I recently have had some not so good experiences with other companies.  In my opinion, I was a victim of sub-par customer service.  This is especially troubling to me because, after all, I run my own company.   Customer service is defined as; what ever the customer says it is.  This means that you, the customer, is the person who decides what good customer service is, and how it should be delivered.  It seems that good or great customer service is rare in this day and age.  Large companies that dominate many industries generally do a poor job with customer service.  Even small companies, which have an advantage because they are small, are guilty of providing lackluster customer service.  Excellent customer service adds value to a product or service.  It also makes you want to patronize a business again in the future, and tell others about the great service you received.  Things such as returning your phone call or email promptly, having a pleasant phone demeanor and accommodating attitude, convenient scheduling, and proper follow-up all contribute to a good customer service experience.  What are some things you would add to this list?  The truth is, there are many attributes to great customer service, and it is all determined by you.  As we move into a New Year, make sure you demand excellent customer service from the businesses you choose to give your hard earned money to.   If you receive customer service that does not exceed your expectations, bring it to the attention of the manager, or better yet, the owner.  If you are still not satisfied with the service you are receiving, take your business to another company that is willing to go above and beyond, to provide you with outstanding service.

A good way to find businesses that offer outstanding customer service is to ask friends and family for recommendations.  Usually, if someone recommends a company, it is because they have had a great customer service experience.  Chances are, you will also find their service outstanding.  You can also check online sites that contain customer reviews.  Google Places and Yelp are a couple sites where customers can post reviews of a business.  Positive reviews usually indicate that a company is committed to providing it’s customers with outstanding customer service.  Remember, customer service is not something that should be hard to find.  Businesses should be thankful that you are willing to pay them your money for a product or service.  In return, they should be willing to do what ever it takes, within reason, to meet and exceed your expectations.  If they are not, simply choose a company that will.

Hopefully, you will be lucky enough to never need body work done on your car.  The fact is that, most people will need to use the services of a body shop at some point in their lives.  Damaging your car is a difficult experience.  Choosing the right auto body shop to fix the damage, will make the experience less painful and result in a quality repair.  If your car gets damaged, first determine if it is something that can be fixed by an auto detailing professional.  Some scratches and small dents can be fixed without repairing and painting large sections of your car.  You want to avoid compromising the car’s factory paint job if at all possible.  If the damage to your car will require auto body work, choose the shop with care.  Ask friends and family for recommendations of shops that have exceeded their expectations.  If you are unable to find a shop through word-of-mouth channels, check online review sites such as Google Places.  Consistently good reviews usually indicate that a body shop does quality work.  Do not choose an auto body shop solely on your insurance company’s recommendation.  In Virginia, you have the right to go to which ever body shop you choose.  Once you have chosen a shop, make sure they have clearly indicated what they intend to do, to fix the damage to your car.  Your contact at the shop should be knowledgeable and clearly answer any questions you may have.  Make sure they provide a written estimate of the work to be performed.  Once your car is at a body shop for repair, they will work with you or your insurance company in the event more damage is discovered.  Once the body work on your car is concluded, be sure to thoroughly examine the work.  Look closely at how the body panels align with each other.  The spaces between them should be even and consistent with the other areas on your car.  Although the paint on repaired areas will never fully match the factory paint job’s color and texture, it should be reasonably close.  Be on the lookout for paint with an “orange peel” texture or dust nibs in the paint itself.  These types of issues should not be present and should be corrected by the shop.  The car should be delivered back to you clean and free of dust and paint over spray.  Make sure you are completely satisfied with the work before you make payment.  Remember, having auto body work done on your car should be a pleasant experience that results in a car that looks nearly identical to how it was before the damage occurred.  Please consult us if you ever have questions about auto body work or need a recommendation for a quality shop.

Several choices are available when it comes to washing your car.  You can choose to wash it yourself, or you can pay someone else to do the dirty work for you.  When purchasing such services, choices range from a quick automatic car wash at the gas station, to a hand wash and detail by a mobile auto detail company.  The safest and most effective way to maintain the appearance of your car’s paint, continues to be a hand wash.  Hand washing allows the dirt on your cars paint to be gently removed using the correct amount of pressure.  Modern day microfiber wash mitts do an excellent job of clearing the dirt from your car’s paint and trapping the dirt within its tiny fibers.  Automatic car washes use either chemicals and pressure or a combination of chemicals, mechanical action, and pressure to clean your car.  At a chemical and pressure car wash (also called a touch-less wash), the concentration of the chemicals is high because no agitation is used.  High chemical dilutions strip the wax off your car and can leave soapy residue on your car’s paint.  The automatic car wash operations that do use agitation, can cause damage because you have brushes or cloths being moved mechanically, at high speed and pressures over your car’s paint.  The other benefit of hand washing, is that it conserves water and reduces run-off.  Rinse-less wash technology allows a car to be washed with only a few gallons of water.  The polymers in these products bond to the paint and dirt particles, creating a cushion so that dirt can be safely washed away.  Even the car washes that recycle a significant amount of their water are still using a lot more water per car, than a hand wash.  Of course, the safety and results of a hand car wash depend on the skill and training of a company’s  staff and the quality of the washing and drying supplies.  Next time your car needs to be washed, consider having it conveniently hand washed and detailed, or take some time to wash it yourself.  You will be pleased with the results.

Mechanically, the wheels and tires on your car are very important.  They are the point where your car makes contact with the road.  Wheels and tires are also an important part of the appearance of your car.  Visually, most people are drawn to a nice set of wheels and tires before anything else.  Dirty wheels and tires can dramatically reduce the appearance of your car.   Wheels and tires are subject to a harsh environment because of the heat and brake dust generated by your car’s brake system.  If left neglected, they can quickly become unattractive and damaged.  Wheels are usually constructed of aluminum or steel.  Aluminum wheels are lighter, while providing strength equal to steel wheels.  Aluminum wheels are usually coated with paint only, a base-coat/clear-coat paint similar to what is on the car’s body, or chrome plating.  In rare cases you will find wheels that are polished non coated aluminum.  Steel wheels are usually covered by a removable plastic covering.  In general, the care of the different types of wheels and tires is the same.  What is important, is that they are detailed frequently and properly.  Here are a few tips:

• If done often, car wash soap or a rinse-less wash combined with a microfiber towel is all that is needed to clean wheels and tires.
• Most European cars, because of the brake pad composition, will need to be cleaned more often to avoid damage.
• Harsh cleaners or wheel acids should be avoided because they can damage wheel and tire surfaces, and can damage brake components.  These chemicals are also bad for you and the environment.
• Wheel surfaces should be protected often, just like your car’s paint,  with a wax or sealant.
• Protect and beautify your car’s tires after cleaning with a quality tire dressing.
• Avoid using thick silicone tire dressings.  These products leave a thick residue that can stain your car’s paint and wheel surfaces.
• If needed, painted/clear-coated wheels can be polished with a paint polish to remove haze and scratches.  Chrome wheels can be polished with a metal or chrome polish.

Remember, keeping your car’s wheels and tires looking great is a fairly simple process.  The key is to use the correct cleaning methods, and do it often.

Buying a new car is an opportunity to start over in regards to keeping it in great condition; both mechanically and cosmetically.  One of the most important things you can do, from the beginning, is to protect the paint on your new automobile.  The best way to do this is with a quality polymer paint sealant.  Remember, a paint sealant will last much longer, when compared to a natural carnauba wax product.  Some products contain natural waxes to enhance the shine.   The dealership where you buy your new car will most certainly offer to apply a paint sealant.  Usually, they will attempt to charge a large sum of money and claim it is guaranteed to last for a few years.  In reality, even the best paint sealants will last about a year under optimal conditions.  It is more economical to have a qualified third party, such as a detail company, apply a sealant to your new car;  the results will be better as well.  The benefit, is that the paint is protected from the beginning from environmental factors such as the sun, road grime, bugs, sap, and road salt.  All of these things can quickly damage your new car’s paint if it is not protected.  A paint sealant will also make cleaning your car’s paint easier by making the bond between the dirt and the paint less strong.  If you are in the market for a new car or have recently purchased one, getting the paint protected early is a smart decision.

One question most people usually want an answer to is; what equipment and products are used to professionally detail a car?  The process of detailing an automobile utilizes several different pieces of specialized equipment, and a special selection of products and supplies.  Equipment includes powerful commercial vacuums, orbital and rotary machine polishers, hot water carpet extractors, and ozone generators to kill odors.  In the hands of a skilled operator this equipment allows the job to be done more efficiently and produces superior results.  All of the equipment Reflections Auto Salon uses, is specially selected because it is the best money can buy.  Products used during the auto detailing process include: softened water, rinse-less wash concentrate, all purpose cleaners, UV proctectant, tire dressing, polishes, waxes, and sealants.  As with the equipment, these products have been carefully selected based on superior quality and performance.  In addition, accessory items including micro-fiber towels for each specific task, brushes, spray bottles and dressing applicators are used in conjunction with the products to produce superior results.  I am sure I have left out a few things, but that gives you a good overview of all the things that are used to produce a superior auto detail.

Modern automobile paint is a complicated thing, or at least it seems that way. Everyone you talk to has their own conceptions about automobile paint. Much of it is simply incorrect. Lets explore a few facts to clear things up. Modern day automobile paint consists of a base coat (color) and a clear coat (gloss) system. Single stage paint was eliminated about 10 years ago. Very simply, the base coat is a thin layer that goes on first and contains the color pigments. The clear coat is extremely thin, and goes on second. It is transparent and provides the gloss to the paint job. Without the clear coat, the paint would not have a shine. The clear coat also serves as protection for the base coat, so that it does not fade as fast. The clear coat contains UV inhibitors that eventually will degrade if not cared for properly. Applying a quality paint sealant regularly, protects the clear coat from UV and environmental damage. Your paint’s clear coat is also what gets “scratched”.  Scratches can be caused by improper washing and/or drying or contact with a hard object. Scratches range from very light marring to very coarse scratches that can penetrate both layers of paint. Unfortunately, when paint is scratched, the only way to remove the scratch is to abrade the clear coat down to the lowest point of the scratch. This is accomplished using a machine polisher and various grades of polish. The process of polishing paint can be very time consuming and expensive. The best option is to properly care for your car’s paint so that scratches can be avoided. Next time someone is talking about automotive paint, you will now have the knowledge to correct their misconceptions about it.

Our mobile detailing service is a convenient way to have your car professionally detailed while you work or do other important things.  I frequently get asked how it is possible to provide a quality detail service at a person’s home or office.  I also get asked if the quality is the same as having a detail done in a shop environment.  When doing a mobile detail, we show up on site with everything needed to perform a high quality detail service; including power, equipment, water, and supplies.  The power is supplied with an ultra quiet Honda Generator.  In some cases, the customer will prefer we use their power, rather than run a generator.  Our vacuum has been specifically selected because of its very quiet design and fine filtration which produces zero exhaust dust.  Our rinse-less wash requires only  3 gallons of water per car, reducing the amount of water we have to transport to your location.  In addition, no run-off is generated with the rinse-less wash.  Supplies, such as cleaners, towels, polishes, and waxes are limited to what we need to complete each specific detail.  The quality of our mobile detail service is equal or better than what you would find at a fixed location detail shop.  Our superior products and process are what sets us apart from the competition, whether they are mobile or have a fixed location.  Next time you need to have your car detailed, choose the convenience of mobile detailing.

Some believe that auto detailing is a process that is only done when a car is “dirty”.  Others, include detailing as part of their car’s routine maintenance,  just like an oil change.  The second group have it correct.  Neglecting your car’s appearance, even for a short amount of time, can result in damage to its surfaces.  Some of this damage can be difficult or impossible to restore.  A few examples of the materials that can be quickly damaged include:

• Wheel surfaces can be damaged by brake dust.
• Painted surfaces are vulnerable to road grime, bird droppings, and bug residue.
• Tires can crack and dis-color of not cleaned and protected often.
• Leather upholstery is attacked by acidic dirt and body oils, causing cracking.
• Carpet, mats, and fabric upholstery accumulate dirt that can wear down its fibers.
• Vinyl and plastic surfaces are discolored by dirt and body oils.

Most every surface of your car can be damaged if not cleaned and protected on a regular basis.  If you desire to keep your car looking great, it is smart to include auto detailing as part of its regular maintenance schedule.

I will first mention that this blog entry will not be about auto detailing.  Rather, it is a my brief take on the social media scene, and how it changes the way people and businesses find each other.  Like most people,  I was a bit hesitant to sign up for Facebook and Twitter.  Eventually, after enough people mentioned it, and I read it could be a valuable marketing tool, I signed on.  At first, I just had a personal Facebook page with links and information about my mobile auto detailing business.  I then started a Twitter account and made a fan page on Facebook.  Through these valuable tools, I have been able to connect with friends from the past, and also connect with other people in the automotive, car wash, and detailing industry.  At first, the process of using social media seemed a bit daunting.  After all, you really do not see immediate results.  After about a year though, I can look back and see the significant network of friends and associates I have built.   I use this network to find information,  disseminate car care tips, and to communicate with clients.  Social media essentially allows my passion for cars and my customers to reach a broader audience.  Social media also opens me up to a broader range of ideas and information.   You too, can use social media to learn about the topics you enjoy and connect with people who share your interests.  As a consumer, you can use it find and research products and services.  Social media seems to be here to stay.  It will continue to change the rules of marketing and the way in which people communicate.