Minimum # of Details Completed to be Considered a Pro

How Many Details:

  • 10+

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 25+

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 50+

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 100+

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 250+

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
David Fermani

David Fermani

Forza Auto Salon
I'm not insinuating that just because someone does XXX amount of details, they should automatically be deemed a Professional. I'm referring to what people think (in an optimal situation) one could have enough experience to be considered Pro potential.
 
There are many "pros" that I don't consider pros. Just because you get paid for something, doesn't necessarily make you a professional. I think a pro detailer performs professional paint correction, and doesn't use fillers, fully insured, and does a quality job. There are many detailers who have been doing it wrong their whole career, and yet I have employees that work for me, and after 6 months of me whipping them into shape they're performing swirl-free professional paint correction, and detailing.



John
 
Interesting topic. I'll just say that while I consider myself a rank amateur, my first real detail (included minor correction), aided by the great advice that I've picked up from this forum, came out much much better than the same service rendered previously by an established "professional".
 
I would say it is really difficult to judge. You could have some glaze spreader who did 200+ jobs and he could be considered a Pro. Where as someone who has done proper training for use with a rotary and da to do paint leveling and only done 20 or so details who could do absoutly amazing work...





A pro..."A professional is a member of a vocation founded upon specialised educational training." So how can any of us be "pros" since there is no standardized training or requirments for us. Just playing devils advocate here :D I think it all has to be based on customer feedback and the work that is being done...Just my thought :)
 
I dont consider Joe blow at Johnnys car wash a professional, its sad since there are a lot of Joe blows that think they are.



Somebody who has done at least 30 paint correction details, 150 wash/clay/wax jobs, and somebody who has done some twenty details on really dirty and trashed vehicles and got them extremly clean.
 
I would have to say this is a very interesting topic. I am one who cosiders myself a professional detailer. I do not consider myself one because I get paid to do it. I consider myself one because of my exsperiance and knowledge. I feel I'm at the point in my career where I feel you can throw any car at me and I can accomplish what the owner wants done. If it can't be performed, I have the integrity to say " I can't accomplish that" Over my 12 year career I have worked on more cars then most can imagine. I would say I have been there done that. Now I do not mean that in any cocky way. In general I have done high volume, Manage a tunnel operation, low volume high end and dealership. Then I created my business. In my life I have detailed thousands of cars in thousands of ways. I was never trained by a dealership nor lol myself. I have learned from experiance along the way. I took what others told me and made it my own. I feel there are many people on these forums who do not have the level to say I'm a pro. I also see many say " I charge 50 an hour and they can't even use a wool pad and rotory. Anyone can claim to be the real deal. Anyone can go and get a nice fancy garage or shop, mobile van. They can fill it with high end supplies, and read, but not many can actually do it! Thats the problems with these forums. People read and learn. Instanly there a pro. Anyone can talk the talk, but not many can walk the walk!!!
 
I don't know, the average paint shop guy has done several hundred probably, but the quality of work is terrible. Then there's the rental car "detail" guys that probably do a dozen a day!
 
JohnKleven said:
There are many "pros" that I don't consider pros. Just because you get paid for something, doesn't necessarily make you a professional. I think a pro detailer performs professional paint correction, and doesn't use fillers, fully insured, and does a quality job. There are many detailers who have been doing it wrong their whole career, and yet I have employees that work for me, and after 6 months of me whipping them into shape they're performing swirl-free professional paint correction, and detailing.



John
Click to expand...



:rofl I'm surprised with all the toys you have you haven't purchased a robot to polish your cars yet! :nana: I better not give you any idea's! lol John
 
People who actually possess the deep discipline necessary to be called a detailing artist, as some of my clients have stated to me. Clients who express to you, that there satisfaction level with the detail, was way beyond there wildest dreams. Something I heard this week. These are the true blue professionals. You see I have a passion making old cars new. I would never get this working for someone. I put out a disciplined detail. To all who have that discipline on this site and we know who we are. They are the professionals. I wish all who strive to be a pro all the success in the world. If I can assist ...look me up. I can only offer what works for me. Paintxpert
 
Paint correction beyond belief should be a required prerequisite to being a PRO....HANDS DOWN! No creativity no knowledge of vehicle finishes? Your not close to pro material by a LONG shot. I am still learning, I am in my 39th yes 39th season of auto polishing and paint rejuvenation. I have worked on Ralph Laurens Bugatti, Wet sanded the Volvo used on the TV series "get smart". I guess I give my age away. A real pro has real experience to offer ...some highway behind him. No car washer can compare. Car rental car cleaner has about a 1 percent chance of becoming a pro. He wants to know when he can get out of work and smoke blunts with his girl friend! Lets face it here.
 
Barry seems to be turning out pros ....good for him. Training is key you cant expect someone to learn this by osmosis....if that is a word. I let people watch me all the time. People at the dealers always know I work for me because dealer employees move real slow. Just my observation.
 
Im the manager of a large nissan dodge dealership and i have new guys start every week that say they can detail a car and dont last more then a month. Ive been detailing for 6 years now and still dont consider myself a professional, but i can make a car look very good and swirl free. Ive gotten to the point of hiring people with no experience and want to learn then the people who say there so great and are what we consider the hacks. I gotta shake my head and accept the work we do in the shop by the "professionals" because its a high volume shop. I do get to do all our nice cars though.
 
you mean i actually have to do a detail to be a pro? i thought i could get away with just sounding like i knew what i was doing. damnit. j/k. excellent topic.
 
:goodjob This is a excellent Thread...



IMO…I come across detailers who buy professional products and instantly they become professionals. Some take a good photo of a car they washed and they also become MR. Know it all. Again IMO, I’ve been detailing for a good 15years but I learn new things all the time and been lurking around this forum for about 2 1/2years (a member for 2 months). Times change, so do products and also paints. In my mind, A “Professional” is a expert at what they do and how they carrying themselves plus someone that uses the tools we are given to expand our knowledge of our Profession. Wanna be a "PRO" learn from a PRO and put in your work. :cool:
 
There is absolutely awful work in my area. I am sure we all agree there is 2 completely different things as getting professional results and a person who makes makes his living(doing terrible work) professionally simply because professional defines it as doing something as a profession.
 
Barry Theal said:
:rofl I'm surprised with all the toys you have you haven't purchased a robot to polish your cars yet! :nana: I better not give you any idea's! lol John
Click to expand...



That's not a bad idea. hmmmmm....
 
I think that with all the information out there now on the various detailing forums one can get professional level results in a very short period of time. Still, knowledge comes with experience and some things simply can not be are learned with a monitor and keyboard. ;)





Just my $.02
 
RaskyR1 said:
I think that with all the information out there now on the various detailing forums one can get professional level results in a very short period of time. Still, knowledge comes with experience and some things simply can not be are learned with a monitor and keyboard. ;)





Just my $.02
Click to expand...



Well said.



As the adage goes "A man with experience is never at the mercy of a man with an opinion."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top