How does a hack do it? - Page 2

Jakerooni · 11-01-09, 05:49

Barry you bring up a great point. Right now I'm helping out a few dealership with getting their guys up to snuff so speak. But I have to ask how much motivation can a guy have with the prices they pay. Here's a break down of what the workers get.

Re-wash = wash the car, quick vacuum, windows. = $5
Delivery = wash the car, vacuum, glass and wax = $10
Full detail = Supposed to include everything it takes to get the car in saleable condition = $35

How much motivation would anyone on here have to do everything 100% in the time frame they give (Usually 3 hours total or less for full details) and the pay these guys get. The Managers come back B*tching and moaning about how sloppy these guys are and how dirty the cars are still to which I reply... You paid for a $10 wash you got a $10 wash. Hence why I just can't stand dealing with the dealership mentality.

Scottwax · 11-01-09, 07:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Enforcer

i actually had a meguairs DEALER tell me that all i need for a flawless finsih is diamond cut M85, followed by MEguairs machine glaze M3. that right there was beyond belief for me, that someone selling this stuff would recommend such a thing.

Glad I have a better Meguiars dealer than that. Probably helps that Mike Phillips has done a class there, plus the Meguiars portable classroom (converted semi trailer) has been there too.

What is really amazing now though, is what you can get with #105 and #205!

unleashedfury · 11-01-09, 09:13

Well to me there is three types of hacks.

1. The Pay Day hack. Dosen't give a crap about what he does. Knows what he should do. But just wants to make a quick buck.Any chemical will do as long as it shines for customer pickup and eval. Lazyness usually can fall into this category too.

These guys usually get clients who wanna save a buck, and are uneducated on how a car should look/feel. When two weeks go buy and their car looks like crap. It pushes them away from real professional detailing because they feel they paid for a useless service.

2. The uneducated hack - These guys are usually taught improperly. Do mean well and usually do want to do a good job. But due to their poor education they make mistakes and don't know whats wrong.

3. The I'm paid to be a hack - Dealership/Car lot wash guys. I get paid 8 dollars an hour to wash a car. They give me crap to use. They get crap results. As long as its clean. Thats all that matters. Its not their fault. I've worked at a dealership too. And Its all about clean that car. I want this many cars out today. And so on such. Quantitiy vs. quantity. As long as its kinda shiny when the customer picks it up

I'm sorry to say that most hacks usually fall under category 1. Categories 2 & 3 are people who usually end up deciding that professional detailng is not for them and move on. Or Decide to go and get more educated and start getting much better results. For category 3 They usually have to leave the quantity world first though

The Enforcer · 11-02-09, 02:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

Glad I have a better Meguiars dealer than that. Probably helps that Mike Phillips has done a class there, plus the Meguiars portable classroom (converted semi trailer) has been there too.

What is really amazing now though, is what you can get with #105 and #205!

this dealer had enver even HEARD of 105 and 205.....and this was only a month ago!

bufferbarry · 11-02-09, 04:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Enforcer

this dealer had enver even HEARD of 105 and 205.....and this was only a month ago!

Not everyone knows what m105 and m205 are!

Jakerooni · 11-02-09, 06:33

Yea I've talked to a lot of meg's "Dealer's" and I'd say only about a 1/3 of them have ever heard about 105 or 205. Apprently Meg's dosen't bother teaching all their dealers about their new products

thedetailer · 11-02-09, 06:34

well there ARE alot of megs products

lecchilo · 11-02-09, 06:56

I've honestly never seen a hack at work until a couple months ago. I've seen the videos online of people butchering cars and having done a few panels badly (holograms, swirls from aggressive polishes, etc.) myself when first starting out I always knew exactly what happens and why, but seeing it in person is just completely eye-opening. Since the first time a couple months ago, I've seen it almost daily when driving by detail shops. Car is sitting outside of the shop, yes outside, the guy is holding a rotary, with what seems to be an 8"-10" wool pad, yes wool pad, no clue if there's any polish on the pad or not, and he's going at it at about 10" per second, fairly high speed from the sounds I've heard, and only covering every square inch once (no breaking down of polish, etc.).

That's when it all really made sense and I could now clearly explain to those friends who say "Why the F do you charge $3-400 for a polishing when I can do it for less than half that?!"... we walk over to the shop and that's that.

As for why people do it that way (why hacks are hacks) that's another discussion and I agree with what was said previously... generally either people are great at marketing a product that they don't nearly deliver and are out to make a bunch of money probably at like $100+/hr and others are just uneducated. Sometimes I feel bad for the cars, but since I can't really change the fact that there will always be 90% hacks and 10% actual detailers (exaggerating here, it's more like 95-98% hacks) I simply say "Nice, another client for me in a few weeks".

fergnation · 11-02-09, 10:46

M105 and M205 are pretty expensive when it comes to high volume shops. A hack shop is not going to pay 100 for a gallon of m205 or m105. There are a whole lot of other polishes that are a lot cheaper than those.

the other pc · 11-02-09, 11:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Enforcer

this dealer had enver even HEARD of 105 and 205.....and this was only a month ago!

Most Meg’s dealers are retailers, buying through distributers. So they can sell Meg’s with little or no contact with the factory if they choose.

Obviously (to you and me anyway), it’s in a dealer’s best interest to learn as much as possible about all of the products they sell, not just Megs’. But it’s amazing how many businesses just don’t think that way.

Meg’s is happy to educate dealers on any and all of their products but it’s not like they can send Guido and Vinnie to “persuade” them to learn.

pc.

Scottwax · 11-02-09, 02:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by fergnation

M105 and M205 are pretty expensive when it comes to high volume shops. A hack shop is not going to pay 100 for a gallon of m205 or m105. There are a whole lot of other polishes that are a lot cheaper than those.

Local BMW dealership was impressed with the Ultrafina demonstration put on by my local 3M dealer (English Paint and Supply) but said UF is too expensive. Just another reason cars that leave their body shop or make ready department look like crap.

unleashedfury · 11-02-09, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

Local BMW dealership was impressed with the Ultrafina demonstration put on by my local 3M dealer (English Paint and Supply) but said UF is too expensive. Just another reason cars that leave their body shop or make ready department look like crap.

Just remember scott. Their tight wallets and ignorance is keeping your wallet fat and happy