My fellow pro's

[imported_weekendwarrior]

But anytime a thread like this comes up, guess who is most active??? I'm sure you do help people all I'm saying is why bother.

This place has gotten way too predictable. The same people always arguing over stupid topics, the same group of people taking shots at Todd whenever his name comes up around here, the same people instigating arguments with certain others, etc...



Any pro that comes on here and says they don't somewhat intend to attract customers from their write ups on here is full of it.



I think everyone should continue to do any style of write up they want, and those who don't like it can ignore.

 

[Junebug]

I agree David, you nailed it.

 

[David Fermani]

Nobody likes threads with too many pictures…..Wahh! :bawling::bawling::scared:

If a thread has too many pics for you, then don't read it.

So if you don't want to see 100 pictures of a SENTRA , DON'T LOOK!!! Move on!! Get over it. To some these are informative.

I think everyone should continue to do any style of write up they want, and those who don't like it can ignore.

Exactly. :up If you don’t like it don’t click on the thread! Nobody’s holding a gun to your mouse.





Gee; I wonder why all those picture loaded threads get the most views & replies? Because they’re the best! :drool: You can’t argue with that. :idea If people want to post lengthy, tastefully done threads, why not just let them? Is there an Autopian law against this? Sure, I find it a wee bit overboard when someone posts a bunch of blurry, repetitive pictures taking the flow of the thread off on a huge tangent, but who cares enough to complain about it? Many of the people who hate don’t create or even post in any picture threads in the first place and the ones they have made are pretty sucky to put it nicely. On top of that, I love seeing these same people spend 20+ minutes viewing a thread without even leaving a response?

The other thing I learned is Autopia is NOT a site designed around attracting customers.

I disagree.... Maybe it has not worked for you but for the past 2 years I have had a good amount of customers come to me from Autopia!

I agree with you Jason. 95% of my business has originated from Autopia. And, I’ve never made a post here that I wouldn’t care if a potential or current customer viewed.

 

[gmblack3]

And I'd also like to say again... this is what I thought a discussion forum was :nixweiss



I think people try to make way too much drama out of what is supposed to be a discussion. If everybody had the same opinion then what fun would a discussion be? I, for one, like it when someone calls me out and makes me think about what I am saying because that is what makes me a smarter and more rounded person. It seems that often opinionated people are mistaken for being e-thugs. I like a heated discussion and is one reason I post on forums like this. It's the people that start taking personal jabs at others or start taking things too seriously that downgrade a thread to jibberish.



Anyway, moving on. :work:

I agree w Todd!

 

[gmblack3]

I never said anything about offering help. But anytime a thread like this comes up, guess who is most active??? I'm sure you do help people all I'm saying is why bother getting into it with others.

Its called discussion. Like Todd said I thought it was the reason forums existed.



Please use the ignore feature if you don't care for my comments.

 

[imported_Jakerooni]

Regardless if people pull customers off here or not was never the point. I myself have had quite a few myself off here. The point was Autopia isn't geared that way. It's geared towards detailers. Most of the members are detailers or those learning to be one. It's just the fact of the matter. Do we get clients off here? Sure. Are you going to get a great deal more by going to other sites that cater to the entuseist over the detailer? Without any doubt in my mind. For every 1 client I get contacted by off this site I get 10 contacts from other sites I visit as frequently. Although I agree with Scott on the fact that this does serve as a good spot to direct potential clients to too see the C&B's. And (IMO of course) if your getting more than half your clients from this site alone you could probably gain a lot by expanding your horizons into more directed sites. As far as I know Just about every active "Pro" on here is a active member of other sites as well. (sometimes a LOT of other sites) There's got to be a reason for it. If you're getting 95% of your business off here alone why bother even signing up elsewhere?:nixweiss

 

[EBPcivicsi]

I wish I had the time to take pics!:nixweiss



When I do get time, I never have the time to resize, sort, upload, do the write-up, etc.



I do sometimes wonder where the "pros" find the time, but what do I know, they might be insomniacs!



I like the super-long posts with a picture of *everything* because sometimes they make me rofl at work during lunch.



I say post what you want, I can sort out who is doing the real work......

 

[David Fermani]

Jake - I never joined this forum back in 04 with any intent on gaining business. People have usually found me from what I've expressed in both picture threads and discussion here. I've been booked solid since early last year because of it. If I joined forums to market myself any more than I half-arse already do, I'd have to quit my day job. It's borderline rediculous that I turn away the amount of jobs I have requests for. To each is own...

I say post what you want, I can sort out who is doing the real work......

Very good point. :up

 

[imported_DJ Mayo]

I enjoy taking several after pictures of a car. Sometimes more than others but if its a nice day out and the owner asked for some pictures, I'll snap quite a few. I'm catching on to the camera thing so why not. I enjoy it.

 

[Barry Theal]

:chuckle:I Just Farted!!!!:chuckle:

 

[Envious Eric]

so thats what smells...damn, I thought my neighbor cooked cat again...I for one take a bunch of pictures...and the reason I do it is because like on that 550 bmw i did, no two panels were alike! one was harder than the next and one was full of deeper rids, where the next was just slightly oxidized all the while the next had sanding scratches in it!



Plus it shows the amount of work that really goes into the work we do! I can point people over to this website to look at a C&B I posted, then they can search around and find more info on me, and heck, maybe even buy something from the sponsors of the site!!!

 

[Scottwax]

so thats what smells...damn, I thought my neighbor cooked cat again...I for one take a bunch of pictures...and the reason I do it is because like on that 550 bmw i did, no two panels were alike! one was harder than the next and one was full of deeper rids, where the next was just slightly oxidized all the while the next had sanding scratches in it!

That I can understand, but some threads the swirling is consistent and the biggest problem besides the repetition is it makes the thread difficult to go through.



What I do like seeing is the videos, sometimes they convey a lot more than 50 pictures can.

 

[Envious Eric]

I am just the opposite....I hate the videos and know they are only good for embedding your website so each time it plays, your site "gets looked at". (Or however it works) You cant show deep defects in a video, hardly any real closeups, and if you are inside, forget about showing anything besides super glossy paint!



I tried it out:

took a camera over the whole car just after the wash stage

then multi-stepped the whole car with 105, 205, FPII

took camera again

then sealed

then camera again



couldnt really tell a difference with a normal walk around!



just my take on it I guess...

 

[Accumulator]

I never joined this forum back in 04 with any intent on gaining business....[but].. 95% of my business has originated from Autopia...

Huh, that surprises me! Wouldn't have thunk it, so thanks for posting that.

And, I’ve never made a post here that I wouldn’t care if a potential or current customer viewed.

Heh heh, now *that* does *not* surprise me I wish everybody thought about their posts that way.



[Sheesh, there goes Accumulator posting on a Pro thread again ]

 

[Scottwax]

I am just the opposite....I hate the videos and know they are only good for embedding your website so each time it plays, your site "gets looked at". (Or however it works) You cant show deep defects in a video, hardly any real closeups, and if you are inside, forget about showing anything besides super glossy paint!

What I mean are the educational type videos that show the technique used. The ones I post are hosted on youtube, makes the more accessible to more people.

 

[a.k.a. Patrick]

I can see correction detail threads needing 30-40 pictures to adequately convey what was accomplished.

Scott, I just dont see the point in identical swirl before and afts, for front and rear quarter panels, doors, hood, deck, roof. I gets BORING!. Show me the beginning, the during, and the after for a couple panels, then some whole shots, what you used, and how long it took you (and maybe a few particulars). Then you have my attention. The type of issues that Eric had with the Benz (I think) are few are far between, and not the norm. Just as the detailer could bore the customer with hows and why, and whats and wheres, the reader gets bored as well.

For those that say, "if you dont like what you see skip it." Your missing the point. The point is were interested, if its kept interesting. Products and process are important, and proof of workmanship doesnt need 30-50 pictures.

 

[Envious Eric]

What I mean are the educational type videos that show the technique used. The ones I post are hosted on youtube, makes the more accessible to more people.

yeah I agree...those are good ones!