I do believe this starts and also ends with mindset. But this is about expertise. We have had and still have issues with business owners who ‘do detailing’ versus offering detailing services.
No Industry Standards With Industry Saturated With People Do Detailing VS Professional All Things Professional
Keep in mind, these questions are initially for (you) customers. Do you understand that not all water spots are the same? Do you know the role paint correction has in improving the condition (what’s actually happening) of your paint? Do you know the REAL benefits of ceramic coating? Many of you may or may not know or also carry false beliefs about the topics in question. The point of thinking about these questions is the reality that I see numerous alleged professionals do not know these things. Many people that say they do detailing are just regurgitating other people’s options, offering detailing in exchange for money. Some only know what their ceramic coating suppliers tell them.
A lot of customers and detailers want to think they are working for customers, like it is a job, but do you really want to embrace that attitude? The mindset of it being a job versus a skilled trade by many people attracts the lowest common denominator. It is a big issue I see not only obvious in the questions asked, often while someone is working on a customer’s vehicle. But also, in the hubris of trolling other professionals’ social media channels. These people often only try to treat themselves like experts when they are offended by other people’s posts on their social media channels. Many detailers are afraid to challenge or deny a customer’s request, even when it is obviously not in either party’s best interest. I would not have nearly the same number of amazing turnarounds, aside from probably damaging cars, if I treated my clients’ assumptions as gospel.
The prep process before coating; detailers and others may have told you about that in the process of ceramic coating services. But how many know what that means. Many, including those preaching understands the concept of prep. A surgically clean surface being the most important thing. Secondarily appropriate polishing to both parties’ expectations. Most people regurgitate a weird talking point of locking in your paint as if something cannot escape an evil blockade. I understand the vague and oversimplified reference. But most people just regurgitate that without breaking down it being what you want to live with (paint condition) until it is time to perform this service again. Not to clients of mine that have known me for years, but many professional and non-professionals would be shocked to hear, the prep is something I regularly have done well before I offered coatings. I tell potential clients that prep is another word for detailing in my world. Not too many people know how to get vehicles in various conditions surgically clean. Nor do they understand or appreciate how to improve the condition of paint. Many people are reading instructions from a bottle for 10 seconds, watching a single YouTube video, or doing what coating brand rep says who is interested more in selling coatings.
Interiors are not different. How many people think about attacking various stains uniquely. Most people only think of it as cleaning a car. That is why most people are moderately or significantly disappointed with detailing services.
I say to people all the time, you have to put some effort into finding the right detailers. For those that do, it is not as hard as most people think. You can look at a few websites and see a difference between companies. For many people that scoff at this, they will continue to run into the same problems. I cannot tell you how many times people were surprised I had a website and never thought to look for it, even though I provide easy access. A website that has examples of demonstrated expertise, imagine that! I cannot tell you how many stories of not only myself but others (elite detailers), where callers were visibly offended by the notion of having a conversation about expectations versus guessing about a price.
Coating A applied by one detailer is listed for 4 years and Coating Z used by another business is for 8 years. Do you know how the detailing business or SUPPLIER came up with those years? That is a conversation topic!