I have used Zaino for a few years on my BMW and now my 997. I'm not unhappy with Zaino but it has been a few years since I have done any research on different products. I'm sure there are some other very good options with increasing technology. Is there a reliable (unbiased) site where I can compare products?

Thanks

 

You could try the forum at autogeek.net there is usually good info there

 

There are NO truly unbiased sites, but the better ones IMHO are detailing bliss.com and autopia-carcare.com. These sites are tied to "online stores" but Phil and Todd have been great at helping me find what I need. Phil from detailing bliss (Forum)/detailers domain (Store) is especially excellent in going out of his way to respond quickly, and accuratley to questions. I have been happy with his reccommendations and service. Been a cusotmer for about 2 years when I decided to get serious about detailing my cars. I am in NY so Detailier Domain (NJ) (the store to Detailing Bliss) is a quick ship to me.

I am a bit of a detailing nerd and I get around the detailing boards. I am not associated with any of them other than being an active reader/poster. Best bet is to read alot and eventually you will see who is who.

If you have any questions, PM me and I will be happy to answer them for you.

Zaino is good stuff and I have used it in the past however I believe there is better technology out there right now. The multiple coat requirements and the additives required by Zano to allow quiucker coating got old with me really fast. IMHO there are better products out there, that last longer are easier to work with and yield equal or better "protection".

Good luck!

 

Zaino is out dated. Autogeek is one of the most biased forums out there. So if you're looking for a place that isn't biased, I wouldn't go there, or autopia-carcare (also owned by PBMG). Check out Detailing Bliss or the REAL Autopia, www.autopia.org/forum/forum.php

 

I guess the questions is, what don't you like about zaino. It's not a bad product. I don't use it myself, but there were/are lots of good detailers and diyers that believed and lived the product. Unless something has changed with formulation that I don't know about, it should still be a solid product.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to you and your car's needs. Do you want convenience, small learning curve, a particular "look", etc. So, what don't you like about zaino, and what areas is it falling short on?

 

The ONLY unbiased forum is www.autopia.org followed by detailingbliss.

As far as trying to help you, what is it that you are looking for specifically? What color cars do you have?

 

Tom,

I would agree that autopia.org is an active forum and does allow for discussion of all brands and product types. THere are worthy pro's who do top notch work on that board and use a full range of products. Unbiased you say? No way, first it is owned by HD, how could it be unbiased and second, HD is pushed by many who work for or distribute the HD products. And that is not bad-you there to sell your products but it is not to quote you " Unbiased" I also know a newbie posting at Autopia.org for reccomendations would be hit from many angles with HD this or HD that. Not saying HD is bad, don't get me wrong-I have not tried it but I was also turned off to the HD line becasuse of the full court press that goes on re: HD products. I have never found at Autopia-carecare.com or Detailing Bliss or ANY other detailing forum online. These other forums don't push the "house" brand like HD is pushed at Autopia.org.

I am a 6speed member and as such I am here to learn and share info. I don't know alot about the mechanicals on my car, but guys here share and teach me what I need to know. I do know more than the average 6speed member about detailing and detailing products. Enough to know that if they ended up at autopia.org they would be hit hard by HD products. Tell me I am wrong?

 

Yes you are wrong. Look at how many active posts there are about HD compared to how many "other" brands. It is mostly other products.

"IF" someone suggests 3D products for you on autopia, how is it any different than going to AG forums and being told to use products that they sell?

AUTOPIA is the only one that lets you bash their products and not remove the post and the members are not banned, unless of course those "members" were working for the competition.

If we get a negative comment, we try to fix the issue in our products if it isn't in fact a user error.

Now try to go ask on any other forum about products that these re sellers don't sell. I mean on a very regular bases. While you are at it, let them know how much you dislike the particular brand. See how long your membership will last.

So you see, if you want unbiased info, as I said, www.autopia.org is the place.

PS: I am the only employee of 3D that posts on the forum besides Ben and David.

We don't have an army of employees with several different user names posting as regular guys pushing our products.

You should really think before you post accusations like that.

BTW, when was the last time you went to a Porsche dealer and they sent you away to get a different brand vehicle???

 

You my friend must have missed your medication today. Look at the facts below (you are in red, I am in blue)

Show me where I said that:

We don't have an army of employees with several different user names posting as regular guys pushing our products.

You should really think before you post accusations like that.

You can't -You know why--becasue I did never said or post that here or anywhere. Perhaps you slipped.....? Is that what is happening over there?

What I did say in post #7 above was:

"Unbiased you say? No way, first it is owned by HD, how could it be unbiased and second, HD is pushed by many who work for or distribute the HD products. And that is not bad-you there to sell your products but it is not to quote you " Unbiased"

I said, from post #7

I would agree that autopia.org is an active forum and does allow for discussion of all brands and product types. There are worthy pro's who do top notch work on that board and use a full range of products.

To which you responded:

Yes you are wrong. Look at how many active posts there are about HD compared to how many "other" brands. It is mostly other products.


I don't think I said all the posts were HD, or that other brands are not discussed? Quite the contrary.

Nowhere on any detailing board is pushing a house brand HD more evident (TO ME) than on Autpoia.org. Hey, you own the forum, it not a bad thing for you but a newbie needs to be warned.

I have seen locked threads becasue they were not "productive" Like the separating product. The guy who liked your HD product, forgot the product name was just trying to get it replaced becasue it had separated. I am not saying that the product was bad/good or indifferent in this case. I think it was old product if I recall. All manufacturers can have problem but don't come at me with generalization, telling me what you don't do becasue I have facts. Fact: even if the product was bad, he did not get good cusotmer service and only got the attention by *****ing on your forum. Another of my favorities is the HD buffer thread. There I saw a person give his honest opinion and then recant their opinions. Did you read that thread? Come at me with facts that you observed yourself and be prepared.

All these things plus your pushing kill the HD line for me (and admititly-I never tried it). I am happy where I am with products right now.

Believe me the world is not out to get you nor am I. I just call them like I see them. The facts are what they are..........Don't put words in my mouth when I did not say them-there is no honor in mis-representing the facts or my words. I am sure you angered yourself miss-quoting me in your own post. I eat my own cooking, if I mess up, I clean up-lets see if you man enough to do the same?

To answer you question. Before I purchased my porsche I visited and test drove other cars. If my dealer would have been as defensive miss informed as you are about your product, I would have gone elsewhere.

I never bashed one of your products becasue I never tried any. I just don't like the pushing so I observed it and posted my opinion. if you don't like it-FINE. You are entitled to your opinion.

I would give you some advice but I don't think you would take it the right way anyway.

Lastly, and most importantly - Most of these are my opinions of that particular forum and you can't tell me my opinions are wrong. They are my observations with facts to support my feelings.

Enjoy your Columbus Day!

 

I am saying that.

I think you are just an angry person - at least it seems to me, that you would go to a forum and try to bash a forum sponsor. Show me where HD stuff is "pushed"

You can't. People who work for 3D do not post on the forum - the amount that is being made via our forum accounts for less than 1% of total sales.

You bring up Garry Dean - why he changed his position about the polisher is now 3D fault? Or are you implying something?

The return of the product after nearly a year is dealt with according to 3D's policy. You go and try to return your product after the same time and see what happens.

And how am I miss informed about our products? We didn't even talk about products in general. I think you just have it out for 3D for what ever reason. FYI, I have the most experience with 3D polishes of any professional detailers. You on the other hand have zero, yet you come into my threads telling other people to stay away from our products. What you don't know is that we actually manufacture not only our own products, but we also do it for a lot of the "favorite" brands that are so popular on detailing forums.

So if you want to bad mouth our products, at least speak from personal experience - maybe that way your words will mean something.

 

OK, Now I understand.

 

Typically, the forums are the best places for unbias opinion. End users that consume the product is the best testament imo.

I have been using zaino for over 12 years. It's strength is durability. I zaino my car every 2 years since the car is garaged at work and home. For most people, polishing is required only yearly. Very few products can stand up to that.

It falls short in terms of getting a wet look that pops.

Zaino customer service is second to none. I can email them and expect a reply within a day. You won't get that anywhere else.

Besides paint polish, Zaino also makes many detail products such as leather treatment with UV protection. It works very well and smells wonderful.

When my Zaino runs out, I will explore other paint solutions that is easier to apply. However, I know I will be applying much more often. In the mean time, I am not buying more stuff to try out.

 

Despite 6speeders referring to other sites as "unbiased" for detailing advice, I feel 6speed is one of the best detailing boards for the consumer out there. As evident by this thread, you see different products mentioned and defended. I have been on this board and an active supporter for many years. I further support the site by paying as a sponsor and helping members free of charge.

Moral of story, don't discount what a great forum we have here and there are many great detailers that routinely frequent this site and put in their valuable 2 cents. Along with the other sponsors here, you have all the tools you'll ever need, both advice and product, to tackle any situation. Find a person you can trust and get to know them through their posts or by picking up the phone. Then, you're assured to be going down the right path.

 

Tom,

One, I am not an "Angry Guy" And I am not out to get you, HD or anyone else for that matter. I again, never based your products, nor did I claim you had an army of HD soldiers posting from various screen names. My only anger comes from being misquoted, by you as you try to invent facts to prove your imaginary point.

I never mentioned Gary Dean by name, by that is the post I was referencing. I don't like to bring other into a discussion they are not a part of and I suggest you consider the same-It is just good online courtsey I think. I don't know him, but any reasonable person who read the thread could conclude as I did that he was "Pressured to recant" his negative view of your new machine. What I THINK happened (educated guess) Is he really though that Autopia was a forum to write the truth about what you fee and wrote that he did not like the product in his honest opinion. You tell me this exists on your forum-right? He felt there were some issues as compared to other machines he has used. He was challenged and later (a day or so) changed his opinion of the machine pretty dramatically. Just look like BS to me as the reader and a guy shopping for a machine at the time. (I purchased a Griotts Garage 6" DA with a 5" Back plate) Are you or 3D resposible for what Gary Dean writes you ask? Answer..NO. Don't think I ever said you or the company was responsible.

On the product complaint if the product old, if you say it was-I will give that to you. No you should not replace a product that is out of your warranty or garantee period. Why was that thread locked when he called out the HD Customer Service deparetments skills? Damage control? I think that companies should stand behind their products and clearly convery what theor policy is up front. Griots Garage-Lifetime warranty on the DA. I bought that unit for that and other reasons. I am not a pro so my stuff last me a long time taking care of just my cars. I have polishes and sealants from many companies for example Menzerna (polish SIP, PO85RD), Megs (Polish 105 205) and Poorboys (Propolish, sealant) all over a year old and they still work fine. Maybe that is what he was expecting from yours I don't know.

So in closing I say, I am not angry at you, your company or your forum. I don't have it in for you or anyone else in the world.

My goal in resopnding to the OP request was to send a fellow 6speed member where I though the best place was for him to learn and get an education. Sorry it was not your forum. Again, its not personal.

Have a good day.

 

Moe-Well said!

6speed is a great forum and basically about cars and everytthing related. The other sites I suggested to the original poster are sites containing strictly detailing content and since he was looping for more info I pointed him there. You have been great a helping me solve issues over the years and I appreciate your presence on 6speed.