CC failure and the G-100 DA polisher

[scrub]

Today I talked to a client from back in Aug. Its a 1991 or 1993 that is not kept in a garage. The car had several spots of CC failure. I pointed out this and that I could not repair this condition. Anyway today they stated that I caused more spots of CC failure with my machine. I used MPPC and #80 with a W-8006 pad. I'm not sure of the time frame of when I worked on the car until the additional spots. Might be days or months.

I can't say that I didn't help accelerate this condition, but has anyone witnessed this happening to a surface after they have polished it? I've polished other cars with CC failure and not a single word.

Any ideas or suggestions? I know the first one, in the future stay away from cars with CC failure.

[ebpcivicsi]

How could you prove that anyway? I mean for all they know the CC failure was there already and by polishing it you just revealed what was there all along.

Did they even know what it wa prior to your telling them? I doubt it.

Sounds to me like they are trying to get you to foot the bill for a new paint job.

[scrub]

Originally posted by ebpcivicsi
Did they even know what it wa prior to your telling them? I doubt it.

They did ask if I could "fix" those spots. Its been a while so I don't remember the exacts of our conversation. It's a bummer cause their a realtor in a big office. I think my word of mouth is dead there now. Should I offer them some money back to save face and keep other potential clients from that office??

Thanks for your reply.

[Mark Cummins]

This Wont Help with the Problem now ...But on any Future Details..INSPECT the car FIRST and Note all paint DAMAGE before WORKING ON THE CAR AND Have the Customer Sign The Work order re paint Defects....

The Owner Didnt notice the defects Until the car was detailed..
Dull and Non Detailed cars Will Hide many Paint defects!

Its a Shame today One MUST be a Lawyer and Shop Owner to Run a Business...Yet another lesson in Life

[scrub]

Thanks for reply.

I do have some of those inspection forms now.

The client did know about the defects before the detail. I pointed them out and said I can't repair that. In their eyes, I just helped speed up the process so to speak.

[Rick]

I'm going to say it's 99.9% deffinitely not your fault. Once clear coat corrosion starts it's usually far too gone to stop. If it were happening in spots the rest is sure to follow. Perhaps you can get some article on this to show to the client. See if you can find something from a highly known paint manufacturere or maybe even Meguiars if they have such a thing.

[the other pc]

I suppose it's theoretically possible you shortened the cc's life by a few hours by removing a tiny fraction of the film but the reality is you probably extended its life. The #80 added some sorely missed oils to the paint and (I'm assuming you put on wax or sealant) the protective last step helped put off the inevitable failure even longer.


PC.

[scrub]

the other pc Good point. After viewing the thread about how much film build is removed with the PC, I didn't think the pc would hurt the CC. But I guess the CC has to be in good shape. If its starting to fail the pc might remove some cc

Thanks for reply

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Scrub,

You're between a rock and a hard place as far as you're reputation and word of mouth advertising. No matter how innocent you may be, in your customer's eyes your guilty.

That's not good.

You've learned a lesson from the "School of Hard Knocks", these lessons can be painful, but if you learn from them the valuable education you obtain will last you a lifetime.

Has the customer actually told you they want you to pay for a new paint job?

Mike

[scrub]

Thanks Mike.

No. They said since the cc failure was already started and they were going for a repaint anyway. They just wanted to let me know for other clients incase it was the chemicals or my machine. They wanted me to be more careful of older cars in the future.

[scrub]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips

You've learned a lesson from the "School of Hard Knocks", these lessons can be painful, but if you learn from them the valuable education you obtain will last you a lifetime.

Mike

Not to be silly but what can I learn from this except

1. take pictures
2. work release form
3. turn away clients with CC failure

What else can I take from this that I'm not seeing?

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by scrub
Not to be silly but what can I learn from this except

1. take pictures
2. work release form
3. turn away clients with CC failure

What else can I take from this that I'm not seeing?

That's about it and that's enough.

From your original post, the way I read it, it sounded like their was a possibility they were going to want you to pay to have their car repainted and they might not be recommending your services, if this were the case, that would be painful. If it's not, then the three lessons you learned are each very valuable and will go a long way to protect you from potential mistakes in the future.

Mike

[scrub]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
That's about it and that's enough.

From your original post, the way I read it, it sounded like their was a possibility they were going to want you to pay to have their car repainted and they might not be recommending your services, if this were the case, that would be painful. If it's not, then the three lessons you learned are each very valuable and will go a long way to protect you from potential mistakes in the future.

Mike

I guess another lesson would be
4. No machine (even pc) on cars with CC failure. Only work by hand.

Thanks again. I'm sure there is more I can draw from this.

Before I took the job I walked the car down with the owner and they asked what that was. That's when I said it CC failure and I can't fix that. So it was in that condition before I started and that was reconginzed by the owner too.

[Mike Phillips]

I think that one of the most valuable thing to come from this experience is that you shared it on our forum and now everyone that reads this will have the opportunity to learn from your experience and hopefully this will help them to avoid mistakes by following the three criteria you listed.

1. Take pictures
2. Use a work release form
3. Turn away clients whose car's have clear coat failure

(Do your best to educate your potential customer what clear coat failure is and they will see that you have a good understand of paint and will respect you as a knowledgeable and professional detailer)


There's an old saying I'm rather fond of, it goes like this...

"Try to learn from other people's mistakes, you may not live long enough to make them all on your own"




Mike