Detailers turned PPF Installers

B

bad penny

Member
It appears to me car detailing is losing its luster. I notice more and more detailers leaving this trade and moving towards ppf instalation only.
A group that I belong to on fakebook I often read where it`s recommended to apply ppf over swirled paint.
I know the money is 100x better but I wonder how many people will be wanting to spend 6k getting their car wrapped when the recession hits.
Anyone else notice this trend?
 
I worked for a great ppf installer for a couple of years recently.. He does just perfect ppf work..Has all the huge printers, etc., to make his own patterns on any vehicle..

When he saw my perfect black Jeep and Acura TL Type-S, and did work on them, he knew he wanted to be able to offer that service with Coating, and ppf, so that`s where I came in..I did a few jacked, new just off the lot Tesla`s for him, and a gigantic Lexus Suv the biggest black one they make... A huge amount of work..

I think my Rotary lessons and work, and a lot of machine time, and he is now well on his way...

So, some ppf guys are actually going the other direction and are very successful at it too..

I for one will never have ppf installed over swirled, anything, paint..
I want the best, straightest reflection of light back into my eyes to blind me.. Then I know it`s perfect..

Having taken some Detailing Business ppf off the sides of my black Grand Cherokee, the worst part of the whole process is getting all the glue that balls up, as you remove it with chemicals.. Takes forever, but it eventually all comes off..

With the huge increase in everything anymore, (why exactly, is that?) it has come down to about everything now... I just paid $4.25/gallon for Costco Premium this morning... :(
Dan F
 
$4.25!! Eek!! I think I`m going walk even more than I already do if it gets to that here!
 
Stokdgs said:
I worked for a great ppf installer for a couple of years recently.. He does just perfect ppf work..Has all the huge printers, etc., to make his own patterns on any vehicle..

When he saw my perfect black Jeep and Acura TL Type-S, and did work on them, he knew he wanted to be able to offer that service with Coating, and ppf, so that`s where I came in..I did a few jacked, new just off the lot Tesla`s for him, and a gigantic Lexus Suv the biggest black one they make... A huge amount of work..

I think my Rotary lessons and work, and a lot of machine time, and he is now well on his way...

So, some ppf guys are actually going the other direction and are very successful at it too..

I for one will never have ppf installed over swirled, anything, paint..
I want the best, straightest reflection of light back into my eyes to blind me.. Then I know it`s perfect..

Having taken some Detailing Business ppf off the sides of my black Grand Cherokee, the worst part of the whole process is getting all the glue that balls up, as you remove it with chemicals.. Takes forever, but it eventually all comes off..

With the huge increase in everything anymore, (why exactly, is that?) it has come down to about everything now... I just paid $4.25/gallon for Costco Premium this morning... :(
Dan F
Click to expand...

4.25. You ain`t seen nothing yet. It`ll be $8 a gallon in another year or two at the rate we are going.
 
I`ve had PPF applied to my last few cars (all new) on the whole front end - hood, front bumper, headlights, mirrors, front fenders, 10" on the roof and all those areas were "detailed" by the detailer/installer prior to PPF. I could never, ever imagine doing it any other way. If I moved away from where I`m living now, would never consider an installer who skipped that step. Here in NE/NJ/NYC area, the roads aren`t as "nice/smooth" as some other areas of the country so for my peace of mind and my car`s paint, I use PPF on those areas, but doing the whole car/SUV would be out of my budget and hence out of the question.
 
Bill D said:
Hmm. My parents have a Grand Cherokee and it runs on regular.
Click to expand...

Bill D - Perhaps their Grand Cherokee has the V6 in it???

My Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4 has the 5.7 Hemi V8; the manual says to put mid-grade in it, but Costco only sells Regular and Premium..
When I have taken all those 4,000 mile trips to Texas and back I always look for Union76 or Chevron gas stations that offer the best prices for mid-grade.. Shell has it too, but they are always way, way, more expensive on the road..
Dan F
 
bad penny said:
4.25. You ain`t seen nothing yet. It`ll be $8 a gallon in another year or two at the rate we are going.
Click to expand...

bad penny - boy, we hope not!
In the Los Angeles area off of I-5, they are sometimes, around $6.00/gallon, because they know they can get away with it..
Dan F
 
Ppf I bet has put a big dent in the sale of polishers, pads, compounds, polish, waxes and sealants.
There`s nothing left to do once applied except car washes and boring sprays that really don`t do anything.
 
bad penny said:
Ppf I bet has put a big dent in the sale of polishers, pads, compounds, polish, waxes and sealants.
There`s nothing left to do once applied except car washes and boring sprays that really don`t do anything.
Click to expand...

I have a different take on it. That might be true if the whole car had PPF applied, but I don`t think that`s too common. Most have the whole front end done only. Having said that, I`m thinking that if people are concerned enough about their cars to go through the (considerable) expense of PPF, they are more than likely going to be the people who will take better care and be more concerned about swirls, so they will be using polishers, pads, compounds and polish on the rest of the car. The ale and use of waxes, sealants and coatings will not be affected as all are used on PPF.
 
BudgetPlan1 said:
And that`s a bad thing? I`ve got 2 fully PPF`d cars and it`s glorious! If`n I had the $$ I`d wrap and coat every car I had.
Click to expand...

Not if that`s what floats your boat. From a detailers prospective it makes things kinda boring.
Why do you coat ppf? A lot of manufacturers nowadays have hydrophobic qualities built in to the film in case you didn`t know.
 
bad penny said:
Why do you coat ppf? A lot of manufacturers nowadays have hydrophobic qualities built in to the film in case you didn`t know.
Click to expand...

I prefer a coating on PPF as I`m quite familiar w/ maintaining a coated vehicle, specifically with a set of products that have proven themselves to be appropriate for my vehicle usage patterns, climate and maintenance. With 1 car done w/ STEK Dynoshield (hydrophobic properties in film) and another w/ XPEL Ultimate (no hydrophobic properties) regardless of the properties of the film, I still prefer a coating to `face the world`.

At the end of the day, personal preference...just like most things in this `detailing` space. :cool:
 
I do not know if detailers are becoming Protective Plastic Film installers/wrappers as much as vehicle sign and advertising graphic companies.

In the old days, they did vehicle advertising or company names by hand lettering and template painting. Then it transitioned to decals and appliques. Now it`s full vinyl wraps with custom-printed corporate/business logos, colors and signage/text designs. I now see these sign/advertising companies advertise for PPF or film wraps for consumer vehicles now. And why not. They have the tools, know-how, and experienced employees to do this.

I just wonder if body shops will pick up on this trend and begin to offer this service. A few in my Green Bay, WI area offer "traditional" detailing services and to offer PPF installation/wrapping is kind of an extension of that.

As far as detailers doing it, I know that Estoteric Detail in New Albany, OH does this and I think it is where BudgetPlan1 got his vehicles wrapped at.

The only other Autopian I know of whose detailing business does PPF installation is Rasky`s Auto Detailing in the St.Paul/Minneapolis MN area.

As a side note, I made the bold prediction that in the (very) near future, all new vehicles will be painted white and then wrapped at the factory in colored PPF. It makes sense because now the manufacturing plant deal in one paint color and with PPF colors, a vehicle can now be custom-ordered in a plethora of color pallet hues (like Mary Kay Pink). A vehicle color is also easily changed by the owner if they so desire or only changed in an area (or areas) that has (have) experienced wear or damage OR changed by the next subsequent owner (Like the man who does NOT want to drive around in that May Kay Pink Cadillac CT6 Platinum Series!) or used car-lot dealer without having to go through a complete paint job.
Seems like an more "practical", but not necessarily economical, way to change and maintain the like-new appearance of a vehicle. (What the heck, Captain Obvious?!! Are you trying to put us Autopian detailers out of business??....
Hey, there is always an interior to "detail" of last winter`s neglect, pet hair (feathers and/or scales), kid`s "accidents", and spilled fast food or coffee shop debris and subsequent stains. Just saying`... Time to sell the Rupes/Flex buffers for a Vapor Systems VX5000 Steamer and MyTee HP60 Spyder extractor.)

What PPF`s do NOT protect against are parking lot door dings or Midwest and Central Plains thunderstorm hail damage. Having Painless Dent Removal (PDR) done to a clear-coat/paint-only vehicle is expensive enough without having to factor in the cost of a new PPF installation replacement in the dented area or panel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top