Getting scrutinized

[MichaelSpoots]

Originally Posted by WAS

Different professions and different industries expect and promote different behaviours, "on" as well as "off" the job. In our industry, some people expect to see us driving around in very well kept cars. My opinion is with theirs. I keep mine as clean as possible, which actually doesn't take a lot of effort for me. I've had lots of comments on how nicely my car presents itself, and, in my opinion, it's absolutely made some customers feel more relaxed with giving me the keys to their own vehicle.

Very well put.

[Got_Leather]

Honestly, I take pride in having my Acura look look nice upon arrival at a customers house. It almost always gets a compliment about something. This is just something else that gives others an image about yourself. I'm not going to show up to someones 7 figure house with a filthy car.

[WAS]

Originally Posted by MichaelSpoots

Very well put.

Thx, I think that sometimes we forget WHY people scrutinize us, it's not because they're trying to be ***holes, but rather because we're held to that higher standard, which doesn't bother me one bit.

[gigondaz]

It is only logical for a detailer to have a fantastic-looking personal vehicle.
It serves as a real-life sample for your customers to admire.
Something to whet their appetite and get them drooling.

But due to time and work, we sometimes don't hv much choice. Easier said than done. You can tell them, it's your work vehicle and you are serious about giving the max results to customers, your 1st priority is your customers, and therefore you don't hv any personal time to wash/detail your own car. That's also perfectly logical.

For me, my tactic is to use an impactful, eye-popping colour: RED.
After meticulous detailing (LSP: Zaino), I leave it alone. Washed every 2 days where I'll blow-dry it and minimise using whatever towels to avoid any ultrafine scratches especially on the hood. If I hv an important customer coming to the shop, I'll Z6 or Z8 it beforehand.

Most importantly, the interior is vacuumed and wiped down by my staff every 2days, cos I sometimes need to shuttle my customers to their homes or office.

My customers are those who lust after a completely flat/ripple free/OPeel free results, and these are the ones who like to scrutinise the detailer's ride very closely. They're hunting for lots of thangs....swirls, holos, etc etc. These are mostly young, rich guys who know nothing about detailing and have been grossly brainwashed by many detailing prdts mftrs preaching about sanding, about OP being a defect (heck, most cars have OP!!!), and they're hyper brand-conscious......What they lust after, is a showcar finish that they hv no blxxdy clue how to maintain. No qualms at all in leaving the car with me for 3-4days. Sometimes, even 2 weeks! In short, for my customers, it's all about....(and I hate to say this) showing off and being better than the rest. Some even demand 6layers of AG's EGP as LSP!

Since I know what really motivates them (absence of "defects" and showing off), I indirectly let them scrutinise my car and this'll fuel their own fire inside. The car is parked outside for them to scrutinise.
'Whow, look at that hood!! That's similar to what I saw on the website!!!!"

Since that's what they want, and I respect that, I will quote my price, explain market prices, the work needed, and then, work progresses. They can scrutinise my car all they want but the more they scrutinise and yearn for the same kinda looks, the happier I am

[bufferbarry]

If I had time to detail my car. I would be happy. People tell me all the time "Barry your car is trashed" I give them the same response everytime. I can't really pay myself to detail it. I lost the whole keeping my dd clean a looooooooooooong time ago.