Who We Are
Refinish Distributors Inc. (RDI) is a national distributor of professional-grade automotive refinish supplies headquartered in Southern California. We supply collision repair centers, dealership body shops, independent technicians, mobile detail and paint correction specialists, custom and restoration shops, fleet maintenance operations, and wholesale jobbers across the United States.
We built RDI because we saw a gap in the market: most body shop supply distributors were either regional operations with limited selection, or massive generalist distributors that treated refinish products as an afterthought. Neither served the collision repair professional the way they deserved — with deep product knowledge, competitive pricing, fast fulfillment, and genuine technical support from people who actually understand the products.
That is what RDI delivers. Every product on our site is from an authorized brand partnership. Every recommendation comes from real-world refinish knowledge. And every order ships from our fulfillment center with the urgency that comes from understanding that when a shop runs out of sandpaper or clear coat, the entire repair process stops.
Our Mission
To be the most reliable, knowledgeable, and technician-first supply partner in the automotive refinish industry. We believe every professional — from a one-person mobile operation to a 20-bay collision center — deserves access to premium products, transparent pricing, expert guidance, and service that actually respects their time.
The collision repair industry runs on precision, speed, and trust. A technician choosing the wrong grit, the wrong primer, or the wrong spray gun tip does not just waste material — it costs hours of rework and risks the reputation of the shop. Our mission is to eliminate that risk by making it easy to find the right product, understand how to use it, and have it arrive before the job stalls.
What We Sell
Our catalog spans the full lifecycle of a collision repair — from initial teardown and body work through final color sand, buff, and delivery. Here is what you will find at RDI:
Abrasives & Sanding Products
Sanding discs (PSA and hook & loop) from 80 to 3000 grit, sanding sheets, rolls, scuff pads, foam interface pads, and specialty film-backed abrasives. We carry the full Sunmight and 3M lines including Cubitron II, Gold, and Trizact systems. Whether you are stripping e-coat, feathering edges, blocking filler, or color sanding clear coat — we have the right abrasive for every stage of the repair.
Body Fillers, Putties & Glazes
Lightweight fillers, premium body fillers, fiberglass-reinforced fillers, finishing putties, polyester glazes, and specialty repair compounds from Evercoat and other leading manufacturers. Our selection covers everything from basic dent repair to structural fiberglass work and high-build finish correction.
Primers & Sealers
Epoxy primers, self-etch primers, high-build 2K urethane primers, primer surfacers, and sealer systems. These are the foundation of a quality paint job, and we carry professional-grade options that provide superior adhesion, corrosion resistance, and sandability.
Paint Finishing & Clear Coats
Basecoat, clear coat, single-stage, and specialty coatings. We supply the ancillary products that support the painting process — reducers, hardeners, flex additives, blending solvents, fisheye eliminators, and other paint system components.
Masking & Surface Protection
Automotive masking tape (high-temperature and standard), masking paper, plastic sheeting and masking film, pre-taped masking products, fine-line tape for two-tone and custom work, and foam masking products for jambs and trim. Proper masking is the difference between a clean job and a callback — we carry products that hold up in the booth.
Spray Equipment & Accessories
SATA spray guns, DeVilbiss, Iwata, and other professional spray equipment. Plus replacement parts, air regulators, inline filters, spray gun cleaning kits, mixing cups, strainers, stir sticks, and everything else the paint department needs to produce a factory-quality finish.
Adhesives, Sealants & Undercoatings
Panel bond adhesives, seam sealers, anti-corrosion coatings, cavity wax, rubberized undercoating, and sound-deadening materials from SEM Products and other professional-grade brands. These products are critical for structural integrity, OEM-spec repairs, and long-term corrosion prevention.
Detailing & Final Finish
Polishing compounds, swirl removers, waxes, ceramic coatings, clay bars, microfiber towels, foam pads, and final inspection products. Once the paint is cured, these are the products that bring the finish to showroom quality.
Shop Supplies & Safety
Tack cloths, mixing cups, nitrile gloves, respirators and replacement cartridges, coveralls, safety glasses, paint suits, and general shop consumables. We stock the everyday essentials so you can add them to your order and avoid a separate run to the supply house.
Who We Serve
RDI works with a wide range of professionals and businesses across the automotive repair and maintenance ecosystem:
- Collision Repair Centers & Body Shops — from independent single-bay operations to multi-location MSOs. We understand your workflow, your cycle time pressure, and the importance of consistent material quality across every repair.
- Dealership Body Shops & Service Departments — OEM-spec repairs require OEM-grade materials. We supply the products that help you meet manufacturer certifications and maintain CSI scores.
- Independent Technicians & Freelance Painters — you do not need a massive shop to get professional-grade supplies at professional pricing. We serve one-person operations with the same products and support we offer large shops.
- Custom, Restoration & Hot Rod Shops — specialty work demands specialty products. From high-build primers for bare metal prep to ultra-fine abrasives for show-car finishes, we carry what the custom market needs.
- Mobile Detail & Paint Correction Specialists — polishing compounds, ceramic coatings, wet sanding supplies, and finishing products for the growing mobile detailing industry.
- Fleet Maintenance & Commercial Vehicle Operations — volume pricing and consistent supply for operations maintaining trucks, vans, buses, and commercial vehicles.
- Wholesale Distributors & Jobbers — regional distributors and supply houses looking to source from an authorized national partner at competitive wholesale pricing.
- Vocational Schools & Training Programs — we support the next generation of refinish technicians with educational pricing and product guidance for collision repair training programs.
Brands We Carry
Every product on RDI is sourced through an authorized brand partnership. We do not carry gray-market products, knockoffs, or questionable inventory. When you order from RDI, you receive 100% genuine, factory-fresh product with full manufacturer warranty and technical data sheet support.
- 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division — the global leader in abrasives, masking, adhesives, and paint finishing systems. We carry the full Cubitron II, Gold, Purple, Trizact, and Performance lines.
- Sunmight Abrasives — premium ceramic and aluminum oxide sanding discs, sheets, and rolls. Known for aggressive cut, long life, and consistent finish quality. A favorite among production shops.
- Evercoat (ITW) — the industry standard in body fillers, putties, glazes, and repair compounds. From Rage Gold to Z-Grip to Metal Glaze, Evercoat products are in virtually every collision shop in America.
- SATA — German-engineered spray guns trusted by the world's best painters. SATA guns deliver unmatched atomization, transfer efficiency, and ergonomic design. We carry the SATAjet X, SATAminijet, and full accessory line.
- SEM Products — professional adhesives, sealants, coatings, trim paints, and specialty aerosols. SEM's seam sealers, panel bond adhesives, and flexible coatings are staples in structural and cosmetic repair.
- Meguiar's — detailing products trusted by professionals worldwide. Compounds, polishes, waxes, and interior care products for final finish and delivery prep.
We are continuously evaluating new brand partnerships and product lines. If there is a product you need that we do not currently carry, let us know — we may already be working on adding it.
Why Shops Choose RDI
There is no shortage of places to buy body shop supplies. Big box auto parts stores, generalist industrial distributors, online marketplaces, and local jobbers all sell some version of what we sell. Here is why professionals choose RDI instead:
Authorized Products Only
Every SKU on our site comes directly from an authorized brand partnership. You will never receive expired, counterfeit, or gray-market product from RDI. This matters more than most people realize — counterfeit 3M discs and knock-off Evercoat fillers are a real problem in the online marketplace, and using them can compromise repairs, void warranties, and expose your shop to liability.
Competitive & Transparent Pricing
We price aggressively because we believe professional shops should not have to overpay for the products they use every day. Our prices are published, transparent, and competitive with any authorized distributor in the country. No hidden fees, no inflated list prices with fake discounts, no games. If you find a lower price from another authorized source, we will match it.
Same-Day & Next-Day Shipping
Orders are processed and shipped same or next business day from our Southern California fulfillment center. We understand that when a shop runs out of a critical product, the repair process stops. Our fulfillment operation is built around urgency — pick, pack, and ship with the speed that collision repair demands.
Free Ground Shipping Over $50
We offer free standard ground shipping on all orders over $50. Orders under $50 ship for a $10 flat rate. For priority shipping, a flat $20 fee is available at checkout.
Real Technical Support
When you call or email RDI with a product question, you reach someone who understands automotive refinish. Not a generic call center reading a script — an actual human who knows the difference between a DA sander and a long-board, who can tell you which grit sequence to use for a tri-coat blend, and who understands why primer surfacer adhesion matters. Our support team has hands-on experience with the products we sell.
Volume & Commercial Pricing
Shops that purchase regularly can set up a commercial account for volume pricing, net terms, and dedicated account management. Whether you are ordering 10 boxes of sandpaper a month or outfitting a new shop from scratch, we structure pricing that reflects the scale of your business.
Price Match Guarantee
If you find a lower advertised price on an identical, in-stock product from another authorized dealer, we will match it. Simple as that. We are confident in our pricing, and we do not want price to be a reason you shop elsewhere.
Shipping & Fulfillment
Our fulfillment operation is designed around one principle: do not slow down the shop. Every system, process, and decision in our warehouse is optimized for speed and accuracy.
- Same-day shipping — orders are processed same or next business day, Monday through Friday
- Free ground shipping on all orders over $50
- $10 flat rate shipping on orders under $50
- Careful packaging — aerosols are padded, fillers are sealed, and abrasives are protected from moisture and bending
- Tracking on every order — real-time tracking numbers emailed the moment your package leaves our facility
- National coverage — we ship to all 50 states. Most orders arrive within 2–5 business days via ground, with expedited options available at checkout
- Hazmat-compliant shipping — products classified as hazardous materials (aerosols, solvents, adhesives) are shipped in full compliance with DOT and carrier regulations
We fulfill from a central Southern California warehouse, which gives us strong transit times to the West Coast and competitive ground service to the rest of the country. For shops in California, Arizona, Nevada, and nearby states, most ground orders arrive in 1–2 business days.
Commercial Accounts & Volume Pricing
If your shop orders refinish supplies on a regular basis, a commercial account with RDI gives you access to benefits that go beyond our standard retail pricing:
- Tiered volume pricing — the more you order, the more you save. Pricing tiers are based on monthly or quarterly purchase volume and are applied automatically to your account.
- Net payment terms — qualifying businesses can apply for Net 30 terms, allowing you to receive product now and pay within 30 days. Terms are subject to credit approval.
- Dedicated account representative — commercial accounts are assigned a dedicated point of contact who knows your shop, your ordering patterns, and your product preferences.
- Custom product bundles — if you go through the same products every month, we can build a recurring order package that saves you time and ensures you never run low on essentials.
- Priority support — commercial accounts receive expedited support response times for order issues, product questions, and returns.
To set up a commercial account, contact our team with your business information, estimated monthly volume, and the primary product categories you purchase. We will put together a pricing proposal and have your account set up within 1–2 business days.
Education & Technical Resources
We are not just a supply catalog with a shopping cart. RDI invests heavily in technical education because we believe that better-informed technicians produce better repairs, waste less material, and run more profitable shops. Our resource library is free and open to everyone:
Automotive Refinish Blog
In-depth articles covering sanding techniques, spray gun setup, body filler best practices, common mistakes and how to avoid them, product comparisons, and shop efficiency tips. Our blog content is written for working technicians, not marketing fluff — every article is designed to help you work faster, waste less, and produce a better finish.
Grit Guide & Abrasive Selection
Our comprehensive grit guide breaks down which grits to use at every stage of a collision repair — from initial e-coat removal through final color sand and buff. Includes recommended grit sequences for common repairs, PSA vs. hook & loop comparisons, and product-specific recommendations.
Technical Data Sheets & Safety Data Sheets
Full TDS and SDS documentation for every product we carry. Mix ratios, application parameters, cure times, VOC content, and safety information — all in one place.
FAQ & Buying Guides
Our FAQ section answers the most common questions about products, ordering, shipping, returns, and technical usage. Designed to save you time whether you are a first-time buyer or a long-time customer.
We add new content regularly and are always open to topic suggestions. If there is a technical subject you want us to cover, let us know.
Our Guarantee
We stand behind every product we sell and every interaction you have with our team. Here is what you can expect from RDI:
- 100% Authentic Products — every item is sourced from authorized brand channels. No exceptions.
- Accurate Orders — if we ship the wrong item, we cover the return shipping and send the correct product immediately at no additional cost.
- Responsive Support — email inquiries are answered within a few hours during business days. Phone support is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PST.
- Hassle-Free Returns — unopened, undamaged products can be returned within 30 days for a full refund. Defective products are handled on a case-by-case basis with our full support.
- Price Match — find a lower price from another authorized dealer? We match it.
- Privacy & Security — your payment information is processed through Shopify's PCI-compliant checkout. We never store credit card data on our servers.
RDI exists to serve the professionals who keep vehicles on the road. Every decision we make — from the brands we carry to the content we publish to the way we pack a box — is guided by that purpose. We are here to earn your business on every order, not just the first one.
Browse our catalog to see what we carry, or contact our team to discuss your shop's needs. We look forward to working with you.
