[Mike-in-Orange]

As I arrive at the checkout counter at my local Pep Boys I notice the kid in front of me has a bottle of Meguiar's Gold Class, some tire spray, a sponge, and a generic "rotary buffer". He asks the girl behind the counter if the buffer will work with the Meguiar's and she says "um, yeah, I guess". I just couldn't let this kid do it, I just couldn't.

I asked if he'd ever used a buffer before.
No.
Is it a new car or a new paint job?
Kinda.
Do you like your car?
Yes. (with a puzzled look on his face)

I told him that the right buffer, in the right hands, can be a great thing. But the wrong buffer in the wrong hands would be deadly. Turns out the car in question is a fairly new Chevy Silverado this kid's grandfather just gave him. I told him to skip the buffer and do the truck by hand. We talked a little about microfibre towels, clay bar, etc. and I directed him to PerfectAutoFinish.com so he could learn a bit more. This is a young guy who's obviously excited about his first "real" car and I just couldn't let him kill the finish!

He thanked me profusely, but the girl behind the counter didn't look to thrilled that I took a sale away from them! Too bad. I lost them a sale but probably saved the kids truck.