600 Quid Detail !!

[Sp!ke]

Hi,

Anyone that can do this with halfords products plus lack of experience and know how I would be very surprised :-

Actually you can now get the Farcela polish range at Halfords which is pretty much what the very best bodyshops manage to work with just fine.

 

[billywhiz]

Hi,

Anyone that can do this with halfords products plus lack of experience and know how I would be very surprised :-

And for those who say eastern europeans do a good job then i pity your vehicles paintwork.

That pic sums it all up really

If you was buying a car and there were two next to each other, same spec - which would you prefer, paintwork on the left or paintwork on the right ?

 

[fatdazza]

Are you saying that an illegal immigrant cant be a decent decorator?

How racist is that?

Seriously though, I wonder how many Eastern Europeans are already on detailing world and already up to speed and quality and likely hard at work plying their trade.

As I say, it isnt rocket science and the more detailer there are out there, the steeper the competition and the more realistic the prices will become.

Not at all racist in the slightest (if you read the post). In fact I find racism abhorrent

 

[Sp!ke]

Not at all racist in the slightest (if you read the post). In fact I find racism abhorrent

FWIW, I put a there to signify I was joking....

 

[fatdazza]

FWIW, I put a there to signify I was joking....

I know that, however one has to be careful when bandying the "racist" tag.

 

[Howard]

That pic sums it all up really

If you was buying a car and there were two next to each other, same spec - which would you prefer, paintwork on the left or paintwork on the right ?

Depends if it was three thousand pounds more for the one on the right ...

 

[Sp!ke]

To all the agitated detailers reading this thread, I'm not saying that I dont recognise the hard work and practice that goes into the work.

What I am saying is that it isnt particularly skilled... not enough to charge some of the sums of money that I've seen quoted anyway.

Armed with a ton of 'product', an eye for detail, a love of cars and most importantly, an OCD then anyone can detail.

Mark my words, pricing for this sort of detailing will tumble as competition hots up.

 

[e55]

To all the agitated detailers reading this thread, I'm not saying that I dont recognise the hard work and practice that goes into the work.

What I am saying is that it isnt particularly skilled... not enough to charge some of the sums of money that I've seen quoted anyway.

Armed with a ton of 'product', an eye for detail, a love of cars and most importantly, an OCD then anyone can detail.

Mark my words, pricing for this sort of detailing will tumble as competition hots up.

Sorry I have to disagree with that statement. The good detailers are skilled, however there are also some cowboys out there. You just have to be careful who you use.

Your comment that its not a skilled job is rubbish.

Thats like saying being a top chef has no skill. Most people can cook some meal but do you think armed with the right ingredients, ovens and a passion for food you can cook a meal just as good as a michelin star restaurant?

 

[Old Skool]

Actually you can now get the Farcela polish range at Halfords which is pretty much what the very best bodyshops manage to work with just fine.

I can also go buy a mechanics set of snap on tools but i wouldn't have a scooby doo how to do anything with them.

I could also buy an alloy wheel refurb van but I don't know how to use the tools.

Detailing to a very high level takes skill and knowledge plus insurances that cost a fortune on top of every day running costs. The hourly rate I charge covers my overheads plus a working wage - I don't earn mega money from it but I enjoy it and if i do say so myself, I'm good at it and I love my job.

I have put right a lot of hobbyists mistakes because "they could do it cheaper themselves" and I applaud anyone who gives things a go themselves. Some things need doing properly which is why i cater for lets face it, a tiny minority of car owners.

There is a place for us and a place for the £3 scratch centres so I'm happy with it

 

[Sp!ke]

When I mean not particularly skilled, I mean like not needing the 10 years training required for a barrister or doctor or the Michelin star chef.

No, not a 2/3 year apprenteship, or even a 6 month college course. In fact, what qualifications do detailers have exactly?

Sure there is stuff to be learned and likely some will never quite have the slight of touch or the natural gift to do the task in hand. Ultimately however it is a skill that can be picked up reasonably quickly and requires no qualifications and prices have yet to be in line with market forces.

 

[mikec32]

Here is a good 50/50 of the SL I did. I bring any person who thinks they can get that genuine result after a thorough ipa wipedown to believe they can get this result first second even third time round. That is, of course, without masking it up with fillers and glazes.

 

[Sp!ke]

Listen, I dont doubt what you guys do - I just doubt some of the prices.

I can wash my car myself, I can get the cotton buds out and clean stuff to the point of being **** - anyone can do that right?

Paint correction is the key selling point for detailers.

I see you are in Berkshire - not far from me.

How much would it cost to get my paint corrected - forget cleaning inside my mirrors and behind my wheels and all that time consuming nonesense because I'm going to drive the car and that stuff is going to get dirty anyway.

Just the paint correction?

 

[thetruth]

As an ex pro, Sp!ke is correct - it's not a highly skilled 'profession'. Anyone can pick it up.

What gets me is the un-justified sence of self-importance! And the stupid terminology, just call it car cleaning and machine paintwork resurfacing/polishing.

If someone can get away with charging loads per hour then more power to them, and there's nothing wrong with providing these services, but don't dress it up as something it's not!

 

[tpwuk]

Everything looks worse or better under a good old halogen lamp!

The fact is, most people don't care about swirl marks in paint.

 

[billywhiz]

^^ & that ladies & gents is why professional costs come in, and as mentioned before by a Pro - he would charge £23 an hour (absolute peanuts in the scheme of things)to get it looking like this. Great post

 

[mikec32]

Everything looks worse or better under a good old halogen lamp!

The fact is, most people don't care about swirl marks in paint.

Yes that is very true and totally understand why some don't care for paint correction. But if it looks perfect under halogens then in the sun it will look...well...just sweet.

 

[billywhiz]

As an ex pro, Sp!ke is correct - it's not a highly skilled 'profession'. Anyone can pick it up.

What gets me is the un-justified sence of self-importance! And the stupid terminology, just call it car cleaning and machine paintwork resurfacing/polishing.

If someone can get away with charging loads per hour then more power to them, and there's nothing wrong with providing these services, but don't dress it up as something it's not!

Or in other words applying 'Detail' to the job. - Hence why it's called detailing. And you are a long term/ was pro ? I suppose you 'Dyson' the floor or do you 'Vacumn with the long handles pointy thing' - It's a term applied to the process.

 

[Old Skool]

Everything looks worse or better under a good old halogen lamp!

The fact is, most people don't care about swirl marks in paint.

But the ones that do are the ones that phone me.

There is no argument really.

A phones me and says "I want my paintwork looking like it did when i got the car, I have tried to do it but i'm making a mess of it"

I quote and get the job and do it properly and show him how to wash the car properly and keep it swirl free.

He is happy and so am i.

Not many people will go out and buy a wax that costs £300 but they will pay £25 for me to use mine and keep the paint sealed and protected for a few months.

 

[moonloops]

That pic sums it all up really

If you was buying a car and there were two next to each other, same spec - which would you prefer, paintwork on the left or paintwork on the right ?

Oh yes we all take a set of halogen lights round honest bob's used car emporium don't we

 

[moonloops]

Can any of the "detailers" get rid of this hologram from my car?