ever get bored with detailing?

ever get bored with detailing?

  • NO! my main income/love the hobby

    Votes: 50 47.2%

  • at times i have to step back....

    Votes: 46 43.4%

  • starting to think is it all worth it?

    Votes: 10 9.4%
  • Total voters
    106
Yes indeed, been doing this over 39 years doing it part time and retired from it 6 times. Now I just do it on my own cars and a few folks doing the year. It's hard work but very satisficing when one makes a customer very happy from you work.
 
Been bored and burned out on it for years now. Its a job..nothing more. My personal vehicles can vouch for that. The last thing I want to do when I get some free time at home is clean a car lol.
 
It's still a part time biz, but today after close to 40 years of detailing (part time) I pick the cars when I want. I suppose it's like anything over time it just gets boring
 
It's just a way to make money, I've done sooooo many cars. It's very trying to keep it interesting for my self these days. I think a big part of it is the majority of the time I'm one stepping cars. I still love doing full correction but its not profitable in my situation soooo I don't try to sell them most the time. Make 500$ in 5 hours, or make 1000$ in 20+ hours.
 
This is only a hobby for me and only been doing it for a little over a year so to answer your question, no I'm loving every minute of it. I do a thorough maintenance wash on my car and the wife's. I take my time and enjoy the fresh air. Wife loves always having a clean car.
 
Right now I'm bouncing back and forth between 3 jobs so whenever I get to detail I get excited. But yes, I can honestly say I do get burnt out when work gets really steady. And whatever free time I get, I take advantage and do whatever will clear my mind from work. I think when you take little breaks from work, it actually makes you better at work;)
 
Confession:

And I am not a PRO. Just my own rides............

I am a car guy and love all things fast and shiney. I love a clean car and detailing gets me there. Do I love detailing-NO, do I love a clean car.
 
hobby here...I live for seeing what new products do....staying on the leading edge requires vigelence..and it it wasn't for forums like this and online shopping, we'd all still be "Claying and waxing"
 
Only detail on the side. I work 2 other jobs besides. I had to give it up for a while. Wasn't getting enough sleep. Every time I say I'm done with it, I get the drive to do another car. Just can't help it. Can't stay away. Now the majorit of my work is Peterbuilt's & Kenthworth's. Go figure. Not complaining one bit tho.
 
Did my last one early this year for pay.....the thrill is gone. Our cars are both dirty and I don't even care. I'll likely run them through the touchfree wash eventually. With early morning temperatures in the mid 80's and 85%+ humidity I won't be hand washing anytime soon.
 
It's a hobby for me. If I had to do it everyday, yes I'd be bored and burned out. It's an escape from a stressful job.

Today I cleaned 4 wheels and tires for a soldier who's car had not been washed since he deployed 18 months ago. The wheels were a challenge, caked on dirt and brake dust; but it felt great to get them clean and polished, along with satin dressed tires. He was very pleased and so was I.

I have a lot of respect for those who detail as a profession. It's a tough job that involves a lot of science and understanding of cleaners, polishes, sealants, waxes, etc., in order to correct paint defects and make a used car look new again. Not to mention one has to be a contortionist to perform some of those tasks.:bigups
 
i just always liked a clean ride. and the steps to achive it. for me its a big stress release after a long week at work. love getting outside saturday morning and going to it.
 
I love keeping my own vehicle clean and customers who make an effort to keep their cars clean.

Its the ones that destroy their vehicles ,expect you make it look new again .........call you in a few years with the same mess if not worse.Ive even had people laugh and say"you have got your work cut out for you"! I dont that thats in the least funny.I would love to someday just tell someone like that they need to find someone else.One of these days when I win the lotto!:D

Those are the kind of jobs that make me miserable and hate my work.

Thankfully most of my customers now arent complete pigs!

I love being outdoors, working for myself ( not having to work indoors in some office,dress up and have to deal with a lot of co-workers and their issues) And for the most part I have the most awesome customers!
 
Yanno, last year I was all about keeping both vehicles spotless. I would spend nearly every weekend doing so. I guess I got burnt out on it, or it's the 95* 75% humidity that's keeping me away. Or simply the fact that the gravel driveway at work is a complete mess. When it's not muddy from the rain, the gravel creates tons of dust with the trucks driving in. I could wash it one day and the next day look the same. I keep ample protection on it, but really that's the extent till I can move on to something with a paved drive.
 
Depends, on my show cars no problem, I do them on my schedule. My daily driver at times it gets to be a pain. Clean before I leave, clean when I come back. Vacations are the worst, spend more time cleaning than enjoying. Oh well, I do like a clean car.
 
ca.detailchick said:
I love keeping my own vehicle clean and customers who make an effort to keep their cars clean.

Its the ones that destroy their vehicles ,expect you make it look new again .........call you in a few years with the same mess if not worse.Ive even had people laugh and say"you have got your work cut out for you"! I dont that thats in the least funny.I would love to someday just tell someone like that they need to find someone else.One of these days when I win the lotto!:D

Those are the kind of jobs that make me miserable and hate my work.

Thankfully most of my customers now arent complete pigs!

I love being outdoors, working for myself ( not having to work indoors in some office,dress up and have to deal with a lot of co-workers and their issues) And for the most part I have the most awesome customers!
Click to expand...



:exactly:


When someone gives me that line about having my work cut out for me, I tell them not to worry themselves.....I charge based on an hourly rate and I packed a double lunch...


:)
 
Its either in your genes or its not. :)
Doing exceptional work for years Alone, does get tiring, but thats all.
I love the challenge of taking a totally scratched, etc., abused leather, etc., and making it all look like new again.
The reactions and looks my Clients give me when they see their "Baby", again gives me great satisfaction..
You have to have a certain amount of motivation going on...
You have to be constantly thinking in an innovative mode, to work through the little challenges that come up with each Detail job. No Detail job is the same as the previous one hardly ever..
This kind of job, unless you are really getting very high end Clients consistently, will be a struggle to be your only income, until you get to expand, add good help and increase by a lot the number of units in and out per week...

You can almost say that we all do it for the love of seeing nice, clean, beautiful, vehicles of all types going down the road, right ? :)

Happy Father's Day to all !
Dan F
 
Stokdgs said:
You have to have a certain amount of motivation going on...
You have to be constantly thinking in an innovative mode, to work through the little challenges that come up with each Detail job. No Detail job is the same as the previous one hardly ever..
all !
Dan F
Click to expand...
So true Dan!
Every vehicle has its own unique issues, just like people!:D

You would think a standard proccess would work ,but it doesnt always. You always have to try new approaches .

I think one of the most important qualitys to possess in detailing is patience ! That and love !

When I get overwhelmed I take a 5 minute break and destress. Its amazing what 5 minutes can do . Then Im ready to go at it again.
 
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