Quote:
Originally Posted by RiCharlie
... So my question is this.. I want quality but not a rip off and was wondering what the group thinks of Turtle wax products. I am sure they get a big discount on the chemicals they use in formulating their products and so they may be just as good for a lot less..or are they?
Thoughts? Anyone
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There are very few companies that manufacture the base detailing product. Thus, quite a few companies get their base supplies from the same place and add their own private additives to their products. It's just like Keebler and Famous Amos Cookies. They both sell chocolate chip cookies that consist of flour, sugar and chocolate chips. However, their cookies taste different and have a different consistency. They may get their sugar, chocolate chips and flour from the same manufacturer, but you can taste the difference in both cookies as soon as you bite into them. The reason being is that each manufacturer has their own blend that they add to their base product. Detailing products are very similar.
Does that make one boutique products better than another? Maybe, maybe not but it definitely makes them
different from one another. It also makes them different from a lot of the OTC products that you see. You have to spend time working with various products in order to appreciate what a boutique product offers. I like to use tools for an example.
If you worked on your car and the only thing you did was a occasional oil and filter change, then the tools that you buy at Harbor Freight would be ideal for you. However, if you were employed by a dealership that only maintained high end sports cars, then you may need to fill your tool box with Snap-On tools. It totally depends on the level of expertise that you are trying to reach and your dedication to your work.
If you really are not committed to obtaining and religiously maintaining a close to perfect finish, go OTC. Especially if you're trying to only spend 4 hours a month maintaining your car. If you are wanting a show room finish and are willing to put in the amount of time that it requires to do so, go boutique. The results will reflect the time you spend. There are many boutique products to choose from that will take you to "Shineville". From my personal experience, the only difference was the route I traveled to get there, product guarantees, customer service, price and shipping times. They all worked so that was not a concern, although some worked in a different way as to achieve the results that they offered. For me, that was sometimes a different way than what I desired.
One thing that all car care companies in America share at this time is clay. There is one company in America that has the patent on clay. There are various grits of clay but again, only one company makes it. Speaking strictly of consumer clay, the only difference in one company's clay compared to another is how much you get and the cost. Leaving grit out of the equation, all clay in America is the same.
Now over seas, the story is a little different.
