Auto Detailing Certification

[kmsdetailing]

I understand that auto technicians get certified (ASE) Automotive Service Excellence) and rightfully so. Why not auto detailers?

How about Autogeek setting up certification? AG can come up with the criteria for a written test for us to take. This would increse membership for them as well as obtaining more customers. For us, wouldn't we be able to ask for more money for detailing over non certified detailers?

[gothamite302]

autogeek isnt exactly a governing body, i agree with the idea but detailing is not all book knowledge, its a skill set mixed with an art form. and in a test, what would you ask? things that limited to the autogeek inventory of products? how is product knowledge enough to certify? explaining a process is also different than actually doing it. just my 2 cents

[Mike Phillips]

I understand that auto technicians get certified (ASE) Automotive Service Excellence) and rightfully so. Why not auto detailers?

How about Autogeek setting up certification? AG can come up with the criteria for a written test for us to take. This would increase membership for them as well as obtaining more customers. For us, wouldn't we be able to ask for more money for detailing over non certified detailers?




Great idea and good question, here's the problem everyone and anyone teaching classes on this topic runs into.

Even if you teach a guy the right way to do things, after he leaves he can flash his certification and then do hack work with lousy products. This makes the company that awarded the certification look bad.

That's why at Meguiar's and now here at Autogeek we award a,

Certificate of Completion


That means you were here, attended the class and completed it.


Also, as I'm sure others will bring up, there are so many products, pads, tools and techniques to reach the goal, (a clean shiny car), and for the most part all the different approaches "can" work.

That is there is no right or wrong way to approach getting a car clean and shiny if the end results is a professional job that pleases the customer.

The problem lies with people that do lousy work which I explain in detail in this article,

The story of 3 H's - Horrendous, Horror Story and Hack Detailers... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/28142-story-3-h-s-horrendous-horror-story-hack-detailers.html)


I'm all for the idea though... now figuring out a way to accomplish the goal.

For what it's worth, I helped out a guy via e-mail today that bought a brand new Infinity from an Infinity dealership and the paint was a wreck when he picked up the car. He sent me at least a dozen pictures.

Shouldn't the detailer at a Infinity Dealership be qualified to "touch" the paint on a brand new Infinity without ruining it for the customer? Again, read through the article above, I spent a lot of time writing it to explain the problems without carelessly blaming everyone in this industry for doing hack work.



:)

[speedlover35]

Sent from my DROID3 using AG Online

[scrubs147]

I understand that auto technicians get certified (ASE) Automotive Service Excellence) and rightfully so. Why not auto detailers?

How about Autogeek setting up certification? AG can come up with the criteria for a written test for us to take. This would increse membership for them as well as obtaining more customers. For us, wouldn't we be able to ask for more money for detailing over non certified detailers?

Your customers satisfaction is your certificate.

[gothamite302]

Your customers satisfaction is your certificate.
agreed, my pictures and customers being happy work well!

[kmsdetailing]

It's just a start and I agree, your customer's satisfaction is your certificate. I do, however, would like to see this some day. Perhaps, between AG and the Vendors that some people can come to an agreement about "Acceptable Technique" and not so much the various products being used.

[kmsdetailing]

Great idea and good question, here's the problem everyone and anyone teaching classes on this topic runs into.

Even if you teach a guy the right way to do things, after he leaves he can flash his certification and then do hack work with lousy products. This makes the company that awarded the certification look bad.

That's why at Meguiar's and now here at Autogeek we award a,

Certificate of Completion


That means you were here, attended the class and completed it.


Also, as I'm sure others will bring up, there are so many products, pads, tools and techniques to reach the goal, (a clean shiny car), and for the most part all the different approaches "can" work.

That is there is no right or wrong way to approach getting a car clean and shiny if the end results is a professional job that pleases the customer.

The problem lies with people that do lousy work which I explain in detail in this article,

The story of 3 H's - Horrendous, Horror Story and Hack Detailers... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/28142-story-3-h-s-horrendous-horror-story-hack-detailers.html)


I'm all for the idea though... now figuring out a way to accomplish the goal.

For what it's worth, I helped out a guy via e-mail today that bought a brand new Infinity from an Infinity dealership and the paint was a wreck when he picked up the car. He sent me at least a dozen pictures.

Shouldn't the detailer at a Infinity Dealership be qualified to "touch" the paint on a brand new Infinity without ruining it for the customer? Again, read through the article above, I spent a lot of time writing it to explain the problems without carelessly blaming everyone in this industry for doing hack work.



:)

Mike, I hear what you're saying and I know that something can be drafted if we all chime-in.
I did notice lately that some dealers in our area have car detailers not employed by the company to detail your car before you take it home. One dealer had the nerve to want to charge me for detailing the car I purchased. I told him no thanks and that what he was trying to sell me is unheard of. At least it is to me and people I know when I explained the story.

True, some detailers can show the certification but why would they want to do a bad job? I would think that people here do it for not only the money, but they actually enjoy doing it.

I know if we put our collective thoughts together, we could come up with a draft.

I will be seeing you at Boot camp this fall :-)

[bmwgalore]

I understand that auto technicians get certified (ASE) Automotive Service Excellence) and rightfully so. Why not auto detailers?

How about Autogeek setting up certification? AG can come up with the criteria for a written test for us to take. This would increse membership for them as well as obtaining more customers. For us, wouldn't we be able to ask for more money for detailing over non certified detailers?


So you're saying a private company (who is NOT the governing body) should have the final word on who is to detail cars and who is not?

PMBG is a retail group, they don't have ANY kind of authority outside their own premisses/web sites.

Are (really) you serious?

[neat e34]

Mike I know exactly what you are saying about people becoming certified & then not maintaining good workmanship but really there is no way to stop that.
I'm a qualified motor mechanic/auto trans specialist & have worked for & with some DODGY & under-skilled people, who have a certificate saying they are qualified to work on your vehicle.

Hell, I'm only 25 & have had to explain & teach things to people twice my age that have been qualified longer than I've been alive!

A certificate is great to have & may make some customers feel more at ease but at the end of the day it doesn't mean much.
If I had to choose between 2 detailers, 1 with no cert but a stellar reputation & 1 with a cert that I had never heard of, I would rely on reputation every time.

If there was a course/certificate available I would do it but only for my self-improvement...

[bmwgalore]

Accreditation must be obtained from an authorized institution (think of university or even community college)...
And this institution must obtain accreditation from a governing body registered with the government, otherwise the certificate is worth as much as my used up toilet paper.

[steve swafford]

:iagree: satisfied customers, that is certification enough,the word will spread and your reputation will follow