DRKMATTER

*Disclaimer: I'm a very nice person but I expect quality when hiring a contractor*

I'm in Parkland, FL (Broward County) and I'm looking for an EXPERIENCED detailer to correct minor fine scratches and blemishes. I'm a waxer hobbiest and although I have "some" skill with a PC7424 I'm in need (AFAIK) of a rotary pro. I figure about 8 to 10 hours is needed (including a good bath and clay bar prep). I have fresh paint on the hood, front fascia, chin spoiler (although I do have a nice scrape filled by a black sharpie ), rear fascia, lower rockers and deck lid but there are some problems throughout.

I don't expect miracles but I DO expect "Giving it 110%" I have a vast array of pro products that you will be welcome to use if needed. I will be checking the "before and after" with a camera and fluorescent light.

I expect a meeting/consultation to discuss what my reasonable expectations should be prior to an agreement. Again, I want to state that I am willing to PAY for the right person and then I will flaunt your work ALL over the Corvette Forum! That's a promise!!! (Did I mention that S. Florida is in the top 5 states of vette ownership? )

I will want references, before and after portfolios (in advance via email pics) and expect me to watch some of the work and ask questions. I am a firm believer in "You get what you pay for" so if your a "satisfaction guaranteed" business (with insurance!) then you are my detailer I'm not opposed to wetsanding or wool pads if needed but be prepared to pay the piper if you screw up!

Here are some pics of the job:















PM me for questions

tdekany

Wow! Not sure if you will get too many replies with this tone of voice.

Couple of pointers if I may:

1 - How do you know the time it would take to do the car?

2 - If the swirls are light, why do you assume that sanding is needed?

3 - The pictures are useless to see the real condition of the paint. Do you have any sun shots?

4 - Because I've never seen a black car that was few years old and had ONLY minor imperfections.Your best bet would be to search on Autopia.

Dave1

That is one tough looking modded C5..........

The guy you're looking for is Todd Helme.......(He's also located in Florida)

His Corvette Forum name is TH0001 and his e-mail address is: Todd@belladetailing.com

You won't be disappointed..........

steve8

If you can hook up with Todd, you will be happy so long as you both have an understanding of what is wanted/expected, and what the cost will be.

derty01

Funny! I sent him a PM also about TH0001 and a link to his work on autopia.org. Just goes to show you how good Todd really is. To tell you the truth if Todd gets a hold of it you'll never want the car to see dust again! His work is amazing! Plus he will take longer than 8hrs from what I have seen in every detail write he has done. He truely takes his time and is a master.

tdekany

Or he can fly Ryan (rydawg) out and still save money. Ryan maybe THE best paint correction specialist in the US. He REALLY has tons of experience under his belt. (17 years)

0TH0001@properautocare.com

Ryan is a true master of his craft, no doubt! Ryan would also tell you that I am his equal (his words, not mine) so I think you could not go wrong either way. The fact that Ryan (who, along with Kevin Brown, are masters) thinks as this highly of my work and has openly said that he only trusts about two other (one being myself) people when it comes to product recommendations speak very highly of his assessment and understanding of the level of paint correction that we do. I am humbled when people such as Joe Fernandez, Ryan Blanchette, and Kevin Brown (amazing detailers) openly recommend me and look at me as their equals. This is as important as my cliental who will tell you I am the best as well.

Thanks for all the kind referals and kind words. Please understand that all of Thomas(tdkeny)' posts on this thread will be carefully selected and he will never refer me. He has a personal issue with me and will likely go out of his way to avoid even admitting that I am good (although I have saved older pm's from him stating how good he thought I was)

If the opportunity exists I would love to add another satisfied client (over 300 cars polishes and never a complaint, except that I take too long and I'm not cheap ).

tdekany

Grow up Thodd.

The first thing I did was google his town to see how far he was from you. Looked to be pretty far so I was going to say to look on Autopia for someone closer. By the time I posted others recommended you.

When did I discredit your work? My beef with you is your ethics.

As a side note, to think that you are as good as Ryan with his 17 years of experience vs your 3 years just supports my claim of your gigantic ego.

Now back to getting this guy a detailer.

DRKMATTER - I do recommend Thodd in Florida.

0TH0001@properautocare.com

FWIW Thomas (Tomas?) I don't think anything. The fact is I only gave other people's opinions of my work (not my own), which I am humbly honored to have. I do strive to be the best that I can; and to be held in high regards by others is truly nice. I'm sorry that we don't get along personally but I think you are reaching if you have to resort to invent something I didn't say then use it against me as if you did. This isn't the first, second, or 15th time this has happened.

As far as me having an ego it is realitve.

I don't agree with you that because pm'ed to correct a misspelled word and I never corrected it (which started this drama you have with me) that is ego.

On the other hand I do think that I can do as good as a job as any other detailer out there when it comes to high level, Pebble Beach style details I do. It is my passion. Do I believe others are just as good? Of course, I have no dellusions of granderaur. Is there some ego necessary for me to say I am as good as anybody else, of course there is. If you don't like me for that, fair enough.

But if I did not take pride in my work (i.e. the second defention of ego) then I would have no business working on the cars I do (or any car for that matter), doing the level of work I do, or in asking this gentlemen for a chance to earn his business. As it stands right now I have been trusted with the car of vehicles valued as high as $18,000,000.00 dollars (see avatar) and working on some of the rarest and finest vehicles ever made. If you don't think that the standard I am being held accountable to and pressure that I can be under to deliver results every single time, with out excuses, has sharpened my skills beyond the guy who gets 200-300 dollars to make a car shinier, then I am sorry, I disagree.

I, by defenition and standards I am held accountable to, must be as well versed on every faucet of detailing that there is. It is my respondsibilty to be correct in every judgement and with every call that I make. If this is your view of ego, then that is your opinion and I will live with the fact that their are people out there live with that. My clients are sure happy that I do.

Given the fact that you mispelled my name on purpose, I do sense a slight irony in you telling me to grow up.

rydawg

Thanks Thomas for the great comments. I just work very hard at what I do.

rydawg

I highly recommend Todd (Th0001).

I have recommended a few jobs to him in the past and have heard superb comments about the quality work he does from the people I have personally referred.

Todd has also had a great teacher

I have also learned a lot of stuff from Todd. He is very knowledgable about product and knows how to explain things in-depth very well.

gmblack3

With all due respect to Ryan (Rydawg) I am not sure why someone would recommend to fly another detailer in for a job when the OP already has one on the finest detailers in the world in his home state....

Todd Helme is your man without a doubt. I have experienced his "ethics" first hand myself. I was fortunate enough to detail a Black Ferrari F430 Spyder with Todd Helme down in FL after a visit with some family. Todd is a machine, I could not keep up. Then Todd insisted that I take more then 50% of what the client paid for the job. To tell you the truth and Todd knows this, I would of helped out Todd for free.

tdekany

Why not? Why do people fly PD to the states to detail their cars?

I was simply trying to save the OP $$$$ while getting a more experienced detailer.

I hope that is ok with you.

gmblack3

I guess you have not priced airline tickets and the cost of Ryan's work. Neither is cheap I can assure you.

tdekany

I can assure you that Ryan is less money. What is the big deal?

0TH0001@properautocare.com

No big deal on my end. I suggest you call Ryan though and talk to him. He will be the first to tell you that he has learned more (these are his words) in 1.5 years of talking with me on the phone then he has in his previous 15.5 years of polishing paint.

Its not because I made him better but the synergy of out exprience and our passion to improve has made us each much better. We have helped each other improve.

You keep referring to experience in detailing but even Ryan would tell you that I have more experience in concours level detailing then he does, it makes up a large portion of the work I do and I am very forunate to be able to do it.

grn envy

Todd is a stand up guy. Being a detailer in the same city as him is not easy. You want give him crap about his personality is absolutley obscene or whatever you are calling this. He has shot some clients over to me and has given me tips on detailing to help me grow my business. How is that for a egotistical person. I didn't think so. If I could I would offer up my services but I know Todd is the man for this job. As much as I would like to detail this gentlemans corvette for him I know I cannot over step what people have recommend and bad mouth/bash another person. It is not ethical maybe you should step back because you are the only person (tdekany) I have seen bad mouth Todd. Maybe it is time you take a step back and be a person who will solve the problem and not the one who will cause more, and in the end it will just be your problem.

tdekany

Now why would you post and "defend" Thodd? All I did was recommend Rydawg. Since when is that not allowed? You guys need to chill out.

Why would Thodd care who I recommend?

How did I bad mouth Thodd? By looking out for him with his grammar?

Get your facts straight first.

GizmoZ

And I'm suddenly reminded why I quit posting over at Autopia. Lots of big babies running around. Too bad some of them made it over here.

tdekany

Not to worry, it is only temporary.