Now that I have your attention lets talk about Competition Vs. Rivalry

A while back I wrote the following articles:
Deadly pathogens in your car are a possibility
Amateur poachers a disgrace to the auto detailing industry
Pro's Vs The Joe's
Some questions are more important than the answers

Well it seems that one business owner whom I have always considered the non-competition has become a big fan of Diamond Detailing. What had started as lurking around to get my prices and badmouthing me to my contracted service people has led to an infatuation with visiting my website and this blog on a daily basis.

Apparently it seems we got their attention with the article:
Deadly pathogens in your car are a possibility. The detailer responsible for doing the job I spoke of in the article came forward. It's unfortunate but instead learning from their mistakes and creating opportunity to improve themselves they decided to put on an ugly display of their true colors.

A few weeks back on a Monday morning as I was standing in line at Timmie's for my morning coffee along came a person who placed their hand on my arm and said my name. As I looked at this person I was confused because I didn't know who they were. Immediately the razor sharp tongue came spewing from their mouth and in a matter of 5 minutes I was called an idiot, stupid, I was told I don't know anything, I'm a liar and an a**hole. Classy!

After leaving the coffee shop I went to my store and found that this express detailer had left a message on Sunday only hours after I had posted the article. What had started out sounding like a call from someone I should know, ended quite bitterly stating that they suggest I get a hold of them immediately so we could work things out. Since the message was left before the incident at the coffee shop I didn't bother. If the immature actions taken at the coffee shop was any indication of how they planned on working it out -why bother. I don't have time for people who can't take responsibility for their actions and have no interest in improving themselves.

In their defense - it is true that I only have the customers side of this story and didn't have that of this so-called detailer; but the bottom line is that the job wasn't done right, it could have endangered people's lives and had the job been done right in the first place the client would not have come to me to fix it.

A few weeks past and then I received a phone call from this same car cleaner. The call was made not from their shop but from an automotive dealership. They stated that they were calling because they had a car they couldn't handle and wanted to see if I could do it. Then they went on to say well I thought it would be better to work together than to be enemies. I explained that I was booked up and couldn't get over to the dealership to look at the car immediately. I was given the contact info of the used car salesperson before the conversation ended.

I thought to myself maybe they did learn something from experience. After getting all angry inside and then calming down perhaps they saw the article for which it was intended. Not to criticize and not to harm their business - the words were not directed at them but directed to everyone who offers express or complete detailing services who is not equipped, trained or knowledgeable about the services they are providing. Then as I surfed the net I was quickly slapped in the face and was returned to reality. This detail shop replaced an old ad which stated that they did express detailing and had 9 years experience with a new version stating they have 15 years experience and offer highest quality and the lowest priced express and complete detailing. Apparently, they didn't learn a thing and that is scary! New info added today> I guess after reading this article they decided to pull the free classified ad.

When are they going to learn that competition, not rivalry, allows us to view our opponents clearly, Don't know the difference - think it's the same? Unfortunately it's not. Rivalry which is what this person has chosen; ends in a negative outcome while competition brings about positive changes.

I've never had plans nor do I plan on being this persons' rival and until they can fall into a category where I can consider them as competition, there is no struggle to compete. If people did their job properly and stopped selling services they aren't trained for, equipped and knowledgeable to perform I wouldn't have half as much to write. When I spend day after day repairing damage caused by car washes and amateurs I feel there is a real need for the public to be more aware of amateurs posing as professionals and how it has a direct impact on their investment.

Pro's VS The Joe's

Well my latest blog Amateur poachers a disgrace to the auto detailing industry stirred up quite a buzz. I have received positive feedback from several people, but the one I want to talk about is the one titled pro's detailers vs the jo detailers 1-0. A detailer in Toronto just wanted to say that it was about time someone stood up to expose the truth and begin educating customers. He said the industry needs to be redefined to separate the amateurs from the pro's because all to many times he has seen shops sell themselves as professional detailers with 9 years experience but their workmanship is no more than that of amateur level. He added that time alone does not make you a professional and I must agree.

I too, have met many who think that the time factor alone makes them a professional. In fact, I spoke to one today who is local in the city. These guys took 3 month's training, bought a franchise and now they are pro's. This amazes me; these people who wash cars, do express details or have nothing more than amateur skills to offer, honestly believe they are professional detailers and sell themselves as such. What's worse is the customers buy into it and end up paying these amateurs to damage their cars. This is why consumer education is so important. Clients need to be aware of the potential risks they are taking when they contract unskilled car cleaners and be able to see the difference between what the pseudo pro and a real pro or master can do. Once customers have experienced the difference, see the financial rewards and the long-term outcome of having a real professional care for their car they will never turn back.

I also received other emails from people who just wanted to share their car detailing horror stories. Each one is important and unfortunate. I feel badly for these people but the stories they told are not unlike the ones I hear on a daily basis. Individuals sold them on a valued professional service, took their money only to deliver less than professional results and in many cases their prized possessions were marred.

I should add that some of these people wanted to know the who and where of it all but I'll tell you the same thing I told them - as much as I would like to put a stop to bad business practices I can't name names. It isn't my responsibility to tell you who to avoid. It is ultimately up to the consumer to figure out who is a pro auto detailer and who is a joe detailer. All I can do is recommend other professionals.

Oldie but a goodie- It's like having a new car without the payments

I had the honor of detailing a 78 Chrysler New Yorker today. Some of you may be asking why a car of this age and make would be a privilege to detail. The answer is simple - it has been professionally detailed since day one. It is not a show car - that has been buffed, repainted, re-chromed or a new interior installed. It is a car that is almost 20 years of age, all original and it looks better than the majority of cars on the road today. It is gratifying to see something this old look that good and know it is because of proper car care.

Most cars undergo brutal treatment. Commercial car washes, unskilled car cleaning personnel, snow brushes, lack of wax, protection and poor chemical quality ... all take their toll on vehicles, reducing the appearance and value. So, when a car of this age comes along that has been cared for by professionals it is exciting to see the longterm lasting effects.

Every year I fix hundreds of cars that are damaged by poor quality car care. Undoing the damage can be frustrating but for car owners it can be a costly mistake. It is unfortunate that most car owners don't learn about the benefits of professional auto detailing until they have been hit hard in the pocketbook. Even sadder, is the fact that most people aren't aware that they could have saved thousands of dollars on repairs and gained more at resale had they cared for the vehicle properly.

I admire a person who takes pride in what he owns. It means he has taken the time to do research and seek out the best person to care for his vehicle. He is protecting his asset by making an investment into it and when he drives down the street in his 20 year old car, people turn their head - not because he's driving an old car they are looking because it is a 20 year old car that looks like he drove it off the lot yesterday. It is something he can drive and be proud of and it is a wise decision that he has made -it's like having a new car without the payments.

Cars have become a major investment and for most it is the second largest investment they will make. People research which cars perform best, which ones suits their lifestyle, and which meet their financial needs but when it comes to car care they head straight to the car wash or a low cost, low quality detailer. Within the first year of owning the car it is a mess and if left untreated by professionals it leads to permanent damage. So many people have told me that they have sold cars in the past because they did not properly car for it and the appearance of the car had diminished and when they did they loss money.

When I hear these stories I just wish others could be witness to it - so that they don't have to be a victim. Loss of: value, years of enjoyable driving and diminished appearance can be prevented. Taking care of a car is no different than taking care of your home. Each year you need to do upkeep to a house in order to help it maintain or gain value - a car is no different. It is an asset that requires an investment and a professional to care for it. You wouldn't try to do the plumbing or electrical in your home yourself, hire someone who is unqualified or contract a person whom you knew was going to use substandard materials just to save a little money so why would you pay to try to care for your vehicle yourself, take it to someone unskilled, use a service that will damage your car or allow chemicals to be used on it that do not provide adequate protection and may damage it?

As a professional car care technician my enjoyment doesn't come from fixing the mistakes it comes when I see a car that has been well cared for and knowing that I contributed to that. There is satisfaction in taking something that looks beat up and rejuvenating it to look in as like new condition as it can be but it is a greater responsibility to keep a car looking that way from the day it is purchased and throughout its lifespan.