"some thought-provoking questions??"

[buda]

It is like any business, the technical people are more versed in the technical aspect of their business and not the "business" aspects. I think the business people (like buda) can learn from the technical people on here about offering higher quality service, and the technical folks can learn more of the business side (how to market, how to grow the business and the like)



Jenn

Jenn



Why do you make an assumption that I know nothing of the technical aspects of auto detailing. I would put my knowledge and ability to detail a car along side anyone in the industry. I have owned and personally operated 3 detailing centres and that is where I gained my knowledge and experience in the business of detailing.



If I come across as arrogant it is not intended it is how others read what I say.



That is the problem with the written word it is impersonal and does not convey a person`s real self.



If you or anyone would care to contact me personally I am always available to converse personally with anyone on my nickle: 1 800 284 0123 Ext 4



Regards

Bud Abraham

[buda]

:werd: That`s exactly it... if he`d just take the time to think before he posts and consider how he`s coming across to people, it would help his cause infinitely. As a business student I absolutely value the input and opinion of those more experienced than I am, but when that person with more experience is constantly coming across as belittling others who do not do things exactly the same way they do them (for any multitude of legitimate reasons) it makes me disinterested in anything they have to say.

Charles



Rather than trying to assume you know me or what I am like or how I post on the forum why don`t you take the time to call me personally (on my nickle at 1-800 284 0123 ext 4). If after talking with me you still feel I am an arrogant arse, then so be it. But to criticize who I am and what I am without knowing me personally it out of line.



As they say, "what others think of me, is none of my business."



Bud Abraham

[buda]

Oh!

Really, that is all you believe it requires to start any business, be it a detailing business or whatever?

You are kidding, right?

Grumpy

Ketch:



Charles thinks of himself as a comedian.

[buda]

I have just one question for you buda.



Do you have any before, during and after pics of your "Professional" detail work?



If not then S T F U and go back to your lane.

Richie



Sorry do not have any photos, of that kind. My success in the business are the repeat customers that I have. Do not need reminders of "how good I am."



If you are ever in Portland, Oregon I would invite you to our facilities and I can demonstrate some of the advanced detailing techniques we use to process the most exotic vehicle and the most trashed vehicle with great results.



It is all about having;



a. Having a thorough and complete knowledge of the materials you are working on.

b. Being able to identify and understand the problems to be corrected.

c. All of the right equipment, not just what you can afford

d. Having all of the right chemicals

e. Having the right tools & supplies

f. And, knowing how to use them



Detailing is very easy to do if you have all of that, AND OF COURSE A SKILL SET. You know you do not have to be Michael Jordan to be a good basketball player.



Bud Abraham

[buda]

I fear that I might come across as a Buda supporter and be blacklisted by writing this but here it goes...



I understand that most you guys disagree/dislike buda`s posts because of the way he comes across and his disconect from Autopian style detailing, but the questions he asked in this post are worth thinking about for people who detail for a living (even though the questions are not ground breaking). Buda might not be the greatest detailer (or a detailer at all actually...I`ve never seen any of his work), but my guess is that he has more experience than most of us in running a business. This was posted in the pro detailer general discussion forum and in my opinion deserves some discussion because at the end of the day we have to be profitable. We will debate for hours about what the best glass cleaner/tire dressing/sealant is, but we can`t spend a few minutes thinking about, and discussing our business? Really?

Postal



Thanks for the post and grasp of what I was trying to convey by asking those questions. It is clear that most here do not understand as you do and would rather throw stones than learn.



For the record, I am a detailer and a reasonably good one because I have obtained the knowledge regarding the materials I am working on; have spared no expense to purchase all of the equipment, tools and supplies needed to do any detailing job a vehicle might need, and while not a chemist, have endeavored to learn all I can about the science of cleaning chemicals and paint finishing chemicals. Have talked with the best detailers in the country and manufacturers of chemicals to learn what and how to do things.



While I am not Michael Jordan, I am still a pretty good detailer and would put my ability to detail a car, at 70+ years old against anyone.



Regards

Bud Abraham

[buda]

I agree JPostal. Good questions from the OP that deserves some interaction as I believe this is what the motivation behind this thread was in the 1st place. I also think Bud has extensive knowledge on the business side of the industry too, but I think he may have got off on the wrong foot with some of the forum members. It appears he is here trying to help.:yield: Let`s take this thread and his efforts at face value and concentrate on positive discussion. Pretty please.....:pray2:

David



You have taken the time to call me and get to know me personally which I appreciate very much. It was my pleasure to get to know you too. Those who throw stones will not do that even though I have invited them to call me on my nickle and discuss their disagreements with what I might say.



It is interesting how this post was taken by most of the leading posters on Autopia, who seem to have an opinion on everything anyone says.



You will have to admit there was nothing confrontive about my original post, but the comedians on Autopia had to make it something that it was not, and even after your intelligent post, "don`t get it."



Not a problem for me, if you or the other "moderators" want to ban me from Autopia again that is your decision.



Regards

Bud Abraham

[Accumulator]

If I come across as arrogant it is not intended it is how others read what I say.



That is the problem with the written word it is impersonal and does not convey a person`s real self.

Really? To be perfectly explicit about it- seems to me that you`re conveying yourself quite clearly and/but you then turn around and act shocked that anybody would interpret your posts to mean what appears to have been clearly intended. Sorry, I genuinely do believe that you`re being, uhm....disingenuous on this point. Otherwise you`d simply leave out the words that imply prejudice.



If that`s not the case, then my apologies. But then you need to work harder on your wording so you might express yourself without being so readily and frequently misinterpreted.

[buda]

Really? To be perfectly explicit about it- seems to me that you`re conveying yourself quite clearly and/but you then turn around and act shocked that anybody would interpret your posts to mean what appears to have been clearly intended. Sorry, I genuinely do believe that you`re being, uhm....disingenuous on this point. Otherwise you`d simply leave out the words that imply prejudice.



If that`s not the case, then my apologies. But then you need to work harder on your wording so you might express yourself without being so readily and frequently misinterpreted.

Accumulator



Why do you spend so much time worry about what I say and how I say it? Why not read what I say, take what you like and ignore the rest. Do you feel it is your lot in life to monitor what Bud Abraham says and means? That others on the forum are not capable of determining for themselves how and what I say?



As I have invited anyone to do, call me, talk with me via telephone and know who you are analyzying. On my nickle too.



Bud Abraham

[C. Charles Hahn]

If I come across as arrogant it is not intended it is how others read what I say.

"The problem isn`t me, it`s everyone else!"



Yeah, Bud. Keep telling yourself that.

Ketch:



Charles thinks of himself as a comedian.

Try to get your facts straight before you open your mouth (or type, or anything else for that matter). countrysquire was the one who posted a comedic reply; I simply expressed that I found humor in the comment.

It is interesting how this post was taken by most of the leading posters on Autopia,

And what does that tell you? If MOST of the LEADING POSTERS here are taking what you say in a less-than-positive light, perhaps it should be telling you that your approach needs some recalibration.

Not a problem for me, if you or the other "moderators" want to ban me from Autopia again that is your decision.



Regards

Bud Abraham

I happen to know you`ve been warned several times, yet you keep coming back for more. If banning you is the only way to get your unwaveringly poor attitude off this forum, I for one hope they do it.

Accumulator



Why do you spend so much time worry about what I say and how I say it? Why not read what I say, take what you like and ignore the rest. Do you feel it is your lot in life to monitor what Bud Abraham says and means? That others on the forum are not capable of determining for themselves how and what I say?

:think: I think this is the first time I`ve ever seen Accumulator post anything even remotely critical of you, or of anyone else for that matter. If even he sees that there`s a problem and feels compelled to post about it, that really says something. Yet you think he spends "so much time worrying about what you say and how you say it."

[Accumulator]

Accumulator



Why do you spend so much time worry about what I say and how I say it? Why not read what I say, take what you like and ignore the rest. Do you feel it is your lot in life to monitor what Bud Abraham says and means? That others on the forum are not capable of determining for themselves how and what I say?

Sorry, I must`ve misinterpretted what you posted. I had some time to kill and thought I might offer a productive continuation of the dialog. I`ll try to better restrain myself in the future.

As I have invited anyone to do, call me, talk with me via telephone and know who you are analyzying. On my nickle too.



Bud Abraham

Based on your posts here, talking with you on the phone wouldn`t be my idea of time well-spent.

[autoconcierge]

I almost sprayed my coffee on my laptop when I read that!

Bravo Mr. Willis, Bravo!

Always here to please.......................alright here it is in a nutshell.





Bud, you are catering to a entirely different aspect of auto appearance and to me doing high production is not bad at all if you know who and what you are.............but more impressive to me would be the "Detail supercenter" that can do high production and HIGHLEVEL correction, as having a building full of entry level guys going thru the motions is the lowest common denominator and this is not in dispute.



If per chance you would say..................a high profit can be made with this formula.............the conversation goes in a much different direction, but the "Bedside manner" problem is not being addressed as many here have repeated over and over ad nauseum eg: Well sir your car looks like poop..................or............ well sir there is a good amount of marring and dirt here on your car but I can attend to all these issues and have you fall in love with your car again........when would you like to schedule? a far different reaction will be observed in relation to the first "For example" as opposed to the latter statement.



I find it hard to believe you could build large operations with the 800 grit marketing tactics employed up to now...........be a old dog who can learn "New tricks" or on the porch you will stay.



Now in case you feel I am only "Techinically minded" and have no biz acumen consider I know very well the following.





.Definition of "Economy of scale"

.Well versed in gross profit/net profit ratios

.Understand all worker liability requirements,in California no less the most over regulated and business intrusive state in the union

.Understand fica/workmans comp/all witholding issues to be compliant

.Can sell my services in the worst economy in my lifetime while being at the top of the cost scale in my industry

.Built out my shops with no bank loans or financial help from anyone................anyone Bud





Now the guys here for the most part are not "Buying what you are selling" so it is time to stop with the "I can sell ice to eskimo`s" stuff and be part of the discussion as opposed to being the discussion.............out.

[Nth Degree]

...have spared no expense to purchase all of the equipment, tools and supplies needed to do any detailing job a vehicle might need...

This is perhaps the most telling statement that puts your attitude in perspective. That`s great for you, but having the most expensive equipment does not make you a pro nor is it necessary to create great results. Not everyone has the money to spend as a start up and telling people they shouldn`t bother just because they can`t afford to do it on a huge scale is where your arrogant image comes from.

[Jpostal]

I`m soooooo over these petty school yard pissing matches that people get caught up in lately. I joined Autopia to learn about both the technical and business side of the detailing world, not to get caught up in on-line fights about what and how somebody writes something. I dont enjoy reading some peoples threads so I dont read them...problem solved. Hate on me for voicing my opinion if you want but I can`t handle it anymore, it takes me back to high school when the "cool kids" would pick on the science geeks.

[David Fermani]

:lock: & :closed_2: