u/Apprehensive_Club_53

Original Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Detailing/s/97WgLHDFnR

So I went back yesterday to have the problem areas addressed on my car. They did a decent job of touching things up. But that same day I also dropped my wife’s car off for a full detail. Her’s cost 400 total. Only reason I didn’t cancel after my appointment is I didn’t want to lose my deposit. Also was trying to be reasonable, mistakes happen and maybe it was a one off. Surely with me recently having complained you’d think they’d get my wife’s car perfect.

Wrong, still not up to par. Inside of mirrors were still dirty, door jambs still dirty, no tire dressing applied and the floor boards throughout were absolutely soaked. The car was left at max heat from the shop so they knew there was excessive moisture in the car. So now I’m thinking this shop overall is just poor quality. I’m not going to bring this second car back again cause it’s a 30 min drive, I’ve got a one month old at home, and frankly I’m just kind of over it.

So I decide I’m just going go leave a two star Google review with photos and stuff so other folks can see maybe this shop isn’t all it’s hyped up to be. The owner sees it and text me at 9 o’clock at night. That conversation is attached. My question is now who’s in the wrong? Did I overreact?

I live in upstate NY on a pretty hilly property and for the past couple of years I’ve struggled to get an even cut. Some spots are cut lower with a high spot directly adjacent. I do multiple passes in different directions to try and even it out but there are still some lines. I have a riding mower Husquvarna 348XD and I’ve tried everything I can think of:

- Level deck on flat concrete slab

- Check deck level with blades engaged

- Check tire pressure

- Sharpen and balance blades

- Confirmed blades aren’t grossly bent. I rotate through 4 sets of blades and some are ~1/8” off at the blade tips

- Grease spindles and confirmed they do not appear damaged.

- Deck thoroughly cleaned (w/ flap disk on an angle grinder to get inside as smooth as possible)

- Replaced belt and checked tension

It was difficult to get clear photos of the lines so photos attached are just a couple of spots but I also get these marks when mowing vertically or diagonally up the hill. In the flatter areas I do not get these marks.

Do I need a better mower that will hold the deck flatter on sloped surfaces? Do I just need to level bumps out in my lawn? Or is there anything else I could be missing?

I had my car detailed today, both interior and exterior and I need a sanity check if I should follow up with the detailer or if this quality of work is just par for the course?

To paint a better picture: My car is a 2024 Model Y with ceramic coating and a full frontal PPF. I get a touch free wash and vacuum it weekly. I keep interior and exterior detail spray and microfibers in the car for quick clean up of bird poop and coffee drips. I use to do all my own detailing including minor paint correction but now that I have a kid at home I don’t have the time to do it all myself. Hence going to a professional for seasonal deep cleans. Given I upkeep my car pretty well when I go to a professional I’d expect the car to look immaculate. But maybe I’m in the wrong and need to chill out.

I’ll also note they are the best reviewed PPF and detailing shop in my area and one of the highest priced so I really don’t think this is a “you get what you paid for” type of thing.

Specific points of displeasure:

- wheel barrels still full of dirt

- Door/trunk jambs all still had dirt and looks like they got a once over with a microfiber at best.

- inside of side mirrors still have dirt

- bug squashed on inside of windshield a few days ago and mark was still present after detail (inside windshield not cleaned, or not cleaned well)

- trunk pockets still had debris.

Edit: Price paid 199 for exterior detail and 299 for interior detail. I live in upstate NY and I dropped my car at their shop so not a mobile detail.

Update: I spoke to the owner this morning he agreed this is stuff that should not have been missed and was apologetic. He said he would get the feedback to his team and I will be taking the car back to get it recleaned/address problem areas later this week. Thank you all for your input!