b8tzm

The dealers wanted hundreds for Hand Wash & Wax-Paint Sealant-Leather Protect and Carpet/Mat Protect

Local detailer says he will do it all for $70. I asked how he can do it all so reasonable he told me he has less than 10% in the materials. His work looks good.

Is any of what I am describing a waste of time/money on a new car??? Would like to hear what some people with experience think. Thank you for input.

Dave Mac

At $70 it is not a bad deal if you don't want to do it yourself. More than that at a dealer won't get you a better job.

Dave Mac

*Batman*

I do these things every month. I have a subscription with my detailer where I pay them $700 a year and they provide unlimited services - whatever I ask. Unlimited washing, waxing, detailing, sealants, leather care, etc.

Normally I do a full detail once a quarter, wax and leather condition once a month, and wash every week.

miniz

You are comparing Apples to Oranges. $70 will get you a $70 hack job. $150 will get you a quality job using quality products by a place that actually cares about the end result. Going for the 'cheapest' bidder in the detail world is always a bad idea. You will get exactly what you pay for.

b8tzm

Not sure what you get where you live but the $70 hack job I got looks pretty darn good to me. My ex wife used to think the more you paid for something the better it was and that wasn't always true. To each their own. I'm happy and that's all that matters.

*Batman*

It makes a difference to whom you go if you have a black car. With lighter colours its hard to tell.

miniz

I'm sure it does to the average Joe, such as yourself. Corners were cut to get the price down, on everything from the product quality/durability to skipping things altogether in order to reduce labor time. Just because something costs more doesn't mean it always is, but in the detail world 99% of the time its true that you more you spend the better the end result. You get exactly what you pay for, not a cent more.

IS350jet

I think the OP is referring to a sealant package that is sold in the finance department when the car is purchased new. These sealant packages usually sell for hundreds of dollars. They are, indeed, a ripoff. The dealer's detail guys spent about 10 minutes applying a 10 dollar sealant and you pay up to a grand for it. All you are really buying is a paint protection warranty. Read the fine print on the policy, it's a joke. Any detailer can apply a good quality sealant for 50 to 70 bucks.

If we are talking about a full paint correction detail, that's a different story. You do get what you pay for.

miniz

Is he talking about the F&I new car package? I didn't see that. If so, then yes that is a case that falls in the 1% vastly super overpriced rip-off category. Someone can easily do that for you for $70, or you can do it yourself.

rikkus256

I think any person can make a "NEW" car look pretty good.

b8tzm

You obviously haven't seen my work

I think and at least 1 other might agree that on a new car you can do a lot better than what the dealer tries to stick you for on the services I wanted on my new car. AMEN

*Batman*

I agree with the perspective thAt if you pay for more detailing time you get a better result.

Check out the work of one of my local detailers here. Simply amazing.

http://www.scheerdetailing.com/Schee....com/Home.html

miniz

Definitely not true. I've seen clueless DIY-type people destroy brand new cars and I've also seen hack job 'so called' detailers ruin them.

EJC

I agree w/ MINIZ, you should be able to get a good full detail for about $150. $70 sounds too cheap, unless you have a neighbors kid who knows what he's doing. Especially in NY.

The Dealers price sounds too high.

Love your user name; do you have brass ones or a chicken farm?