The Problem With Picking And Choosing When To Be High-End

When to do quality detailing?  That question is a mindset problem and a ethical concern.

A lot of so-called professionals get more nervous working on expensive sport cars, $150,000 or exotic cars.  If not neutral, my mindset is often the opposite.  Though there are many outliers, there is often an implied understanding and comfortable investment made when a luxury car owner with disposable income books a detail.  For someone who may be in the lower middle class who genuinely gets ‘pay for what you get’, there is added personal pressure to not let that person down.  It is also true that many in the lower income category who do not get that this is a luxury service, are often in the category who will be the most frustrating to work with.  I have also dealt with wealthy individuals who have looked down on what I do as a business, by their attitudes and actions.  It is never a good idea to pick and choose when to be your best self.  Less expensive vehicles are often owned by individuals with disposable income.  They can potentially also be just as (or more) easily damaged!

There is a misconception that luxury vehicles are inherently more fragile and are the only vehicles that require special cleaners.  That is a dangerously false assumption.  But when you couple that attitude with the equally poor attitude someone with a $30,000 vehicle will care less than the person with a $200,000 car, you may set yourself up for disaster.

I hear it still to this day.  “Those services for the fancy cars.”  “Use this stuff for the nice car.”  What does that even mean!  I know, we know what they mean.  But for one who are we to say what is a nice car to someone else’s property.  But the dangerous part is suggesting to pick and choose when you are being professional.

This is how people who genuinely care about their cars, that they can barely afford, get them damaged by a so called professional.  Yes, many of those exotics have unique material that requires special care.  But think about it!  With fabric, leather, and plastic, what car is most likely going to have the cheapest version of this?  That is how that budget friendly (cheap) bottle of all-purpose cleaner, with stated instructions to not use on certain surfaces, damages a $30,000 leather seat or dashboard that may not have damaged a $75,000 car,

What most consumers and some detailers also do not understand, there are some brands that market their cars as luxury (successfully) but fall short in piecing together a luxury vehicle.  A well-known brand has a terrible reputation regarding paint quality and interior material.  It is the one brand that I have seen several detailing businesses have a waiver specifically for this car brand, that is considered a luxury vehicle.