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Meguiar’s Waterless Wash & Wax vs HD Touch Pricing: Retail: HD Touch 16oz - $12.99 ($0.82/oz) 32oz - $14.99 ($0.47/oz) Gallon - $29.99 ($0.24/oz) Meguiar’s 26oz - $17.99 ($0.69/oz) (suggested) 26oz - $10.97 ($0.43/oz) (@ Walmart) Waterless washes get a lot of flak for...

Due to some health issues I am getting out of detailing for a while until I'm healthy again. I'm sick every few weeks and it's wearing me down too much (lost over 25 lbs since last year). I'm currently sick again and don't have the energy to detail this weekend and wouldn't mind passing off a...

I like to watch detailer's videos on YouTube when they talk about their business. This guy might not yet be an Autopian, or care to be one, but he's out there hustlin and working hard to make it in this industry. I apologize for the language, but it's YouTube. Super ghetto, but he's not sitting...

As a professional detailer in California, water usage is very important. Reclaiming water is not only time consuming, it can be VERY costly (equipment wise). Over the last year I have tested at least 10 wash methods at least 3 different times, then averaged the measurements. For traditional wash...

I worked out a deal with the dealer when I bought this car to have the hood repainted. The PPI checked out and I took my own paint readings; despite the paint damage on the hood, the readings were in good condition. I was going to wait for KB to get in some more Bigfoots, but I got bored and had...

Hey, I'm no guru...but if you guys have been with holding this kind of info from me, I'm gonna be a little upset... Whatever works I guess! I love the quotes: "anyone can do it, as long as you have the right stuff." :dizzy: and then... "I went over the area with this...

I am self-trained and have never even met another detailer, let alone been trained in the business side. I study other detailers as much as I study the "craft". I don't do full corrections, or rather I haven't had too many. I do mostly 1 stage polish jobs for about $150ish. I see a lot of guys...

My girlfriend works for GEICO and will be doing some marketing up there. I figured I'd go up for a day or so to visit her (she's gone for a week) and check out the show. Anyone care to meet up?

Another detailer and I talked about using leverage, and whether or not it was unethical. It can and can't be, ethics are universal and yet personal. I always tell people to use the leverage they have to get ahead. Not lie, cheat or steal. I've had a few ideas and I was wondering what everyone...

I am 7 months away from grabbing my degree in business. I started my detailing company purely as a learning experience. I devote all my free time to learning about other businesses and detail to pay for equipment. I'm not so much into it to make it a 30 year career. My goal is to become a...

I popped in the store down in San Diego and saw some really old HD products. It kind of got me wondering... What happened to HD Protect and Tire Gel? Are they coming back? I never got to use them and I was tempted to buy the HD Protect, they still have a few bottles. The store has a lot of...

I didn't follow my own advice because I wanted the extra money for Thanksgiving. I took on a detail for cheaper than I should have because I wanted the photos and recommendations to help my business grow. After 15 hours and making less than minimum wage on a van that was COVERED in tree sap, I...

Has anyone ever done it? I picked up some poster board and am making up some basic signs. I am thinking about posting up at a few high-volume locations and having basic signs that say: "Express Wash $25" "+ Interior for $15!" "+ Hand Wax $30" "SanDiegoDetailer.com" Then stapling...

I'm finally running out of my other quick detailers and I'm trying to streamline my products. I've been using ONR mixes (don't really like them) and Meguiar's products, along with a few other QD's I wanted to try. I haven't used Final Touch in over a year, but when I did I found it very similar...

This owner found me through the forums and wanted an Exterior Detail, which only includes a polish. The car is silver, so it hides most the swirls/scratches. I hit it with the polish, but wanted to really bring out the cars potential, so I upgraded him to a Light Correction. Just 1 pass with...

The majority of my clients are people trying to sell their car. This owner came to me from my girlfriend's cousin's co-worker. She saw what I did on the BMW and asked me to detail it to get it ready for sale. The car needs mechanical work, so there was no use in spending a lot of time and money...

This isn't your typical "perfect" before/after interior job. This is a beat up BMW that looked liked it was almost never cleaned. The stock floor mats were so bad they were apparently thrown away. The car needs way more time/effort, but after 2-3+ passes on several sections, I was running out of...

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Probably won't have any luck, but putting it out there. My girlfriend (21) and I (27) are looking to get into a house until I graduate (June 2013). Our credit/rental history is flawless, but we pay $1500/month for a 1bd apt. It's nice, but no backyard for BBQs and they don't allow dogs. I've got...

What are your thoughts on offering your customers a small, 4oz bottle of a QD and a "cheap" microfiber towel for bird dropping touch ups? And by cheap I mean a Target MF (they are currently on sale for $5.99 for 8! $.75 each!), which I use in all of my details. I instruct them exactly how to...