Being a Singaporean, logic and practicality have become an innate sense in me for the last 30 over years. At times i really wonder what is the best product to use to maintain my customers' rides. The thing that i'm most concerned about is the price of the product versus the advantages of it under the effect of our region weather conditions.
There are many different type of car grooming products that are made for various usages and they carried different price tags. Let's take a brief look at these products functionality and price, for example a final wax which is usually use to seal and protect the paint work. This range of waxes can range from couple of tenths, to couple of hundreds and even thousands onwards. I believe there will be some difference in the products but not many can really tell the difference with their naked eyes.
Majority of the cars in SG have to continue to park in the open carpark due to shortage of MSCPs and shelter parking areas and the issue of our region weather effect will continue to damage the paint works. These rides usually develop severe paint defects due to the long exposure window to the weather effects.
Let's OT abit and look at our cars prices. Our average 1.6 L - 2.0L family saloon car is expensive as compare to our European counter parts. For example, the cost of a Bimmer M3 in Europe is about the price of our local imported Japanese/ Korean 2.0L family saloon car. Hence, our cars are very expensive, not to mention the imported sports/ luxury car models which easily cost over $350k.
Having said that, it means maintenance of the cars over here should be a 'Need' and not a 'Want'. Between the duo of a 'Want' and a 'Need' is a very fine line, it's the cost of maintenance that will make the 'Want' to become a 'Need'.
There are many different type of car grooming products that are made for various usages and they carried different price tags. Let's take a brief look at these products functionality and price, for example a final wax which is usually use to seal and protect the paint work. This range of waxes can range from couple of tenths, to couple of hundreds and even thousands onwards. I believe there will be some difference in the products but not many can really tell the difference with their naked eyes.
Majority of the cars in SG have to continue to park in the open carpark due to shortage of MSCPs and shelter parking areas and the issue of our region weather effect will continue to damage the paint works. These rides usually develop severe paint defects due to the long exposure window to the weather effects.
Let's OT abit and look at our cars prices. Our average 1.6 L - 2.0L family saloon car is expensive as compare to our European counter parts. For example, the cost of a Bimmer M3 in Europe is about the price of our local imported Japanese/ Korean 2.0L family saloon car. Hence, our cars are very expensive, not to mention the imported sports/ luxury car models which easily cost over $350k.
Having said that, it means maintenance of the cars over here should be a 'Need' and not a 'Want'. Between the duo of a 'Want' and a 'Need' is a very fine line, it's the cost of maintenance that will make the 'Want' to become a 'Need'.
My view regarding the difference of the grooming pricing is that it will continue to vary from places to places as per current situation due to three main things. Experience, Workmanship and Products.
This trade is claimed to be"very viable" according to many of my clients who are not in this line. I like to think so likewise but the going are getting tougher as the days passes as many new players are introduced. I welcome the new players in this trade and would like to take this opportunity to address the issue of the service cost. Please do not kill the potential of this trade and eventually it may just collapse. For example in the Property/ Real Estate trade, any housing transaction fees between the buyer, seller and property agent is kept at 1%, what will happen if tomorrow XYZ Estate company start running their biz and decide to offer all transaction fees @ 0.6%? How to overcome it... let the price war begin? It's going to get messy and ugly...
Car grooming is hard work, don't let the price war ruin this trade. There is a difference in doing the work and getting the job done properly. Many passionate people join this trade as it seem viable, your hard work will be paid off with the right price. A penny for your thoughts? Thanks for viewing. :)
