Teflon. Is it really worth it?
More importantly, does it do what is says it will? Check out this article and give me your thoughts.
Recent Comments autodetailingblog.thesocalway.com
Dealerships and car detailers
charge hundreds of dollars to apply Teflon Coating to your car. Did you
know this Teflon Coating is the same as a $50 wax job?
If you are linked to Linkedin you will be able to access the article, but for those who cannot, I will paste some of the comments here :
Richard Needham •
I would like to comment on the discussion of a Teflon wax. First of all
teflon(PTFE) is a powder that is added to a mixture to enable easier
clean-up and create a non stick surface.
This mixture is then heated to around 365 degrees. Imagine trying to heat a wax to that temperature. No more then 5% of the teflon powder can be added to a mixture and not go through the heating process. In fact unless you pay royalties to 3M corp you are not allowed to use the name Teflon describing your product.
On the other hand a good Acrylic Polymer sealant will provide a years worth of protection from oxidation, acid rain ect.
This mixture is then heated to around 365 degrees. Imagine trying to heat a wax to that temperature. No more then 5% of the teflon powder can be added to a mixture and not go through the heating process. In fact unless you pay royalties to 3M corp you are not allowed to use the name Teflon describing your product.
On the other hand a good Acrylic Polymer sealant will provide a years worth of protection from oxidation, acid rain ect.
Robert Griswell •
I have had many clients and show cars comment on just this. If they read
the fine print, you have to reapply each year or renew the coverage for
the next year to keep it under warranty. However this type of
protection does not take away the fact that adding a high quaility of
wax will add to its shine and protection. But I have yet to find a
sealant that will protect for a full year. Can you let me know where I
can get one. Please don't take that as a poke at you, but I am really
curious
"RL "Bud Abraham •
Richard your comments about Teflon are correct, except that is only one
type of Teflon. DuPont does, in fact, produce a Teflon that in other
ways than bonded to frying pans. Suggest that anyone interested in
knowing about Teflon Google "Teflon" and Wikipedia has a great
explanation.
Teflon, or not, paint sealants are paint sealants. Some have more shine than others, some have more durablity than others, more or less. They are not wonder products and they do not last forever nor for a year. Under the best driving conditions a paint sealant, any paint sealant, will not last more than 6 months without a re-application.
Are paint sealants, with or without Teflon, worth it? That is really not up to detailers to answer, in my opinion. It is up to the motorist. They are the ones who pay the dealership the money. What they are really buying is nothing more than "insurance."
It is a great marketing/sales opportunity for the dealership. When they have sold the customer a new car the mentality of the customer is that they want to "take care of the new vehicle." So the dealer sells the protection package when concluding the sale with the Finance & Insurance guy. The cost over the course of a 48 or 60 month contract is minimal. In some cases they discount the price of the protection package off the cost of the vehicle.
Instead of criticizing dealers for being smart business people detailers ought to learn from the dealer.
When I operated our DETAIL PLUS Centres in Portland, and what I advise our customers to do is put up a professional sign in the waiting room of their shop that states something like this:
"ASK ABOUT OUR NEW CAR PROTECTION PACKAGE"
Only $199.95
"One Year Guarantee"
What is included in the package is a paint sealant application and a fabric protectant on the carpets and fabric seats.
The guarantee is simple: the paint will shine and be protected (beading water) for one year if the customer returns in 6 months for re-application. If the customer complains about shine or protection the sealant is re-applied at no charge, a 15 to 30 minute job.
The carpets & seats are guaranteed not stain. Again a re-application in 6 months. If they do we clean them and re-apply.
At $200 upfront that is a great deal for the detailer and for the customer.
Remember you are not selling paint sealants and fabric protectant to the customer you are selling insurance and that is what they are willing to pay for.
Try our DIAMOND Shine PLUS, one of the best sealants on the market. FABRIC PROTECTANT also one of the best anti-stain treatments available. Both at very competitive prices.
Regards
Bud Abraham
Teflon, or not, paint sealants are paint sealants. Some have more shine than others, some have more durablity than others, more or less. They are not wonder products and they do not last forever nor for a year. Under the best driving conditions a paint sealant, any paint sealant, will not last more than 6 months without a re-application.
Are paint sealants, with or without Teflon, worth it? That is really not up to detailers to answer, in my opinion. It is up to the motorist. They are the ones who pay the dealership the money. What they are really buying is nothing more than "insurance."
It is a great marketing/sales opportunity for the dealership. When they have sold the customer a new car the mentality of the customer is that they want to "take care of the new vehicle." So the dealer sells the protection package when concluding the sale with the Finance & Insurance guy. The cost over the course of a 48 or 60 month contract is minimal. In some cases they discount the price of the protection package off the cost of the vehicle.
Instead of criticizing dealers for being smart business people detailers ought to learn from the dealer.
When I operated our DETAIL PLUS Centres in Portland, and what I advise our customers to do is put up a professional sign in the waiting room of their shop that states something like this:
"ASK ABOUT OUR NEW CAR PROTECTION PACKAGE"
Only $199.95
"One Year Guarantee"
What is included in the package is a paint sealant application and a fabric protectant on the carpets and fabric seats.
The guarantee is simple: the paint will shine and be protected (beading water) for one year if the customer returns in 6 months for re-application. If the customer complains about shine or protection the sealant is re-applied at no charge, a 15 to 30 minute job.
The carpets & seats are guaranteed not stain. Again a re-application in 6 months. If they do we clean them and re-apply.
At $200 upfront that is a great deal for the detailer and for the customer.
Remember you are not selling paint sealants and fabric protectant to the customer you are selling insurance and that is what they are willing to pay for.
Try our DIAMOND Shine PLUS, one of the best sealants on the market. FABRIC PROTECTANT also one of the best anti-stain treatments available. Both at very competitive prices.
Regards
Bud Abraham
.....and my comments :
1.
A very good read, thanks Joseph. I tell my customers to carefully
consider the cost of protective coatings offered by dealerships when
buying their new car. The benefits of regular paint detailing and
polishing/waxing will always be greater than a so-called 'protective
coating'. I have never known any to last more than a year and sometimes
they are voided by repairs to the paintwork including body damage
repairs and re-painting and even buffing.
2.
I am still asking myself, why does paint need sealing? Paint is durable,
flexible and organic. What? .... organic. Of course it is. It applies
wet, it hardens, cures and seals and without care it oxidises. The best
insurance you can get for your paintwork is called "maintenance". Get
out there and polish, put a wax coating on the thing, protect it from
the weather. Paint sealants sold at the car dealer frontline are a con.
They are sold to "Mr Ego". Nothing preserves paint better than good hard
yakka.
Thank you for your contributions.
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