I just need to vent to all my detailing friends :(

N

nicktheshine

New member
Just wondering - should I get a car cover to put over my black car at night? It is kept on the street and man what a pain to keep it clean. I'm concerned about using a cover for it because of the potential for scratching but I don't know if that is a real issue or not if I get a good cover for it.



Thanks for any advice.
 
Well, you must put a cover on a clean car only otherwise you will have scrach and swirl city. Never ever put a cover on a dirty car.



Scratching and swirling is a issue with any cover, does not matter if it's expensive or cheap. Make sure the cover fits very well so that there is not alot of movement when it's windy outside. The little movement from the wind can make swirls.....especailly on black.



It's really up to you deciding on a cover. If you do get a cover, invest in a good one. If you get an el-cheap cover you'll be sorry down the road. Do a search about car covers and weight the pros and cons to decide if a cover is really for you.



Good Luck!!
 
Just make sure the car is clean and it doesnt hurt to wash the cover every once in a while becuase it will get dirty.
 
You probaly want to go with a custom fit cover. If you do not then the cover will flap up against your car in the wind and cause it to scratch your paint. Make sure car is clean. Custum fit is the key. That is probaly the best thing you can invest in.





:bounce
 
No matter how good your car cover is, you always run a high risk of inducing light swirls or marring if you try to put it on a car that has dust on it. Only get a car cover if you are willing to QD your car right before putting it on, unless it's right after a car wash.
 
I purchased the factory cover from Subaru for $82. Fits well and was money well spent, IMO. I only put the cover on after I've washed the car and will leave it on until the roads are dry - using the Benz in the meantime. I don't use it nightly. This cover isn't waterproof which pleases me in knowing that it breathes. I couldn't rationalize or reconcile myself to a three or four hundred dollar cover for what it does for me.
 
Yesterday I ordered a custom fit cover for my Porsche. It cost me $180 :eek:



The place I ordered the cover from sells 3 different outdoor covers and 2 different indoor covers. Out of these five only one was 100% cotton so I chose it. It is desigined for indoor use and says it can only handle very light weather. However it does say it has excellent breathability. I feel alot safer putting a 100% cotton cover on the car then putting some rugged outdoor style waterproof material against it.
 
The previous posts are all right on. Custom fit car covers are the way to go. This will help them from flapping around or hitting the car's surface as the wind blows on it. Make sure that you quick detail your car everytime you want to put the cover on. There's also a special way of putting on and removing the cover. You want to fold the cover onto itself. You don't want to drag the cover as it rest on top of your car. Laters
 
I'm going to try to explain this without boring you to death, if you make it through, thanks. I am basically just venting some big issues that are about to hit me.

So this winter is hitting everywhere pretty hard, and It is now starting to take a tole on my dads business and mine.

For those who dont know I have my own business (Tru Shine) that I started back in 09, I also work for my dad helping him run his Big Rig detail shop (Custom Detail and Truck wash). I started back in OCT of 08 when he bought the business just to help Manage things and give my knowledge of detailing in general. Soon after the purchase is when the economy took a plunge, we made it through all of that in 08-09 barley. 2010 was a good year but there was a lot to recover from.

So basically this is where we are at right now. Business hasn't been good, and we are about to loose Custom Detail to the previous owners who still legally own the business until it is completely paid for, and we haven't been able to pay on time for a while. We have went home every day at noon for the past 2 weeks because everything is covered in rain, slush, salt or snow and no one wants to get a truck washed or detailed in the dirty weather.

I am thankful that God has helped Tru Shine grow in the past year like it has. So starting here in the next couple of weeks Tru Shine will no longer be a professional hobby. it will be my sole income for my family, and in some part of me that scares me. Before I just had to impress people and look professional and do a good job, because I wanted to. Now I'll have to do it because I have to..... and I couldn't have done all this without my dad letting me spend countless hours on detailing forums studying and perfecting my skills to prepare me for this day. Now he will be out of a job and business at his age, and he is unsure what he will do next. Hopefully I can bring him on with Tru Shine and we can conquer the detailing world with a Father/Son Duo. We will see how this goes. As soon as this freezing weather starts to go away, I can start detailing again.



Thanks for listening, that is all I have to vent. I hope I didn't bore you to death and I hope my spelling and grammar and punctuation is propper.




-Eric
 
Eric,
No, you didn't bore us at all. This is happening all over the country. And the weather certainly hasn't helped matters any. I am so sorry to hear about your dad loosing his business, but I am sure that you will be okay, because Tru Shine is the real deal!!!
I know what it is like to be out of work and at the cross roads of your career. It isn't easy. I have been out of work since May, and my detailing business is picking up, but nowhere near where it needs to be to make a good amount of money.
Knowing you, and seeing the quality of work that you do, I am sure that before long, you and your father will be looking back on this and laughing!
Good luck to the both of you.
 
Sorry to here this news Eric. Its always scary when stuff like this pops into are lives

I know this is not what either of you want, but have you considered asking the previous owners if you could run the business for them on a commision only basis untill things improve?

This weather blows. I don't see how you Yankees handle this for 3, 4, 5 months of the year :Snowman:
 
Flash Gordon said:
Sorry to here this news Eric. Its always scary when stuff like this pops into are lives

I know this is not what either of you want, but have you considered asking the previous owners if you could run the business for them on a commision only basis untill things improve?

This weather blows. I don't see how you Yankees handle this for 3, 4, 5 months of the year :Snowman:
Click to expand...

No, on some level I think dad is a little relieved to let it go, It has not been very profitable and it is a LOT of stress on him. he has done nothing but go in the hole with this place. it just sucks that he took a loan on his house that he had just paid off to get this business ( I know it wasn't a great move) but at the time the economy was doing great, and the business previously was doing great.


Thanks for the encouraging words guys.

So all in all
 
Eric, sorry to hear about this as we are ALL in this situation at some point as 2010 was not my best year but the worst in 17 years plus. Now it is time to go ahead and really dig in, I did it in 94 with only one customer to start and my wife was scared sh**less for over a year so put your mind to it and get going.

Best of luck in 2011.
 
Hey Eric, Allot of people are going through tough times and tough decisions, personally I went from 4 years professionally detailing, when it came winter time each year I had to find employment until April or May ( I have a family too) and I will not ever allow my family to struggle or suffer on any business venture, its now to the point I went back to Sales and Marketing for a new company, detailing is now on the side and weekends, when your family is use to a certain lifestyle and you no longer can afford to do the things that you once could....I knew that it was time go back into the workforce.....but I say "Once a detailer, always a detailer" its in our blood and its our passion.
You mentioned God, pray about this and listen .......God will guide you to where you need to be and what to do,, God is for us and not against us !
I am confident you will make the right decision for you and your family.....good luck and best wishes.

PS........You are very skilled and talented detailer.
 
God opens doors and closes doors. I know one thing, you want to be in God's will not yours. The close of a business was definitely not your will but God can use ALL things for good. I am confidant that this hard time is only preparing you and your father for something better ahead.

Its easy to hear and say but walking it out is rough, try to keep a positive attitude, work hard, and most importantly talk with him (pray). When I hit a rough patch I made a conscious effort to lean on him, and I joined a mens bible study. That really helped so maybe consider joining something like that.

Keep up the great work and try to relax because He has everything under control

Praying for you buddy
Jon
 
Good luck.

I looked at your web site and I liked the complete "behind the scenes" photo essay (what people post for Shine and Show posts. In these pics, many are in a garage. Is that your Dad's shop?
 
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