The Detailing Hall of Shame – Products That Let Everyone Down
The detailing world is full of innovation—but it’s also full of overhyped products, ghost brands, and flat-out scams. Some of them look good in ads but fall apart on the paint. Others never even show up at all.
Let’s break it down. Here are the worst offenders we’ve seen in 2025 so far. Welcome to the Detailing Hall of Shame.
🚫 MAXL – “Triphene” Hype with Zero Proof
- Customer Review: “Product went in the trash. I won't make this mistake again.”
- Issues: Patchy application, swirl marks, no customer support, unfulfilled orders
- Our Take: Lots of big claims, but no SDS, no testing, and no real durability
👉 Use instead: Tough As Shell Ceramic Spray
🚫 CLEAN. by Pan – Overhyped and Self-Awarded
- Controversy: Ranked #1 in Pan’s own YouTube award video—then deleted it after backlash
- Issues: Spray polish lacks correction, ceramic spray fades in weeks
- Our Take: Too much marketing, not enough substance
👉 Use instead: Picture Perfect Polish
🚫 DIY Detail Ceramic Gloss – Fast Fade Protection
- Customer Complaints: Beads for 2–3 washes, then gone
- Issues: Glossy upfront but very short lifespan
- Our Take: Nice initial feel, but lacks long-term protection
👉 Use instead: Tough As Shell Ceramic Spray
🚫 QUIVR Hot Coat – Influencer-Only Appeal
- Issues: Gloss fades fast, leaves haze on dark paint, unclear durability
- Customer Feedback: “Looked good on YouTube. Didn’t hold up in real life.”
- Our Take: Built for social media, not actual cars
👉 Use instead: Tough As Shell or The Super Soaper for real-world foam and protection
Honorable Mentions (Still Watching…)
- Some Amazon-only brands with fake reviews and mislabeled formulas
- Drop-shipped “ceramic” sprays from brands that disappear in 3 months
- Gloss boosters marketed as coatings—when they’re really just oily QDs
What Makes a Brand Worth Trusting?
- ✅ Transparent about what’s in the bottle
- ✅ Built by people who actually detail cars
- ✅ Public R&D, chemist involvement, and customer-driven testing
- ✅ Doesn’t hand out fake awards or delete negative comments
If you’re tired of being burned, here’s where thousands of others are switching:
