CAR SHOWS = swirl city

[Envious Eric]

i have been to a couple car shows now and I would say about 90% of the cars were in terrible condition! Everything from swirls to light scratches, to dents and dings, rock chips etc....



i talked to a few people whose cars you could easily see all swirled and oxidized from 30 feet away about detailing their cars and what process would make it look how much better, etc. They thought that their cars looked good enough and they do their own detailing. They thought that a wash, clay, wax job was good enough to keep it in show car clean condition....with the MF (at least it was MF) that they picked up off the floor and cleaned the car with that and a quick detailer!



has anyone done any promotion work at car shows, and if you have, what were you findings/results? any booked detailed and shocked faces when you were through with their car?



eric

 

[imported_cj99si]

it makes me sick when I go to shows or promo stuff. all day long they just keep wiping them down putting more and more swirls in them. go into any dealer showroom even BMW, merc. you will see the silly salesmen wiping them down, with paper towels even. it disgusts me! and you cant tell them anything cause they think they know every thing about them.

 

[Envious Eric]

yeah that or the exotic car lot near HB main street...there were about 30 cars in the lot - all swirled up and terrible looking...I am going to go try and talk to the owner and see about detailing their cars for them one of these days...

 

[imported_cj99si]

99% of dealers are cheapskates.

 

[01bluecls]

Dealers are going to look for fast and cheap detailers, that is the bottom line.

 

[Way2SSlow]

99% of dealers are cheapskates.

I think you're a little off with your number. I'd say ATLEAST 99.9%. ATLEAST.

 

[imported_cj99si]

I think you're a little off with your number. I'd say ATLEAST 99.9%. ATLEAST.

:rofl :sign

 

[imported_rydawg1]

so true. Dealers around me are willing to pay $85 max for a full detail. I just laugh at them:rofl

 

[Scottwax]

So typical. Even at the Peterson Automotive Museum in LA, every car I saw there was horribly swirled, even the ones with obviously custom, orange peel free paint.

 

[BobD]

I agree that car shows are the worst sometimes. Even the NAIAS where you would think they could at least make the concept cars and cars on a turntable display with a million bright lights shining on them look decent. Even if you get to go to some of the custom shows and see some of the big names work displayed you cringe.



I wouldn't say dealers are cheap, they are just business oriented and they just want the car to look good to sell the thing without paying $300 for a detail when the money could of been pocketed.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

We have a little run-what-you-brung car show (static for trophy) in the middle of town here every spring, and it was almost comical watching some of the guys carefully wipe down their horribly swirled Porsches, classic Porsches and replicas, and AC Cobras and replicas, many of them with a high-end detail spray which shall remain nameless lest we start an argument.

 

[BigJimZ28]

the best way to get customers from a car show is to

set up a display with a 1/2 polished ,1/2 swirled pannel with a sign that reads does your car look like this?

would you like it to look llike this!



and let them come to you!

that way you do not hurt there egos



also invite them to your shop to watch you work/see some of your work so

they know there car will be well taken care of

 

[Setec Astronomy]

That is apparently the legend of Poorboy Steve, he would walk the car shows helping people deswirl their rides.

 

[ZoranC]

the best way to get customers from a car show is to

set up a display with a 1/2 polished ,1/2 swirled pannel with a sign that reads does your car look like this?

would you like it to look llike this!



and let them come to you!

that way you do not hurt there egos

That is brilliant marketing!

 

[I.A.S.]

car shows are tough IMO.....everyone there is an expert on every aspect of their own vehicle...



i usually end up doing a few trucks for some firneds of mine before they go into show and some others that are there that want stuff done at the time. But as far as going into the show and trying to get work is a waste of time

 

[imported_mirrorfinishman]

The promotional work needs to be aimed at the owners of the show cars. And since most show car owners belong to car clubs, you would be much smarter to offer your expertise directly to car club members. You can easily do this by offering to be a guest speaker at one of their car club meetings. That way you help them help themselves and in the process, you create an image for yourself as an expert in the field of detailing.



Now that is good marketing. Hey, if you are lucky, you may even get invited to be a guest speaker on a local car show radio program.

 

[Envious Eric]

yeah but I wouldnt want to be a GUEST speaker everywhere, not making any money...I would rather sell my services to those people....especially those who think they know everything....lol

 

[imported_mirrorfinishman]

yeah but I wouldnt want to be a GUEST speaker everywhere, not making any money...I would rather sell my services to those people....especially those who think they know everything....lol

Sounds like you would rather create an image of being an expert salesman, rather than one of being an expert in the field of detailing. Everyone has their own priorities.

 

[HenrikP]

If your all about making money your on the wrong forum my friend. Sorry. The majority of the public isn't educated about swirls to the full extent. How the dealers detail their cars is just fine for 99% of the public and therefore 99% of the dealers do it this way. Yes, it would be nice if they went over and beyond but it is more efficient for them to do it that way and it saves them money.

 

[HenrikP]

Economally spending the extra labor and products would be a waste because the average consumer is already satisfied. See what I'm saying?