Hello from the $1storedetailer

[TrueDetailer]

I`m not going to sugar coat it, I just call it like I see it.

Does anyone else find it odd that of all the threads that cartoysautospa guy hijacked with his useless info, he hasn`t posted anything about this guys way of detailing?

And this guy just signed up yesterday right as cartoys guy was being blasted by everyone, and now since cartoys is gone this guy is going on.

I think its just some guy coming in here to stir the pot and get a laugh. I bet if someone looked they have the same ip addy.

[$1storedetailer]

Wow, I had no idea I joined the conspiracy theory forum.
Do my concepts really seem that rediculous and unacceptable?

Would everyone feel more comfortable if I discussed removing swirls,"you can only see in direct sunlight" with the "latest" advancement in polish technology?

May I suggest adding a few lines to forum etiquette for new members
1)Do not discuss views, in which are alternative to popular forum belief.
2)Post your IP so as to display your "true identity"?.
3)A list of this forums popular belief.

I admit I use a funny profile name but I try not to take my self to seriously in life. Life is too short. On a side note, I just figured out how to add smileys.

[CharlesW]

For some reason, you do seem to be causing some unrest within the ranks.
Spamming was mentioned, but:
1.I don`t see any spam content in your posts. (Although that might come later)
2. I haven`t yet figured out just how you would shill or post spam for dollar stores.

Your IP address seems to be yours, but that doesn`t really mean anything.

You could be here to stir the pot and get a laugh and we certainly seem to be falling into the laughable category.

While I do agree that a good job of washing and detailing can be done with OTC products, I question the $1 store being the place to find them.
Most of the $1 items I have seen have either been closeout products that didn`t receive good public acceptance or items that certainly aren`t worth more than their price.
The few $1 store purchases I have made have been for throw-away items and they were definitely that.
An example, $1 sunglasses that the lens fell out of after about 3 times wearing them.
But, I had the same thing happen to some Ray-Bans that cost considerably more than$1. The Ray-Bans were replaced, but I didn`t bother to go back to the $1 store about theirs.
I do think they have the lack of return of $1 items factored in to their business plan.
I have looked at Big Lots and Dollar General for theses "great deals" that people often post about and have not had very good luck.
I did buy some Meguiar`s brushes at Big Lots for 1/2 price and thought that was a good deal till I saw them in Advance Auto for the same 50% off price.

[Mr. Clean]

I would be more comfortable if you are just yourself. If swirl removal/paint finishing is part of your service then yes talk about your processes and even products. If it isn`t then obviously leave it out and talk about what you do.

I count myself among the sceptical regarding finding a sufficient number of quality products at a dollar store to complete an average detail. But if you do, good.

Just like the new kid in school, some folks will eye you suspicously others will be more welcoming. That goes for any internet forum I`ve become a part of. If you genuinely want to become a member of the community, just share information, ask questions get to know us as we get to know you.

[$1storedetailer]

Good points Mr. Clean.
Here is my arsenal purchased from my local Dollar Store. All below $5 for avg 23oz container. Items in red are my standard use. It costs me about $20 in chemicals per job. I have compared prices to other "comparable products". Tire wash for instance:
Black Magic = $3 for 23ounces ($0.13/oz)
"Comparable brand name product" = $39.95 per Gallon ($0.31/oz)
"Comparable product diluted by 50% = $0.16/oz
The savings may be small but my supplier is 1 mile from my house or within minutes of any job I may be doing.
Febreze Auto
STP Son of a gun Protectant
STP Tire Care
Armor All Protectant
Armor All Cleaner
Armor Wash and Wax
Black Magic Tire Wet
No Touch Wet and Protect
No Touch Tire Care
Turtle Wax Carauba Wax/Cleaner
Rain X Fast Wax
Rain X Glass Cleaner
Westleys Bleche Wite Tire Cleaner
Blue Coral Wheel Magic
Tuff Stuff Multi Purpose Cleaner
Blue Magic Leather/Vinyl cleaner
Gunk Engine Brite

[CharlesW]

$20 per job for product sounds like a lot to me.

A wash, polish, wax/seal probably costs me less than $3 even with the small quantities of products I buy.
Maybe after 20 years in the business, we can suggest some alternatives to lower that cost per job.

All OTC products available at any body & paint supply store and many automotive parts stores.

Wash:
My car wash is 11 cents an ounce.
3 ounces per wash. 33 cents.

Polish:
My polish is 25 cents per ounce.
3 ounces per standard size vehicle. 75 cents.

Sealant:
My sealant is 70 cents an ounce.
1 to 2 ounces per vehicle. $1.40 tops.

Less than $2.50 to do the exterior with "Brand Name" products.

I normally use a sealant, but a wax would be slightly less money
Wax:
My wax is 30 cents an ounce.
1 to 3 ounces per vehicle. 90 cents

If you use a polish/wax combination like Meguiar`s #66, you can polish and wax in one process for 20 cents an ounce.
3 to 5 ounces, (which would do a very nasty car), for no more than a dollar.

A "Brand Name" APC costs less than $15 a gallon in a concentrate.
At 4:1, it will clean tires, engines, wheel wells, at 10:1 it works on vinyl, carpet, upholstery.
Diluted 4:1, that gallon gives you 5 gallons of solution at $3 a gallon or 2 cents an ounce.
Diluted 10:1, that gallon gives you 11 gallons of solution at $1.36 a gallon or about 1 cent an ounce.

I also use a "Name Brand" glass cleaner concentrate that costs less than $20 a gallon and makes 11 gallons of solution or $1.82 a gallon. Less than 2 cents an ounce.

Two things.
I don`t think you are really saving much by purchasing $1 store products.
The investment in a detail is time/labor, not product.

Note: Although this post ended up being a book, it is not copy protected in any way and you may freely pass it on or throw it in the garbage with my blessings.

[$1storedetailer]

Interesting.
Thanks for the break down.

[Mr. Clean]

$1storedetailer, kudos to you that you`ve gone so far as to break down your product costs to such a degree (CharlesW - I`m not surprised at all that you did ), that shows that you have put more than a passing thought into your product choices. I`ll tell you, I don`t. Like most (I think) here I base my pricing on my time/labor. I do agree w/CharlesW that $20 worth of materials/job sounds high.

[black bart]

I may have got some good info from this thread. I use GUNK ENGINE-BRITE a lot it keeps my engines nice and clean but I did not know you could buy it at a $ store will check it out.

[Big Leegr]

I may have got some good info from this thread. I use GUNK ENGINE-BRITE a lot it keeps my engines nice and clean but I did not know you could buy it at a $ store will check it out.

I don`t know if you`ll find it for a dollar. There is a mention that nothing bought was over $5, so I guess the dollar store mentioned would be more like a Family Dollar than a Dollar Tree.

Here is my arsenal purchased from my local Dollar Store. All below $5 for avg 23oz container.

[Anthony O.]

Good points Mr. Clean.
Here is my arsenal purchased from my local Dollar Store. All below $5 for avg 23oz container. Items in red are my standard use. It costs me about $20 in chemicals per job. I have compared prices to other "comparable products". Tire wash for instance:
Black Magic = $3 for 23ounces ($0.13/oz)
"Comparable brand name product" = $39.95 per Gallon ($0.31/oz)
"Comparable product diluted by 50% = $0.16/oz
The savings may be small but my supplier is 1 mile from my house or within minutes of any job I may be doing.
Febreze Auto
STP Son of a gun Protectant
STP Tire Care
Armor All Protectant
Armor All Cleaner
Armor Wash and Wax
Black Magic Tire Wet
No Touch Wet and Protect
No Touch Tire Care
Turtle Wax Carauba Wax/Cleaner
Rain X Fast Wax
Rain X Glass Cleaner
Westleys Bleche Wite Tire Cleaner
Blue Coral Wheel Magic
Tuff Stuff Multi Purpose Cleaner
Blue Magic Leather/Vinyl cleaner
Gunk Engine Brite

You`re not saving any money at all because you`re purchasing redundant products.

You have Armor All Protectant AND Cleaner and the same from Son Of A Gun plus Blue Magic.

You have Rain X fast wax plus Turtle Wax. Can you tell any difference between the two?

It looks like you have at least 4 or 5 tire products. Why?

You really want to cut costs?

Buy 1 APC to clean leather, vinyl, engines and tires.

Buy 1 paste wax and 1 AIO type product.

Buy 1 water based interior dressing for leather and vinyl

Buy 1 water based tire dressing

Don`t waste your money on glass cleaner. They are over 90% water. Use water

There. You have your detailing arsenal for the type of detailing (wash and wax) that you seem to be promoting. Oh, and buy those items in gallon concentrated containers.

Anthony

[Poorboy]

I don`t know if you`ll find it for a dollar. There is a mention that nothing bought was over $5, so I guess the dollar store mentioned would be more like a Family Dollar than a Dollar Tree.

So his name should really be almost$1storedetailer

[AutopiaAdmin]

So his name should really be almost$1storedetailer

Blame it on inflation

[Beemerboy]

Blame it on inflation

5 dollar store detailer

[RTexasF]

I`d say $1 store wash & wax is more correct. "Detailed" for 20 years and spend $20 on chemicals per car? How is that possible? Are you throwing everything away once you open it and use it one time?