Auto Detailing Network Forums

Kaolin clay

lessh2o — Thur, 04 Mar 2010 20:20:34 GMT

Ive read alsorts of claims as to what kaolin is for, can do.

Please can someone give a definative answer as to wether it is good or bad.

I dont use it but have tried it and i find it is harded to remove than waterles without it.

Forum:
Eco Detailing Forum

Moving a customer's vehicle?

YellowLedbetter — Thur, 04 Mar 2010 04:17:24 GMT

My friends and I plan to open a mobile detailing business this April. We have some detailing experience but only in fixed locations. We plan to cater to both customers homes and places of business. Homes seem to be easier as there is typically a personal driveway. What we're concerned about is busy parking lots where we will have to move the vehicles.

Do you guys typically have some sort of Garage insurance or can you incorporate a waiver of liability into a contract you sign with the customer? I realize Canadian law might be different but I'm just looking for a starting point.

Forum:
Professional Auto Detailing Forum

sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) Within Detailing

RennyDoyle — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:03:46 GMT

With all the talk about SUA, has anyone within detailing had such an event unfold? It's a serious topic and something you need to address with your staff! (CYA)

Here is one such story from a car wash...I think this one could go a couple different ways but with all happening this woman may have done everything right and simply another person given a bag of BS from the auto manufacturer...follow this link.

Forum:
Attention To Details Detailing Forum

Detail Advertsing Made Simple

AutoDetailingNetwork — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:57:53 GMT

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHO YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE (MARKETING) AND HOW TO MOTIVATE THEM (ADVERTISING)

If any one thing is true about the financial climate today, that is the difficulty of operating a small business.

Owning a professional detail center requires that you be a mechanic, chemical specialist, financial analyst, top salesman, foreman and supervisor, personnel manager, labor relations specialist administrator, marketing expert, and advertising manager, not to mention purchasing manager.

While all of these responsibilities are enough to make most want to raise the white flag and surrender, probably one of the more frightening and misunderstood components of your business is advertising.

No question about it, advertising is an elusive concept. For the uninformed and uneducated, advertising is either best left to the professionals or ignored altogether.

Click Here to read the entire article

article by Bud Abraham

Forum:
Detailing Business Management Forum

Carpet Cleaner Fined for Dumping Waste

IDA — Thur, 25 Feb 2010 17:21:32 GMT

The following link is a brief news clip about a carpet cleaner who dumped waste water down a manhole.

The story is relevant to mobile detailers because it brings up two questions:

a. Are you containing your waste water?, and

b. If you are containing the waste water what do you do with it at the end of the day?

What is interesting is that the carpet cleaner was reported by a "citizen." Law enforcement is becoming stricter and stricter and while it is easy to "get away with it" in many areas of the country, ask yourself, "Can I afford the fines and penalties, if I get caught?"

Regards.

http://www.toacorn.com/news/2010-02-18/Community/Man_caught_dumping_into_sewer.html

Forum:
International Detailing Association

Detailer Vs. Car Wash

RennyDoyle — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:11:03 GMT

Here is something interesting...not a new story but once again puts the detailing folks vs. the car wash folks. Link

Forum:
Attention To Details Detailing Forum

Where do you "set up shop"?

hunterg — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:25:10 GMT

Hello all,

I am new to the forum and have been doing days of research trying to decide if an investment in mobile detailing equipment is right for me.

One question I have been pondering deals somewhat with the ethics of the mobile business. Is it considered okay to "set up shop" in a business office parking lot? Seems like you would need permission first and they would probably want some sort of compensation. How is everyone else getting permission(or are you) from parking lot owners, and how are you compensating them?

The next question I have is somewhat related to the last. Washing cars puts water, dirt, and chemicals onto the ground of wherever the work is being done. Does anybody care about this? Where can laws for this type of thing be looked up(specifically Georgia)? How many of you are using a system to recollect the water and chemicals that run off the car?

Thanks, and looking forward to any insight.

Hunter

Forum:
Professional Auto Detailing Forum

Union Problem

AbsoluteDetailingChicago — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:12:11 GMT

Hi Guys, I am having a problem with the Union, Let me explain my situation and I could use any advice I can get.

I started of Mobile detailing in Atlanta, I did this for 4 years and had to make the decision to move to Chicago to be closer to my daughter. I Did not want to start my mobile business here in Chicago for the obvious reasons (it's too F-ing cold) So I ran a deatil shop for another owner for about a year and that was all I could take I had to be out on my own. Doing some research I found the Millennium Parking garages in downtown Chicago (the largest underground parking facility in the united states) I called them up and asked if the had car wash and detailing services there, They did not. I worked out a deal with them and moved into a shop they had build for car washing in July. After 9 months of working my ass off and putting all the hard work into this it is starting to pay off.

About 3 months back I had a visit from a guy and a girl for local teamsters 727 saying I have to join the union because the garage I work out of is apart of the union. They continued to explain the contract to me. I have to pay my guys a certain wage with raises every 6 months paid vacations, paid holidays and $648.00 per employee per month for there union health insurance. I am lucky If I can pay myself every month let alone $648 a month an employee (i have 3)

So I hired a lawyer who had dealt with this, very good guy. I had told him I am short on funds he came in and talked with for a very good rate. He told me that I did not have to join the Union, I am a separate company and the only thing they could do is petition my employees and if the majority of my employees wanted to form a union I would have to sign the contract. Which I would never sign it because I would lose my ass. I talked to my employees and they have no interest in joining the Union. All good right?

The Union then went on to the management company of the garages and is threatening them with "troubles" if I do not sign there Union contract.

The garage operations managers then sat me down and told me that I would have to sign the union contract or move out by the end of the month.

The garage operation managers are on my side and are fighting for me to stay in the garages, but they receive there orders from corporate and can not do anything about it.

I then called my lawyer and asked him what I can do. He told me plain and simple what they are doing is illegal, we can file a law suit against the union and that we would probably win, it will probably take years to get everything settled and a lot of funds (that I don't have).

So I am dammed if I do and dammed if I don't kind of situation. I don't know if anyone has encountered a situation like this or has a suggestion.

Since spring is coming up I am stating my mobile unit back up and hope I will find a new location by winter and see where it will bring me. I am working towards owning my own chain of detail/car washes and I keep getting set back. I will take them all as learning experiences.

Forum:
Detailing Business Management Forum

Ugly

RennyDoyle — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:12:42 GMT

During the last 24 hours, some ugly, ugly events, comments and hate based offers were made to a professional that has offered this industry a huge amount of not only her professionalism, but her soul as she really has given a great deal to many yet was offered such an ugly and vulgar comment that was posted on one of the main forums here on ADN.

While Gina and I are not close, she or no one else deserves to be intimidated, offered or spoken to like the words that were offered to her recently.

This industry has its great people that offer huge amounts of help to others and it also has a few villain's just as any and all industries do but this is a new low and my wife and I were absolutely sickened from the remark you were offered Gina.

We are sorry you had to face such raciest remarks and it's sad to think we live in the greatest country on earth yet we still have such hate among us.

I hope that this industry grows for all involved but as long as such insane actions are offered to others, how would you view it from the outside looking in?

As for redemption...this event is going to have a huge cost for the guilty! HUGE!

Again...Gina...you deserve better...

Forum:
Attention To Details Detailing Forum

Something Cool For Young People Who Are Car Crazy

RennyDoyle — Thur, 18 Feb 2010 23:58:52 GMT

If you are a young person who loves cars or you know a young person...this is a great program!

Forum:
Attention To Details Detailing Forum

Auto Detailing Business Directory

AutoDetailingNetwork — Thur, 18 Feb 2010 15:27:38 GMT

Spring is almost upon us and soon consumers will be searching the internet for detailing services in their area to get their cars detailed after the harsh winter.

Will they be able to find your business?

Detailing Directory is an affordable and effective way to promote your detailing, paintless dent repair or windshield repair business online.

Detailing Directory is ranked in the top 10 for the following terms as well as many others

* Auto Detailing Shops

* Auto Detailers

* Mobile Detailing Businesses

* Mobile Detailers

* Auto Detailing Service

For only $44.99 your business can be listed on the leading Detailing Directory for life!

Nothing more to pay ever.

List your business today

Forum:
Professional Auto Detailing Forum

CHEMICAL TANK "Blowout" SALE

kadcrash — Thur, 18 Feb 2010 07:53:48 GMT

DETAIL PLUS has an excess inventory of both 5 gallon and 3 gallon stainless steel chemical tanks that come complete with coiled 20' hose and adjustable tip applicator gun.

5 Gallon Reconditioned Tank - $ 99.95

3 Gallon New Tank - $149.95

Add a DRESS PLUS Tire Dressing Applicator Brush $49.95

Interested - email jordache@detailplus.com

Forum:
Detail Plus Auto Detailing Forum

Another Auto Detailer Thinking Outside The Box

RennyDoyle — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:40:12 GMT

What a great story- Read it here!

Forum:
Attention To Details Detailing Forum

Welcome to Auto Detailing Network

AutoDetailingNetwork — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:58:27 GMT

We would like to welcome our 2 newest sponsors to Auto Detailing Network

"Car Brite" and "Starting a Modern Auto Detail Business".

You can learn more about these sponsors at the following links:

Car Brite: Auto Detailing Suppliers
Starting a Modern Auto Detail Business: Auto Detailing Training

Forum:
Professional Auto Detailing Forum

Letters from California Labor Commissioner

IDA — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:13:58 GMT

The link below is first a letter from Angela Bradstreet the Labor Commissioner for the State of California advising anyone in the car wash and detail business that California Bill AB 236 extended the mandatory registration law for these businesses until January 1, 2014.

Second, is a direct form letter to all such businesses clearly describing what your obligations are as a car wash or detailing business in relation to this law. It also indicates who is not required to register.

If you are operating a car wash and/or detail business in the State of California, you MUST register or be subject to a fine of $100 per day for each calendar day you are not registered (not to exceed $10,000) that you are conducting business while not being registered.

Please take the time to read this information and if you are operating in the State of California please register. The Labor Commission is very serious about this law and has already conducted four (4) unannounced sweeps in both Southern and Northern California, and each time has levied fines in excess of $1 million dollars.

Any assistance the IDA can provide you please let us know.

Click here to view

Forum:
International Detailing Association