Over 9,000 FenderSplendor Paint Meters are now in use.

Learn the shocking truth about Paint
Gauges and how they are marketed.

"Who is FenderSplendor, Inc.?" 

FenderSplendor, Inc was incorporated in 1995. FenderSplendor, Inc. served as a direct marketing company for many years, with clients in a wide range of industries. Prior to this, I had been a New Car Dealer (Toyota, Nissan, Chevrolet, Pontiac and Rolls Royce), Used Car Dealer and Boat Dealer.

In 2002 I got actively involved in the car business again, and started buying used cars in the Detroit area. It didn't take long buying in 20 degree weather with sleet, snow, and ice on the cars to decide that I needed a Paint Meter.

Up until this time, I laughed at everyone I saw with a Paint Gauge. I had come up through the 'old school' and felt like I could spot paintwork on anything. I quickly realized that missing paintwork in today's market could be a real disaster--and very expensive! I knew I could not afford to miss paintwork.

All I could find was the "big orange gauge." Then a friend who did business in Europe told me about a Blue gauge, made in Germany. I found the US office and bought one of the paint meters. I loved it. At this time the best deal available was about $700 for a gauge that would measure steel and aluminum.

I negotiated a deal to become a distributor, and then became the first person in America to openly discount paint meters. I cut the price as low as I could possibly live with--$589. We quickly built a good business, and realized that the market for paint meters was huge if we could get the price even lower. FenderSplendor is the company that brought affordable Paint Meters to Car Dealers in America. Others sat back and kept charging obscene prices.

Most of the competitive paint meters were being sold by distributors, and were still selling for an arm and a leg. No one wanted to cut the price.

After 2-3 years in the business and sales of over 1,000 paint meters we decided to manufacturer our own meter. We quickly realized that the people in the gauge business were all engineers and they knew very little about the car business.

During this period of time I learned all the 'secrets' of the industry, which has only a small handful of suppliers. The "coating thickness industry" is basically a "good-old-boys-network," where no one makes waves and everyone sells at sky-high prices. The manufacturers enjoy an exceptionally high profit margin.  I also realized that no one in the business had even the slightest idea of what a car dealer really needed. None of the existing gauges was actually designed for car dealers, they were all originally industrial tools, technically know as a mil gauge.

The birth of the FS 488 Paint Meter.

In early 2005 I began contacting instrument companies around the world. The two big name gauges were built in Germany and England, so I looked there. Then I realized that most of the high-end, hi-tech, electronics were being manufactured in SE Asia. The iPod® is manufactured in China. Dell's largest supplier is in Shenzhen China. (As I write this, the headlines of a recent Automotive News tell how GM is outsourcing all of its electronics to China) CLICK HERE.

Just Released: Wall Street Journal March, 23 2007 report on Chinese high-tech electronics. CLICK HERE  Learn why FenderSplendor is your best choice.

After months of searching, I located a precision instrument manufacturer who was actually already selling paint thickness gauges. This meant they had a 10 year track record I could verify and that they understood the basics of the business and the technology involved. I arranged to get several samples sent to me and spent the next month testing them in the field. I was amazed at the quality and decided to move forward.

I am a very hands-on person and decided to fly to Hong Kong late in the summer of 2005 to meet the owners, engineers and staff. I also wanted to see their facilities and to look at some of the other precision instruments they made. There is no substitute for face to face discussions and hands-on inspections. We wanted to be sure that you are getting the best possible Paint Meter when you buy a FenderSplendor FS 688 or FS488.

March 1,2006, we received our first FS 488s. The customer reaction has been absolutely astonishing.  Our first shipment sold out in three days flat. We have made a decision to sell the new FS 488 for $389 delivered free  by 2nd day UPS.

A little over a year later we realized that many vehicles are appraised at night and in low light situations, so we brought out the "Lighted" FS 488" Competitors---who know little about the car business--did everything they could to tell you you don't need a lighted display...and we went on to crush all of them.

As we get into Spring of 2010 we have over 9,000 FenderSplendors in service....and we are introducing an even more advanced gauge...the 2010 FS 688 with a "King Size" Illuminated Display that Flips to read right side up. We hope you agree that this represents the best possible 'deal' on a Paint Meter.

WHAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT THE LIGHTED DISPLAY? CLICK HERE

FenderSplendor, Inc.
P.O. Box 6277
Gulf Shores, AL 36547

1-866-310-2539 Toll Free or 251-948-2130