What being a Professional Detailer...

JasonC8301 · 04-08-02, 09:30

..is like.

Working for NY detailer (Brian) is very cool. He is a great boss, if even a boss, more like a detailing friend. (haha Brian didn't make me say this, he is one cool guy!)

Some of the cars we detail are in very poor shape, but seeing the owner pick it up after we are done is priceless.

We don't get the amount of time that most autopians get to detail a car (haha puterbum spending hours on wheels) but advances in product, hard work, and a love for detailing gets spectacular results in the time we get on each car, like 3-4 hours per car.

Some of these professional products are not bad at all. Meguiars All Purpose cleaner plus is good, works quickly, and does its job. Plus its inexpensive.

The foam pad machine glaze and final polish Brian showed me and uses works, easy to apply, very easy to remove. results are spectacular.

I couldn't wish for a better job and a better boss

A picture of Brian's Monte Carlo (foam cutting pad with Liquid Paint Correction Cream, foam pad machine glaze, final polish, and Meguiars #26) Car came out very nice.
<img src="http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data/00C/4B/0B/FA/57/fr4wO12n4nhHOPNSPYXNSZJbn9eMe6Hu0180.jpg">

Brian is also going to give me a crash course in using a rotary buffer! I can't wait.

Jason

Dr. Jones · 04-08-02, 11:11

what a great job... I'm really hoping i can find a similar one for the summer between semesters (it has to pay more than i'm making now). I just don't want to get stuck with your average detailing place... i want to work for an autopian with expierence who i can learn from. You would think with all the weather we get all year round in Colorado there would be lots of detailing shops... i'm going to start calling around this week and see what i can find... my last resort is going to work for a dealership.

NY detailer · 04-09-02, 01:15

If there are not a lot of detail shops, why dont you start one up. If is not that hard, but does take some out of pocket expense. If you think about working a part time job is just about the same if you charge about 100 per car. If you want to start one up i can help you with this. It is very easy to do and you will see just what some flyers and business cards can get you.
Brian

NY detailer · 04-09-02, 01:17

thanks jason, with all those nice words i hope you not going to ask for a increase (haha)

BradE · 04-09-02, 01:23

Quote:

my last resort is going to work for a dealership.

Not all dealerships are bad, but I would say 99.9% of them suck. Their main problem is they are only willing to pay minimum wage, good detailers will not work for $5.25/hour or whatever the hell minimum wage is now. You get what you pay for, that is why most of the people working at dealerships don't have a clue as to what they are doing. And if they are good, be rest assured they won't be working their long.

If you are just going to be working for the summer a dealership job might not be all bad, it would look good on your resume but don't expect to get paid anything.

JasonC8301 · 04-09-02, 08:27

Good luck on your job search. I was in that spot, now I have too many jobs!

Its cool Brian, I'm happy with what I make

Jason

Acuracer · 04-10-02, 05:49

Quote:

Originally posted by NY detailer
If there are not a lot of detail shops, why dont you start one up. If is not that hard, but does take some out of pocket expense. If you think about working a part time job is just about the same if you charge about 100 per car. If you want to start one up i can help you with this. It is very easy to do and you will see just what some flyers and business cards can get you.
Brian

NY, how many billable hours can you get in a year if you really dedicated yourself to it? Or is it more appropriate to talk about # of car per year? And what frequency do you see the average client? 2 a year? 5 times? I would think that one of the issues is that you need to develop a huge client list to stay totally busy?

NY detailer · 04-10-02, 06:08

it is really hard to say how many cars i do a year. so far my invoices are up to invoice #158 for the year. unk at this time how many are detailing jobs. I average about 3-5 complete detail a weekend @ 125.00 per car & 150.00 per truck. then during the week i try to get one or two details for when i come home from work. Then i always have the quick wash.
You have to also take into consideration rain days, when you cant do anything.