Moe, I think we were talking about not being allowed to post pics and write ups even WITHOUT the company info...

company info + pics = pay for sponsorships
no company info = free to post

Kind of like autopia, which is constantly a referred to site for a lot of detailing questions...its free market to post pics, just not promote your own products as there are sponsors who pay just the same as here. The only difference is that here, you have to pay just show a picture...the selling of products is the same standard across every board I have been on

 

I've got to say that the site sponsors here are AWESOME detailers. I would want to show off my stuff not to compete with them, but just because I like showing it off, teaching a thing or two about how I did what, and hearing some of the kudos that come from a job well done. I even do it sometimes because I may get a great tip from someone about how to do it better, or in less time.

D!

 

I agree with this completely. But what if I want to show off my work without any of my business's information on it? What if I want to put it up because there are guys like you and Phil on here who may be able to give me some great tips after seeing what I have done and how I have done it.

I own a detailing business and I have an online store. I try not to promote my online store here because I'm not a sponsor and those are the rules. That completely makes sense. On the Detailing side, I do high end detailing and it is nice if someone is able to see my work and say "Hey, I'm in Utah too and I need a detalier, maybe I'll PM this guy." I'm not stealing business from Moe or Phil that way and I'm not directly advertising my work.

I've built a couple of high end show cars and some of the people that I have found to help me work on them I have found exactly this way. They weren't necessarily the sponsors on the boards, but I was able to see their work and search them out because they were local. Locally, for me at least, there weren't any options of people who were sponsors on the board.

Is there a happy medium somewhere because I would love to learn (based on the results I am seeing and the techniques I am using) if there are better ways to do it. I'm hear to help as much as I can and learn as much as I can. Bottom line.

D!

 

Let me post one last time and say that I really enjoy this forum and I will continue to be here learning, posting, and whatever no matter what the outcome of the discussion here is. I just wanted to add my 2 cents and I think I've done that. I support whatever the decision of the board is regarding this!

D!

 

I think initially we didn't care if pro detailers put up their work. I think it's great that a potential client in your area can see the hard work you put into a detail and PM you for business. The problem we ran into was guys abused that right and began putting logos in pictures, promoting their products, and informally advertising.

There's such a fine line between "helping" others by posting your work and soliciting...everyone knows it. I've suggested that detailers should post their work once in a while on a car they're really proud of or think is unique to share with others. IMHO, as long as you're not posting your work multiple times weekly, no harm done.

At the end of the day, there's a lot of business out there for everyone. Here in SoCal, there are lots of other great detailers and each one has his/her own style. I for one know my niche, know my bounderaries on what I'd like to do, and leave it at that.

I think ultimately, we want to have this board be DIY-friendly and not a bragging venue for detailers wanting to be in the lime light. CONTENT...CONTENT....CONTENT. Share your knoweldge with each other and give solid advice that everyone can use. If it means you need to show a car you've worked on to show results, that's cool IMHO.

 

I consider you an asset to our board and enjoy reading your posts and advice you give. Keep up the good work D.

 

I agree with this. A sub-forum that is a "Show your work" forum could help with this, but I do agree that there are a lot of forums out there that are bogged down by everyone posting everything they've ever detailed.

D!

 

Thanks Moe!

D!

 

Yeah, a show your work subforum or even a single sticky post for people to show off work could be nice. Liek i said earlier, in the past, a particular detailer was posting up details at a rate of 2-3/day and it ended up being annoying, not helpful.

 

By the way, not sure how to differentiate, but DIYers have always been welcomed to post their work. This is how your fellow DIYers learn and can relate. We pros sometime lose sight of things and may over complicate things for those simply wanting to detail their cars so it's clean and presentable. I know I'm guilty of that...but it's my OCD sickness

I think we're all on the same page here and I'm glad to see this board evolving like this. I've seen a lot of people come and go, but one thing all of you can count on is the quality of the advice you get on this board. I think we've assembled a good core group of sponsors, pro detailers giving their day-to-day experience and advice, and passionate DIYers that love caring for their cars. What more could we ask for

 

Yeah, but we all start somewhere. I was a DIYer long before I became a "pro"

But yeah, the OCD sickness is certainly hard to shake!


D!

 

you and me both!!! I spent 9 hours for a 5 hour job because of that OCD sickness this weekend! heavy water spots, guy wanted to pay for a two step, needed wetsanding and a 3 step at least...I ended up doing a three step for him, but no wetsanding...he was estatic and loved it in the end...I dont think he would have liked the results from just the two step! Even the "express type detailer" who lives across the way was amazed, yet thought I was wasting my time spending 9 hours...LOL

 

I completely understand. It's those extra touches that will help you win clients and make great referrals! Kudos!

D!

 

Talk to VSE Chuck. I went threw the same thing, trying to figure out the rules 100%. Basically I was told, you need to become a sponsor. I could post some pictures of details I have done every so often, but nothing about price or company info can be anywhere in the photo's or post.

 

I was the one who mainly pushed this issue a while back (well since last year) and it's the main/pretty much only reason I stopped visiting here as much... I was suggesting to make a subforum inside the detailing forum called something like "Show off, brag, etc." so that the main forum consisted of content that's helpful for DIY folks.. I always enjoyed coming in and posting any advice on could give, from washing, to claying, to polishing, etc. but it got to the point where I saw 15 of 20 threads on the 1st page reading "Glossed BMW" "Perfected 911", etc. and posts like "how do I clay" "what polish to use" etc. ended up on page 3... as you said, few people ruined it for the rest and I hope it goes back to how it was early 2008 or so... I always liked posting my work and my process but then I realized by posting it I was actually competing, unintentionally, with many people pushing their work on here, so I stopped posting...

Don't get me wrong, I love looking at photos of Ferraris, Porsches, etc. more than many on here, but those who have been here for the past year or so know the line was crossed and forum was abused in that DIYers got the short end of the stick.

That's pretty simple to follow... post some before and after photos as well as the process and you're good to go... no need for pricing, company info/logos, etc... if someone wants to know the prices, etc. they can PM you or if they as publicly you can PM them... problem solved.