How would you classify yourself as a detailer?

How would you classify yourself as a detailer?

  • 1. Somewhat New Detailing Enthusiast

    Votes: 63 22.2%

  • 2. Long-time Detailing Enthusiast

    Votes: 84 29.6%

  • 3. Professional Detailer (fixed location)

    Votes: 36 12.7%

  • 4. Professional Mobile Detailer

    Votes: 34 12.0%

  • 5. Enthusiast With Plans to Become a Pro Detailer

    Votes: 48 16.9%

  • 6. Just Here to Pick-up a Few Tips

    Votes: 19 6.7%
  • Total voters
    284
I guess I have to call myself a long time enthusiast detailer. It has only been recently that I got legitimate and started turning real profits with the business. Up till then it was just a few cars a week and basically just making money to pour back into buying products and maybe gas for the car. lol Now it is generating some bucks and I suppose I should consider myself semi-pro. :)
 
Hi everyone. I'm a new guy. Not new to detailing though. My entry into detailing was kinda odd. I bought a car at a low-budget car dealer. I lost my job and went back to complain, because I was fired for absenteeism. Two of the days, were from waiting for the car loan to clear because the dealer told me it would be ready before it was. Actually the bank messed it up. I ended up working for that dealer. I was shown a really cheesy way of detailing, the guy was putting tire shine in the door jambs.
I started looking for any sites I could find on detailing, and doing alot of hands on. I was shown how to buff from a body shop guy in 2000 or so. I stopped working for dealerships in 2004. I just started doing sidework again in 2006. I did two full cars last weekend and made over $200. I just applied for a dealership job and may start this week. I keep a little detailing kit in my trunk..glad to be here..Jeromie
 
As a Somewhat New Detailing Enthusiast, I really like it here the way it is ,as long as information and tips are coming in from sponsors /pros like Steve , Troy ,and as long as the no nonsense,mater of fact- answers are given by people like gngrbrdman,Audi boy ,beemerboy,Charlie ,and other active members here(can't remember all of the names)I am quite content.
 
I'm just an older fellow who likes to keep this cars in good shape. Can't afford to keep buying new and must maintain what I already own. Problem is that I want them to look good.
Little background...I have 90 Honda (269K), 99 Taurus (150K) and a 2000 Impala (148K). 2 of the cars look good, but the Honda is losing out to rust. I drive about 30K hiway miles a year and I expect my cars to last between 200K and 300K. I new the Honda could do it but I have my doubts as to the other 2 cars. Right now the Taurus and Impala are fine and I will try to keep them in good shap. Now thats why I am he in your fourm...to get all the help and advice that I can.

PS: I am now retired, 64 years old and have more time to keep these cars running. Thanks for all of your help.
 
I would absolutely love to have as many professionals on here as possible, ive enjoyed detailing cars since i was young and am now in the startup phase of my own mobile detailing business! Although i feel that i am very capable in this business i am not so foolish as to think that i cant learn from others who have more time and experience than myself. I would also agree that manufacturers being on here to keep us all updated about new and better products would be most benificial. Thanks in advance to everyone for sharing ideas and tips with me .
 
I've been in the detailing as a business now for 10years, gone big time for the last 3 years working around the country at the international autoshows. A classified "detailer" would be someone who can and knows how to make a used vehicle appearance look greater than the persons who purchasing expectations, and a lot of that comes from working at dealerships, where you can learn a lot, plus theres seminars and comes back down to it where you have to learn yourself and always do better than last time...
 
I'm exactly like jngrbrdman and would like to think I'm semi-pro. I'm the kid playing in the IHL just waiting for the call up to the NHL (just in time for the playoffs!).

Fixed location rotary user and have been very pleased with the quality of results I've developed in the past 1-2 years.

I thoroughly enjoy the pro's input and many times seek certain names to see how they responded to certain posts - some of which are my questions. I also very much enjoy the roster of vendors that currently participate and like the way we all can go off topic and have some fun.

I don't mind the vendors that sell everything because they offer more comprehensive info at times.
 
I'm a 3 about to bring someone on to do a 4. I will always be a number 2 as long as you more knowledgeable foggies hang around. I'm a young dog so I'm always game for new 6
 
Long time enthusiast. I get paid to detail, so you can call me a pro, but I'm not a business. Always here to pick up tips.
 
I started professional detailing when I was 18. So I guess you can call me a enthusiast pro detailer. I have a bachelor degree but recently started detailing again full time until I find a good business job. I'm doing it now not only for the money but for the love of the hobby. I'm having a blast doing it. I consider myself a subcontractor. I detail cars at a used car dealership and give the owner a bill at the end of each week. I work when I want to and usually do my customers cars up at the shop during nights or weekends. How can you beat it I have free run of the shop and dont have to pay utilities.When I do start working I plan on trying a small mobile business on the weekend. Thats my deal. Is there anyone else with a similar situation to mine??
 
Started out as an enthusiast on my own car, but over the last 2 years started doing others, last summer close to 30 with another dozen turned down. This year I have business cards made to try and expand it a bit. Besides working at a 50 to 60 hour a week job. Biggest problem here is that its here, lol, the east coast of Canada, Nova Scotia, it is strictly a summer thing.
 
Hi. My name's Dustin, and I'm from Nebraska. As far as my talent is concerned, I'm unrivaled in my area, but that's my personal opinion. I love to detail. To take an utter pile and turn it into to something beautiful is an art, and I don't think people really appreciate our line of work. I was pro for a couple of years, but the business is cut throat around here, and the local dealers just want cheap and fast. Well, I'm not cheap, and I'm certainly not fast. I can bust out a couple of details in a day, but that's not coming close to the express shop down the street. But I don't know..... I guess quality doesn't always outway quantity.

Anyway, I joined Detail City to learn from other detailers' techniques and get advice on products. I'm a product nut...... I'm always excited to try a new wax or polish, but I still seem to stick with what I know works. But Anyway, hello from Nebraska.:howdy
 
Pockets said:
I'm new to this. But I hope to have my own detailing bussines someday. I am very very very lucky to be working with a guy that has so much time under his belt and even has his own line of products. I'm talking about Steve (a.k.a Poorboy) I have learned everything that I know from him and I always love learning all the little tips and tricks that he knows. There is so much more that I want to learn and will hopefully be with steve for more years to come.
Click to expand...

Suck up!

just kidding. I bet Steve is a good boss.
 
I started detailing in 2005. I bought my 2003 Jaguar then and I wanted to keep it looking as good as it was when I bought it. Previously I had an Explorer for 9 years that was parked outside most of the time. I ran it through the car wash and never washed it myself.

I rapidly got into detailing the Jaguar and spent lots of money on products. I only detail my cars and occasionally a relatives.

I like having the mix of people on the board and I continue to learn from everyone. I'm not sure about new sponsors. Most of the sponsors here are great because they offer advice and answer questions but they don't use this as a vehicle for hard selling.

Troy, thanks for all you do on the board. I know we all appreciate your hard work and support in letting us share information and build a community.
 
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