“Hi I am not looking for any service at this moment.  I was curious how often you had a customer have a special request to be careful around their car.”

This is a story about a journey from one place that failed miserably to another who exceeded those expectations.  This cathartic exceptional experience, that did take place, I would like to share with you.  Perhaps this will help you or someone you know in the vetting process.

In brief I had a wonderful conversation that (not like that tone deaf one from the previous business) that really put me at ease.  I did not feel like an odd person in the world.  More importantly I was informed they have many customers who have concerns just like mine.  I called this business again to speak with the owner, who elicited the same emotions.  This may seem excessive to some, but for people like myself, this is the necessary work that needs to be done before handing over the keys to your car.

Reading the reviews of the shop that dissapointed me what is important but no longer should be the deciding factor, ‘they are honest and knowledgeable.’ Reading so many comments ‘fair pricing’ should have given me a moment of pause in hindsight.

Fast forward to the review that recently led to the phone call, starting a new partnership with this auto shop.  I had went back to the forums and review sites, only this time I reading with more intention the dialogue in the reviews and recommendations.  I read ‘if you care about your car you would go to (here)’, and those words were powerful.

I was told they do offer courtesy hand washes and have a in house detailer.  Although this led to receiving my ‘do not wash’ instructions, I actually like that a place that often services some higher end vehicles that offer courtesy HAND washes.  It tells me about the culture of the business.  It means to me that at the least they are much more likely to have an innate understanding of the scratch sensitivity of paint.  It also tells me that on some level there is an awareness that their clientele care about the appearance of their cars.

When they were done, I was reminded that they were ‘very careful’ around my car.

One of the best feelings is having an incredibly renewed since of hope (i.e. piece of mind).

As I drove away, I realized I never really took in the appreciation people had for the way I cared for cars that I detailed.  This relief I felt, this experience, put me into my clients world.  I understood even more why they saw me as a friend.  There is a lot of vulnerability in trusting another person with regards to something sentimental.

I called to thank them. Yes I spoke to multiple people.  I actually apologized for not writing a review at the time.  I wanted to put more thought into something like that instead of writing a generic ‘they’re the best!’

In the end I wanted to let you know there are places that you can take your car with piece of mind, if you take the proper precautions.