Boutique = Rebottled Pro = Rip-off?

[Mosca]

OMG CHERRY WETT WAX R0XX0RS!!!!!

OK now I'm going to bed.


-|-0^^

[mochamanz]

To me, this thread is a non-starter. It is a non-starter, IMHO, because for some reason, people expect the resellers and the manufacturers to be one and the same. PEOPLE, there are only 2 originators of CD drives, all the rest, licensees, manufacturing for the Couple big companies. Buy a Zenith cd player ?, it is a private label ! The same goes for most everything ! Why do you EXPECT car polish to be so different. I am sure there are original products out there by the basket.... but reselling is an honest business. The markup is "what the market will bear-always. My apologies to the originators of some products out there who are not resellers. The fact is that if someone orders up a "spec.", and it is better than a competitor's product, it doesnt matter an iota who processed the chemicals that went into the soup. The real question is, does the product reflect the seller trying to bring something different to the market. The market is very subjective, and the vanilla smelling product might be better than the cocconut smelling one to different people. The active ingredients might be identical however. Thats the nature of things... hate to break the news...

[DavidB]

mochamanz,

I see your point of view, but most successful rebranders add value to the original product in some form or fashion. If they do not add value, they become a generic brand on the bottom shelf.

[JustinTRW]

I think what everyone is dying to know, is which products mentioned on Autopia with some frequency can be bought in bulk from one of these chemical websites!

Of course, these are industry secrets that people are very hesitant to reveal in public. I've also encountered this in the auto parts, clothing, and wine market!

[goceltics34]

Which products????????????? Please, you know many of us want to know.

[RCBuddha]

Originally posted by JustinTRW I think what everyone is dying to know, is which products mentioned on Autopia with some frequency can be bought in bulk from one of these chemical websites!

How true justin, how true! (btw, how's the sample i sent?) I'm thinking of starting a new Detailing Reality site: www.detailingproductsecretsXposed.com (and no...this is not an actual link) Kinda like that site where the guy breaks down the recipies for the big-corporate restaurants: http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/index.html

I wonder if there is some brave autopian who is willing to buy some of these products and do reviews on them. I'd take up the cause, but the tax man left me bleeding red ink!

Of course, these are industry secrets that people are very hesitant to reveal in public.

I agree. I must commend DavidB for bringing this subject to the public forum. I have always wondered where smaller "boutique" vendors got their products from. I've never been surprised that they re-labeled bulk waxes/polishes, but i've never let that detour me from buying their products.

[JustinTRW]

I don't mind paying a little extra if the vendor adds a little something, or if I have to pay for R&D costs (Zaino ZFX for instance). But I don't think anyone likes having to pay $30 for 16 oz. of wax that is $20/gallon. Maybe that's exaggeration.

RC,
UPP is quite nice looking and has a similar look to FMJ (surprise surprise). Been using Zaino so long, I'm beginning to tire of how it looks. Also been experimenting with Z8 though. I have the original version of UPP that didn't last so long, so I'm curious to see if this lasts any longer. They are side by side on my car that sits outside all the time, for an accelerated test. The new version is quite a bit thinner than the old version which was quite thick and creamy.

Didn't hear from you, so I trust you got LS!

- J

[DavidB]

I did not start this thread so I can call out who makes what for whom. That's none of my business and not my place to say.

I asked the question b/c I wanted to know how ppl felt about it. If I learned about it, you can bet it's just a matter of time before another Autopian found the information.

Like I said, I was really hoping the poll would have been 70% "If you can't beat them, join them!"... just kidding, of course.

We've had some very vocal members in our history that tried to call attention to this very issue. In fact, RK regularly pointed out that many Autopians are a bunch of sheep b/c they buy anything that smells good and comes in a pretty bottle.

If GM put a Caddillac badge on a Chevy, how long would they get away with it? Sooner or later, ppl lear the true quality of the products they buy and the companies that stand behind them.

[JustinTRW]

I've only had Z2 Pro for a few months, and just got Z8 this weekend. But Zaino tends to spoil us, as it lasts so long, there's nothing to play with in the garage. FMJ and UPP are similar products, but are so different from Zaino that it's nice to experiment with them. Though I admit, I have not used Z2 Pro on my black car yet! Something to try!

Loving the Menzerna line. I did notice that FMJ, Acrylic Shield, and Final Touch Glaze are not sold in Europe, so did CMA or Menzerna USA develop it?

[DavidB]

Originally posted by Burlyq
It's only been a couple months since Zaino released the new Pro and you are tired of it? But since we are talking about companies that repackage stuff maybe we should commend those who don't: Like Zaino, Klasse, Menzerna, p21s(s100), megs, collinite, who else does there own R&D? I'm not saying repackaging and adding things is undesirable, but at least we know that companies like the ones I mentioned have unique products, yeah?

Better look on the packaging...

P21S/S100 = "A Smartparts product from BIS Importers"

Klasse = "Imported Exclusively by Klasse USA"

However, both of these brands were developed specifically for enthusiast consumers, not professional detailers. I know for a fact that using a P21S wheel cleaner on my fine rims will not harm them in any way. Putting a high-power professional wheel cleaner or GP cleaner in the hands of Joe 6-pak is a disaster waiting to happen.

[Burlyq]

Originally posted by DavidB
I did not start this thread so I can call out who makes what for whom.

But it was bound to happen, yes? Absence of Foresight , lol.

[RCBuddha]

Originally posted by JustinTRW

Didn't hear from you, so I trust you got LS!

- J

I did, thank you! I have yet to try it, but soon i hope.