Should Meguiar's bring M101 Foam Cut Compound into the U.S. Market?

[imported_dfazekas]

Could anyone tell me if Meguiars has reps that call on body repair shops as 3m and CarBrite do ? Maybe this a opportunity for them to get into that side of the market if they aren't presently represented there. My connection with that side of the industry is very limited but I've never seen meg's products in use as a primary product at a repair shop. Just a thought.

Their local rep here does. They actually got the shop I used to work at (LOOOONNNG time 3m users) to start using 105/205. Granted they're using it with a rotary/not very open to new techniques/think a DA is a toy, but the fact that they're actually considering anything that's not 3m is a big deal for them.



But with that being said, my local rep hadn't heard of 101 til I asked him about it. I thought that was strange 'cause he's tested several products that have been big hits before they were released (105, mf system, etc). I wonder what body shops they tested it in....

 

[Jason Rose]

I don't think the explanation provided by Meguiar's is a load of crap. I think they developed a market specific compound, that's all. Since the auto refinishing industries are different here and abroad, it makes sense that professionals here may not have been so accepting of a compound that requires them to change the way they've been polishing. It's human nature to be wary of change. I do however think that we as detailers/ hardcore enthusiasts can make Meguiar's realize that there is a market for this compound. And I think they might be thinking the same thing. I'm hoping that threads like this will convince them to go forward and get this compound in the hands of people here in the states.

Thank you Erik. However rediculous it seems to some, it makes complete sense when you have all the facts and you understand that different markets have different needs.



Of all the domestic posts and comments I've read about M101, not one has been by someone who has applied M101 on refinished fresh paint, used the W61 backing plate, used the W6006 Foam Cutting Pad, in a domestic body shop environment...over domestically applied sanding marks. If they had, they would understand more about why it was not launched domestically at the same time the EU product was launched. As many have discovered however, M101 is rock star in other scenarios. But it is not rock star in every scenario. No compound is.



I'm sorry my previous explaination is viewed as a load of crap by some. But it is the truth. There are norms and expectations in domestic body shops that are very different from European body shops.



M86, M105/M205, and the DA Microfiber System, are all results of listening to end users. So was M101EU in Europe.



We have always been listening. We have not stopped listening. We are listening to you now.



Jason Rose

Meguiar's, Inc.

 

[RaskyR1]

Thank you Erik. However rediculous it seems to some, it makes complete sense when you have all the facts and you understand that different markets have different needs.



Of all the domestic posts and comments I've read about M101, not one has been by someone who has applied M101 on refinished fresh paint, used the W61 backing plate, used the W6006 Foam Cutting Pad, in a domestic body shop environment...over domestically applied sanding marks. If they had, they would understand more about why it was not launched domestically at the same time the EU product was launched. As many have discovered however, M101 is rock star in other scenarios. But it is not rock star in every scenario. No compound is.



I'm sorry my previous explaination is viewed as a load of crap by some. But it is the truth. There are norms and expectations in domestic body shops that are very different from European body shops.



M86, M105/M205, and the DA Microfiber System, are all results of listening to end users. So was M101EU in Europe.



We have always been listening. We have not stopped listening. We are listening to you now.



Jason Rose

Meguiar's, Inc.

I have! Actually that was the first thing I tried.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Thank you Erik. However rediculous it seems to some, it makes complete sense when you have all the facts and you understand that different markets have different needs.



Of all the domestic posts and comments I've read about M101, not one has been by someone who has applied M101 on refinished fresh paint, used the W61 backing plate, used the W6006 Foam Cutting Pad, in a domestic body shop environment...over domestically applied sanding marks. If they had, they would understand more about why it was not launched domestically at the same time the EU product was launched.

Granted we haven't had the opportunity to use the complete M101 "system" as it includes the W61/W6006, but even if that system doesn't work in the US as a total package I would think that tweaks could be made to either the properties of the backing plate (which of course, because the W61 is an M14-threaded plate we would need a 5/8" version anyway) and/or the foam pad to alter the cutting and finishing characteristics of the product.

As many have discovered however, M101 is rock star in other scenarios. But it is not rock star in every scenario. No compound is.

Exactly; that's where I start to look at the Meguiar's portfolio as a whole along with the different market segments it caters to and think that the formula could simply be marketed in a placement aimed less at body shops and more at detail/reconditioning operations. Hopefully that's the ultimate plan (though perhaps my choice of the word "ultimate" here isn't necessarily appropriate as it pertains to Meguiar's branding schemes ) since importing the product can be an aggravating process.



Just don't release it until I manage to sell off the rest of the 12 gallons I have sitting on the shelf :lol: