City Requires Mobile Detailers to Capture Run Off!

[WCD]

Having worked alongside Jim with SuperiorShine and Yvan in Los Angeles a few weeks ago, I will say that he isn't the least bit pushy on his product. In fact, we were not using his product and he never even took his out of the car. We all worked a section of a car with different methods and then polished for a bit, had lunch, and talked business.

After reading back a few pages I can't help see a "geography" difference in opinion. I'm also on the coast and to run any discharge into a gutter/storm drain means that I get fined, or that the property owner gets fined. If that occurs then I am out of work. Thus, using a method that puts no discharge on the ground is beneficial to me as a business person.

Tomorrow I start a weekly account at a private club that borders a creek. I was given this account because of my certification from the city and methods. Therefore, it's good business practice and has nothing to do with the "art" of detailing. If Joe from Superior showed up, a friend of mine and one heck of a paint guy, he would do a better job on paint for sure, but would be kicked off if he pulled out his pressure washer- even with his boom. I'm sure he would use the same methods however to stay there. My point is that it's not about who is better at detailing, this is business. Image counts! I've seen people here working out of their garage and spending 2-3 days on a car. I question that has being good business. I hope that this person is receiving at least $50-60 per hour. In our model, once going and hopefully it goes, we should gross at least $80 per hour with two workers. With my method of zero discharge I plan to lock in three private clubs by the end of June and staff them with 1-2 workers each day. Just 4 car washes over 6 six hours will pay salary, thus it is my hope to get more than 4 cars per six hours.

If detailing is needed, it's an appointment and I have to work. Otherwise, I'm not working that much in detailing, but running the business and making calls and selling.

At one time cotton diapers were the rage and now we have microfiber towels. There are other towel types coming and so changes happen. They are happening in detailing with water.

Pronto Wash and other types are here. I do not feel from my city officials that this is a fad, but more like a requirement that is going to stand. We used to put kids to work in factories, but found out that black lung disease wasn't a good thing for kids to have. Times change and it's hard to change, but do not be a dinosaur- we know how they ended up- or at least we have theories.

Bill should do a survey of how many detailers on here now were on here 5-8-10 years ago. This would give us some indication of what the success rate is- I expect it to be like restaurants..pretty low.

Too many are techs and say they love detailing and that is what they do. This does not make a good business person and as soon as one comes around, your business will suffer. Read and read all that you can. There are great books for small business owners on sales, marketing, etc. Please spend your time improving your business. Going into public forums and jumping on someone is a waste of energy. How much money did you make by responding with negativity?

Sure, you are frustrated by comments and that is what is great about a public forum, but constructive comments are meaningful, not some of the ones I read. Of course, this is also my opinion. Perhaps after making such commentary, you made more money, loved your kids a bit more, and spent time with your spouse. Who knows?

Happy Easter to everyone that celebrates it. If not, have a great weekend and continue in your efforts to improve the industry with educated and meaningful dialogue.

I'll let you know if I get 2 cars tomorrow- first day and working alone.

BTW: I have two newer EZ Up canopies--Embassy II model. Both broke after only a few uses. I bought them last February. I was poised to have them tell me, "too bad," but today the rep called to tell me that he ordered all the new parts and sent the warranty order right through. Great customer service!

[Picus]

Originally Posted by WCD

...

Interesting post, thanks. I think the point I am trying to make (and maybe others?) is that although you guys have mentioned more than once that our business may be hurt if we don't adopt a new style of green-detailing, I don't think that is true for the majority of Autopians. I live in a very "eco-friendly" area, west queen west in Toronto, and the bottom line is my clients don't care how I clean their cars, they care about the results. I am not dealing with corporate accounts or large scale washes, I'm working on 5-7 cars a week, and I think that number of more representative of most Autopians' businesses. You could say that soon Toronto will start fining operates who don't control run-off, but again, if we're not power-washing 50 cars in a parking lot, but washing one car a day in a garage, how likely is that, really?

[reparebrise]

ROB, great post.

I too do not have customers who care how I wash their cars, what they want is the result. I spent money to develop a waterless product, because as a business person I see the benefits, less labor, less waste, less damage, higher quality, better results, more profit, happier customers.

There are many good waterless products on the market now(not the case when I developed mine), and even if you only do a car a day, the time you save washing can be put to use on perfecting the paint, or even better spending time with family and friends.

AS for Jim(relaited) I can attest that he has absolutely nothing to gain from posting here. Jim has a passion for making our industry one that gets respect, far from the case now, and with these negative attitudes that is not about to change fast enough. Jim may come off strong, but he is here to help those who wish to increase there profits, and reduce there waste. He has nothing against using water(in our shops we use water when needed, but not all cars need it), in fact pronmotes its use when appropriate.

To recap, water smart is a good business decision, and Jim is passionate to a fault, but has nothing to gain other than the sense of accomplishment when another detailer reduces his wasteful ways.

[Jakerooni]

Jim's problem wether meaning too or not is that every single post is always the same thing. he can't just come in here and have a conversation with the rest of us. every post is "how do you plan on containing the runoff water" even if the post has abosolutly NOTHING at all to do with that. He's beyond trying to force the issue. Other people have been banned from this site for pushing as hard as he does with this stuff. It's considered spam by every mention of the system. It's unwanted and he just dosen't get it. Regardless of intentions being well meant or not he blew that opportunity a long time ago. now it just needs to stop. No one wants to hear about it anymore. And if there's anyone that still does we all know how the PM function works on this site.

[15951]

Please stop trying to cleanse the unwashed masses (pun intended). Hearing about how shoddy 2 hour details net you $180 doesn't make an educated consumer like me EVER want to use your services.

I come to this site because it promotes taking detailing to the next level. This discussion seems contrary to that goal. Frankly, I feel like I'm reading a discussion between a tunnel wash operator and a detailer.

It's interesting that I've never seen a Click and Brag from these guys.

[Finish Line]

Actually, the problem is that he should keep that nonsense on the Eco board. We are all trying to do our part. Usurping every thread to spread the gospel is WAY old!! And, his continuing to PM and even telephone Autopian members to convert is a tad much - if he denies doing it, sorry to those I've talked with, but I will out him about his calls to you!! And, well, I just think he's obnoxious. I would have called him a troll but, I'm trying to be nice!!

He could do himself better if him would just say, "I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express!"

[Bigpikle]

A personal perspective....I wont comment on the rights and wrongs of the legislation and intentions themselves.

Living in the UK we dont (yet) have the same laws and enforcement that many of you in the US already seem to have, but a growing concern in me led me to make a commitment to myself at the end of last year - NO MORE NASTY CHEMICALS AND WASTE RUN-OFF from my personal detailing (thats my cars, family and fiends cars and a few client vehicles). As soon as I said it to myself it felt the 'right' thing to be doing, despite not being a tree-hugging hippy

I had no idea what that really meant to my detailing at the time. I'm as obsessive as many of you, perhaps more than some, and started to contemplate the consequences of my decision.... no solvent cleaners, no foaming pre-wash, no rivers of water run-off down my driveway and into the street, low water use etc etc and I confess I got scared. I nearly went back to my foam lance and amazing pre-wash when my car cam eback from the snow and was crusted with salt My 3 beautiful Autopian standard cars would quickly become swirled up messes with the typical UK wet weather, muddy and salty roads etc

What has actually amazed me has been that 4 months in, my cars all look better than ever, get maintained in less time than ever, my foam canon sits idle and I have sold off all my offending products. No rivers of foam flow down my street and my driveway stays 99% dry all the time - when its not raining : In fact I now spend less on the products I feel happy to use than I ever did before. I even crossed over into the land of absolute heresy recently and used a 'waterless' wash (after much research and careful planning), and TBH am frankly stunned by what a quality job it does when used properly, and have replaced about 30% of my maintenance routine with it.

I say this not to preach but simply to point out that it IS possible to adapt and change and still balance the Autopian dream with an eco-friendly approach. It takes some thought and effort to learn new things and try different techniques but the biggest challenge is to CHANGE YOUR MINDSET, as I have come to the conclusion that the biggest barriers to adapting and growing live inside my/our heads. Its those limiting beliefs we carry around with us that are largely holding us back. I know that because today, after a 400 mile drive in the wet countryside, my pride and joy looks like its been pulled from a swamp and needs a clean. Every fibre of my being is telling me to pull out the hose and foam canon....

[Finish Line]

Point is well taken. And, frankly, I would be willing to guess that most every Autopian has been using ONR, or some means of water conserving method for some time now. Weather it was initially for water conservation or time-savings, doesn't matter. The point is, this guy joins every thread on the Forum and jacks and attempts to redirect it, bashes and berates everyone who doesn't capitulate to his way of doing things.

All the eco nonsense should remain on this board made exclusively for Eco-Friendly detailers. All of my cars are CNG or Bluetech. This guy runs an inefficient HHR gas engine. You don't hear me preaching about that on every thread.

He is not the end-all eco detailer. In fact, if you were to Google his business, you would discover that he has already made some enemies of customers.

Just sayin'!

[Setec Astronomy]

Originally Posted by trig

Maybe you could tell everyone about how your a member of the California Urban Water Conservation Council, and how you've spoken to the Municipal Water District of Orange County and the State of California Regional Water Quality Control spamming your Pronto Wash company and talking about how much water it saves, and how mobile detailers should have fines in place for not doing it your way. I find it funny that everyone here was right about you. You do have a single-sided opinion in what will be profitable for you. The only reason you are ECO friendly, is because when your done acting as a "player" with the regulators, you'll be racking in the dough! Don't hate the player, hate the game!

Maybe another problem with this diatribe is what I see here: Eco Auto Detailing Articles - Resources for going green in your auto detailing business Unless I don't remember my MLM/pyramid scheme marketing terms, master franchisee means that for every detailer he bullies/scares into wanting to be a ProntoWash in Orange County, he gets a piece of the action. So it's a win-win, either the competition is out of business or paying him.

[Dsoto87]

Good point setec. Im glad everyone saw through is his little act.

This guy cares nothing for the enviroment and cares nothing for detailing.

Purely a typical business man. A good one I must say, well good in one sense.

[SuperBee364]

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

Maybe another problem with this diatribe is what I see here: Eco Auto Detailing Articles - Resources for going green in your auto detailing business Unless I don't remember my MLM/pyramid scheme marketing terms, master franchisee means that for every detailer he bullies/scares into wanting to be a ProntoWash in Orange County, he gets a piece of the action. So it's a win-win, either the competition is out of business or paying him.

You nailed it, Setec.

We know that advertising your products without being an Autopia sponsor is not allowed. We also know that shilling is not allowed. What he is doing is a combination of the two. That should equal a double-banning. He should be banned so hard that he can't even post on detailingbliss. DavidB allows a lot of latitude here on Autopia, allowing us to pretty much speak freely about products and vendors as long as we have no actual profit to be made in doing so. This guy has gone way over the line.

There is no doubt that he is pimping his eco friendly franchise "opportunity" here directly and indirectly. Where's David with that ban hammer?

Maybe he'll make good on his goodbye post and he won't come back. I doubt it though, when was the last time any MLM'er took no for an answer? He'll be back.

Edit: I just took a look at their website, which gives a very brief over view of their process. It says that the entire detail uses about a pint of water. It also says that special MF's are used to remove the actual dirt, grime, and grease from the car. So one of the biggest points he's been pushing on this board is dirty waste water and waste water reclamation. I imagine that these special MF's have to be laundered, right? Are you guys using washing machines that reclaim the wash water? If you're not, what's the difference between your process and a regular wash on the environment? Either way, the crap off of the car ends up back in the water eco system.

[Finish Line]

Well, he apparently has a 50% cust. satisfaction ratio going:

orange county prontowash - Google Maps

So, if you all don't mind, I am introducing SuperDooperPrestoWash.

For a mere $350.000 I will supply you with a new model grocery cart, three spray bottles and six newer 3x6 beach towels.

Call Today!!!!!

Drew