Autopia has robbed my bank account!!!!

S

sftempest66

New member
Well I'm doing a research project for school, and we were able to choose any topic...So I thought it would be fun and easy to choose Auto Detailing, since I love it, and since this is where now all of my money apparently goes!!!



I started off light, and the detail bug hit, and now I really really REALLY need to not order anything else. I decided to price all of my supplies that are currently sitting in front of my car, and the total came out to be (ballpark of course!!!) $971.29 :help:



I didn't include previous supplies purchased, and I even skimped on a few products :nixweiss I really didn't know that $970 looked like this



P1010457.jpg




Autopia is a blessing and a curse!!!!
 
Its a hobby though...all hobbies cost money. Consider the expenses associated with boating which is a hobby for many and associated costs, not to mention $4 a gallon gas this summer.
 
Well, apparently the only person who likes to see me detailing cars is my mailman. He was a former detail guy and likes to see a younger dude fixing up his car.



For everyone else, it's either "my car next?" or from my family "you better not buy another towel or wax..or else"...as you can see I am faced with much opposition!!



I have one 6 foot cabinet and one 4 foot cabinet in my garage devoted to detailing supplies
 
Don't even complain haha, I'm in the thousands for myself. I just spent almost 600 in the last week on a rotary, 24 plush MF towels, OS, AJT, bunch of backplating, pads, pad cleaners, and a bunch of other solutions haha. It's amazing how much you can spend so easily.
 
Thor! said:
Its a hobby though...all hobbies cost money. Consider the expenses associated with boating which is a hobby for many and associated costs, not to mention $4 a gallon gas this summer.
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Tell me about it. Using diesel gas and a tank that costs almost $800 to fill. It is expensive hobby. (boating)
 
I think detailing is a very inexpensive car hobby compared to other possible car hobbies. ;) However I have learned to be really selective and buy only the necessary products to make me happy.



In the beginning, I was clueless and bought a lot of products that *I* didn't end up using because there were better and easier ways to achieve the same thing. One major reason I switched products or just kept buying replacement products were because I didn't realize the ones I bought had such a high learning curve e.g SSR2.5, Optimum Compound. If I knew better to begin with, I would have got some easy to use (for a beginner) 1Z polishes.



It's easy to get enthusiastic and go buy everyone's suggestions. If I were to start over again, I would keep only a few of my current (small) collection and stick with them. There is no need to keep adding new polishes and waxes to the collection if you are already very happy with your current ones. For someone who is a pro detailer, they may have the luxury of trying new products as old ones get used up on customers' cars but for me, it better be a "revolutionary difference" before I add some Petes 53 to my NB.



If you know what you want up front and know for sure which product will satisfy your criteria, then you won't waste money buying products that you end up never using.
 
So what are you gonna put down in ur research project, how detailing puts a hole in ur wallet? j/p detailing is fun and worth it!
 
I kow the feeling. My wife just rolls her eyes whenever I get a new hobby. I though have managed through buying at Odd Lots, Target, Walmart to keep my expenses to under $250. I used to blow that much on a weekend golfing. Now every penny counts so I am reluctant to go whole hog ( no PC as yet). I found through this site that Collinite 845 will protect as well as the expensive stuff and it lasts. I got good deals on Turtle Wax platinum wash ($4), Platinum interior protectant($3), platinum leather and viny cleaner/conditioner($3), and platinum tire dressing($3) at Odd Lots. The waffle weave towels from walmart are cheap at about $3 for 2 and target has the 14" square MFs fpr about $7 for 10. The most expensive thing I bought is a gallon of the FK 425 for around $25 and the 5 gallon jug of stoners for around $75. I will probably sell some of my RC airplane stuff to get a PC sometime this year. though, I have a hard time parting with any of my hobby stuff.
 
I know the feeling and it's a curse. Like everybody says, it's a hobby and hobbies cost money.

At least I'm not spending the cash on Cuban cigars and dancing girls and fine whiskey. Wait a minute, I am spending it on those things too, so can somebody loan me 25 bucks, I want to buy some OptiSeal. :)

-John C.
 
3puttjay said:
I kow the feeling. My wife just rolls her eyes whenever I get a new hobby. I though have managed through buying at Odd Lots, Target, Walmart to keep my expenses to under $250. I used to blow that much on a weekend golfing. Now every penny counts so I am reluctant to go whole hog ( no PC as yet). I found through this site that Collinite 845 will protect as well as the expensive stuff and it lasts. I got good deals on Turtle Wax platinum wash ($4), Platinum interior protectant($3), platinum leather and viny cleaner/conditioner($3), and platinum tire dressing($3) at Odd Lots. The waffle weave towels from walmart are cheap at about $3 for 2 and target has the 14" square MFs fpr about $7 for 10. The most expensive thing I bought is a gallon of the FK 425 for around $25 and the 5 gallon jug of stoners for around $75. I will probably sell some of my RC airplane stuff to get a PC sometime this year. though, I have a hard time parting with any of my hobby stuff.
Click to expand...



You have the right idea, just don't be so fast to jump and order from Auto Geek, before checking the prices at other places. Especially the local paint shops where you live.

I need a new rotary backing plate so I contacted AG and told them, look guys I have spent a boat load of dollars with you but now I need a new backing plate, there price delivered was over $27.00, So, I checked around locally and found it at a paint shop for $20.00.

So long AG forever!!:down

Changeling
 
Changeling said:
You have the right idea, just don't be so fast to jump and order from Auto Geek, before checking the prices at other places. Especially the local paint shops where you live.

I need a new rotary backing plate so I contacted AG and told them, look guys I have spent a boat load of dollars with you but now I need a new backing plate, there price delivered was over $27.00, So, I checked around locally and found it at a paint shop for $20.00.

So long AG forever!!:down

Changeling
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So you think it's AG problem that you did not remeber to order it with your other stuff?:doh
 
xinkid said:
I think detailing is a very inexpensive car hobby compared to other possible car hobbies. ;) However I have learned to be really selective and buy only the necessary products to make me happy.



In the beginning, I was clueless and bought a lot of products that *I* didn't end up using because there were better and easier ways to achieve the same thing. One major reason I switched products or just kept buying replacement products were because I didn't realize the ones I bought had such a high learning curve e.g SSR2.5, Optimum Compound. If I knew better to begin with, I would have got some easy to use (for a beginner) 1Z polishes.



It's easy to get enthusiastic and go buy everyone's suggestions. If I were to start over again, I would keep only a few of my current (small) collection and stick with them. There is no need to keep adding new polishes and waxes to the collection if you are already very happy with your current ones. For someone who is a pro detailer, they may have the luxury of trying new products as old ones get used up on customers' cars but for me, it better be a "revolutionary difference" before I add some Petes 53 to my NB.



If you know what you want up front and know for sure which product will satisfy your criteria, then you won't waste money buying products that you end up never using.
Click to expand...

You definately have a lot of good points in there, if I would have stayed with one line of products, it would have saved me a lot of money! But now I have a lot of different waxes with different uses and looks and its pretty nice!



And detailing is a fairly cheap hobby compared to other things. I really don't want to think of how much money I have spent on my car since I've started detailing, but all I know is that detailing has funded me with enough money to drop thousands on my car, detailing supplies, and my girlfriend, and still break out better than even :grinno: . It is also enjoyable and very rewarding, and something that will be part of my life forever!!!



So regardless of how expensive detailing may seem, like many have said, its more of a hobby now, and I'm loving every minute of it :clap: All I need to do now is just slow down with my purchases and save up money for college, I won't be needed nearly as much supplies and will be needed money up at school more than I'll be needing to spend it on detailing supplies :laugh:
 
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