FAQ | Shine by-Wire Detail

In the case of an à la carte service, such as a headlight restoration, the travel fee may actually exceed the initial cost of the job. Please keep this in mind, as well, when choosing your service, if you are located on the outskirts of the service area (e.g., Fort Myers, Arcadia, Parrish, etc.)

That depends. First and foremost, I need to have your employer's permission to work on the premises before beginning the job.

If your car has just some light dust and dirt, I can get away with what's called a rinseless wash, which does not require hooking up to water. But, if you have caked on dirt, mud, bugs, etc. the rinseless method just won't cut it.

If your employer has free-flowing water hookups they don't mind me using, then this isn't really an issue.

But, I won't offer any services that are expected to exceed the workday, preferably keeping jobs below 7 hours for a good safety margin, to be sure your car is ready when you are.

Same as the workplace question, if the job can be done without electricity and free-flowing water, then there's no problem.

Otherwise, I will need some source of water and/or electricity. I understand some apartment/condo complexes do provide this and I will need permission from management to use them as a non-resident.

So, yes, it can be done, but we'll need to discuss beforehand what the job entails and if it can happen, given what is available.

When is my payment due?

Typically, once the job is done and before I leave. However, if need be, you can be invoiced on a later date by mail or email, at which point, you can pay either by check or money order. Pay by cash or card will need to be in-person, but I can accommodate. (If your card is on file already, your card can be charged.

What payment methods do you accept?

I accept cash, debit/credit cards, money orders, and checks.

What days/hours are you available?

Any day of the week that isn't already booked, but I make an effort to keep jobs in the workweek.

Although I try to schedule most details to start in the morning, time and weather permitting, I am available for work most hours of the day.

If you require work done between the hours of 8 P.M. and 6 A.M., that can be arranged at an additional price.

Are you registered? Insured?

I'm registered with the State of Florida as "Shine by-Wire Detail". You can confirm at dos.sunbiz.org under Registration Number: G20000042537.

I carry a general liability policy with RLI including $1 million occurrence/$2 million aggregate limits.

When did you start doing business?

I registered in April 2020 and began doing business immediately. I've been detailing unofficially for friends, family, myself, etc. since 2017.

How many detailers work at the business?

Just me! So 1, to answer the question.

Are you/will you be hiring?

I don't plan on it. Certainly not any time soon.

What's the point of having a car detailed?

The goal of detailing is to undo damage and soiling with the safest methods possible, being only as aggressive as is necessary to get the best result. Then, applying protective products on top of the clean and enhanced surfaces to retain that result as long as possible, preserve the substrates, and make future upkeep easier.

Detailing focuses special attention on the small, inconsequential areas, working methodically over the whole vehicle until the end result is made better by the individual bouts of cleaning, polishing, enhancing, etc.

Every car can benefit from detailing. But, you should consider if it is truly necessary, as well as if you will appreciate the improvements.

My car is new. Should I get it detailed? Didn't the dealer already detail it?

New cars go through an extensive transportation system from factory to dealer, usually by means of ship and rail. Naturally, vehicles must be cleaned before being put out for sale. But, dealerships will almost always favor quantity over quality.

In doing so, buffer trails, smudges, and greasy silicone dressings will often find their way onto new cars. And it's not uncommon to find a vehicle that is not completely clean, because the detail department is not equipped with the correct cleaners, like iron fallout removers, to put a dent in the ferrous dust that tends to accumulate from transport, for example.

Though many will consider the dealer detail sufficient, it is not - in my opinion - a proper, completed detail.

Again, it's important that you determine for yourself if a dedicated detail is necessary for you. But, I will, of course, always recommend it.

Do you detail vehicles besides cars?

Besides cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, etc., I offer motorcycle, scooter, ATV, and trike detailing (priced per job).

Also available is boat and personal watercraft detailing, as well as detailing for small, unpressurized aircraft (priced per job).

Beyond these main categories, feel free to ask about tractors, mowers, golf carts, landscaping utility vehicles, bicycles, etc. Anything you want looking its best; I'll likely do it.

NOTE: Large vehicles such as RVs, trailers, large boats, and aircraft will likely be postponed or rejected if temperatures are too high and a shaded/climate controlled area cannot be provided. Heatstroke is a real danger with that kind of workload.

Do you bring your own water & generator?

No, the Miata in the background is my current rig as it's my only car for now. As you can imagine, no water tank or generator's fitting in that thing. But, I can fit extension cables and hoses. So, as long as you have the hookups, I won't need to pester you for any of that.

Do you work in a garage?

Yes! If you have a garage and I can pull your car in, I almost always try to do so. Here in Florida, especially during summer, water spots can quickly become a hassle to deal with, so the sooner a car can get out of direct sunlight the better.

Further, machine buffing heats the paint slightly and extra heat from the sun is not good for your paint. If at all possible, I will opt to machine polish in shade/inside. While nearly all of my products - namely compounds, polishes, waxes, sealants, and coatings are user-friendly enough so as to be used in direct sunlight, they function better on a cool panel and allow me to work more efficiently and in bigger sections at a time.

And, of course, I prefer working in shade. So, short answer: I'll never say no to a garage.

What chemicals/brands do you use?

Many kinds! Meguiar's, Griot's Garage, Super Clean, Turtle Wax, Blue Collar (Apex Surface Protection), Chemical Guys, Goof-off, Scotchgard and more.

Common chemicals include water-based soaps, surfactants, and degreasers, solvent-based removers, Si02 (silica/ceramic) based sprays, waxes, rinseless washes, and coatings, alcohol-based cleaners, and low-dusting abrasives. I do not typically use acidic products. Nearly all my products are readily biodegradable and safe to use around families, kids, pets, etc.

How do you determine your prices?

My prices are a combined consideration of time and labor required to complete the job + equipment and product used + the expected result and magnitude of improvement from the initial state of the vehicle. Weather conditions are also taken into account, resulting in generally higher prices during the summer.

I try to provide the fairest prices possible given the work put in, result achieved, and the local prices of similar services.

Do you offer any discounts?

I don't, unless in very specific circumstances.

To be frank, if I gave a discount to every person who's service I appreciated, I'd end up giving a discount to every nurse, store clerk, and construction worker I did work for. And I've tried discounting some loyal repeat clients but they usually end up covering the difference in tips anyways (much appreciated, it's a nice problem to have).

So, I just try to keep my prices sensible for the quality of work provided.

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