What "They've" missed!

[Midnight1700]

Now that I have a number of details under my belt, I've had the opportunity to "Complete" details that other detailers have done. In doing so, there seems to be a trend of common items detailers seem to miss, or overlook, when detailing an automobile. Just curious as if this is just a local issue in my area, or is it happening all over?

 

My question to all you detailers out there is: "What issues have you run across that other detailers have overlooked?"

 

I'll start by saying that I've had to re-do interior dressings, clean under seats, and perform some paint corrections to remove swirls and scratches just to mention a few.

 

Have any of you had to go in re-do a previously detailed auto?

[IMADreamer]

wheel wells seem to be greatly overlooked in my area.

[Chewy]

Never, but if I did this as a profession, I'd have a check list and check off the items and then hand that check list to the customer to show what had been done to their vehicle.

 

Chris

[Doug123]

I had to remove all the swirls that were hidden under the gunk the dealer's detaling co. put on there. Some places (the hood) had weird 8 sided swirls - straight lines that made an octagon shape around the reflected light instead of a circular swirl. Must be the technique that was used by the detailing co. I have seen this elsewhere.

[Nordgrey]

Never, but if I did this as a profession, I'd have a check list and check off the items and then hand that check list to the customer to show what had been done to their vehicle.

 

Chris

 

Even thinking about a check list for my own car. Seems everytime I spend the day on it, when I hop in the next day I see something I missed.

[Team Adam's]

Its hit and miss really... I've had some cars come to me where you could barely tell it was detailed, others where if it wasn't in plain sight it was totally forgotten.

 

Wheel wells seem to be an often overlooked area.

[Chris@Adams]

+1 Wheel wells

[JPEGXP]

Here are my notorious spots that I get on my detailers at work for. They are in no particular order.

Mechanics grease on head liners.

Foot scuffs on lower inside door panels.

Excess tire shine on rims.

Dirt on all lower panels of the car by wheels.

Water drip marks coming from side mirrors and door handles.

Dealer installed swirls are our specialty here!

My detailer tries so I give him credit, but he is not a professional. Watching them attempt to use a wheel with a dirty bonnet always amuses me, but nobody wants to listen.

My GM's words to me "if you weren't such a good salesman, you would make a great prep manager"

[Sandra Dee]

how bout a line of wax in the seam of my hood? On black cherry paint-it stands up and practically salutes me. Also, people dont tape off my convertible top-so I have polish and wax dotted all over my black fabric cover from the PC. The only way I know to get it off is with a toothbrush when it is dry...

and water spots on the little back window on the convertible top...or some kind of spots...lol

[70'sChevyGirl]

Mechanics grease on head liners.

[Captain Slow]

Its hit and miss really... I've had some cars come to me where you could barely tell it was detailed, others where if it wasn't in plain sight it was totally forgotten.

A coworker had his son's SUV "detailed" for trade in or sale. I of course had to inspect their work. I remembered a thread from either the geek site or Meg's about doing roofs, especially on pick ups and SUVs. The finish on this SUV was glossy and smooth to the touch. I ran my hand across the roof under the rack and OXIDATION! My hand came back dusty white. I don't think the roof on this 15 y/o SUV has been washed OR waxed in this decade. Oh yeah, the wheel wells were untouched and TOGW was everywhere.

[Aston Martin]

It may be OCD but I cant stand when a detailer wont roll down the windows a bit and clean the upper portion. It's attention to detail. You roll your window down half way and there is a dirty line on the top edge. It bugs me to no end.

[vexxx_2007]

there's one detailing shop around here that I used to work for. they didn't like to do roofs.

 

Or wheel wells.

 

Or paint correction of any kind.

 

I do my own detailing, so....

[ArmyAcadia09]

nondetailed wheel wells drive me crazy! especially when you can really tell they detailed the whole car and the wheel wells look like chalky poo

[Midnight1700]

I just got another detail in from a person who recently bought a used Escalade from a dealer. The new owner "Paid" the dealer, as part of the purchase price, to "Detail" it before they picked it up, 3 days ago. When parked in the sun you can see so many scratches it looks like a toddler was playing with their Hot Wheels all over it. You can also see where the dealers' detailer missed many spots on the dressing of the interior and the exterior trim. I really feel bad for the new owner. BUT, when I'm done with it, I believe I'll have a client for life!

[Doug123]

I just got another detail in from a person who recently bought a used Escalade from a dealer. The new owner "Paid" the dealer, as part of the purchase price, to "Detail" it before they picked it up, 3 days ago. When parked in the sun you can see so many scratches it looks like a toddler was playing with their Hot Wheels all over it. You can also see where the dealers' detailer missed many spots on the dressing of the interior and the exterior trim. I really feel bad for the new owner. BUT, when I'm done with it, I believe I'll have a client for life!

 

Yeah, getting all the little details done right is why they call it detailing.

 

Companies are incorrectly using the word 'detailing' to get ordinary folks to pay more $$ for their crummy car wash and interior cleaning services.

 

YOUR great results and true attention to detail will make the difference.