Need help finding good detail equipment?

[tyler w]

Hi, I was hoping you guys could help me out...I own a self serve car wash(four SS bays and two Automatics) My income is WAY down. I'm gearing up to offer Detail and Express detail service so I'm on the lookout for everything from Carts, supplies, carpet cleaners, uniforms...pretty much everything I would need to offer this service. I would really appreciate any input you may have on the best place to purchase these items along with any suggestions!

Thank you for any help!

[ColonelCash]

Re: Need help finding good detail equipment?

Just curious, will the same clientèle who use the self service bays pony up the cash for a detail service? Income is way down for a lot of people, especially with non-essential spending. Maybe a little sprucing up and some advertising could generate the same income without the new service line / training / liability / overhead. It seems like a large investment that will take additional capital and has a high degree of oversight for a small profit. (please note: this is all theory, no idea what your place looks like or the location)

As far as supplies go, most pros and weekend warriors swear by Auto Detailing Solutions. Rick has great customer service and sells a full line of Megs Detailer (high volume / lower cost per use) and Mirror Glaze (body shop line) products. Carts can be found locally at stores like Harbor Freight and Northern Tool for cheap, shipping could outweigh any savings from ordering online as they tend to be heavy and odd sized. I'd say your biggest expense will be talent to properly use the machines, hack job / amateur details will only cost you in the long run.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Need help finding good detail equipment?

I agree with the colonel. Try ads, they have excellent starter packages for beginning a business. The hard part will be in getting good employees.

[hot rod]

Re: Need help finding good detail equipment?

Call Detail Plus they sell a nice express set up.

[Jossy92]

Re: Need help finding good detail equipment?

I'm on the lookout for everything from Carts, supplies, carpet cleaners, uniforms...

From the other end of the experience spectrum...it's the guy behind the equipment that people pay for. As I learned the hard way:

I took my vehicle to a Detail shop once. The owner's "employee" used some sort of media on my stock painted rims. Took the paint to bare metal on parts of each wheel. Also cleaned the engine and about a week later the alternator failed.

I do amateur, but quality, Gold Class hand washes, clay, M21 for free for friends. Hard to mess up and people are blown away by the results from quality products. Some friends don't take care of the job so I use UQW.

In other words, I guess I gear my overhead to the "market" that I have, not the one I "want".

I like Rick at ADS, as he has helped me buy basic supplies while steering me away from blowing a lot of money on stuff I don't need or don't have the experience for yet.

Just like the previous experienced posters recommended. I sure hope you listen to them.

[tyler w]

Re: Need help finding good detail equipment?

Thanks, I'm planning on selling to my existing customers that already use the Automatic Bays I also plan to do some mailings. I have already done all avenues to spruce up the place and I'm ready to do this. I have a recent three dollar wash down the street along with another wash in the area that has lowered there price. I have two attendants that are actually pretty good at full detailing and very trusting..I couldn't find two better guys so I think I'm OK on the labor part of this. I am looking at the Details Plus equipment and supplies..Thats a NICE cart!