Detailing Horror Story - G35

An old client of mine stopped by to show me his car. I was excited because he hunted me down to detail his car again. I used to detail his cars and boat regularly when I worked for Fountain Powerboats. He said he was having trouble finding a quality detailer, but it wasn`t until he brought his car over that I understood the magnitude of his situation....

He brought his 2006 G35 over to show me the problems. He paid a mobile detailer $100 to detail his car while he was at work.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d...0/IMG_1625.JPG

It was hard to capture the swirls and holograms with the cloudy sky on this pearl white paint, but it looks like the detailer used a rotary and damaged the paint. When I saw what happened to the roof, I really felt for the guy.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y...0/IMG_1609.JPG

The detailer left without notifying him of the damage, and hasn`t returned any phone calls. If this isn`t a detailing horror story, I don`t know what is.

He took the G35 to a body shop and showed me the quote.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-T...0/IMG_1626.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e...0/IMG_1656.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3...0/IMG_1657.JPG

He said the detailer never touched the wheels either. :mad:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-h...0/IMG_1659.JPG

The car is going into the paint booth today, but I reassured him his G35 would be pampered when it gets to me. I just wanted to share an example of "you get what you pay for".

p.s. I`d like to publicly thank his wife for the amazing plate of food she sent over too :)

Man, what a bummer. I wonder how many of those "detailers" are out there. Can`t wait to see the work Ray. How long are you guys going to wait after the re-spray?

$100 bought that job?!?! I gotta raise my prices

That`s awful:blink: I`m looking forward to seeing your after photos Vega!

Forgive my limited knowledge of what rotary burn throughts look like - but that spot on the roof looks more jagged then I would have expected? It`s almost like the paint was already failing and hitting it with a rotary torn it off/ made it worse. Does that make sense?

Can`t wait to see the results after you work on it :D

WOW

I think I agree with Angus about the roof

I would think the roof was a result of maybe getting too close with an overly powerful power washer.

So, the Client paid for the work in Advance, and did not go out to check on it ??? Tsk tsk tsk..

A Rotary did not do that roof damage - its torn off from something else - Neoflex - has the right idea - paint probably already failing in that spot and a pressure washer took care of the rest..

Rotary damage would have been smoother edged and unless the Drunk Clown was Blind, he would have seen it start to happen...

Vega - Thanks for the post - you really do get what you pay for and then sometimes a Bonus SuperSize of Grief...

Sorry this had to happen to your friend..
Dan F

This goes to show that 1: detailers need insurance 2: customers and detailers need to bounce off each other in a serious conversation as to what services a certain amount of money will buy & 3: keep the pressure washer nozzle at a safer distance.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mnehls86

Man, what a bummer. I wonder how many of those "detailers" are out there. Can`t wait to see the work Ray. How long are you guys going to wait after the re-spray?

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ASAP. At least to clean the wheels, interior, glass, and apply a body shop safe glaze before we can schedule a coating detail.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Angus

That`s awful:blink: I`m looking forward to seeing your after photos Vega!

Forgive my limited knowledge of what rotary burn throughts look like - but that spot on the roof looks more jagged then I would have expected? It`s almost like the paint was already failing and hitting it with a rotary torn it off/ made it worse. Does that make sense?

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There were tracers on the door panel I didn`t get any pictures of, that were caused by a rotary. The way I wrote that paragraph makes it sound like the rotary caused the only damage. There was also dried wax everywhere, residue between door panels, holograms, etc etc. It looks like a pressure washer damaged the missing paint on the roof. I was just in a hurry because I was detailing a Honda Pilot when he came by (review incoming). When I saw the roof, I had to pull out the camera to share his story. I`ll keep everyone updated on this G35. In the meantime, I`m trying to decide what to use on it besides a PTG....

Update: He`s getting it sprayed this weekend. Only the roof and the trunk. He had a small dent on his trunk he wanted removed.