I first came across MER car polish donkey's years back when I used to do the rounds of various exhibitions while still earning my crust as a salesman. I'm sure that many of you who have ever attended an "ideal home exhibition" or the Motor Show have seen the product being demonstrated. In fact ... Read review
Advantages: None I can think of. Disadvantages: An expensive car polish that doesn't do an effective job.
I first came across MER car polish donkey's years back when I used to do the rounds of various exhibitions while still earning my crust as a salesman. I'm sure that many of you who have ever attended an "ideal home exhibition" or the Motor Show have seen the product being demonstrated. In fact for many years I believe this was the *ONLY* way the product was marketed. The demonstrators/salespeople used to purchase a franchise, and then do ... ...veracity of their claims for MER polish was to get an old car bonnet, (the old Mini bonnet was the favourite choice) polish it up using MER, and then pour a small amount of lighter fuel over it and set it alight. A big whoosh of flame followed, the flames were then doused, and lo and behold the bonnet's paintwork was still sparkling and pristine with nary a blemish to be seen! Of course, what they *DIDN'T* tell you was that any car polish would have ... more
I first came across MER car polish donkey's years back when I used to do the rounds of various exhibitions while still earning my crust as a salesman. I'm sure that many of you who have ever attended an "ideal home exhibition" or the Motor Show have seen the product being demonstrated. In fact for many years I believe this was the *ONLY* way the product was marketed. The demonstrators/salespeople used to purchase a franchise, and then do the rounds of the various shows/shopping malls, etc selling it to the public at a vastly inflated mark up!
Of course, as I got to know the salespeople I used to obtain the polish for next nothing. In fact, there's a half full gallon container of it lying out in my garden shed gathering dust right now.
What's that I hear you asking? Why is it out in the garden shed gathering dust if it's as good as the manufacturer's claim? Well, the simple truth is that it *ISN'T* as good as the manufacturer's claim, and is a fairly ordinary car polish which has sold well due to its slick marketing.
One of the salespeople's favourite tricks to convince potential purchasers of the veracity of their claims for MER polish was to get an old car bonnet, (the old Mini bonnet was the favourite choice) polish it up using MER, and then pour a small amount of lighter fuel over it and set it alight. A big whoosh of flame followed, the flames were then doused, and lo and behold the bonnet's paintwork was still sparkling and pristine with nary a blemish to be seen! Of course, what they *DIDN'T* tell you was that any car polish would have had the same effect. Indeed, you can even pour lighter fuel over your hand and set it alight with no ill effects so long as you're fairly sharpish in putting it out. (Don't try this at home by the way!)
The simple truth with car polish or wax is that mostly you get what you pay for, and if you want an outstanding car polish then you usually have to pay out more dosh to obtain it. (Except, of course, with MER, which is expensive but *NOT* that effective!)
The best car polish will contain a high percentage of Carnuba wax, a very hard and long lasting wax that can only be obtained from the leaves of the carnauba palm, which is mostly found in certain regions of Brazil. You'll find this in most "top end" car polishes from various manufacturers. (Auto Glym for one) Any car polish with a high Carnuba wax content will give you a very high gloss finish to your car's paintwork, give you excellent "beading" qualities when it rains, (the rain runs of the paintwork) and provide long lasting protection from the elements. So when you're buying a car polish it pays to look past the slick advertising claims and instead look closely at the ingredients list on the back of the container. If it contains Carnuba wax then the chances are it'll be an effective product. The polish I am currently using is called "Jofs", which I obtain (fairly cheaply as it happens) on eBay, and which gives me all the aforementioned benefits.
MER make all sorts of claims for their polish, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I've found it hard to apply evenly and especially difficult to get an even shine when you remove it; a patchy finish with some areas of the paintwork brighter than others. It doesn't last particularly well either. With my current polish an application will usually last me a couple of months or so. With MER you'll be lucky if it retains either its shine or its rain repellent qualities for about a week!
And God help you if you happen to get any of it on your rubber bumpers or any other black rubber on the car. You'll be back to the auto accessory shop straight away in order to buy another product to remove the awful white stains it causes.
Nowadays it is more freely available than in the past, and is marketed by a Croydon based company who not only market it over the internet (http://www.merproducts.com) but also through TV using the satellite shopping channels, as well as supplying a limited number of retail outlets. (Listed on the website under region)
It's not cheap. Here are the prices as quoted on their website. ( 5000ml is equivalent to around 1.1 gallons)
Advantages: Polish anytime, any weather. Disadvantages: Price?
...heard people "wax" lyrical about Mer but never used it. Glad I gave it a try now. The polish is suitable for all paint finishes, including metallic, you can also use it on your caravan, bike, upvc windows or anywhere else you need a good shine.
The polish comes in a plastic container, coloured blue, in the following sizes, half litre, one litre, three litres, and the massive trade size of ten litres. Recommended retail prices range from £11 for ... ...they are not too deep. MER also do a Scratch & Stone Chip Removal Kit (see review by ucjtckc)
The Conpany has a website - see here:- http://www.merproducts.com/
Address is:-
Mer Products LTD
Whitehead House
120 Beddington Lane
Croydon
Surrey
CRO 4TD
Tel 020 8401 0002 Email address is sales@merproducts.com
Just one small niggle, they do insist on using "childproof" caps, and I find these a pain to open, especially when you have wet polish ...
smudgeybabes 12.02.2008 (23.02.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mer Car Polish
Advantages: Can use in sun and on wet car Disadvantages: Can leave white residue
MER
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Mer have been around for over 20 years so should have some experience in the car cleaning and polishing business.
Products
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Not only do their product range clean cars, but they also clean boats,caravans, trucks and bikes.
Trial packs are available that contain polish, shampoo and windscreen cleaner each contain 100ml for about £9 that is not a bad price to see if the products are any good.
Carpet cleaner,leather cleaner ... ...Mer sell
Not only do they do cleaning products but they do scratch and stone chip removal as well £30.
Where to buy
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QVC the shopping channel sell a good selection of Mer products, and Motor World also stock Mer.
Mer Polish
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Bought my Mer kit from QVC as a todays special value. The kit included two 500ml bottles of Mer and a windscreen cleaner.
This cost about £18 which was good value as normally you pay £10 for ...
oldwasp 25.03.2006 (29.01.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mer Car Polish
Advantages: Lustrous water shedding deep shine Disadvantages: Still needs elbow grease
...most well known product by Mer which you are likely to have seen being trumpeted at exhibitions, on TV or at local markets. There always seems to be a an old red mini bonnet which is set afire, then goes hideously black. The miracle of Mer 'effortlessly ' it seems quickly restores it gleaming red and shedding water like little pearly beads. Not quite the reality I have experienced over extended periods.
Yes, it is a good product which we have used ... ...then needs several applications of Mer rubbed on then polished off to get back a deep and consistent shine. Particularly so on fibreglass which tends to yellow, absorb stains and just lose its 'showroom' gleam.
I prefer the 500ml size since its more stable than its larger stablemates, but it still has a tendency to fall over when knocked. The shiny cap can cometimes be a pain to undo, know doubt childproofed to stop them helping!
Lots of new products ...
suehome 02.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mer Car Polish
Advantages: Can be put on in the sun, buffs off easily, gives great result. Disadvantages: No negatives at all
...Nottingham just to buy my Mer supplies. That was about 20 years ago and fortunately it's now stocked by some major suppliers throughout the UK and long journeys to buy it are no longer necessary. Over the years I've used this product on various cars in various colours, it's amazing on black cars as you don't get swirley marks that are often associated with black cars. It is by far the easiest polish to apply and you can put on in the sun and take ... ...you look at the price of equivalent products for example Autoglym which is also a carauba wax you'll find that Mer is much better value. Mer is the only polish I know that you can use in the sun without it baking on. I definately recommend this product. ...
zappamax 17.11.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Mer Car Polish
Advantages: easy to use, long lasting Disadvantages: looks like a product for a man!
I came accross Mer a couple of weeks back whilst talking to a group of friends, one of which has just bought a Porsche. Boys being boys, the discussion came around to shiny bodywork and one of our group suggested Mer polish. I understand that the benefit of Mer polish is that it lasts (for months apparently) which is perfect for me - a girl who isn't that hot on cleaning or polishing her car! Having not heard of Mer before I wasn't sure whether I ...
kathparker 05.08.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Mer Car Polish
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Advantages: Dead good Disadvantages: Dead hard to get hold of
is very unlike any other carpolish. For a start, it doesn't come in one bottle like Turtle wax, Mer and all the others. Instead, there are a series of different applications that you have to apply in strict sequence. In all, there are fifteen different products in the range and most of 'em just have a number like ?Z-2? or ?Z-6? however, there is a very good user guide on the website (www.zainobros.com) which goes into great detail on how and when to use each.
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perceptual deception.
MER
At last year's Ideal Home Show at Earls Court I came across 'Mer' who are probably the best car-cleaning brand around. The demonstration was very impressive. The highlight was applying a flame to the car surface applied with Mer, which did not damage the paintwork at all. I bought a pack containing polish, shampoo, bumper clear, alloy wheel cleaner etc. quite cheaply. I had seen the product demonstrated on QVC and another home shopping channel. You must wonder what sad a life I lead.
All the products were excellent bar the shampoo and polish. I did not have a high-pressure hose to wash off the shampoo at high speed. I did see a hose being advertised on QVC for flat owners. It worked on the principle of a siphon. We are back to the physics practicals again.
I should have applied the polish in small amounts ...
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