What Is Detailing?  I ran into a woman at a grocery store who noticed my logo, realizing I was affiliated with a detailing business.  She asked me a question that no one that understands what detailing professionally is can accurately answer without any context.  She immediately gets angry because I politely mention the need for more information.  Eventually she tells me basic washing and vacuuming her interior.  Even if she was genuine (?) in only wanting that, none of my clients consider that detailing.  Amongst those I cater to, they have uniquely different concepts of what detailing.  This is your first clue why so many people are unhappy with their detailing service.

For some people all they know is the local car wash.  They rationalize detailing is just doing a better job than a car wash.  Everything else (ceramic coating, polishing, etc.) is a singular task in their mind, at a specific price.  None of this is true.

Detailing is not like shopping for milk at the store. There are numerous types of people who are curious about detailing and some that are interested in detailing.  For most that are just curious, they will lose interest when they find out car care is not a one-time experience, and/or also a quick fix.  They will lose interest when they find out it is not ideal or there are consequences for waiting until their car looks noticeably bad to do detailing.  They will lose interest in paying for a professional when they realize it costs significantly more money and time to meet THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

When people ask Google is detailing (as a business owner or consumer) worth it?  For many people, I will answer it is not.  Unfortunately, many companies who have run ‘too good to be true’ advertisements have brought a more mainstream audience into this realm.  Leading to more disappointment and unmet expectations by consumers and business owners.  I am not just referring to the consumer but the aspiring business owner.  It is often very worth it for people with an interest in detailing and who also respect what it entails.  But there are (perhaps you) that are lured into the claim of effortless gratification by social media posts.  The no can turn into a yes over time, when your expectations evolve.

I need to start by stating this elusive obvious, aside from you pay for what you get.  My intention to highlight this is not for snob appeal, but to provide perspective on a bigger problem.  Paying for detailing from the beginning at its core has always been a luxury service.  This was once accepted as a reality during the beginning.  And then mainstream social media and budget friendly detailers introduced microwave dinners.  Those streamlined cheaper details were also easier to sell, in part because it was a simplified process.  Nothing inherently wrong with this.  But there are people outraged that a moderately higher priced detail is not the same quality as something the average person would call ‘outrageous’.  This adds to the disconnect between a high-quality provider and someone who says he or she ‘can’t get a good detail’ or ‘ceramic coatings are snake oil.’

The problem with the ‘well I will just do it myself,’ consumer crowd!   I would say detailing is more than just fixing something broken in the house.  It is a way of life for most enthusiasts.  I actually encourage learning how to detail versus wasting money on cheap details that pose other risks.  The problem for many people, whether doing it yourself or paying a professional, there is no miracle product.

The problem with the aspiring business owner that says, ‘I am really passionate about detailing the right way.’  Are you passionate about finding your niche, weeding out and dealing with the majority of people who do not appreciate or support your business?  Many are not!  They see us charging appropriately for those $2000, $3000, and $4000 paint correction and ceramic coating services.  They say, ‘I can do that too.’  They forget about the critics who have no real interest in detailing in the comment section.  Then proceed to somehow decide to market their services to those trolls.  Eventually they give up, after realizing detailing is a smaller fraction to running a business.