imcrazy

Friends, thank you.  Thank you for caring enough to post your thoughts, and taking time from your life to do so.  Thank you for making your feelings known,  and I can appreciate that you feel we have drifted from our core.  Thank you for continuing to care about our company and brand, even though it's not the company and brand that you supported initially. 
 
The reality:  I understand your point.  We have become a much larger enterprise. At the same time, our customer base has changed as well. Over 60% of our customers are under 30 today!  We have a fantastic marketing department that turns out limited edition promotional products and Adam's branded apparel. While I certainly appreciate the sales, it's not something I had in mind when we started. Nor would I ever have thought old or limited edition products would sell for hundreds of dollars on eBay. Never in a million years, and our marketing team has created tremendous brand equity, and demand.
 
I started this business to offer great detailing chemicals, matched with premium application and removal tools, and easy to understand instructions.  (Eventually, videos, to help the DIY enthusiast achieve incredible results at home, with ease.)  Above all, I want our customers to be impressed with the quality, ease of use, and results achieved with everything that comes from Adam's.  
 
The reality:  The promotional stuff sells, and the new majority of our customers are young.   I now have partners, a bank expecting us to meet goals, etc.  It's not just me and my small team, boot strapping to make payroll, and kick out a few new products each year.  Adam's Polishes has grown exponentially, and as a result, it has changed.  While the changes at Adam's are good for some, they are not appreciated by all. Especially the original customers, those who remember us small, with nearly all American made products.  Those who have supported our brand for a decade or even two. 
 
As some of you are aware, our ownership group acquired our chemical manufacturer last year, and now have access to truly amazing chemistry.  We have invested heavily in the business, updated the lab, and are now making products that are more advanced than the big players in our industry.  Crazy enough, we now have 150 employees, plus another 25 part time show champions.  While I'm humbled that we have established a much larger company, and are roughly 10X the size we were just a few years ago, I also miss the old days.  I miss the days of taking our entire staff out to lunch daily.  Miss indoor parking and a cross-fit gym at the HQ.  I even miss the days of whacking payroll on a credit card, and living in my first warehouse.  While those days were tough, doing whatever it took to survive was invigorating, exciting!  It's hard to do things like that as a large company.
 
You asked about DVK?  Dylan VonKleist is incredible at identifying and developing new products.  He knows detailing as well or possibly better than I do, and has his thumb on the pulse of the detailing community.  He was instrumental in starting this very forum!   I also miss Ashley Wilson.  She worked with us since high school, with her fantastic dad, Mike, one of our original team members.   Ashley was amazing with our resellers, and everyone she came in contact with.  When we moved the business to Colorado, she was unable to move with us, understood.  We had an outstanding controller, Patti.  She started with us in 2009, and helped us get through many, many hurdles.  Her positivity and influence on both me, and the staff was awesome!  She eventually moved on to work with a non-profit, which helps children.  Understood, and she is missed by all of our employees that knew her, and was replaced by a super capable CFO and eventually, an accounting team of five that are much needed to keep this enterprise afloat.  Great people, certainly needed, but a big company team is different feel than a small few person team.  Realize, those people who are gone have moved up, and as our business grew, we had to make changes.  We are friendly with each person that moved on, no bridges were burned in the making of Adam's Polishes!
 
I introduced Dylan to Cody, then the owner of Cyclo Tools, and he was hired there.  Then, Cyclo was acquired by Rupes, which is how Dylan landed there.  It was a good fit for him, the right move at the time.  Truth:  Dylan is one of the smartest, most OCD, focused detailers I've ever known.  His focus on detailing products made our line better, and makes Rupes a better company today.  We never replaced Dylan, and are still looking today. (If you know someone, please shoot me an email with a resume: Adam@AdamsPolishes.com.)  

Today:  Our customer service team is awesome.  Our marketing team, led by Matt Butcher, is amazing.  Our chemicals are outstanding, and our ceramic program is world class.  Our towels and accessories are very good as well.   As I always say, "VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLARS!"   We are one of the only companies on earth that honors a 110% Satisfaction guarantee.  Pleas, return any product you are dissatisfied with.  Whining about products online doesn't solve a problem.  Remember, you get 110% refund on products you are unimpressed with. Please, no whining, just contact us so we can make it right!
 
I gave 200% to Adam's Polishes for decades. (Gave 200% to detailing for the previous two decades as well. Been detailing for nearly 40 years now!)  Today, I've shifted priorities, to a family man, and business man.  In that order.  I used to come home after work and get on AdamsForums, and on other social media platforms.  Today, when I'm home, I'm a Dad, and husband. Today, I don't always get to the HQ, rather, I travel all over for business.  I'm on a plane at least 4X a week, and while my United Airlines status is rocking, my absence is noted at home.
 
God has been incredibly good to me, and our business.  I'm so blessed to have had the opportunity to start and grow this business from zero. Blessed with an incredible and dedicated team.  Blessed to have met my wife, and blessed with our three healthy children.  Blessed to live and work in Colorado.  Blessed to have incredible customers who care enough to report your feelings on our direction!  
 
Finally, I encourage everyone to VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLARS!  Focus on the high quality products that keep your car shining, and your shine therapy soothing.  I'm still detailing something every week, sometimes daily.  It's my therapy.  It's always been my therapy.  Detailing is how I unwind and find clarity in this complicated world.  
 
I'm here as the Chief Detailer, and Founder of Adam's Polishes.  I'm not the CEO, not the marketing director, just the Chief Detailer.  If you don't like a product, please, contact our customer service team, and we will make it right.  (orders@adamspolishes.com, or 866-965-0400.)  When I tune in to listen to people complain about our business, it certainly hits a nerve.  If you have a product that has not impressed you, please contact us!  Vote with your dollars, and you will see more products that you love from Adam's Polishes.
 
Thank you very, very much for your loyalty, and for your business.
 
Humbly,
Adam

The chemical's Adam's offers are excellent but, what really makes 'em KICK ***? The info they provide showing you how to use their products and the no brainer things like color coding the pads to the polishes... I was lost trying to get into detailing with other products, I bought pads & polish from Amazon & proceeded to waste my Saturday detailing my truck with less than good results... Fast forward a few weeks and a bunch of time on youtube watching Adam's Video's and I had AMAZING results!!
 
Can I blame them for offering China made tools, NO WAY! It's not like they're charging a price that isn't consistent with other Chinese made tools, correct?
 
I can't afford to sink the $$ into an American or German made polisher and the more profits Adam's can make the better, it will go into R&D on Chemicals and however Adam sees fit, god bless capitalism... If you want an American made polisher or pressure washer go buy one.. I still have my cheapo PC polisher and it works fine for me.. I have lots of American made items that I count on and use a lot but, something that gets used 2-3 x a year like a polisher I have to make the concession and buy imported stuff...
 
How that possibly makes a company a poser? I do not know... It makes them capitalistic which is what built and continues to build and keep this country great...

It seems like we get one of these "Adam's isn't as great as it once was" posts every couple of months and it always stirs things up.
 
Here's a fact: The only constant in life is change.
 
Hey - I miss DvK, too. But he's gone.  He's moved on.  So has Adam's and so has this forum.
 
In the 10 years I've been using Adam's products the line has changed A LOT.   Some of it I use, and a lot of it I ignore.  Doesn't bother me in the slightest if they release a product I'm not interested in.  I just don't buy it.
 
This forum is designed to be a place where Adam's customers can come and ask questions that are answered by other Adam's customers, Adam's employees and - every one in a while - Adam himself. It is not a place for bashing Adam's products or practices or directions. There are plenty of places on the 'net where you can voice your displeasure with anything you like.  You'll have a lot of company.
 
It sucks that you felt disrespected by Adam's "vote with your dollars" comment but try to put yourself in his position. He has thousands of users that love his products and clamber for everything he produces and a handful of people not happy with the "direction" his company has gone.  I'm sure he gave you his opinion in a very respectful way but sometimes you have to just say, "Well - see ya later!"
 

As far as I know, all of Adam's chemicals are still made in the USA.  And that hasn't changed.  The clay bar went to Korean (I think. could be wrong) several years back because it was the best clay made, and Adam has always tried to give his customers the best products he can.  Same as micros. The best microfiber towels are made overseas. Yes, you can go to discount stores and buy cheap micros, but I've never found any that compare with what I get from Adam's.  As for polishers, it's next to impossible to find anything mechanical made in this country any more. We all know that.  And Adam's customers have demanded things like Rupes, Flex, pressure washers, undercarriage washers, etc.  Adam listens, and tries to find the BEST products for a reasonable price and yet he still has to make a profit to pay his employees and operating expenses.  The company has grown so large now, and demand has become so huge, that it's most likely a bit of a struggle when there are sales or holidays to get everything exactly right for every customer.  They're human.  And on your package's way to you, there are many hands that touch those packages too. And some of those hands aren't so gentle, and some aren't so honest.  
Best advice to everyone from me personally is to just relax.  Be patient. Nothing in life is perfect, but we're all trying to do the best we can. 
 
 

The chemical's Adam's offers are excellent but, what really makes 'em KICK ***? The info they provide showing you how to use their products and the no brainer things like color coding the pads to the polishes... I was lost trying to get into detailing with other products, I bought pads & polish from Amazon & proceeded to waste my Saturday detailing my truck with less than good results... Fast forward a few weeks and a bunch of time on youtube watching Adam's Video's and I had AMAZING results!!
 
Can I blame them for offering China made tools, NO WAY! It's not like they're charging a price that isn't consistent with other Chinese made tools, correct?
 
I can't afford to sink the $$ into an American or German made polisher and the more profits Adam's can make the better, it will go into R&D on Chemicals and however Adam sees fit, god bless capitalism... If you want an American made polisher or pressure washer go buy one.. I still have my cheapo PC polisher and it works fine for me.. I have lots of American made items that I count on and use a lot but, something that gets used 2-3 x a year like a polisher I have to make the concession and buy imported stuff...
 
How that possibly makes a company a poser? I do not know... It makes them capitalistic which is what built and continues to build and keep this country great...

The chemical's Adam's offers are excellent but, what really makes 'em KICK ***? The info they provide showing you how to use their products and the no brainer things like color coding the pads to the polishes... I was lost trying to get into detailing with other products, I bought pads & polish from Amazon & proceeded to waste my Saturday detailing my truck with less than good results... Fast forward a few weeks and a bunch of time on youtube watching Adam's Video's and I had AMAZING results!!
 
Can I blame them for offering China made tools, NO WAY! It's not like they're charging a price that isn't consistent with other Chinese made tools, correct?
 
I can't afford to sink the $$ into an American or German made polisher and the more profits Adam's can make the better, it will go into R&D on Chemicals and however Adam sees fit, god bless capitalism... If you want an American made polisher or pressure washer go buy one.. I still have my cheapo PC polisher and it works fine for me.. I have lots of American made items that I count on and use a lot but, something that gets used 2-3 x a year like a polisher I have to make the concession and buy imported stuff...
 
How that possibly makes a company a poser? I do not know... It makes them capitalistic which is what built and continues to build and keep this country great...

While I am an advocate and look for items that are North American Designed, Built by North Americans from North American Parts, it is very difficult to find them.  When you want items of particular specifications, it is even more difficult. This has lead to the outsource of manufacturing, mostly to China and the continued growth of rebranding.
 
I'm sure Adam's could have spec'd an electric pressure washer from an North American company and got it built, but how many would be sold that the price they'd have to charge?  What I do appreciate about the rebranding is that it takes the guess work out of picking out a pressure washer that will work for the tasks I want to do and it is backed by a reputable company who's outstanding customer service is in the US and not outsourced to India.  
 
Research and Development is expensive and it takes steady funding to continue to improve and innovate.  The non-chemical products contribute to the available funding for continued R&D to make our chemicals better and product testing.  Just thinking about Ceramic Boost and the effort that had to go into getting from the 1.0 to the 2.0 version and the time, money and scientific effort that get us a significantly better product, when the first version was not bad at all.
 
That includes when you go the grocery store and see 5 different brands  of canned green beans - that came from one or two manufacturers.  One of the best writeups about rebranding is written by Amazon about AmazonBasics:  https://www.cpcstrategy.com/blog/2019/02/amazon-basics/  

I disagree that the company is pretending to be what it used to be.  The change to include a wider variety of products that are not made in the USA was clearly announced and explained in the video posted above, and the country of origin for each product is listed on the website.
 
In addition, the expansion into additional branded products was based on customer requests.  People wanted more of it, and these products do sell, proving the demand is there.
 
The main point is that selling shirts or other branded equipment has not changed the quality or continuous improvements of the main chemical line.  The past few years have seen a huge evolution in the expansion of types of chemical products offered, which in my opinion, far exceeds the rate at which new and improved products were released during the time period before the staff changes you mentioned.
 
And no, this thread will not get deleted or blocked as long as the forum rules are followed.  As a few forum members posted in another thread, too much of the other feedback on other media channels (FB and IG) is just a drone of company bashing, which is not constructive at all.  Constructive feedback is appreciated, but the main purpose of this forum is education, so customers can learn and contribute with advice, and not be exposed to all the negativity that is so prevelent on the internet.
 
I do think your feedback is constructive, but any posts or threads that are disrespectful to other members or are simply bashing or overly negative will be deleted, simply because most people do not like that kind of negativity, as it detracts from the educational focus of this forum.
 
As the moderators, we have to be careful to strike a balance, but I can tell you from my own experiences on other forums and social media, there is really nothing worse than an unmoderated environment that ends up being overly negative, as it drives away the types of members who simply want to learn and contribute to the knowledge by helping other members.

Mine is the smooth vinyl and yes it is the Titanium series and wasn't cheap either, but it is really nice.
 
I think the new Leather and Interior Dressing would work fine on the Matte finish based on reading the description, but I haven't tried it.  

There are three options and it depends on the cover or top you have.  One product is RaggTopp and on the tops that it works on, it is exceptional.  The next option is 303 Aerospace with the two part package, cleaner and conditioner - the package is called the Tonneau Cover Care Kit.  The third option is to wash it Adam's Shampoo and go over it with Adam's Leather Conditioner and now you can go over it Adam's Ceramic Spray Coating.
 
The Ceramic Spray Coating itself won't give it the deep black sheen and that is why you need a base product.   I have not tried, but may in the near future doing CSC over Ragg Topp and 303.
 
The Mustang does not like RaggTopp or LC, but 303 works like a charm.  RaggTopp on a Jeep was ideal and for my Truxedo Hard Rollup cover, I only use Leather Condition and it works great. I tried LC on a Backflip folding cover a while back it didn't have the same outcome, but I can't say if it was the cover or material difference.    I know it isn't the best picture of the Truxedo tonneau cover, but this was taken in June and the cover is about 2 years old and the other picture is from a year prior and the top looks about 100% the same and it sits outside 24/7 in the South Carolina sun. 
 
The important thing is to try a test area and see how it looks before you do the entire cover.  All three products are exceptional, but the top materials are so varied that one product does not fit every situation. 

Thanks for all the thoughtful input everybody, I'll stick with detail spray!

Given that H20 is about double the cost of DS and you are going to remove it after claying, it also seems like a waste of money.  I had not considered using H20 or Ceramic Boost as a lube, but I have used DS and RW.

G&G will not lubricate well enough to be used as a clay lube.  BUT if you are looking to be more efficient, I have a suggestion:
 
Wash the panel with Rinseless Wash Spray with clay lube (Detail Spray or diluted Rinsewash) Decontaminate the panel with the Clay Mitt  Wash the panel area again with Rinseless Wash (makes sure the panel is wet) Apply H2O G&G  Level with damp MF towel  Dry panel

I had never considered it, but after thinking about it I wouldn't do it, either. Clay is meant to clean and decon paint, and can/will remove protection while using it. I'd think it would remove protection you're trying to apply with the HGG, defeating the purpose. I also think lubrication would be an issue because less is more with HGG, and you need a lot of lube for clay, so streaking is a strong possibility. 
 
In fairness, DS adds some minor protection, too, but not nearly as much as the HGG. Plus, I don't think you'll like the results, much like I don't like clay residue left behind when using DS. 
 
All that said, you could certainly try, it's your car. But I reecommend you stick with DS or diluted RW, and a a wet/soapy car.

We spent a day in the NOX this week doing some day trips and I do have to say the seats are not as comfortable as the ones in my 2016 Silverado... Not terrible but, my legs were more sore than I would have liked...

You're very kind to be detailing it before turning the lease in, I never even washed my cars upon turn in... I'd just HGG it at this point and call it good...

The guy we use usually starts around $100 and goes from there. I always send him pics so he can quote it. I don’t upcharge his work. 

Ah that makes sense... Good luck! FWIW I always wipe my truck down as I clay it...

I'm in the same boat here in NE Ohio, it sucks!

Honestly I find it difficult to justify using liquid paint sealant since discovering HGG...
 
My 2016 Silverado w/70k miles on it has only had LPS maybe 2-3x but, I use the HGG about once a month or so... I also keep the truck clayed regularly which really seems to help the bonding.. I just did my truck last weekend, this weekend I hit it with some detail spray...
    IMG-3165.jpg

Honestly I find it difficult to justify using liquid paint sealant since discovering HGG...
 
My 2016 Silverado w/70k miles on it has only had LPS maybe 2-3x but, I use the HGG about once a month or so... I also keep the truck clayed regularly which really seems to help the bonding.. I just did my truck last weekend, this weekend I hit it with some detail spray...
    IMG-3165.jpg

Is you cant use it every wash!
 
 

W/ that said, if you buy the PC to get started you can always re-purpose it, I plan on buying a SK and I will then use the PC for smaller areas with a 4" backing plate & pad...

I have a Porter Cable DA polisher, it does the job but, it's not ergonomic and it runs pretty rough.. I've done a full correction my Silverado with it and I was pretty worn out from two things: 1) The body of the polished is huge and there is really not a ergonomic place to grab it by the head of the machine so my hands & forearms were sore from using it and 2) The machine is not smooth so the rough vibrations wore me out too... I have a Swirlkiller on my shopping list.

When I bought the PC the SwirlKiller wasn't on the market and the next choices up we're much more expensive, if buying now I would get the SK hands down no questions asked over the PC...

I'm not sure if this has been a 3 year project or a 20+ year project.  Either way it has been fun, had a few challenges and the results are more than expected.  We know that done never means done, it is simply a break until the next activity.  Of note, the headlights are not complete, while the replacement arrived this week, there is a problem with them, but I went ahead and finished the body.  I'll also mention that I did not pull the wheels to do them, I decided to get Tire Armor and it is on the way. 
 
The weather was perfect for a very early start today, it was 50 outside and 60 in the garage with the humidity just above 50%.  She was already clean, but I went over the car with waterless wash and wiped her down twice.
 
The trim restorer works very well, I hadn't realized how dull the mirrors had gotten and the front cowl was really bad, they are nice and black now.       Following the WW, I pulled out the Ceramic Wax and was careful on the volume on the pad.  Paying careful attention to how the wax looked before I started wiping it off, I found 2 minutes to ideal with today's temp and humidity.  The 2 minutes allowed me to do one panel, excluding the hood, which I did in two parts.
 
After each panel was complete, I would go back over the previous two panels with a separate double soft to make sure I got everything, then I would start waxing the next panel.  I figured if I wiped each panel three times, I'd be assured of no left over wax.  Following the wax, I let it sit an hour, got a clean double soft and wiped it one more time.  Next was Ceramic Boost 2.0, this was my first use of 2.0, since I didn't have enough 1.0 in the bottle to do the whole car.  CB 2.0 went on very easy and I followed the same process as CW.  Finally, I topped it with Brilliant Glaze for the pop factor.
 
I'll add this to the do's and don't listing, but a word or caution, do not get CW on your convertible top unless you are prepared for some real work to get it off.
 
The first two pictures are of the car today after it was done.  The collage is the journey from shortly after we purchased it, through the engine rebuild and the body.
 
Finally, I want to thank all the members on the forum who have provided input with a special call out to @falcaineer @shane@detailedreflections @pirahnah3 and @mc2hill.  Chris, Shane, Jim, Michael, I really appreciate all the advice and notes as we went through this project - Thank You.