Thomas Dekany said:
You should see Nth Degree's work man!
Thank you, Thomas. I do appreciate the acknowledgement I have received from many recently.
Count,
I will point out why I said what I did:
You did not mention your experience with Opti-Coat, but you did express your desire to experiment with a product and process on the particular vehicle.
The Count said:
I've never done clear bra would like to give it a shot tho
That, combined with the OP's clear concern for having the job done right, is why I cautioned on this one.
mbowler said:
If I thought it was easy, I would do it myself.
I've also asked if [the clear bra installer] has any suggestions for detailer who really knows how to work with the paint.
If I'm talking to someone, what should I be asking them to know if they can handle what I'm asking for in terms of prepping the paint. I'm not overly concerned with the Opti-Coat install. It seems straight forward, but the paint prep has me all worked up since this level of paint care is a new animal for me.
He is clearly seeking someone with copious experience. He clearly wants it done right and would be very disappointed with any compromises. If a customer approached me about using a product or a process I was not familiar with I would be up front about my concerns and request time to test the product/process before agreeing to the job. I feel that my standards in my work and my integrity are sufficient for them to trust that, if and when I do detail their car, it will be done right.
That said, we all have had customers early on who took a leap of faith with us. Often it is a friend or acquaintance rather than a high paying job. Some customers take that leap of faith and get burned, which only causes the rest of us to work that much harder to overcome the sometimes negative stereotypes.
The Count said:
And as we all know from experience, its not what needs to be done, its not what we think needs to be done, its what the customer wants done and its what the customer WANTS TO PAY FOR.
:argue:I could not disagree with you more on this statement. There are many potential customers who think they know what they need because they have done a little reading. I could do a little reading about a medical ailment and go to the doctor and tell him I need "XYZ" drug, but he's not just going to hand me a prescription without first doing his own assessment. It is our job as professionals to educate the client. I have had many customers tell me they want their car perfect. Once I educate them on the reality of the upkeep, the risks of over-polishing, and the cost they usually opt for a lesser level of perfection. Do I make less money on the detail because of this? Sure. But I have earned their trust because I am not taking advantage of them by selling them something they don't need and I am looking out for their best interest. I want their car to look good for the long haul. Many of my customers have thanked me for this. Ultimately, what I might miss out on financially on that one detail I make up for through referrals. I have customers who work harder at getting me more business than I do myself. I don't do this job for the money. I do it because I enjoy it, but I have to make it worth my time.
If a customer still chooses to pay for perfection, then I at least know they are making an informed, educated decision.
The Count said:
Yeh the paints supposed to be perfect for every lsp but does everyone do that? Seriously man whats your beef? Don't see what the problem is but you keep telling him to get someone else.
Everyone doesn't achieve perfection with every LSP because they can always go back and do more later. With Opti-Coat it is far more difficult. In most cases you can simply remove a LSP with a strong wash, Alcohol or a solvent. Opti-Coat must be polished away, and not just the spot where the defect is. Spot repairs are not recommended with Opti-Coat so the entire panel must be redone. So essentially, if the car is not done right the first time the owner not only pays for it the first time, but will probably have to pay someone else even more to fix it.
The Count said:
If a guy comes up to you and says "I want it washed and waxed with opti coat" are you gonna say well you gotta get dawned clayed paint correction otherwise I'm not gonna do it?
Absolutely! I will not sign my name to sub-par work. I have sent many potential customers to the local car wash for a detail because what they were looking for was not what I do. That's not to say I don't do anything less than high end work. The bulk of my business is wash/clay/seal or 1 step corrections. But if someone asks me to short cut it with Opti-Coat I won't do it. In the end the results will not reflect well on me or the product. Opti-Coat is an outstanding product and does not deserve to be tarnished by bad reviews because a "professional" detailer did not do their due diligence to follow the recommended preparation and application.
I think I speak for Thomas, as well as myself, when I say the intention was not to impede your business, but simply to look out for the best interest of the OP.
