Talk to your vendor

[CharlesW]

So often I read a post where someone, usually someone new to the hobby, has purchased a bunch of products with a lot of duplication as well as some products that probably aren't needed or even advisable for the project at hand.
When you have your list ready, call your chosen vendor, explain your intent and let them help you decide what products you need.
You spend more than you need to, end up with products you may never use and can become discouraged because the hobby is so espensive.
It does not take 100 MF towels, 3 aggressive polishes, 3 less aggressive polishes, 3 glazes, 3 sealants, and 3 wax toppers.
You can achieve very good results on most any vehicle with 3 to 6 MF towels, a swirl remover, a paint cleaner and a wax/sealant.
As a general rule, I only need 2 products on my fairly well cared for personal vehicles. A cleaner polish for prep and a wax/sealnt for the LSP.
From there, you can decide just how much you want to invest in car care products and add to your stash if you feel it is necessary.
If in doubt, ask before you buy. The vendors really don't want to sell you a bunch of stuff you don't need and won't use.

 

[blk45]

It does not take 100 MF towels

Blasphemy! :lol:

Seriously though, very good points as usual Charles.

 

[Bunky]

Charles, do you think this happens that often?

I see people getting carried away with sealants, glazes, and wax toppers when starting out.

 

[JaredPointer]

There's so many choices and so many different opinions, it can get out of hand sometimes.

 

[CharlesW]

Charles, do you think this happens that often?

Absolutely.

I see people getting carried away with sealants, glazes, and wax toppers when starting out.

It can be and is very confusing even when you do a search and read a lot of threads.
A good example is the "How to clean the door" thread.
I think at last count, at least 6 different specific products had been suggested as well as several general recommendations.
Everyone means well and any/all of them might do the job, but how does the original poster decide?

Look at your own stock of products.
(You might not want to do this. I just did and it's ridculous )
How many items do you have that you either seldom or never use?
I can only speak for myself, but it is quite a few and I try to weed a few out periodically. :wall

 

[flash gordon]

Absolutely.


It can be and is very confusing even when you do a search and read a lot of threads.
A good example is the "How to clean the door" thread.
I think at last count, at least 6 different specific products had been suggested as well as several general recommendations.
Everyone means well and any/all of them might do the job, but how does the original poster decide?

Look at your own stock of products.
(You might not want to do this. I just did and it's ridculous )
How many items do you have that you either seldom or never use?
I can only speak for myself, but it is quite a few and I try to weed a few out periodically. :wall

You should see my product shelf:redface:

 

[JaredPointer]

Another area I think some folks need to contact the vendor first is when there's an issue with an order. I think too often folks come to vent about an issue on the forums (in public) before they contact the vendor (privately) and let them know about the issue and give the vendor a chance to resolve it.

 

[black bart]

I'm sure glad I don't have that problem.
I only buy what I need. :rofl

 

[PerroneFord]

I'm sure glad I don't have that problem.
I only buy what I need. :rofl

Dude... seriously...

I figured out REAL quick when starting out that it would be best to just buy a few things and learn those, then move along.

It just makes the most sense. And rather than trying every new cocktail that comes out, I just look for the proven winners. And don't buy until I need them. Other newbies could save a ton of money and a lot of pain doing the same.

Good thread CharlesW

 

[flash gordon]

I'm sure glad I don't have that problem.
I only buy what I need. :rofl

^^^^^^^^^^Love It...:rockon

 

[flash gordon]

Dude... seriously...

I figured out REAL quick when starting out that it would be best to just buy a few things and learn those, then move along.

It just makes the most sense. And rather than trying every new cocktail that comes out, I just look for the proven winners. And don't buy until I need them. Other newbies could save a ton of money and a lot of pain doing the same.

Good thread CharlesW

Yea maybe, But if I don't get all the "New" Stuff. Then I will always question Myself>:hmmm:"Man if I had ***** Product Maybe it would have turned out Better"

Some Suffer from this Desease more than others, consider yourself Lucky/Blessed......:notme:

 

[PerroneFord]

Some Suffer from this Desease more than others, consider yourself Lucky/Blessed......:notme:

Not lucky, just broke! I had to figure out how to get all this crap without having paying jobs. I try to make my hobbies pay for themselves and eventually earn me money if possible. After just over a year, this hobby is finally starting to pay me back. Hopefully by the end of the summer, I will have earned back what I have invested.

Maybe after that I can start looking at "New Stuff"!

 

[flash gordon]

Not lucky, just broke! I had to figure out how to get all this crap without having paying jobs. I try to make my hobbies pay for themselves and eventually earn me money if possible. After just over a year, this hobby is finally starting to pay me back. Hopefully by the end of the summer, I will have earned back what I have invested.

Maybe after that I can start looking at "New Stuff"!

Hey Man I get were your coming from, When I started out in 1981 this was my supply list(no kiddin)

1)Cheap $1 Bucket
2)All the Terry's I could Steal from Hotels
3)1 can of Turtle Wax
4)1 can of Turtle Wax Compound(I did more Damage with this Stuff then I'de like to Admit
5) Lux Dishwashing Fluid
6)Those Metal shavin riddled "RED" shop Towels
7) 1 Windex
8)Bug-n-Tar Remover(Which was 1 of the most useless products i have ever had the displeasure of using)

This was All I had...Total Cost, maybe $25 Total

Armor-All Hadn't hit the shelves at this point, but when it did I thought to myself:hmmm: It couldn't ever get any better than this:redface:

 

[black bart]

I have never tried to justify the expense but I don't like detailing enough to want to do it for a living.

I don't mind doing it but I have the good fortune or misfortune depending on how you look at it of owning 7 vehicles and keeping them clean is more than enough for me.

I guess if I was going to try to rationalize that this stuff was paying I could say look how much it would cost to hire all 7 of them detailed every few months.

I'm guilty of what so many others on here are, I can't resist trying a new product and by now I know that it won't be noticeably better than a lot of what I already have but I have to try it anyway.

Kinda like a alcoholic hard to stop

 

[cwcad]

I'm guilty of what so many others on here are, I can't resist trying a new product and by now I know that it won't be noticeably better than a lot of what I already have but I have to try it anyway.

Kinda like a alcoholic hard to stop

Sometimes I feel like detailing supplies are God's way of telling me that I have to much money.

I certainly know where you are coming from Black Bart.

 

[Ronkh]

I'm sure glad I don't have that problem.
I only buy what I need. :rofl

Me too. I only have enough to last me thru the century.

I need more stuff. :drool: :dnaughty :crazy2: