Facts About Waxing Part.3

Educating my customers.

I like to talk. (perhaps that comes through in the writing.) It seems my customers like to talk also. Customers constantly ask me about different models of cars they see or are thinking of buying or leasing. I happily give my opinions and tell the person inquiring as much as I know, including my honest opinion of a 88 particular car. the key in these conversations is building trust with customers and constantly educating them on what may be a good choice for them. I explain why black is a difficult and more challenging color choice to take car of, and why a light interior may not be practical for the customer with three kids and a dog. They appreciate this advice, and these conversations give me a opportunity to educate and explain a little about paint and the care it needs. These conversation build trust. I become the person who they believe when it comes to their cars paint and how to take care of it. This is very important when there is misinformation being given by a dealership or anyone else who steers a customer in the wrong direction.

Vomits! Yuck! Feses! ehhh!

Over the past years that I have been detailing cars I have ran across certain situations/jobs that I tend to turn down. Why you ask? Simple…cleaning up vomit its a bio- hazard! It’s a stomach fluid. WebMd says “ Vomiting is the forcible voluntary or involuntary emptying (“throwing up”) of stomach contents through the mouth. What does that mean for a detailer? It’s not a job we “do” or “give away in promotions” or “for $50.”

Today as I sat on my couch deciding what today’s blog was going to be about my phone rang.  It was a potential customer who had a “minor accident” on the back seat passengers side and “all over the back seats.” When someone vomits it is never pretty or small or as my geometry teacher would say “acute.” It’s ugly, smelly and….well just horrific to smell or even see. When I decided to be a vehicle reconditioner vomit was not on the top of the list of fun thing I would want to do. There is a certain procedure that I must do in order to clean a vehicle with vomit:

1. Wear a full body suit with goggles and gloves up to the elbows.
2. Spray the vehicle with disinfectant.
3. Pick up all the chunks of what ever that person had for dinner.
4. Shampoo all carpets seats, seat belts, and mats.
5. Do a whole “Crime Scene Investigation” with my little flashlight.
6. Place the ozone machine inside the car which takes 2 hours to run.

After everything was explained and every step broken down to this person, I was cut off by her saying ” well I only have $50 to spend on this procedure.. he he.. sorry.” SERIOUSLY! SERIOUSLY!!!! I don’t know if that person or whoever it was that vomited has HIV or the Noravirus (look it up) for me to jump in to my car, drive for 45 min, spend 3 hours cleaning up and detailing your car PROPERLY FOR $50.  But I am pretty sure this caller called around after I got off the phone with her and found someone who desperately needed money, or doesn’t know what they were getting themselves into so they gladly accepted (and probably would do it for $45) because you (the caller) sounded so nice over the phone.

Bio-hazard is govern by-law: Right to a safe workplace free of dangerous conditions, toxic substances, and other potential safety hazards. If this person who went out to clean the vomit was to get sick you, the person that hired you, are held responsible for his health.

So next time you have an accident like this in the back seats,  just ask yourself Would you would put your kids and your family in that back seat if the job was just done with only shampoo, a vacuum and rags for $50?

Facts About Waxing Part.2

Our MINI was built-in early December and delivered to us December 31. I clayed, polished, and waxed it the very next day with absolutely no fear of hurting the paint. Incidentally, it rain a week later and the car was full of salt and road grime. As bad as it looked, I knew I had already taken care of the paint and had no fear that the salt and harshness of winter would hurt it.

The MINI also arrived at the dealership with a protective plastic wrap on the top surfaces of the car to protect against atmospheric pollution and the elements during transit, and the short time it is at the dealer before it gets derived. MINI, or any other car manufacturer, would never use a plastic wrap suck as this if the paint were still in the process of drying,

Some cars do not have plastic wrap. Or the wrap may have been removed after its expiration date. Sometimes cars sit on a dealer’s lot for a very long time if they are in low demand or if the dealer is overstocked. I have seen cars sit on a dealer’s lot for four, six and eight Months or longer. These cars sit out there unwaxed and unprotected against the elements. They are rarely salesman tell a customer not to wax his car for another six months to a year. How much damage could be done to the paint surface over the period of time indicated in this scenario?

Also, it is important to consider how a customer takes care of his new car? Is it garage? Is it parked outside in the hot summer sun? Does he let the car sit with rad salt all over it for weeks? Does he wash it often? I know what you are thinking. This “New car” is going to need some serious paint correction when it is a year old. Not a simple “Wax Job”.

Do the Math

Customers as much as they dislike dealerships and sometimes their practices, will still believe a salesman when he tells them no to wax their car for six months to a year. then when you finally see their “new” car, it may need some serious work, If you do that serious work and want to be paid accordingly, You look like the bad guy for charging such a steep price for servicing a  ”new” car.

Let’s say a customer is driving a “Brand new” 2011 model. As you are reading this article, it is sometime in November 2011. He tells you it’s a 2011, so how bad can it be? However, you look at the production date and find that the car was built-in October of 2010. He finally decides to get it waxed in November of 2011, so, in reality, it’s not so new. This Brand new car is 13 months old! If this car was never waxed when it was delved, do you think it would need more than a simple wax job at this point? I bet it does, and I am sure you see this all the time. Unfortunately, the customer who was actually trying to protect his car against damage by not getting it waxed was doing exactly the opposite more harm than good!

Clear coat is not bulletproof

Many customers think that the term “clear Coat” means that they have some kind of protective coating or special paint on their cars. They think this is what allows them never to wax their car. They assume there is some kind of bulletproof shield on their vehicle. Clear coat is simply the final step in the factory paint stage paints of 20 years ago; it still needs to be cared for. Customers must always be informed of this fact. Today’s cars still need to be waxed and, If they are not, paint damage is likely to occur. This will result in the overall value of the vehicle being greatly reduced.

Facts About Waxing Part.1

My wife and I just purchased a new MINI  cooper. The day we picked the car up, it looked great! Clean Windows, shiny new tires, and no blemishes of any kind. The dealer did a great job prepping the car. The paint surface however, was a bit dry and felt a bit gritty. This told me that the car had not been waxed. When asked, the salesman confirmed that the car was washed, but not waxed. He further informed me that the Dealership does not wax new cars because the paint is still “Drying,” as he put it, and the wax may actually hurt the paint.

His answer concerned me. Not because the dealership chose not to wax the car, but because of his explanation that the paint was still “drying.” I am not sure if this was a convenient excuse to give the customer because the dealer didn’t want to take the extra time to wax the car, or if the dealer personnel are under the misconception that new cars really should not be waxed because of possible paint damage. Let’s examine why the salesman statement was incorrect.

Old Technology, old thinking

Twenty years ago, cars were typically painted with lacquer or enamel paint. These were single stage paint, with a large volume of solvent that needed to escape before the paint would fully dry. These paints systems dried from the outside in. The paint would look and feel dry, but the layers underneath could still be a bit wet and soft because all the solvent in the paint had yet escape. Therefore, if wax was applied to their paint surface before it was fully dried, there could be problems. There could have been solvent pop, which occurs from solvents pushing up through the paint and the wax, giving the paint a crater-like appearance. The paint could also have Died back” or faded a bit because of the trapped solvents clouding the paint. Also, solvents that did not escape would leave the paint softer and more susceptible to scratches and blemishes.

So 20 years ago, it was important, and correct, not to wax a new car with these paint systems. However, that is old school thinking and no longer applies with today’s base-coat/Clear-coat paint systems.

Today’s Factory paint process

When a car is produced at the factory, painting it is one of first step, This makes sense because you start with a bare body, which is easier to paint than a car that is assembled and that would require taping everything off, and then painting it, this would be extremely time-consuming and costly. After the vehicle is painted, the car is put together– body, drive train, interior, suspension, etc. it makes sense that the paint needs to be dry and cured before the rest of the car is built.

Today’s clear coat paint systems are higher in solids and have far less solvent that the paint system had 20 years ago. In part this is a response to E.P.A. concerns, and because a pint with higher solids dries and cures faster. Also motivators and hardeners are added to accelerate the process. On top of that, the car is baked in a curing oven to further decrease the dry and cure time.

Almost every car produce today with a base coat/ clear coat paint system goes through this process. These paints are 95% dry and cured before they ever leave the factory. It is Safe to say that by the time a car reaches the dealership. It is almost 100% dry. At this point the car can be wet sanded if needed, buffed, ah yes… waxed!

 

 

Kevin Farrell owns and operates Kleen Car (www.kleencarauto.com), a full-service auto detailing business located in New Milford, NJ. Kevin is also an instructor for a detailing program he developed for, and in conjunction with, BMW of North America. His background includes auto dealership experience and training through DuPont, General Motors, and I-Car.

 

Christmas 2011 Birth of a New Tradition

Brought to you by:
(Author unknown)
Autodetailingnetwork.net

As the holidays approach, the giant asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American Labor. This year will be different. This Year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that , At gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by Americans hands. Yes there is!

Its time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone– yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Local Cross-Fit  membership? its appropriate for all ages who are thinking about heath improvement.

Who wouldnt appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant giver who think nothing of plunking down the benjamins on a Chinese made flat screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn-mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants all offering gift certificates. aAnd if your intended isn’t the fancy eatery sort, what about a half-dozen breakfast at the local breakfast joint. Remember folk this isn’t about big national chains– this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn’t use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the american working guy?

My computer could use a tune-up, and i know i can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

Ok, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make Jewelry and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outing at local, Owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, How about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too. So find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, People, do you really need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the House? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community, if you have those kinds of bucks to burn leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice Big tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American Pockets so that China can build another glittering city, Christmas Is now about caring about US, Encouraging american small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And , when we care about other americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn’t imagine.

This is the new American christmas tradition. Forward this to everyone on your Mailing list– post it to discussion groups– Thow up a post on Craigslist in the rants and raves section in your city– send it to your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn’t that what Christmas is about?