (soon to be 12) and my work speaks for it self. I make cars perfect, then I make them better. However, at a rate of 75/hr, my work is a luxury that not all can afford.

However, if you view the links to my work here, you can see the difference in not only the prep, work involved, but the outcome.

Forum Member's Gallardo
La Bella Firma, Round Two. 50 hours on a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder (330 pics, long) - Autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/110556-la-bella-firma-round-two-50-hours-lamborghini-gallardo-spyder-330-pics-long.html)

7 Ferrari's
A tale of 7 Ferraris (139 pics) - Autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/100749-tale-7-ferraris-139-pics.html)

2 New car prep's on F430's
New F430 in Grigio Silverstone perfected by Bella Macchina - Autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/106362-new-f430-grigio-silverstone-perfected-bella-macchina.html)
2008 Ferrari F430 in Rosso Corsa, presented by Bella Macchina - Autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/107076-2008-ferrari-f430-rosso-corsa-presented-bella-macchina.html)

Classic Ferrari for concours show (crazy detail, almost like a restoration)
La Bella Firma by Bella Macchina (100+ pics/video) - Autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/107901-la-bella-firma-bella-macchina-100-pics-video.html)

Classic Jaguar (74 E-type)
Bella Macchina Perfection on a 1974 Jaguar E-Type Roadster - Autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/106788-bella-macchina-perfection-1974-jaguar-e-type-roadster.html)

Black Cars done right (GT2, 2 911's, F430)

Bella Macchina: Black Gloss - Autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-details-before-after/108111-bella-macchina-black-gloss.html)



of course the list goes on and on, but I will not bore you too much!

So for the dollar you made out well. However it seems like a case where you were promised Crystal work for a Natural Light price. As a leading expert in car care I believe strongly in consumer education as it prevents situations as this where nobody wins. You loose because your expectations where not met and the detailer looses because of bad word of mouth.

Also as a side, you may notice in several links that I am working with a gentlemen named Brian Brice. He worked for me for several months and now owns a company dedicated to doing the same quality work. His company is FinerFinish and it is based out of Tampa if somebody truely wants a boutique detail on their car on the Gulf Cost.

Very well put Todd. It's a losing battle in this industry when you don't properly educate the consumer on high end detailing. Far too many "detailers" however read forums for a few months and somewhat understand the lingo and take it to the streets with claims they can't back up. Ultimately it will backfire as seen here.

Yes he got his moneys worth,(assuming this guy knows how to use a pc) and then some. Claiming you are the best is not always the best approach unless you back it up by saying the best in the $100.00 price range.

All in all, lesson learned hopefully. When shopping for a quality service expect to pay a premium. There are 25,000 detailers in Florida, but in reality there are maybe 4-5.

[Presidential_Detail]

I completely agree with both statements. Couldn't have said it better. Todd, I have seen your work on Autopia, amazing stuff. I am working my way to the higher end cars..it truly is hard to get the general public to understand the hours it takes to REALLY truly detail a car. Pictures truly do speak a million words in our industry! Thanks for visiting TR!

[TIM TIM TIM]

my lord 25000 for a detail.. just buy a new car! :lol:.

presidential, I think your in a great market here really.. Not over priced (not to say it isnt worth it) yet you still seem to do very good work. Im not doubting that there are people much better (which you pay for) but finding those clients that want and can afford a detail to that extreme seems like it would be quite hard to find.

[Presidential_Detail]

my lord 25000 for a detail.. just buy a new car! :lol:.

presidential, I think your in a great market here really.. Not over priced (not to say it isnt worth it) yet you still seem to do very good work. Im not doubting that there are people much better (which you pay for) but finding those clients that want and can afford a detail to that extreme seems like it would be quite hard to find.

Thanks! And yes, I am not proclaiming to be THE BEST out there. Yet, I do think I am one of the few who offer the level of work I do in this area. I would charge more, I SHOULD charge more. But no offense to TR, there is no market for the so called "boutique" car details where price is not an issue to the owner. And in the end, that is my main focus to get to the level where I have more and more high end "boutique" cars. Time and quality will be the only factor in that, just got to be patient! Thanks again!

[finerfinish]

my lord 25000 for a detail.. just buy a new car! :lol:.

presidential, I think your in a great market here really.. Not over priced (not to say it isnt worth it) yet you still seem to do very good work. Im not doubting that there are people much better (which you pay for) but finding those clients that want and can afford a detail to that extreme seems like it would be quite hard to find.


Top quality detailing isn't for everyone, especially those that can replace their cars with $2500.00. I don't understand how the general public can say "That much for JUST a detail"??!!" When they really don't even know what it consists of.

Mid teir detailers will always be out there because they can make 2-300 per car and live well off it.

Hell Michael Buffer makes $100k plus room and board just for saying "lets get ready to rumble" and that guy doesn't even use a buffer.:lol:

[Presidential_Detail]

Lets not forget about how much Paul can bring in off a single detail! ;)

[finerfinish]

Lets not forget about how much Paul can bring in off a single detail! ;)


Well not every job Todd or myself or any combination costs in upwards of a grand. However it's kind of insulting to insinuate our time isn't worth what we/he or I charge.

Todd spent 50 hours on that Lambo, and I 6, that's a lot of blood sweat and elite know how going into a car wash. Like I said this type of work isn't for everyone.


And yeah Paul demands a lot per detail, and deserves it. I don't imagine he does too many jobs around 7k a year, but I know he is worth every penny.

Keep up the good work PRES. For a young guy who seems to have the right motives I am sure you'll be working on stellar rides in no time:)

[Presidential_Detail]

Well not every job Todd or myself or any combination costs in upwards of a grand. However it's kind of insulting to insinuate our time isn't worth what we/he or I charge.

Todd spent 50 hours on that Lambo, and I 6, that's a lot of blood sweat and elite know how going into a car wash. Like I said this type of work isn't for everyone.


And yeah Paul demands a lot per detail, and deserves it. I don't imagine he does too many jobs around 7k a year, but I know he is worth every penny.

Keep up the good work PRES. For a young guy who seems to have the right motives I am sure you'll be working on stellar rides in no time:)

Thanks, and I hope to see you around in the future and maybe pick up some tips/experience off of you. Matter of fact, if you ever need any help just let me know Id more than happy to give you a hand on one of those "boutique" details of yours!

that Lambo is PSIDEME's right? I just talked to him about his car and said he had a good guy from Orlando, glad it was in the right hands! Once again, thanks for the compliments!

[Todd Helme]

my lord 25000 for a detail.. just buy a new car! :lol:.

presidential, I think your in a great market here really.. Not over priced (not to say it isnt worth it) yet you still seem to do very good work. Im not doubting that there are people much better (which you pay for) but finding those clients that want and can afford a detail to that extreme seems like it would be quite hard to find.

Tim, let me say I agree with just about every point you made.

2500 is a low end figure for the concours level work. On several cars I preppared for Pebble Beach, Brian and I had over 100 hours combined into them.

Also keep in mind that these types of details, as you noted, are limited. It is a niche market. To make big money detailing, hire a bunch of car washers and focus on production work. That is a gold mine (I have a "friend" in Houston who makes 4k daily with his car wash).

The last 5% of perfection takes 95% of the time, so to speak, hence the huge difference between really good and perfect. And lets be honest, the overwhelleming majority just want very nice, shiney paint. They don't want to spend the money (understandably) to have the car inspected and jeweled like a diamond, and I don't blame them.

Breaking it down (considering that value on some of the cars I have worked on exceed's 10 million dollars) I have a very expensive car insurance policy, the products I use are imported and expensive, the towels I use are 7 dollars a piece for example and are unique to each car, I travel all over the state (and world) and my bottom line shrinks considerably. I make roughly the same as a college professor, yet have more experience in my professional (which is hard work) then a PHd does in credit hours.

So the question (as you poised) is whether my services are over priced, but whether this type of work is for everybody. The answer is of course not.

Tim, I'm not sure if you have read the new car prep threads I posted on the F430's but I would like to address a think you said. Why not buy a new car? As you can clearly see in the threads, new car cars (even then brand new 1. whatever million Veryon we recently did) are FAR from perfect. If somebody is paying 290k for a F430 Spider, is 2500 to much to ensure that it is perfect? It is all relative.

Also, the other thread I posted (classic Ferrari), the owner was considering having the car completely repainted (at a cost of 12k) and possibly having some restoration work done (at a cost of 22k). The car was in horrible shape. After our service the car when to a major Ferrari show in Indianapolis and won: Best of Show, People's Choice, and Best Paint!

Not only does the original, 30 year old paint on that Ferrari look great, it looks better then it did brand new. And the bonus is that it is still 100% original, which is much better for value. The car is now a true, show stopping, survior, and truthfully you cannot but a price on that.

[Presidential_Detail]

Todd, returned your PM. Great words of wisdom ;)