job in the detailing business...advice?

cschoening09 · October 23rd, 2011, 08:20 PM

ive always loved to slick up autos and make them look good. ..not just good...spotless i should say. so i have come across a couple job openings at a local larger sized car dealership thats looking for a couple full time detailers...just curious at what kind of pay i would be looking at? the ad i found doesnt say and theyre closed till tomorrow and i havent had time to go in there yet. my main question is what kind of starting pay should i be looking forward to and what kind of future is there in that business?

dannyboy281 · October 23rd, 2011, 08:58 PM

I would say no future at all and your looking at minimum wage are a few dollars more. Dealership "detailers" are not detailers at all they are valeters and all they do is swirl up and scratch new vehicles finishes. Ask me how I know

but if you need a job go for it man just don't take their shitty techniques home with you

cschoening09 · October 23rd, 2011, 08:59 PM

lol well how do you know

dannyboy281 · October 23rd, 2011, 09:12 PM

I have fixed the shitty work they do when they screw up new rides; through paint correction and proper detailing man

cschoening09 · October 23rd, 2011, 09:33 PM

i just wanna learn how to run a buffer the right way lol. all i know how to do is little circles with elbow grease

dannyboy281 · October 23rd, 2011, 10:41 PM

Start with a dual action polisher like the griots garage da polisher or the flex 3401 da polisher. And watch the detailing video library in the stickys

WildStang88 · October 23rd, 2011, 10:47 PM

I worked in a dealership and got to know the detailers that worked there. Let me just say this, on their busy days when new and used cars were being sold, they were sending a few to another detail shop with more man power. Weither or not that could be the issue at some other dealership, I dont know. Pay wasn't that great for them. Like dannyboy said not really a future in it, but hey if its your first job, why not make a buck or two. Nothing wrong with that.

whyxitx · October 23rd, 2011, 11:48 PM

do it as a side project, you will never want to touch your car again if you go into a detail business.

RZNCAIN · October 23rd, 2011, 11:57 PM

Well for the most part I agree with Danny. However, I consider myself a very good detailer, started at a dealership and then my own business for a while until I got sick of working on everyone else's shit. For the most part, he is right, they will teach you the bare minimum to make a car look decent.

If detailing is something that you are good at all ready, you will find you will have to lower your standards to work at a dealership.

Trust me, the work I put into my cars is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAY beyond the work a car dealership detailer does. More like my worst is a dealerships best. But it is still a job I enjoyed for a few years and I made 30K a year doing it, and I know money is different depending on where you live, but here in Wisconsin, 30K is real decent money.

As far as their being a future in it. I now sell cars at that dealership and have a steady job I have been at for 7 years, and I now make a lot more then I did then. SO it can lead to other opportunities.

October 23rd, 2011, 08:20 PM	#1
cschoening09 Hardcore Enthusiast 2001 Mustang GT 9.30 @ 77mph-1/8th mile 2.2 60' Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Council Bluffs, IA Posts: 1,709 iTrader: 3 reviews	job in the detailing business...advice? ive always loved to slick up autos and make them look good. ..not just good...spotless i should say. so i have come across a couple job openings at a local larger sized car dealership thats looking for a couple full time detailers...just curious at what kind of pay i would be looking at? the ad i found doesnt say and theyre closed till tomorrow and i havent had time to go in there yet. my main question is what kind of starting pay should i be looking forward to and what kind of future is there in that business? __________________ 01 GT. 5spd , 03-04 cobra clutch, on its 2nd 4.6l motor2nd tr3650 too,JLT CAI,UPR o/r x, magnapack catback, predator tuned, H&R ss 10.5" bullitts w/ nt555r DR's

October 23rd, 2011, 08:58 PM	#2
dannyboy281 MM Fanatic 2003 Azure Blue Mach 1 5,000 miles on the ODO Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: El Paso, Tx Posts: 4,912 iTrader: 0 reviews	I would say no future at all and your looking at minimum wage are a few dollars more. Dealership "detailers" are not detailers at all they are valeters and all they do is swirl up and scratch new vehicles finishes. Ask me how I know but if you need a job go for it man just don't take their shitty techniques home with you __________________ 2003 Azure Blue Mach 1 MGW, MAC Offroad X, Flowmaster Original 40's, Maganaflow 3.5" Tips, Anthracite 18x9's & 18x10's FR 500's wrapped with Nitto 555's, Eibach Pro Kit,

October 23rd, 2011, 08:59 PM	#3
cschoening09 Hardcore Enthusiast 2001 Mustang GT 9.30 @ 77mph-1/8th mile 2.2 60' Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Council Bluffs, IA Posts: 1,709 iTrader: 3 reviews	lol well how do you know __________________ 01 GT. 5spd , 03-04 cobra clutch, on its 2nd 4.6l motor2nd tr3650 too,JLT CAI,UPR o/r x, magnapack catback, predator tuned, H&R ss 10.5" bullitts w/ nt555r DR's

October 23rd, 2011, 09:12 PM	#4
dannyboy281 MM Fanatic 2003 Azure Blue Mach 1 5,000 miles on the ODO Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: El Paso, Tx Posts: 4,912 iTrader: 0 reviews	I have fixed the shitty work they do when they screw up new rides; through paint correction and proper detailing man __________________ 2003 Azure Blue Mach 1 MGW, MAC Offroad X, Flowmaster Original 40's, Maganaflow 3.5" Tips, Anthracite 18x9's & 18x10's FR 500's wrapped with Nitto 555's, Eibach Pro Kit, Last edited by dannyboy281; October 23rd, 2011 at 11:48 PM.

October 23rd, 2011, 09:33 PM	#5
cschoening09 Hardcore Enthusiast 2001 Mustang GT 9.30 @ 77mph-1/8th mile 2.2 60' Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Council Bluffs, IA Posts: 1,709 iTrader: 3 reviews	i just wanna learn how to run a buffer the right way lol. all i know how to do is little circles with elbow grease __________________ 01 GT. 5spd , 03-04 cobra clutch, on its 2nd 4.6l motor2nd tr3650 too,JLT CAI,UPR o/r x, magnapack catback, predator tuned, H&R ss 10.5" bullitts w/ nt555r DR's

October 23rd, 2011, 10:41 PM	#6
dannyboy281 MM Fanatic 2003 Azure Blue Mach 1 5,000 miles on the ODO Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: El Paso, Tx Posts: 4,912 iTrader: 0 reviews	Start with a dual action polisher like the griots garage da polisher or the flex 3401 da polisher. And watch the detailing video library in the stickys __________________ 2003 Azure Blue Mach 1 MGW, MAC Offroad X, Flowmaster Original 40's, Maganaflow 3.5" Tips, Anthracite 18x9's & 18x10's FR 500's wrapped with Nitto 555's, Eibach Pro Kit,

October 23rd, 2011, 10:47 PM	#7
WildStang88 Newbie 1988 N/a Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: FL Posts: 40 iTrader: 0 reviews	I worked in a dealership and got to know the detailers that worked there. Let me just say this, on their busy days when new and used cars were being sold, they were sending a few to another detail shop with more man power. Weither or not that could be the issue at some other dealership, I dont know. Pay wasn't that great for them. Like dannyboy said not really a future in it, but hey if its your first job, why not make a buck or two. Nothing wrong with that. __________________ 1988 Mustang GT, Grey, BBK CAI, MSD Distributor and Wires, BBK Equal Length Shorty Headers, BBK O/R X-Pipe, Flowermaster Super 44's, 15x8 275/50/15 Nitto's-Rear, 15x5.5 155/80/15's BFG's-Front

October 23rd, 2011, 11:57 PM	#9
RZNCAIN Shelby's Minion 2007 Mustang Shelby GT (Mach1) Sept. '10 ROTM Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: WI Posts: 11,490 iTrader: 2 reviews	Well for the most part I agree with Danny. However, I consider myself a very good detailer, started at a dealership and then my own business for a while until I got sick of working on everyone else's shit. For the most part, he is right, they will teach you the bare minimum to make a car look decent. If detailing is something that you are good at all ready, you will find you will have to lower your standards to work at a dealership. Trust me, the work I put into my cars is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAY beyond the work a car dealership detailer does. More like my worst is a dealerships best. But it is still a job I enjoyed for a few years and I made 30K a year doing it, and I know money is different depending on where you live, but here in Wisconsin, 30K is real decent money. As far as their being a future in it. I now sell cars at that dealership and have a steady job I have been at for 7 years, and I now make a lot more then I did then. SO it can lead to other opportunities. __________________ Sponsored by Specialty Coatings Car Salesman Club- Founder -------------------------- 2007 Shelby GT- Hardparked 2003 Mach 1- Hardparked 1988 LX 5.0- Umm...Driver?

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