07/18/2026
READ THIS BEFORE YOU BUY ANOTHER “CHEAP” COATING
GIVEAWAY FOR AN ASPIRING DETAILER
At In N Out Auto Detailing & Protection, we get hit up all the time by ceramic coating and PPF companies sending free samples. A lot of these coatings are entry‑level and honestly disposable to us now, but to the right young detailer, they could be the start of a real career.
I’m not speaking from YouTube theory. One of my early correction/coating jobs was on a brand new car where the customer wanted tunnel‑wash swirls gone and the orange peel flattened. OEM paint, fresh from the factory. At that time I didn’t have every tool or the years behind the machine to safely chase orange peel in factory clear, and I wasn’t going to burn through just to say I “made it flat.” I did an enhancement, dramatically improved the finish, but I also learned a hard lesson.
We applied a DIY coating that a lot of shops were using back then on that client’s car. I knew what a high spot was, but I didn’t yet know the best way to level them without re‑activating the coating and making it worse. We ended up with a few high spots on three panels. I owned it, brought the car back, fixed it, and then invested in more training so I didn’t have to learn that same lesson twice. That’s when it clicked: some coatings are forgiving, some are not. The true professional coatings we run now are unforgiving, you either install them correctly, or you’re re‑doing the job on your own dime.
That’s why I’m giving these more forgiving coatings away to a beginner. I want someone else to get their “learning lessons” on entry‑level coatings instead of on a client’s boat or luxury car with a 9‑year system they’re not ready for. I also want to find the young detailer who actually thinks about process, safety, and long‑term protection, not just “wash, dry, shiny, send it.”
We talk a lot about things most people never consider: not waxing or correcting in direct sun, how water spots are dried calcium and minerals that etch paint and glass, how soaking an interior and not drying it properly causes browning and stains, and how the wrong soap or cheap chemicals can destroy coatings and finishes over time. We care about proper environments, pH‑balanced products, the right towels and tools, and educating clients on what’s going on their investment.
We bring that same mindset to both automotive and marine. We’re proud to be the only Gtechniq Accredited shop within about 50 miles north of Camden, and one of the few in our region accredited in both automotive and marine protection. Whether it’s a Sea Hunt, Malibu, Hurricane, MasterCraft or a Range Rover, BMW, Mercedes, F‑150, 2500 GMC AT4, Platinum, TRD, daily driver, work truck, or your weekend cars & coffee build, our job is to protect both investments. We use proven coating systems, not untested samples, and we treat every vehicle or vessel like it’s our own.
This giveaway is for the aspiring detailer who wants to learn at that level. I’m going to ask real questions about wash methods, prep, pad and compound choices, oxidation, soft vs hard clear, when to stop correcting, how to explain coatings to customers, and how to maintain them after install. You don’t have to know everything yet, but you do have to care enough to learn.
How to enter:
- Be a newer detailer (or just getting started)
- Follow us and like this post
- Comment why you want to be a professional detailer and tag 2 friends
- Share this post and tag us so we can see it
We’re not picking based on followers. We’re picking based on drive, attitude, and how serious you are about learning the craft the right way. If that sounds like you, or your kid, or someone you know, this might be the opportunity that changes their path.