"Claying isn't req'd" says detailer

[hytymes]

A car detailing shop is located very close to my work so I dropped by today to see if they can do my car while I'm working. Until now Chris has been the only person I'd trust with anything remotely abrasive on my paint. I'm a little worried. I'm scheduled for tomorrow.

The girl who helped me said, after looking at my paint, that claying wouldn't be needed. I said "no, I think you should clay it" she said "your paint is not that bad we can buff it" :Idunno:

I've seen many semi-exotic cars in the parking lot but I guess that doesn't mean they are any good. Should I bail on my appointment and question their professionalism after work?? Opinions...

TIA

[STALKER]

yes, you don't always have to clay a car.

[hytymes]

But isn't it the best way to get a pure surface?

[STALKER]

Chrissy would know best. Last time I did my car with Chris he didn't clay it either.

[christyles]

How did they know whether not to clay or not? Did they run their hand over your paint?

Did they ask you questions like "Do you park under a tree?" or "near rail road tracks or in an industrial zone/area?"

If they told you purely by looking at it or talking on the phone, they're smack.

I don't always clay or aggressively compound if I don't have to.

The best way to gauge is after thoroughly washing your car and drying it, run your hand over the hood... Do you feel any little particle stuck to it? Is it a lot? If so, you should clay, and even if small surface contaminants are stuck to the surface, you should still clay.

The reason being, your paint surface is relatively flat. Any object, particle or what have you that sits on it, will desipate any light that hits the painted surface thus reducing the appearance of a less lustrous shine. Hence, the smoother the surface, the more glow you get.

Let me know if you have any other questions J.

[PIMPO]

Now I can't wait for you to detail my car. Make it shine baby!!

[hytymes]

Thanks, I hope the results will be satisfactory. I hope the detailer is more passionate about detailing than the counterperson is. Sounded to me like she was trying to save work, time and effort.

[HoldenCaulfield04]

Clay is also a little pricey. If the car doesn't need it, then why would they just throw away money? But do as chris tells ya.

[christyles]

Clay is also a little pricey. If the car doesn't need it, then why would they just throw away money? But do as chris tells ya.
for a business like that... they want quick detailing jobs...

Claying does have a price but is also time consuming thus takes up space in the bay = less revenue. Meanwhile they could've had 3 basic packages in and out in that time.

My service & rate structure isn't based on volume. It's either you want A, B or C... not "I would like A but want to substitute with part of B, and add an engine wash."

[hytymes]

Hmmph, OK. My paint looks great. They clayed it after all. Very smooth. I allowed them to clean the interior as well. Y'know this morning I was going to pull the plug on the inside clean-up but I thought what the heck.

So they kind of wrecked my passenger seat with some chemical. The grey leather has been rubbed down to natural in a big patchy area. A yellowy-greenish-brown with a hint of the grey that once was. Now I don't quite know what to do. They told me about it right away and told me to speak to the owner. I don't think the seat can be unwrecked. Uh oh!

[christyles]

Hmmph, OK. My paint looks great. They clayed it after all. Very smooth. I allowed them to clean the interior as well. Y'know this morning I was going to pull the plug on the inside clean-up but I thought what the heck.

So they kind of wrecked my passenger seat with some chemical. The grey leather has been rubbed down to natural in a big patchy area. A yellowy-greenish-brown with a hint of the grey that once was. Now I don't quite know what to do. They told me about it right away and told me to speak to the owner. I don't think the seat can be unwrecked. Uh oh!
They should pay for the cost of repair/and or replacement.

Take pictures.

They may have used some sort of acid, perhaps a wheel acid by mistake. BMW interiors are pretty durable as I've tested a number of somewhat strong chemicals on my interior and it has held up. Not wheel acid though.

[hytymes]

Well the story is... I am not the first owner of this car. Theory is the passenger seat was worn and the seat was dyed. Thus, applying the/any liquid the dye came off. He said he knows a guy, yada yada. I don't know I mean I guess it wasn't really their fault... if the theory is correct.

[Jeff 330CI]

Well the story is... I am not the first owner of this car. Theory is the passenger seat was worn and the seat was dyed. Thus, applying the/any liquid the dye came off. He said he knows a guy, yada yada. I don't know I mean I guess it wasn't really their fault... if the theory is correct.


How is it possible the passenger seat is worn more than the drivers seat? :Idunno:

How many KM did your car have on it when you bought it.

[christyles]

Well the story is... I am not the first owner of this car. Theory is the passenger seat was worn and the seat was dyed. Thus, applying the/any liquid the dye came off. He said he knows a guy, yada yada. I don't know I mean I guess it wasn't really their fault... if the theory is correct.
Highly unlikely Jamin out of all the years I've been detailing.

[hytymes]

Quite a few kilometers on it. Maybe they had a big butt. :Idunno: A big tight denim butt is like sandpaper. The driver seat had a repair on it that I wiped off a long time ago. It is very plausible. Also the same product was used on the back seats, which look brand new, wiith no ill affects.

[christyles]

Quite a few kilometers on it. Maybe they had a big butt. :Idunno: A big tight denim butt is like sandpaper. The driver seat had a repair on it that I wiped off a long time ago. It is very plausible. Also the same product was used on the back seats, which look brand new, wiith no ill affects.
Dem some big butts in your ride then.