I have dealt with cars from multiple clients who have had poorly applied Paint Protection Film.  Ceramic coating services without ceramic coatings!  Here is the problem.  Often more times than not, it was easy for me to tell no conversation took place between a provider about what the product and service was, or how to maintain the car with protection provided.  I had one person reach out to me from a neighboring city about 50 miles away, concerned about a service he paid for.  A conversation the next day led to his immediate realization he did not receive the service he paid for.  There were also red flags overlooked.  He did not know or believed the detailer had a website (in 2025).  The business, if real, was found on Facebook.  A picture of a ceramic coating was sent as verification that a real service was being provided.  I won’t say the name; it is a real ceramic coating albeit not great product.  The person who came to detail his car did not use that product.  The price for everything including some polishing was $800.  If it was the year 2018 I would not question it as perhaps too good to be true.  In 2025 even for an entry level type of service, this is at the low end.

Effort and honesty with yourself about the cost for quality are now more important than ever.  Whether it is ultimately me or someone else, I wish people within 50 or in some cases 150 miles of me put the same effort THE FIRST TIME looking for a detailer.  The person I mentioned above actually up-sold himself, when it may not have been necessary the first time.  This turned into paying 3 times as much to get to the results for what should have been twice as much, without the time wasted.  I have heard of many comparable stories in regard to detailing with a ceramic coating for several years.  Recently issues with finding a Paint Protection Film (PPF) installer have become much more problematic.

I have become accustomed to seeing issues with Paint Protection Film (PPF).  The picture below showing bubbling effect is one example of the multiple problems I found with the film.

Though I have seen cars in worse shape then what was shown above, it is an example that poor experiences are not discriminatory against any car.  For those that suggest a Ferrari will be treated differently from a Honda, I am not of the thought that you can dramatically change a culture of professionalism.  The problems I am many other reputable business owners have seen are consistent with a variety of makes and models.  In a world where people jump into car care businesses as an escape along with suppliers who have become less concerned about vetting, this problem is going to increase.

Making a decision based on the assumption that a accreditation or a warranty guaranteeing workmanship has been shown repeatedly to be a mistake.  In addition, if you can imagine the near equivalent to someone ‘keying’ a car, I have seen cut marks as well.  Between, like ceramic coating providers of years past, consumers reaching a point where they get to see their car underneath old film and the immediate increase in PPF not vetted saturation.  There is going to be a lot of disappointment and anger amongst consumers.  Many of the shops that consumers go back to with a complaint, will have already gone out of business.  Just like the ‘fly by night’ detailer that stopped showing up, budget competitive PPF installers will not be able to stay in business.

I can easily argue it is in part the industry’s fault, for not having more standardization.  But I can also say it is the product of a lifetime of consumers who fight the axiom ‘you pay for what you get.’  To also be fair, if standardization was on par with most trades there would be significantly less providers due to a shrunk marketplace.  PPF installation is too challenging and too premium of an option, to price shop under any circumstance.  Very skilled labor with expensive resources is necessary for reliable results.

The influx of aspiring entrepreneurs as an alternative to dealing with tough economic times along with arguably predatory detailing product marketing tactics that cater to instant gratification creates a perfect storm.  It does not take a rocket scientist for those genuinely curious to see a future of unqualified shops installing Paint Protection Film, Ceramic Coating providers not creating credible services, and detailers providing very poor experiences.  For aspiring owner and consumers, do I have your attention.