Zaino Missing Big Boat
- Thread starter RAG
- Start date
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
Yeah, back 25 years ago I had a friend who would drive around all day to pay a penny a gallon less for gas...or about 12 cents (it was a Pinto...connect the dots). A few weeks ago I was going to order something online from a company that was about an hour away, and I thought I might try to pick it up to save the $8 shipping...then I realized that the round trip was going to cost me about 6 bucks in gas...and decided that was a stupid idea.
Glossmaster
New member
Exactly, Mike!
BlkTac05 said:
It isn't the time for me, it is the need to purchase another product to make the first one work. Plus, if I am only waxing one car that day and all they are willing to pay for is a single layer of LSP, it is hard to mix up such a small amount.
Like I said earlier, Z5 seems to be working very well sans ZFX. Plus I applied it over a 6 week old application of Long Haul's Polish/Wax with no prep other than a QEW wash. No Dawn, no alcohol/water wipedown, no AIO. After two months, including the car being driven in the ice we had in December, the paint was still very slick after I washed it. I just applied another layer of Z5 and topped with Z8 again. For this particular vehicle, that will be waxed every other month, Z5 with no ZFX or special prep topped with Z8 works spectacularly well. Used in this fashion, Zaino is a very appealing product. I am sure you Zaino purists are having a heart attack right now over the way I have used it but it works for me.
blkZ28Conv said:
First off, I like the leather care products and based on reviews think I would like the tire gel. My problem is not with the quality of goods. I am merely expressing the reason I have never bothered to try the tire gel.
By your reasoning, you would have to make the travel costs to the dealership equal a significant portion of the cost of the car. For example, I would like to try the tire gel ($13) and I am running low on leather conditioner $11. Let's say I stock up on leather conditioner (2-3 (per Zaino shelf life less than 2 years)) and buy one tire gel (just trying it out). The cost of goods is $46 (3 leather cond. and 1 tire gel) and shipping $9. Shipping is equal to 20% of the cost. A Porsche Boxster S starts at $56k (no options). Would you pay an $11,200 (20%) premium to buy a $56k car when when you could buy a BMW M3 w/ $5k in options(trying to find a similar good) or fully loaded Corvette for for $56k plus a premium half that or less of the Porsche?
I use poorboys polishes and waxes, Zaino leather conditioner and cleaner, 303, armor all tire protectant, propel pads, MFs from 4+ online retailers, meguiars brushes, Stoner's IG, etc. Several online retailers have most of those products for sale in one spot. I can usually find several of these items to pad a purchase when I run low on one thing to reduce the overall shipping cost per item. The only other item on my list that can be purchased from only one retailer is sold by a retailer that charges only the actual shipping costs (refunds once shipping charge known). If Zaino did this, I would have tried the tire gloss 6 months ago.
Okay so I rambled a little but as you can see this thread struck home because it is something about which I have been thinking. As a newbie, I am trying lots of new products and find online retailers with multiple product lines the best way to find the products that work for me. I would really like to try Zaino's tire gloss but find that I am bothered by the flat shipping rate. Trying just the tire gloss would cost $22 ($13 tire gel + $9 shipping). A bit steep for an unknown. I know others have high shipping rates but they offset that by selling other products I know and am willing to stock up on.
wannafbody
wannafbody
well another option for the non purist or pro deatailer is to try Z5 or Z2pro over Duragloss polish bonding agent ($5 at carquest)-as it seems quite similar to Z1
imported_memnuts
New member
brownkc said:
Brownkc, :wavey
PM me your address and I will gladly send you a sample of the Zaino Tire gloss for a test usage. Many members here at Autopian trade or give samples in order to expand our horizons on what is out there. This way you can try the tire dressing and if you like it include it with your next order for the Zaino leather products.:xyxthumbs
Example #1
I once spent ~$2000.00 over cost back in 1979 because I wanted one of the first Mazda Rx7 in the USA. Price of vehicle was ~$8,000. I spent nearly $10K. There were comparative vehicles without such mark-up but there was only one source for this once fantastic vehicle.
Exampl#2
Just yesterday I order an item from Eckler's (finest Corvette aftermarket parts outlet IMHO) with a item price of $23.99 and shipping weight of 0.7 oz. Shipping and handling cost was $6.99 via UPS. :wall No other option, I had to pay this additional 30% for the specific item I wanted. Trust me, I am very frugal with my money but I also understand,as BlkTac05 stated, that this service comes at a worthwhile cost.
imported_COBRyan
New member
Scottwax said:
Exactly! Zaino costs too much and requires a little too much extra effort to be used in a business (IMO). I know a couple of guys in my area who offer 'custom Zaino detailing' as they call it, but they charge absurd amounts and they don't even offer any deep polishing by hand or machine! Just a wash, clay, Z5, Z2, and Z6 treatment! A lot of the Chevy guys pay the premium for this service but their cars are still covered in swirls after the detail.
Most of the customers I detail for have never even heard of Turtle Wax, so I would not expect them to know what Zaino is. If I used Zaino exclusively, I would have to raise my prices (which I think are affordable) and this would probably cause me to lose a lot of new customers. If Zaino was a product I felt was worth the premium, I would definitely try to market my services to new customers, but I don't. I honestly feel my customers should pay less if Zaino is being used! That is only because I feel their car could look better with something else.
THECLEANER
New member
"I honestly feel my customers should pay less if Zaino is being used! That is only because I feel their car could look better with something else." :lol :lol :lol
YOU SHOULD BE :banned: FOR THAT. J/K To each his own.
YOU SHOULD BE :banned: FOR THAT. J/K To each his own.
imported_COBRyan
New member
THECLEANER said:
lol, I knew that would hit a few people, but I never had good experiences with Zaino. I will admit, I have seen some cars that looked pretty good with Zaino, but most just don't impress me.
SilverLexus
Super Enthusiast
Scott, I'm not sure this is really fair. Z-2 Pro works great without ZFX. I did my wife's car with it and it sparkles. As I said before, there are technology learning curve issues with ZFX. No one has put ZFX type chemicals into an one stop sealant product before. Sal is trying his best. He will figure it out one day...
imported_memnuts
New member
COBRyan said:
:nono
Read my sig. It will denote why all LSP's do not give you excellent results.
Obviously, you are deriving or depending on your LSP to make up for the lack in detailing the paint (Prep) to its maximum beauty. if so, you ARE cheating your customers and probably should charge less for all your detailing work IMHO.
wannafbody
wannafbody
blkZ28Conv said:
IMO this is a cheap shot at a fellow autopian. Bryan knows how to polish a car if you've read his posts. He simply thinks other products produce better results. I personally have tried Duragloss which some claim looks and lasts like Zaino. Yes it is durable and it looks good but IMO other products produce a wetter look. Its very subjective-everyone has their own favorite.
SilverLexus said:
According to all the hardcore Zaino guys posting in this thread, you do need Z1 or ZFX for the initial application. Once you have a base coat of Zaino down then you don't need to use ZFX for a single additional layer at a later date. Therefore, my statement was completely accurate and fair. It isn't a slam, that is the way the product works. It is just a reason that it isn't the best product for me.
...however, it appears that at least Z5 works just fine without ZFX or any special prep.
imported_memnuts
New member
This isn't about favorites.
There is no subjectivity to a blemish-free finish. It is or it isn't
There is an end-point to what an automotive painted finish should like - it the just painted fresh out the booth look.
The beauty is in the paint not the LSP. Bring out that beauty and any LSP will look fantastic.
When I first used Zaino "I" didn't think it looked great. It looked good but not great. I call Sal and he told me straight up what my problem was. I needed a better canvas to paint his Zaino on. After 30 plus years of calling myself a good hobbyist detailer, I was dumb-founded. Nevertheless, I listened to his suggestions on prepping better and to remember that his products contain no make-up, no fillers, no exotic oils, and no gloss enhancing silicones. My (Sal's) product is basically optically clear and will not hide blemishes.
I took Sal tough love (for detailing) approach and started working on developing my paint prep skills and advanced my available tools for this task (PC, Rotary, and better polishes). I challenge myself each time I polish to reach my goal of having a finish that needs no enhancement. A finish that I would hate to cover-up or alter it appearance with a protectant. My goal when adding an LSP is for protection and some hi-lighting. Not artificial depth or wetness but the true "just painted" look. The challenge for me is the road (prep) to this just painted look and the perservation of all that hard work.
Bryan and I can speak with the same directness. We're not strangers and can agree to disagree about things with the same directness.
There is no subjectivity to a blemish-free finish. It is or it isn't
There is an end-point to what an automotive painted finish should like - it the just painted fresh out the booth look.
The beauty is in the paint not the LSP. Bring out that beauty and any LSP will look fantastic.
When I first used Zaino "I" didn't think it looked great. It looked good but not great. I call Sal and he told me straight up what my problem was. I needed a better canvas to paint his Zaino on. After 30 plus years of calling myself a good hobbyist detailer, I was dumb-founded. Nevertheless, I listened to his suggestions on prepping better and to remember that his products contain no make-up, no fillers, no exotic oils, and no gloss enhancing silicones. My (Sal's) product is basically optically clear and will not hide blemishes.
I took Sal tough love (for detailing) approach and started working on developing my paint prep skills and advanced my available tools for this task (PC, Rotary, and better polishes). I challenge myself each time I polish to reach my goal of having a finish that needs no enhancement. A finish that I would hate to cover-up or alter it appearance with a protectant. My goal when adding an LSP is for protection and some hi-lighting. Not artificial depth or wetness but the true "just painted" look. The challenge for me is the road (prep) to this just painted look and the perservation of all that hard work.
Bryan and I can speak with the same directness. We're not strangers and can agree to disagree about things with the same directness.
imported_memnuts
New member
DavidB said:
Message received.
Back to the garage so I can keep myself out of more trouble.