May have saved a stranger's paint today

[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.

[bigdogdad]

This is one thing that I have found out since I have become "attached" to a car. True car lovers will help one another, even if it means going to the other side. I personally don't care what kind of car you have but if I sense that you love your car then I'll give you all the love back. Honda, Toyota, Chevy, BMW, etc., we are all in it for the same thing, the love of "the" car. Good for you Mike-in-Orange, one car lover helping another car lover[?]

[KingKole02]

I think you did the right thing. [?]

[wunderbluegt]

quote:Originally posted by KingKole02

I think you did the right thing. [?]

Yes, what KingKole02 said: Way to go Mike_in_Orange!
We need more folks like you out there!

And just think, now that kid can "pass that info on"
to his friends and so on!
[|)]

[OurPTGT]

yeah, is comments to his friends will be
" some old dude in a pimped PT Cruiser, really helped me out today"
[:X]

"he told me about this other old dude with a PT Cruiser that has this bangin web site about how to detail out your ride. Those old PT Cruiser guys are alright"
[8]

[redrum]

friends don't let friends (or newbies) use rotary buffers.
my mom had a neighbor (armed with a rotary buffer) who insisted that he could bring back the shine on her red toyota. after his "help" her car sported all new white edges where he blew through the paint.
argh!
you are a good man, m-i-o
redrum
03GT