You may have a car you finally care about.  You may have neglected your car for months/years and think a detail can simply fix your problems.  If you are included in one of these two categories and are not happy, I will do my best to give you some clarification about detailing expectations.

I will start with this point overlooked by consumers.  Detailing is nuanced and often variable with respect to each business and service option.  IT IS NOT LIKE YOU ARE PURCHASING A GALLON OF MILK.   I also understand, especially if you are not prioritizing a top-level service or don’t have high-end standards, that you do not want to put that much thought into detailing.  But you may have expectations or demands for a great looking result.  I will suggest as a win-win resolution regardless, putting your energy into finding a reputable enough to you provider.  When you find a professional you trust, let the EXPERT guide you.

Birds, water-spots, and bug guts on your car are not equal.  They are not equal in terms of the damage or more importantly the rate of damage taking place.  Some water-spots can be removed by conventional washing, some need a chemical (water spot remover), some need a light polish or moderate polishing.  But some may require extremely aggressive polishing or cannot be removed.  Is it water-spots from rainwater or a sprinkler?  How long have they been on the paint and what environment is the car parked in?  Quick improvement of water-spots in some areas does not guarantee easy removal in others.  Bird droppings can leave damage or possibly permanent damage in a short period of time.  What kind of bird, what the bird eats, how the car is protected, and environment the car is in, all play a role in the rate of damage.  Not all bug guts are created equal.  For those in Florida, love bugs can do damage even quicker than bird droppings.

Paint is scratch sensitive.  If you desire your paint to be nearly perfect, you need to make a conscious effort to stop doing ALL of the things that got you to this point.  Paint is also often less than the thickness of a post-it-note.

My point is for you to have some grace with detailers and yourself when results may not be perfect or require more than you to expect.  Just because you may have had a better result before or were told by your peers that a solution is easy does not mean that you will have guaranteed near perfection in the future.  When a professional says he or she is not certain about everything, that actually is a good sign that person is a professional that also cares about a satisfying end result.  In fact, what many people believe are red flags are in fact the opposite!  Wanting more information prior to quoting, being expensive to some, not telling you what you want to hear, and not boasting about how fast it can be done, sounds like a business that cares about what they put their name on.

What is your budget?  What are your expectations?  Is your ego telling you, especially during these times, that it should be cheaper?  Be honest with yourself.

Doing it yourself may and often will need to be an option for many of you in 2025.  If you have a certain expectation and you struggle to find an acceptable price (unicorn), you are better off being A DIY detailer versus continuing to shop for cheap detailers.  The consequences of unrealistic expectations have always been a reality in this and other industries.  Consumers are and will potentially pay an even greater consequence in 2025 and beyond due to our economic climate.  $150 for any detailing service in 2025 is cheap.  My (just starting out) exterior and interior basic detail started at $250 nearly a decade ago.  I would not consider that to be great value to me pre inflation considering I paid taxes and other business fees.  More on that part below.

There has been a substantial influx (from my observation) of less reputable detailers.  That list includes non-licensed, non-insured, and dishonest technicians who are not providing the promised service.  This is in part a product of the economy.  People unscrupulously are trying to make a quick profit, along with there being less buyers with appropriate discretionary income.  I will use a recent experience as an example.  You will see a ceramic package for $800 that I would charge $1800 for.  That person reaches out to me to discover the polishing was not performed as he promised and later also finds out a cheap wax was applied instead of a ceramic coating.  I have spoken with several customers and detailers alike, who can share a similar story.