After researching a little locally, and on the internet, I've found several opposing opinions about what shops prefer their customers to do prior to dropping off their vehicles for paint or vinyl installs.
Most wanted the vehicles washed, while some preferred to do it themselves ( trying to avoid the auto soaps that contain wax, and the other silicone-ized detail products). One ompany online even posted these reccomendation.
"Clean entire surface of vehicle thoroughly, preferably waxed. "
I contacted them, and it wasn't a typo. They really prefer to install on a freshly waxed surface.
What do you all reccomend to your clients/customers?
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
i tell em have it ...clean....and that i add $50 for washing vehicles!!!!!
Posted by Mark Matyjakowski (Member # 294) on :
I like them cleaned (no wax) ... then I clean again. If I have to do an install on location (indoors at a rental company) it HAS to be at least relitivly clean or I come back when it is. A bottle of prep,tac and a roll of towels will only go so far. I tolerate dirt better in our bay where I can power wash. Who the hell waxes box trucks or simi trailers anyway.
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
i TELL THEM TO HAVE IT PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED, THEN WHEN i GET IT, i GO OVER IT WITH BON-AMI FOLLOWED BY THE 'RAPID' LINE OF STUFF. IF IT COMES IN NOT CLEANED, I REFUSE THE JOB AND KEEP THE DEPOSIT. SCREW EM!
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Jeff,
Yeah, those guys at Modern Image lay claim to the whole vinyl automotive graphics thing. Not only do they put vinyl over a waxed surface, they're using calendared film for all their body kits. Gee.. what a way to "lead the industry" there guys!
Anyway, I tell my customers to wash their vehicles as they normally would, then to use rapid prep on the panels that will receive graphics. No sense in stripping the wax off a panel when there isnt any need to. By the way, dish soaps will remove much of the wax on the car, that's why companies like Mothers and Meguiars have developed special products for washing that won't remove the wax.
I even buffer the price a little bit so I can include some 'Prep and 'Tac, cause I know if I don't supply it, they probably won't buy it and they'll go for the soapy water.
Then I tell 'em to give the graphics a few days to bond before they wash again and re-apply the wax they removed.
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
We tell them to "Please.. Please wash the vehicle first, to get the heavy dirt off, then we'll take care of the rest.
Posted by Jeff Bailey (Member # 1975) on :
Mike, you never cease to amaze me. Haha... I noticed the Calandered vinyl as well. Interesting.
Posted by Terry Whynott (Member # 1622) on :
Check with your local car detailers and see what they charge for a hand wash. Ask your customer to have the vehicle washed ahead of time or you will have to charge them the same as anyone else would to wash it. We are a sign shop not a car wash!
I go over with a cleaner anyway where the graphics are going, but I'd rather not have to deal with all the mud and stuff that tends to pile up on vehicles.
Plus, by having the vehicle clean when it comes in to you, any scratches or dents are visible. If you had to clean it yourself, there's a chance you might uncover a scratch or something that the owner wasn't aware of and they could try to blame it on you.
Posted by Carl Wood (Member # 1223) on :
Depends on a coupla things - set of truck doors I will usually do on site - take Rapid Prep , Water & paper towels - anything above that I have them drop it at my place. Exception - Just finished 8 cement mixers - had to do them all at their place - as they're in constant use - did one under their chute as it was being filled - pulling off the last piece of app tape & this huge cloud of concrete dust cascades down on me - truck - graphics and all - glad I wuz finished at that point - don't see how them people work in them places & breathe all that dust - - -Carl
Posted by Tim Whitcher (Member # 685) on :
Unless I'm going to be doing more than just the doors/tailgate thing, I don't bother telling them to wash it. I figure that it is a part of the service. When I take my car in for paint work, I never think to wash it first, and I'm never asked to do so, either. (I do have a do it yourself car wash a block away, though).
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
No washee ...no signee!
The amazing thing is when they bring it in dirty they apologize...that means they knew they should have cleaned it...so why didn't they?
An extra $20. will suffice for those that apologize.
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
Most of my installs are on their site and they've just pulled off the road, and since there's no such thing as dry weather conditions here, it's impossible to request a clean vehicle at all times.
If I can use Rapid Prep on it right away, then it's clean enough. If there's chunks of mud hanging off the thing, I charge them extra. And if it is dirty, I only clean where I put the graphics on, even if it ends up being the only clean spot on the vehicle.
Posted by John Deaton III (Member # 925) on :
I do what Donna does. If it comes in dirty, I clean only where my stuff goes. Then I tell them not to wash for a few days. They go, DANG!, its gonna look goofy with half of it clean and half of it dirty! Hmmmmm, maybe you shoulda washed it first. Carls post kinda brought up another thing. Alot of my customers dont want to sit their trucks still to be lettered. I had one last week that said you'll have to do them after 9pm or on sundays. We use them the rest of the time. I know they have to make money, but if you are doing basic lettering on two doors, heck it doesnt take an hour to get em on. THey could sit them still for that long. Oh yeah, the guy with the 9pm thing, hes still looking. Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
John, ya oughta take him up on the 9pm deal and add a 300% upcharge for the inconvenience. If his trucks are THAT busy, he sure as hell can afford it!
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
John...I agree with Mike...if it's not during my regular working hours...then there is an "overtime" charge! The typical trucker who wants it done on Saturday or Sunday, because it's his day off...when told that there is a hefty surchage for those days (cause it's my days off too), all of a sudden can wait til Monday!
Posted by CHUCK SARTORIS (Member # 3466) on :
we clean them here or on site. we use alchol to clean the area to be decaled. on working times if its time and a half for them its the same for us. double time sundays and triple time holidays. puts a abrubt stop to that foolish bofoonery. try it can always let the other guy do it .
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
SCREW EM!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)