I have a fingerprint size gouge on my rear bumper. Someone backed into me. I am debating whether to touch it up or just leave it. As some of you have state it is better to just leave it rather than patch it up and make it worse.

 

Touch-up paint, then a little clear, then wet-sand with extra-fine grit (like 2000grit then 5000grit), then polish it, then wax.

Touch-up paint is available at places like Autozone. Go to the big stores. They usually have manufacturer's model colors.

 

Use a very fine hairline paint brush and thinned touch up paint. Do it in several layers allowing each layer to dry overnight. After 2 or 3 days cut it back using 2000 grit emery paper, followed by a quality rubbing compound and 3m wax to finish it off.
It should look 95% better and you'll forget about it after a while

 

Has anyone tried the Dr. Colorchip system? Someone from the Wall Street Journal tried out a few different paint chip repair kits and liked this one best. I've also read a few other really good reviews on it.

I don't have any chips or scratches yet.... but I will probably order some of this to be prepared because I think it's pretty hard to avoid getting them.

 

exactly, it's a small scratch. don't sweat it. i used to be paranoid about where i parked and always looking at both sides of the car when i returned, etc. it's gonna happen it's only a matter of time. our other car a $30k 4Runner got "touched" by somebody. oh well, i used a bit of touchup paint to at least "trick the eye" so the paint would match (i bought a small touchup bottle from the dealer for $8 or so).

Overall, your scratch can be touched up well enough. Don't hold it against your grandmother or the dog. and don't feel the need to pay a lot of money to fix it. it happens...