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General => Detailing => Topic started by: jv on 31 July 2015, 13:50
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Way back in prehistoric times (aka the 1990's), Autoglym was THE brand. Before a time of 'detailing' this was the top stuff you used to 'clean your car'. It was Turtle Wax and a sponge or, if you had money to burn, you bought Autoglym.
So has it gone out of fashion or have the new brands got some chemical induced magic up their sleeves?
I say this because I keep seeing heavy discounts on Amazon and it got me wondering...
Super Resin Polish was always the classic - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Autoglym-Super-Resin-Polish-Latest/dp/B009LHHHZE
Tyre dressing at almost half price - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Autoglym-500ml-Instant-Tyre-Dressing/dp/B001156BBA
Any thoughts?
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I think it's a combination of all those things.
Autoglym is probably as good as it always was but the 'detailing' market has expanded massively and with it brought all kinds of new players. There's definitely a 'trend' element to it to as you only need to see how some of the newer stuff is branded and marketed, but that said I think there have been advances in chemical technology, certainly with respect to nano coatings etc. Has AG invested enough in these advances. I don't know but if not they are being left behind. It's not unusual for companies who have been market leaders, to rest too long on their laurels and be too slow to respond to changing markets. Before they know it, it's too late.
I've only ever used one Autoglym product - Fast Glass, which is excellent, but If they are losing their market share and drastically slashing prices, perhaps AG need to look at their image and do a bit of a rethink/refresh as they are possibly seen as very dated, even though the actual product may still be good.
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To be honest I think it's a matter of timing, gone are the days where the average Joe will spend hours polishing etc, it's now a fact of life that people want those results in half the time - and that's what's now available.
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To be honest I think it's a matter of timing, gone are the days where the average Joe will spend hours polishing etc, it's now a fact of life that people want those results in half the time - and that's what's now available.
Maybe, but that's where AG should be anticipating or reacting to the change of detailing habits, to stay on top of the game, but they are not.
I agree that the average Joe may not spend as much time on car cleaning, polishing etc, but the 'hobbyist' or detailing enthusiast still does and I think there are many more of them than there once were, this is where the market is now and has grown and continues to flourish. AG have been napping and missed the boat!
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AG Is a decent products for the interior anyway. Exterior there isn't allot available a few different polishes and hardly any wax. Now why polish without waxing? Pointless. You want to seal that shine in. Where if you look at meguiars which is sort of the same price they have a huge selection and there easily applied and removed. Personally I think it will be pushed further aside and will be forgotten about.
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AG do have HD Wax which apparently is pretty good. They have being going for 50 years so they must be doing something right. For the money some of their products are worth a punt.
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I've been using autoglym products for years and have always been impressed with them. Especially for ease of use (IE, super resin polish and super gloss protection are both liquids which you just leave to dry and buff off the residue)
I do think it's got to be a combination of 'resting on their laurels' and other manufacturers bringing out a combination of better (in some cases) or more fashionable with the 'home detailer' (in most cases).
The element of fashion is very similair to what has happened within the 'in car entertainment' community. I went to a stack of sound-off competitions (both SQ and SPL) around 20-25 years ago and you couldn't move for cars with Kenwood and Alpine setups, whereas nowadays I doubt you'll see either brand (especially kenwood) in any great numbers at the very same competition.
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I have more AG products than anything else put together. I really rate them.