What reasons caused the detailing association to fail?

If I could say something from a Non-Pro view? Most people have NO idea what it takes to "detail" a car. Majority don't care. You have to remember that Autopians are a VERY small minority. Ask the general public and you will find they don't give a crap about detailing.



Being "certified" really doesn't mean much in the publics' eye. It's only as good as the "certifier" and who is going to take the time to find out how You got your certification?



It's rampant in my industry (computers) and all you have to do is pass some tests.... Doesn't really mean you know what you are doing.......Kinda like flying a plane.... I passed the simulator!!! Wanna go flying with me? :nervous:
 
Red98gt said:
If I could say something from a Non-Pro view? Most people have NO idea what it takes to "detail" a car. Majority don't care. You have to remember that Autopians are a VERY small minority. Ask the general public and you will find they don't give a crap about detailing.



Being "certified" really doesn't mean much in the publics' eye. It's only as good as the "certifier" and who is going to take the time to find out how You got your certification?



It's rampant in my industry (computers) and all you have to do is pass some tests.... Doesn't really mean you know what you are doing.......Kinda like flying a plane.... I passed the simulator!!! Wanna go flying with me? :nervous:
Click to expand...



Agreed. i was going to say that most people just want their car cleaned and looking better than when they gave it to you. At least in my area. I used to get so mad hearing people say. "Well Jim Bob's Detailing down the road will do it for half the price and that is both interior and exterior." Then I would have to explain why my services are better. Then they go down to Jim Bob's anyway. So, what I have done is added a cheap fast detail. I just use a one step on the paint for those details. You know what? Sure, I hate not removing the defects, but I get a LOT more people wanting the "cheap" detail and have never heard them complain when they get their cars back.
 
Danase.... Exactly!



An association would be for the Detailers not the public.

The public will want to know. "How much and how long is it going to take?"

not that you are certified.
 
As a guy just starting out - Detailing is my side job, my weekend work to help support my family, I run into people that want their cars cleaned and most have no idea the work it takes. I do spend time with them to point out what problems they have and I show them what I'm going to use and about how long it will take. They might not understand it, but they nod along and send me more customers. I'm 47, and I take my time, one car per Saturday is my limit. I usually spend 5 hours on every job, did double that on a Beemer with bad scratches (before I got my Makita). I use professional products and with each detail - I learn a trick or two to save time and get the same results. One thing that helps is to know when to quit, you CAN make a 10 year old Blazer look like a show car, but WHY!?

I get people that appreciate my time, they know they can go to the guy at the Auto Spa or call a mobile detailer, but they understand my focus is on the job, NOT how fast I can do it so I can get the next one. The only thing that I wish was available is some kind of cross referrence chart for all the products.
 
Totoland Mach said:
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.
Click to expand...



Is this really one of the reasons why the association failed?



Was consumer awareness ever part of their mission?
 
mirrorfinishman said:
Is this really one of the reasons why the association failed?



Was consumer awareness ever part of their mission?
Click to expand...



I don't know if that was a reason for failure, but it was my reason for not becoming a member. And, possibly, it was the reason for many people that visit detailing forums not to join.



I think consumer connection is the biggest reason for an association's mission. To provide a central point of contact for a consumer to access the detailer in their area, and to have the assurance the detailer will meet a set of standards established by the association.



As I said earlier, most if not all our new business is referral from existing customers and this association could expand that business with marketing in the manner I described.



To form an effective association, there has to be a "value" to the detailer that is considering joining.



Totoland Mach
 
I remember back in 1985 when I joined ICA and attended my first carwash convention with detailing semineers. I was very excited and was a member till 2003 when I felt the wheels of ICA were spinning and the wear abouts of support for the detailer operation became less important to cater to. I attended a meeting in Vegas at one of the conventions that the President of ICA came to listen to and ask for ideas. Only my self and two other detail operators showed up , that is when I knew we were in trouble.



I was also a member of the Southern California Professional detailers association till its merge with ICA . We would of been better on our own ICA killed off what chance we had to grow and make headway.



Bob Geco

Support ICAR training
 
Well, the PDTA is back and the look is a little better. Welcome Page



The thing that ticks me off is that they closed the boards and site to rebuild and never told anyone?!?!? I sure missed that memo. And why close a site down to rebuild it? You could rebuilt the entire site and leave the old one up and then just switch to the new one once it is done. Maybe my questions are answered in the new forums. We shall see.



Maybe it is just me but I can not even get to any forums. Anyone else?
 
I guess the forums will be up in a few days. Here is the response I got from them:

"Bob:



Thanks for your email, no they are not up at this time. I was working on this last night and will try to get the new forum up in the next few days. I appreciate your patients with this process, I promise it will be well worth the wait.



Any other quesions, please let me know,



Thanks for your support



Diana Bean"
 
Not digging the new PDTA at all. The new forums are messy and hard to navigate and follow. The old PDTA asked me to offer a discount to the members and the new PDTA won't let me offer it without paying for some sort of advertising.
 
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