What reasons caused the detailing association to fail?

I

imported_mirrorfinishman

New member
I always thought the PDTA was an excellent idea. However, the association never really appeared to have a clear definition of its purpose and goals. That is the major reason why the association may have failed. What is your take on why they failed and what could be done differently in the future?



Here is an exchange of ideas from the Professional Detailers Forum over at carwash.com

Carwash Online Bulletin Board



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RE: Car Care Expo: Frank Canna: 3/29/2006 10:52:04 AM

Does the association actually have a mission statement that clearly defines the purpose and goals of the organization?



Here are my thoughts in regard to why an association needs a mission statement.



1- A mission statement clearly defines why an association exists in the first place. A focused view of its fundatmental purpose.

2- A mission statement includes a concise description of the values and goals of the association. Giving the association a sense of meaning and direction.

3- A mission statement identifies in real terms who, what, where, when and how the association serves.

4- A mission statement is not about member benefits or what people want from an association.

5- A mission statement is about who an association is, what it does, and how it serves.



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RE: Car Care Expo: Brian Angelucci: 4/4/2006 9:36:13 PM



Frank, our mission statement is as follows:



The Professional Detailing Technician's Association was founded for the benefit of the hard working detailer. With the association's help, the detailer can have access to affordable insurance programs and many benefits for greater success. The Professional Detailing Technician's Association is in existence to add professionalism to the already stereo-typed detailing industry in means of more extensive education and future certification for the detailer. We are the new blood. Hope this post adds some ease to those concerns.

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What is your take on why they failed and what could be done differently in the future?
 
One of the reasons it failed IMO is that pretty much anything they could do except for insurance, you can get here for free. We already have several topnotch detailers from around the world posting here and sharing information.
 
Frank you might want to link that site differently , your link allows someone to comment as you.





I too thought the PDTA was a great idea and still do . It's obvious there's alot of Pro's out there don't feel the same way or we wouldn't be having the discussion of "Why the PDTA failed". Perhaps some expected change to happen overnight while other's were watching for some change before jumping aboard .
 
Scottwax - good point, I agree 100%



But what if an association could get the ear and respect of the everyday consumer and make a solid case to use PTDA affiliated detailing businesses?



Now it sounds more useful.
 
jsatek said:
Scottwax - good point, I agree 100%



But what if an association could get the ear and respect of the everyday consumer and make a solid case to use PTDA affiliated detailing businesses?



Now it sounds more useful.
Click to expand...



Everyone needs a mechanic and car repairs can easily exceed $1000 and the potential for someone outright ripping you off or shoddy work ruining your car is always there. Hence, customers expect some sort of certification process. No one 'needs' a detailer. Cars still run when they are dirty. Most people can probably wash their car and apply a coat of wax themselves and not mess up their car, so in their mind, how hard can it actually be? Therefore, no demand for certified detailers.



Now we all know the potential is there for a hacker to do some serious damage to a car's finish but look at all the people who accept new cars with buffer trails all over them. People don't know what quality detail work looks like unless they find a good detailer. Most see a shiny car and are happy with that. Our market is a huge step above that and tend to rely more on referrals than anything else. I am just not sure our profession is one that really supports a certification process or membership in a detailing assocation to entice business.



What we really need is an assocation that focuses on us. What our needs are. Insurance, technical training, taxes, marketing, budgeting, etc. Not to get a certificate to display but to help up be better detailers and businessmen.
 
if it's like other industries competitors don't like getting to gether or being on equal footing. They like to distinguish themselves as better or different than the local competition.
 
Scottwax said:
What we really need is an assocation that focuses on us. What our needs are. Insurance, technical training, taxes, marketing, budgeting, etc. Not to get a certificate to display but to help up be better detailers and businessmen.
Click to expand...





Do you know of any associations like this created for other types businesses?

There is NADA and GNYADA for car dealers, they offer NOTHING but sell a financial lender skewed monthly value book.



Town Chamber of Commerce possibly? A majority of the info you are mentioning effect all businesses. I met a champion accountant and got involved in a health insurance "pool" that lowered my monthly health insurance bill from $1400 to $940.
 
Scottwax said:
What we really need is an assocation that focuses on us. What our needs are. Insurance, technical training, taxes, marketing, budgeting, etc. Not to get a certificate to display but to help up be better detailers and businessmen.
Click to expand...





As stated earlier, I'm not sure that an association is necessary. In terms of detailing, forums like this are excellent to learn about our craft and better ourselves and share issues. A small business class or association should answer most questions that we have on that front. I can't see a detailers association doing much more than creating a hierarchy that might just advance the businesses of those who are leading it, just under the guise of "helping" its members.



The only positives I could see coming out of such a thing is maybe giving a little mainstream creditbility to what we do. Now, most people think that detailers are the $10/hr guy at the dealer that also cleans the bathroom or the day laborer at the local car wash doing a quick polish and wax. Maybe something having to do with health insurance would be good as now we have no collective power to get affordable rates.



Years ago when I first started, the PDA Professional Detailers Association)was just about to be absorbed into the NCA (National Carwash Association). I found that the carwash association membership literature had nothing useful for me in it.
 
I joined the PDA and I got a little newsletter every month that seemed to cover the basics of detailing and running a business. Probaby useful to someone just starting out but for someone already running a business it is stuff you should already know. Like "The best way to hand wash a vehicle". Just pulled out my old PDA newsletters, so that title is word for word. I also got a few samples from Autoglym in the mail to try. The glossary of detailing terms is pretty good though.



The yearly price went way up the next year and I just wasn't seeing anything that made it worth paying it. :nixweiss
 
jsatek said:
But what if an association could get the ear and respect of the everyday consumer and make a solid case to use PTDA affiliated detailing businesses? Now it sounds more useful.
Click to expand...



Would this be the fundatmental purpose for why a detailing association should exist in the first place? To be focused on reaching out to the consumer?
 
Scottwax said:
What we really need is an assocation that focuses on us. What our needs are.
Click to expand...



Would this be the fundatmental purpose for why a detailing association should exist in the first place? To be focused on ourselves, the detailers?



How would you define why a detailing association should exist and what would be your focused view of its fundatmental purpose?



Just some well intentioned questions to help us gain a better understanding as to the reasons why the association failed.
 
It is my belief, that certification is one of the biggest things plagueing this industry. If there were certification programs in place, we could weed out all the hack jobbers, and undercutters that are doing the most harm to detailing. Why are people going to choose me if my prices are double the guy who works out of his gargae? Do they understand that I do it much more thoroughly, properly, or that I am a legitament business who payes taxes, insurance? Until we get certification, we're all on our own.
 
The industry is too vast for certification. I know some honest "garage" mechanics who are among the best when it comes to analyzing problems. Leaps and bounds above those who are ASE certified. I dont think certification is viable at all.
 
Why not? What about all the damage done to cars by losers and idiots who are untrained. Take a "wheel" to a car with some "magic mix compound" and put a bunch of holograms into the 2nd most expensive part of the car. I think if people knew what really went into detailing instead of just washing, waxing, vaccuuming, and shampooing they would demand people get certified. Especially when they learned about the damage that can be done by people who don't know what they're doing.
 
mirrorfinishman said:
Would this be the fundatmental purpose for why a detailing association should exist in the first place? To be focused on ourselves, the detailers?
Click to expand...



Yes. It is pretty obvious to me that the average person doesn't view detailing as a very complex job so they don't worry about a detailer being certified. They do seem to care much more about word of mouth reputation.



How would you define why a detailing association should exist and what would be your focused view of its fundatmental purpose?
Click to expand...



It should focus on our insurance, tax, marketing and regulation needs. I find Autopia more useful in keeping up with the detailing aspect of the business. New products and techniques are here more quickly than they would be in a monthly newsletter.
 
Shaun Carollo said:
Why not? What about all the damage done to cars by losers and idiots who are untrained. Take a "wheel" to a car with some "magic mix compound" and put a bunch of holograms into the 2nd most expensive part of the car. I think if people knew what really went into detailing instead of just washing, waxing, vaccuuming, and shampooing they would demand people get certified. Especially when they learned about the damage that can be done by people who don't know what they're doing.
Click to expand...



People already accept crap work from their new car dealer.



There will always be cheap hackers for the cheapskate customers even with a certification process. Like I said earlier, the average person can wash and wax their car well enough for it to look good to them, so they don't view detailing as a particularly technical profession requiring certification.



Personally, I don't have time to educate Joe-Sixpack on the virtues of using a quality detailer. I prefer to focus on my target customer base. People who have high expecations of themselves. They are the ones who recognize our dedication to the profession and are willing to pay more to get a quality detail.
 
I think they failed do to bad management is all. They complained about members complaining and not doing anything. Like I said in another post, I got the PDTA discounts at vistaprint.com, I offered to help rebuild and run the forums. The vistaprint discount was never printed on the discount pages and nobody would contact me about doing the forums. They just said thanks, we appreciate the offer and they kept doing what they where doing. I in all honesty, feel robbed.



Here is why I think a certification program will not be a good idea. For every autopian detailing there are hundreds or car dealerships and fast paced detail shops. My guess is any certification program would cater to the masses. So when you go to class to get certified you learn how to fill in swirls with a high speed. I know tons of certified body technicians, painters, and mechanics that I would not let touch my car. I think a detiling certificate would be about the same way.
 
Shaun Carollo said:
It is my belief, that certification is one of the biggest things plagueing this industry.



Until we get certification, we're all on our own.
Click to expand...



It sounds like the idea of establishing standardized information thru certification would need to start with someone or some official body. That looks like it leads us back to the need for some type of detailing association.
 
I envision an organization that has a certification process as well (easy to do through digital pictures)



More importantly, having an association that advertises and promotes detailing using certified people. The ads could be placed in national magazines such as Car & Driver, Road & Track, etc...and direct the consumer to a Pro Detailing Web Site. Once on the site, the user could enter their zip code and it would bring up available detailers in their area. Each detailer could post particulars of their work and also list what type of business they have: Seasonal, Year 'Round, Mobile, Full Shop, Driveway, etc.



The association could also serve as a sounding board for business practices that work.



I belong to several professional associations in my Mon-Fri job and the overall objective is to bring customers to the individual. Once this is established, all the other ideas start to fall in place.



Scottwax is 100% right about detailing information. Autopia is the "go-to" site for up to the minute ideas and products. As well as a few other places. But the average consumer doesn't have a clue where to look (yellow book notwithstanding). Word of mouth is how most of us get customers, but I'm always on the lookout for car enthusiasts that care more about quality than price.



Totoland Mach
 
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