Your Signature - Don't leave one...

Mike Phillips · 01-11-2011, 02:24 PM

Your Signature - Don't leave one...

I don't know if any of you have another name or term for this issue... but here's what I use...

Signature

As in, leaving your signature on your car or your customer's car. It's actually a bad thing but as hard as you try and as careful as you might be, once in a while there's a whoops!

I call the whoops your signature.

The goal is to NOT leave your signature on the car.

As I was buffing out this 1970 Cutlass in the studio last night I found a number of places the person before me left their signature...

Of course it goes without saying to always do your best to avoid leaving your signature in your car or a customer's car and ALWAYS closely inspect edges, corners, raised body lines and seams for signs of where the person before you burned through the paint and then take the necessary precautions to avoid buffing on these areas. See this article...

Tips on Taping Off Thin Paint and Chipped Paint

It's a GREAT IDEA to document any area where the paint has been burned-through on a check-off diagram and also to take pictures of the damaged areas and if the owner is around before you begin buffing on the car then be sure to show them the damaged areas and even make sure they know you've taken pictures and documented these areas on a check-off sheet or diagram.

This will show them how meticulous, careful and thorough you are as a professional detailer. Plus, you don't want to get blamed for someone else's mistake and if you don't document and point out the damaged areas before you buff out the car there's no way to prove that you didn't do it after the buff-out.

And... as a good policy... if you do make a mistake on a customer's car... be honest and show them, hard to do but better you show them then have them find out on their own.

And here's two related articles...

Tape it off and avoid a lifetime of ugly...

TOGW = The Other Guy's Wax

On Autogeek.net

3M Automotive Performance Masking Tape 3 Pack

Meguiars Professional Masking Tape

**BobbyG** · 01-11-2011, 02:53 PM

Great tip Mike and point well taken!

I'd rather be known for a quality job than an oops any day. Like I've said many times, it only takes 1 awe-shoot to wipe of 1000 at-a-boys!

Quality not quantity and do the job right the first time......

**oldmodman** · 01-11-2011, 04:18 PM

When I finish a car and make a mental check list of where my day went. Most of it went into taping.

I'm just really slow at taping.

**C. Charles Hahn** · 01-13-2011, 05:58 PM

I always leave my "signature" on cars I detail, if the customers are agreeable. I printed up some weatherproof 2"x4" decals that say "Appearance Care By:" followed by my name and contact information, and I stick one inside the drivers' door jamb. That way the next time the person needs their car detailed, all they have to do is get my number or email from the sticker and get in touch with me to schedule another appointment.

For the most part, people like having that available but obviously some classic and high end car owners might object.

Mike Phillips · 04-26-2011, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by Shiny Lil Detlr

I always leave my "signature" on cars I detail, if the customers are agreeable. I printed up some weatherproof 2"x4" decals that say "Appearance Care By:" followed by my name and contact information, and I stick one inside the drivers' door jamb.

That way the next time the person needs their car detailed, all they have to do is get my number or email from the sticker and get in touch with me to schedule another appointment.

That is a great tip, kind of in the idea of the "Oil Change Sticker" used by dealerships and oil change businesses to document and remind the customer the mileage mark of the last oil change.

You should write this up as a "Tip" with some pictures for our making money detailing cars forum group here,

How to make money detailing cars

Mike Phillips · 11-30-2011, 02:16 PM

From this thread...

Swirled-out Jeep

Whoops! - This is called leaving your Signature!

Ouch!

Mike Phillips · 11-30-2011, 02:17 PM

From this thread,

1972 Corvette Stingray - Extreme Makeover - Process and Products Used

**shoeless89** · 11-30-2011, 02:39 PM

Thanks Mike!

**richy** · 11-30-2011, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by BobbyG

Great tip Mike and point well taken!

I'd rather be known for a quality job than an oops any day. Like I've said many times, it only takes 1 awe-shoot to wipe of 1000 at-a-boys!

Quality not quantity and do the job right the first time......

Bobby, You know the saying:

You can paint 1,000 paintings and they won't call you a painter,.