shocked

[Mr Mustang]

Re: shocked

I've learned one thing, never watch anyone else work. Around here, noone is even the slightest bit car crazy, and I about threw up when I saw a local "detailer" crew pick up a nasty rag off the ground, that looked like it had been used to clean an oilspill, and use it to dry a car

[Michael Stoops]

Re: shocked

All the scenarios outlined in the previous posts here are why we in Customer Care always take the following comments with a grain of salt:

"My car is brand new so it's in great shape - how do I keep it that way?"

"I just picked up my brand new car and I want to keep it looking showroom new."

"What do you mean I should clay and wax my new car? It's brand new, it's perfect!"

There is a HUGE difference between a "showroom finish" and a "show car finish".

[SuburbanGuy20]

Re: shocked

I thought most people who "wash" cars at dealerships get paid on a per car basis? If you can spray 5 cars in 10 minutes, you can make pretty good money. Not saying it's right by any means, but I'm sure there is some driver behind their poor workmanship.

Also, anyone thinks this goes on at nicer car lots? Infiniti / Lexus / BMW?

I actually worked for a Lexus dealer down here in TX at one point and I can tell you, they never let any people just come and wash the cars with God only knows what on the back of a truck. They had a state of the art, brushless car wash, which the vehicle was then driven through (after a quick pressure wash and soap up), and once it came out, it went through a rigorous towel drying, a thorough interior vacuum, glass cleaning, and a quick shine with tire gel, and then sent back out to the customer, or to be put back on the lot.

Now in another case, should a lot vehicle be sold, or someone pays for it, they do have a detail shop in the back. Most vehicles get some BIG TLC over there and they come out looking sparkly clean! So to answer the question, I highly doubt that they would just send just any old person to just randomly rinse off the cars!

[CieraSL]

Re: shocked

I work at a Honda dealership, and I know exactly what everybody else is talking about. It's the same where I work. I'm the only person who actually knows anything about actual "detailing", thanks to MOL and Auto Geek. Nobody else does, and nobody else cares. Very few people around here take care of their cars. If they do, it's the old Armor All and Turtle Wax routine. I'd be willing to bet my next order from Auto Geek that I'm probably one of a very few people in Knoxville that knows what the 2 bucket method is. So it's no wonder that cars look the way they do. I get paid hourly, so it doesn't matter whether I do a great job or a half *** job, I still get paid the same. There is no incentive to do it the right way. Keep in mind though that dealerships are in the business of selling cars, not cleaning cars. They do everything they can to keep their costs as low as possible. Only God knows why.

[FastFish71]

Re: shocked

15-20 years ago, my grandfather worked as a detailer at a third generation mom and pop Buick dealership. The owner actually staffed him 40 hours a week to keep the lot cars washed (20 +/- 10) and to do correction on trade-ins and new arrivals. My grandfather left, after many years, because the owner started demanding that he reuse dirty wash water to clean multiple cars, use the aforementioned rinse and dry technique for quick touch-ups, and compound/polish/wax in direct sunlight despite having unused garage space. My grandfather always said that both used and new cars are horribly mistreated by dealerships and leave in abused condition.

[DPotz]

Re: shocked

thread revival lol

I worked as a "detailer" for a used car lot..eventually quit because they ran out of new/clean rags and APC+ and REFUSED to replenish supplies, not to mention the ****** hourly wage. I spent $1500 on all my own supplies and i now have them as one of my biggest customers!

[Paint-Shield.ca]

Re: shocked

I do a lot of detailing of vehicles for a few car dealerships up here in Edmonton (not indy used car lots but major dealer lots) and I have heard and seen some horror stories about what the $10/hr employees do to those vehicles if my shop is too booked to handle them on a certain day.

[Shawn T.]

Re: shocked

I was getting gas the other day and was also watching the car wash across the street. Well, as the cars came out to dry, the attendants picked up the towels from the wet pavement and proceded to dry the car. It made me cry a little. Then, after they finished drying the car, they threw the towels back on the wet, dirty pavement to be used for the next car.

[spence82]

Re: shocked

yep I do tile and am workin on a remodel at a dodge dealer,and seen the same thing.I thought I was seeing things when I seen 1 spray a car off and then right away someone else just dry it off real quick,and watched them do it to a black challenger,I cringed...

[Cole Ziegler]

Re: shocked

I think the lack of care is why ceramic clear coats were invented lol

[AdvanceDetail]

Re: shocked

I read the whole posts, and its true, dealers try to keep their costs as lo as possible to make most money out of the cars, so if they get a quote for 2dls a car vs 200dls or more they are gonna go with the 2dls one, they dont care about the condition because no one says anything...

.. this bring me to a client, he bought a new Astra OPC turbo here in Chile he called me for a quote and inspeccion because he saw my web before buying the car and saw that they delivered it full of holograms (black car), i gave him a quote and he said that he did not have all the money due to the car purchase so i told him to contact Chevrolet and see if they would pay at least 50% of the detail, to make the story short, i have been meeting with Chevrolet Chile and they will be paying 100% of my quote to fix the clients vehicle, i had a reunion with them also and they want me to professionaly prep the vehicles, regardless of costs, they want to give their clients the best finish upon delivery... this is a great step for them and hope that everything works great, i inspected their camaros and here are some pics.

This is the condition they are delivered... no wonder people are making a complaint...

[Mary S]

Re: shocked

I know the cars sitting on the lots and not being driven, depending on the geographic area anyway, aren't always in need of a real wash every week. If they would just put 1:16 ONR in the water (which is the ratio for use as a quick detailer) and spray them with an electric low pressure water device, like an ECO washer, and toweled them down properly with clean towels, and did this once a week, it wouldn't be terribly bad for them, especially if these cars were properly waxed, plus it would save on the water.

[Mary S]

Re: shocked

I know the cars sitting on the lots and not being driven, depending on the geographic area anyway, aren't always in need of a real wash every week. If they would just put 1:16 ONR in the water (which is the ratio for use as a quick detailer) and spray them with an electric low pressure water device, like an ECO washer, and toweled them down properly with clean towels, and did this once a week, it wouldn't be terribly bad for them, especially if these cars were properly waxed, plus it would save on the water.

Here is an example of low pressure washing

Low Pressure Washing

[cnfowler]

Re: shocked

Here is an example of low pressure washing

Low Pressure Washing

He's a Meguiar's user. I like him already!!


Colin

[Mary S]

Re: shocked

They have the sprayer here for $399:

http://www.detailing.com/store/mytee-big-boss-battery-powered-sprayer-6002.html

But I'm not sure something like this wouldn't work as well.

Gilmour W4 Spray Doc Wheel Pump 4-Gallon Sprayer

It charges as you walk, plus Gilmour makes several models that you pump by hand.

Or I just got this from Wal-Mart for $15 that pumps by hand:

Flo-Master Sprayer 2.5 Gallon Black Polyethylene Tank

I haven't tried it yet but it does have a fan spray ability.