Are you asking yourself the right questions? Are you having the appropriate dialogue with yourself? This may seem silly or not applicable to you. But I often hear of disappointment not only in a detailing service, but also products from those who choose to do the work themselves. I am going to be radically honest for your benefit. Most of the time, you asked yourself the wrong questions and carried the wrong assumptions about detailing and detailing products in general. But I am not an infomercial advertisement trying to wow you. I am someone who has helped many people like yourself troubleshoot while trying to detail a car and guided people towards more reputable detailing businesses. The conversations with these individuals often start out the same.
Over the years, with information about detailing more accessible, conventional wisdom would suggest consumers of detailing products and professional services would have a much better experience. That has not necessarily been the case. Misinformation from detailers, and more significantly suppliers, plays a role in consumer mistrust. It does not help that many consumers have preconceived opinions or beliefs about detailing services and certain products.
Grandiose claims from detailing supply companies are a more significant concern due to the fact they can mislead you (the customer) but also impressionable members of the detailing business community. Remember, this is a very unregulated industry in terms of content and product spec. In the best interest of the auto detailing industry, I ask you to challenge or question your beliefs related to popular trends.
The Word “Ceramic”
When I get to the root of what someone wants when they say ‘ceramic’, it often falls into two categories of desires.
The first category (beading, some protection, a few months of durability) you can get those results from a sealant or in some cases be happy with a with a wax. But I am often told a conventional detailing service did not provide what he or she was looking for. The solution often means finding a higher quality detailing service provider or (more often) being open to upgraded services. Either or both mean paying for more expensive services. The elephant in the room being the reluctance to pay more money for the results that you actually want.
The second category is the group that is often susceptible to not getting the quality of service/protection he or she desires due to the fact they do not distinguish the buzz word ‘ceramic’ between a glass coating and a spray sealant. Again, this problem can be addressed by being more open or skeptical about the price difference between two providers who promise the same results. Both categories of people make this common mistake of placing more value on the word Ceramic than the actual detailing process and the technician performing the service.
Protection
What does protection mean to you? Seriously, think about this. Is it just another buzzword that has an empty meaning? I challenge you to have a conversation with a detailing service provider that goes more in depth. A conversation about ease of cleaning, your car looking better for longer, a plan to preserve the paint based on how the vehicle is used and stored, will likely lead to a more positive experience for you.
Many of the words and phrases you use are ambiguous in the detailing world. Detail, full detail, correction, and even full correction, can be interpreted many different ways. I ask 10 people what a full detail is, I can get 10 different answers. The word correction does not mean perfection or necessarily chasing perfection. There are certain levels of a service, including paint correction services. A better or higher level of service may not be appropriate for you, even if it is something you desire.
New Car Prep
How does that car get to the dealership? It is transported by (saltwater) sea. Your car is transported via railroad featuring rail dust that is corrosive to paint. There is exposure to elements once it arrives at the dealership. Also the car is touched by people there. I am leaving out the worst of the problems, they will wash (which causes the most damage) once you purchase the car. Even if you really do not care about the micro scratches, there is bonded contamination on your paint. You don’t really have a new car.
The Cost Of A Detail
If you do a Google search for businesses, you can see some version about what a detail should cost is a popular follow up question. There are problems with the answers you receive from your friends, peers on the internet, and Google AI.
Remember you are pooling from someone who you may not like that service. That detailing business that has perhaps repeatedly disappointed you, has made many customers either happy or satisfied (for what THEY were willing to pay). Your standards, areas of focus, and concerns may not be the same as the crowd who told you someone else could do it cheaper. A car wash that charges $20 for 30 minutes of washing with minimum wage employees or the unlicensed person who has a few products for weekend detailing, may fit into that average price. Be honest with yourself. Let us set aside the undersold cost of daily operations. Would you spend 20 hours using several hundred dollars of product and giving the government 25 to 40 percent of your profits for $600 or $700 dollars? Neither would a detailing (at least for long) professional business owner.