Has the Current Economy Affected Your Detailing?

[Lonnie]

I ask this question at the current time when our federal government is in the midst of THE longest shutdown in our nation's history and literally hundred of thousands of jobs are being displaced or more correctly, replaced by Artificial Intelligence software programs. Needless to say, personal economic times are getting OR are now difficult for many of us. Let's face it, when the economy is getting or going bad, the reality is detailing takes a hit and is one of the first things to cut from one's personal discretionary spending, There are a host of personal spending priorities from house payments or rent payments, student loans, grocery bills, utility bills, cellphone bills, TV apps, heath insurance, car insurance, car payments.....,well, you all know what the cost-of-living expenses are and what priorities must be given to each one.
I am just curious about how it has affected your personal detailing spending, if at all.
I am retired, so the living wage income is fixed by social security and personal investments, which is still subject to government policies and actions and with its effect on the overall economy, so I am not immune to its personal monetary effects either. AND because I am retired and not working, I have the luxury of time to detail vehicles at my leisure and discretion. It's more my health and declining physical abilities that affect my personal detailing than the financial aspect. My spending on detailing product and equipment is only reduced because I don't or more correctly, cannot detail like I used to AND the other half of my personal discretionary spending budget-er/accountant says, NO, you can't spend because you cannot do it like you used to. That's MY personal economic detailing reality today.
What's yours?
One observation that I have made is that in the Green Bay Wisconsin metroplex we currently have a number of new car washes going up, both as stand-alone franchises (Club Car wash) and at gas stations (Kwik-Trip) being built. I think vehicle owners and leasees want to take care of their vehicle's appearance, but would rather have it done quickly by an automated wash system with NO personal effort on their part. Judging by the long lines at some of the washes on weekends, it seems to be a rather popular choice rather than having to spend money on car care chemicals and equipment and doing-it-yourself.

 

[Accumulator]

Retirement's chugging along just fine here, same-ol'-same ol'.

Lots of carwashes opening here too, and they get a lot of business. I'm a fan- most everybody around here drives a clean(is) shiny(ish) vehicle and only an Autopian would notice a diff between those and something truly Detailed.

 

[GearHead_1]

A half dozen new car washes have sprung up within 5 miles of my home, mostly touch type drive through with a full crew. I cannot make myself go through one.

Sadly, I'll admit that I throw a couple of mitts, brushes etc. in the back of my vehicle and go down to the touchless car wash, it has a wand car wash attached. I'll use the wand along with the tools I've brought and then just drive straight to the touchless without a rinse and drive through it. It does a reasonably good job but wouldn't be so great if I didn't do the wand prep. It even does a fair job on the under carriage.

I use a couple of towels once I'm done, drive home and get the blower out and a couple more towels to dry it off. It's not that my standards have changed, but I've now had 5 shoulders (including the OE ones), I just can't get out and clean one properly at this time.