new guy from sin city

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Scottwax

New member
I usually enjoy detailing my customer's cars, but not today.



I sold a dozen gift certificates to a business for Christmas 2000, and all had been redeemed except one, and I did that car today. It was a Mitsubitsi Mirage and it was one of the nastiest cars I've ever cleaned. Someone must have dumped an entire soda or coffee into the passenger's front seat, and the driver's seat and rear seats were not much better. The headline had been splashed by some sort of liquid and the carpets were heavily soiled with ground in dirt and spills. Just disgusting. Normally, I would have charged more, but this company bought $1200 worth of gift certificates, so I didn't want to complain too much-the rest of the cars were in pretty good condition.



Anyway, to make matters worse, the carpet and fabric in those cars is crap. Just nasty, thin cheap junk. Of course, it hadn't been vacuumed in a few months, according to the owner. I wish I had film in my camera, the before and after pics would have been amazing-I was really suprised how good it looked when I finished, so I did glean a small amount of satisfaction from that...even though I was cussing the owner under my breath!



I guess there is no real point other than the need to vent!
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Scottwax [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>I guess there is no real point other than the need to vent! [/b]</blockquote>
Hey, that's what we're here for! ;)
 
I know what you mean about those cars. I did a favor for a guy that helped me get a really good job once. I told him that I would do his car for half what I normally make. It turns out that he had spilled an entire 1 liter bottle of Pepsi in his arm rest jockey box a couple weeks earlier. It was basicly Pepsi tar. That was about the worst looking car I've ever seen in my life. He smoked 3 packs a day and 2 of em must have been while in his car because it was covered in 2 inches of ash. The windows were so yellow you couldn't see out of em. There were no fewer than 80 empty cigarette boxes in the car and all the little celephane wrapers too. It was a nightmare. That is what I get for quoting a price before I see the car. The job he got me was worth it but lets just say I didn't whistle while I worked on that one.
 
have you ever given constructive criticism, well maybe that's harsh, how about suggestions (or hints) on why and how they should keep their cars in at least okay condition? I know personally I would feel embarrased if I turned in a truely dirty car (even if I were paying to have it done). I guess that doesn't condone business, but I was just curious.
 
I always talk to the owner after I detail it. You always find problems with the car that you can't fix right there. I let them know where the problem areas are. Areas like maybe their tires are nearly bald or they have a bulge on the side. Or maybe when I see a problem under the hood while detailing the engine.



While I am detailing the car, I have a conversation with it. You may think that sounds funny but I'll bet I'm not the only one that hears the car tell me things. It usually complains about where it gets parked. The door dings usually tell me that. It tells me that the owner doesn't wash it well enough. Just running water over it isn't always enough. Especially when you live in salty Utah.



After the car has told me everything it has to say then I pass that on to the owner. If the car isn't taken better care of then I won't detail it again. Fortunatly this isn't my source of income or else I couldn't be so picky. If someone isn't going to treat their car with care and respect then they don't deserve to have someone that cares as much about clean cars as I do detail it. They can go to some drive through for $20 bucks and deal with it.



Most of my customers are regulars that know I care about their car. They know that their car talks to me and lets me know how the owner can improve how they treat it. There is a lot behind the saying "A clean car is a happy car." There is no sadder thing than a neglected car.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by YoSteve.Com [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>have you ever given constructive criticism, well maybe that's harsh, how about suggestions (or hints) on why and how they should keep their cars in at least okay condition? I know personally I would feel embarrased if I turned in a truely dirty car (even if I were paying to have it done). I guess that doesn't condone business, but I was just curious. [/b]</blockquote>
I have mentioned ways to keep their cars looking good once they have it detailed-like for people with Suburbans who have kids-I let them know the carpet is not of very high quality and they might consider investing in Husky Liners to help protect against spill. I also let them know that weekly washing and vacuuming will also help keep their car looking freshly detailed, and I mention that waxing should be done every three months-there is no miracle once a year wax.

I used to have a handout I gave to new customers about car care---I need to update them and print some more.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by admac [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>scott, if you need any page layout advice, drop me a line. ad art director here. [/b]</blockquote>
Thanks. My brother is doing my site upkeep and he did the layout. Kind of plain still, but 100 x's better than when it first went up.

You can e-mail me at [email protected] with any suggestions or ideas.
 
Scott, I did the same thing you did. I sold some gift certificates that when it was time to clean the vehicles, they were trashed.

It is always a good feeling after the car is clean, but when you're cleaning it, (no cusing on the post), Dang.

I wish I could get a good deal on Husky Liners cause there are alot of people that could use them. I have them in my truck, and it is always clean, Rain or snow.

Just thought I'd let you know that I feel your pain.

:(
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Scottwax [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>
Truly dirty people.

I usually enjoy detailing my customer's cars, but not today.

[/b]</blockquote>
Scott, I hear ya. The majority of the population out there doesn't give a rat's @ss about their car and proceed to trash them, inside and out.

Nothing more depressing than to clean up some else's toilet bowl only to realize, after spending 8 hours, that it's going to be trashed again within 2 weeks. Wadda waste.

Invest time, energy and effort where it will be appreciated and you can be proud of your work.
 
What mystifies me are the interiors that look like someone has spread peanut butter all over the dash, and then wiped it off. What I'm talking about here is all the crud that accumulates in cracks/crevices in some peoples' cars. I had my last car for 5 years, and wasn't really into detailing -- I just took a bucket of Mr. Clean about 3-4 times per year and wiped down the whole interior. When I sold the car, the interior was immaculate. It still looked new. That's why I think some people spread peanut butter all over their dash -- that's the only way I can think that they could get it that dirty!



Maybe they're trying to get some wax off the interior trim...
 
Hey Scott... i feel your pain man.. it sucks seeing a car as dirty and trashed as you mention... Cars are an investment which should be taken a great deal of care of.. It not only trasports you, it says a lot about who you are. I definetly would have burst out at the owner telling me many unmentionable words...



Anyways.. could you tell us.. or me atleast, what you did to get the carpets clean again from such a mess? It would really interest me what products and procedures you used.
 
I have come to realize that the general public views a detailer as a panacea to justify their slovenly ways and neglect their car for months at a time, sometimes YEARS for the truly lazy. What's worse, is it makes me look bad when all mechancal/technical/ and humanly possible efforts are brought to bear on stuff like ; red food dye from beverages left on seats and carpet to set, coffee ditto, tar and oil on the mats, bugs left on the front bumper to etch the paint (THEM- "I see those bugs didn't come off eh?" Me- "no, the bugs came off fine, it's just that they were there so long their acid remains took your paint with them!" ) Ahh the look of puzzlement on their faces when they realize they waited a bit long to call a guy in and straighten things out, only to find out that not everything can always come out looking brand new.



That look of puzzlement is also evident on my face as they can't understand why it costs so much to clean their mess up. Ahhhhh ain't human beings the bomb? :)
 
I cant stand to ride in dirty cars! It drives me nuts.

Secondly, arent these slobs embarrassed? I would never want anyone to think I could live/keep my car that way. Makes you wonder what there homes look like.

Ahhhhh

Different Strokes For DIfferent Folks
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by PathfinderGuy [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>

Anyways.. could you tell us.. or me atleast, what you did to get the carpets clean again from such a mess? It would really interest me what products and procedures you used. [/b]</blockquote>
I usually use water and Woolite-yes the gentle laundry soap. I mix it about 6 parts water to 1 part Woolite into a spray bottle. It cleans effectively and smells nice. It is also very effective on leather-better than any commercial leather cleaner I have tried and a hell of a lot cheaper. It leaves the leather feeling very soft, even without a leather conditioner.
 
Thanks for the info Scott. Might give the Woolite a try on the carpet. I probably won't use it on leather though. Laters
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Don2000* [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Thanks for the info Scott. Might give the Woolite a try on the carpet. I probably won't use it on leather though. Laters [/b]</blockquote>
Just FYI:

Cadillac used to recommend Woolite and water as their leather cleaner, according to the tag on the back of the driver's head rest-which is how I learned about it. Now they just recommend a gentle soap and water. Park Place Lexux and Mercedes in Dallas also recommend Woolite and water to clean leather.
 
One of my dealers pet peeves is the skin/makeup buildup around shifters, steering wheels, turn signal levers, door handles, etc. I use a citrus cleaner for them, and extreme cases greased lightning or laquer thinner. These harsh chemicals WILL remove the lettering on your turn signal and wiper levers, and thinner will remove dye from steering wheel if left on . I put it on a rag, wipe on and off quickly to minimize damage. These are only on wholesale cars, not the nice stuff, I dont want ya'll to think I am a hacker...
 
Bumpers Plus--removing hairspray residue from leather head rests is also a real pain. Woolite and water will work on that and it isn't harsh on the leather.



Yeah, I hate removing all that make-up. Don't some women know how to wash their hands after they apply all that goop? :rolleyes:
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Scottwax [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>

I usually use water and Woolite-yes the gentle laundry soap. I mix it about 6 parts water to 1 part Woolite into a spray bottle. It cleans effectively and smells nice. [/b]</blockquote>
After you apply it, what do you do? Take a hose, and spray it down?
 
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