I dropped my car off to be ceramic coated starting yesterday morning and was told they`d need it overnight for the curing process and that I could pick it up today. This morning I got a call and was told that the hood hadn`t been coated, but the rest of the car was because he had a difficult time with some water spots and needed to buff them out, although I could pick the car up later in the afternoon. I told him he could have as much time as he needs and to keep the car another day, so the ceramic could cure overnight.
The car is brand new, but I noticed the water spots after washing the car a couple of times. I didn`t know they were that bad, but I did see a nasty bird dropping etched into the paint on the roof, as well as a curved scratch. I could also see circular scratches surrounding the bird dropping, where the dealership lot attendant made a weak attempt to get rid of it.
This evening I get another call from him, telling me that he had to bring his body shop guy over from another location to do wet sanding on my car`s hood to remove water spots. He also found a paint defect from the factory on the roof of the car and used 1500, then 3000 grit and that the defect was a lot better, but not 100%. I was told it was probably something I wouldn`t notice and the only way to completely get rid of the defect is to repaint. I don`t think he was suggesting I do this, but just telling me he did everything he could to try and make it perfect. I have to admit, I`m kind of freaked out about all this wet sanding on a brand new car and got a little worried that something went wrong, because wet sanding is the only way to remove ceramic coating and I thought the roof was already done.
Right now, I can only afford the $400/3 year ceramic coating. However, I found out that the prep requires the same amount of work before the coating starts, whether you get the $400, $800 or $1200 package. There are multiple steps involved, including compound and polish. In addition to that, it sounds like he`s aware of how OCD I am and went out of his way to do a good job, because I had typed up a list of things to go over with him before the appointment. He was really patient and also spent a lot of time with me on the phone.
Before I made the appointment, I searched for what people normally get for tips after a full detail. Many times people get nothing, but the figure that came up the most was $20. Although this isn`t a full interior/exterior detail, there`s quite a bit of work involved, even though the car is brand new. I was thinking $40 last night, then $50 after I received the call this morning. Now I don`t know if that`s enough. He`s an employee, not the owner. I know he`s the only one who does the coatings at the shop, but it`s possible he had help from other guys who work there. He said he was going to finish the car this evening and if necessary work after hours off the clock, so that the car could cure overnight. I`m not in the best financial situation right now, but at the same time, I want to give a good tip. What would you consider to be fair, without going overboard?
The car is brand new, but I noticed the water spots after washing the car a couple of times. I didn`t know they were that bad, but I did see a nasty bird dropping etched into the paint on the roof, as well as a curved scratch. I could also see circular scratches surrounding the bird dropping, where the dealership lot attendant made a weak attempt to get rid of it.
This evening I get another call from him, telling me that he had to bring his body shop guy over from another location to do wet sanding on my car`s hood to remove water spots. He also found a paint defect from the factory on the roof of the car and used 1500, then 3000 grit and that the defect was a lot better, but not 100%. I was told it was probably something I wouldn`t notice and the only way to completely get rid of the defect is to repaint. I don`t think he was suggesting I do this, but just telling me he did everything he could to try and make it perfect. I have to admit, I`m kind of freaked out about all this wet sanding on a brand new car and got a little worried that something went wrong, because wet sanding is the only way to remove ceramic coating and I thought the roof was already done.
Right now, I can only afford the $400/3 year ceramic coating. However, I found out that the prep requires the same amount of work before the coating starts, whether you get the $400, $800 or $1200 package. There are multiple steps involved, including compound and polish. In addition to that, it sounds like he`s aware of how OCD I am and went out of his way to do a good job, because I had typed up a list of things to go over with him before the appointment. He was really patient and also spent a lot of time with me on the phone.
Before I made the appointment, I searched for what people normally get for tips after a full detail. Many times people get nothing, but the figure that came up the most was $20. Although this isn`t a full interior/exterior detail, there`s quite a bit of work involved, even though the car is brand new. I was thinking $40 last night, then $50 after I received the call this morning. Now I don`t know if that`s enough. He`s an employee, not the owner. I know he`s the only one who does the coatings at the shop, but it`s possible he had help from other guys who work there. He said he was going to finish the car this evening and if necessary work after hours off the clock, so that the car could cure overnight. I`m not in the best financial situation right now, but at the same time, I want to give a good tip. What would you consider to be fair, without going overboard?
