Detailing a GMC 2500 CC diesel

[LAfirefytr]

I've been asked by a customer of mine that I've done some other detail work for to do his GMC 2500 Crew Cab Diesel truck w/ camper shell (more like large SUV now). It's a pretty large vehicle. There are very bad swirls and light scratches all over the entire vehicle. He wants me to wash, remove swirls/scratches, wax, and dress tires and plastic trim on exterior of truck.

I have deswirled my entire truck and wifes car (Nissan Titan and Altima) and a few people's vehicles at work but haven't been paid for it yet. I attended the Tampa Roadshow in April and when I returned home I spent a lot of time practicing my technique. After I did my truck, I had people coming up to me and asking who did my truck and I was able to tell them, ME! I started detailing as a side job about 2 months ago. I'm no professional detailer by any means but I am good at what I do or else I woud not even attempt to mess w/ someone elses vehicle.I've done numerous washes, waxes, interiors, ect. but haven't had anyone wanting the total package (swirls/scratches) so I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO CHARGE. I've called around my area (2 places) and no one really offers this service. They all just wash, detail exterior (tires, trim, ect) and detail interiors.

I will be using G100, 83, 80, 21, and pads (7006, 8006, 9006). Any suggestions on a reasonable fee for this job. The typical fee in my area (and what I charge) for a detail (wash, dress tires, wheel wells, dress exterior trim/moldings, vacuum interior, dress leather and/or plastic interior molding/trim, and wax.) is $ 100.00-Car and $125-150 Truck/SUV. So that will give you an idea of local pricing.

Thanks for any suggestions from those of you that may do this on a more professional level.

[TH0001]

250 to start, IMO....

[LAfirefytr]

thanks for the suggestion...TH0001

[TH0001]

Sure, just remember that you offering a very valuable service and you shouldn't sell yourself short. One trick to do, IMO, is do a 18" square, buffed with 83, then 80, then your LSP's. Pull the tape off, and let the owner gaze in awe at the paint. After that, their sold, IMO.

Also, you said that your thinking that its gonna require 83, then 80. That is a time consuming process with a PC on a big truck, I know the surface would take me atleast 6 hours, plus another hour for the interior. Thats 7 hours for me (you may work quicker, slower, ect... so its only realitve), but with supply costs your sitting at roughly 25-30 and hour, and IMO, your attention to detail and expertise is worth that time.

I know your doing this on the side, but IMO, if you are the only guy out there buffing paint (like you said) your surely the only one using a PC then, and the results you achieve will speak for themselves. You will build up a quick word of mouth, believe me as this is happening to me at the moment (and I was gonna do this on the side).

Like I said, for the work your willing to do, 250 to start. Infront of him, do a 18 inch square, take your time and do it right. Say something along the lines "I would normally charge 300 for a truck this size, but since your a customer, we'll say 250, but you gotta do me a favor. You can't tell anybody I did it for this price."

Sorry if it sounds like I'm trying to tell you what to do, but I'm just giving you hints and tricks for what has worked for me.

Good LUCK!

[LAfirefytr]

no prob bro, I appreciate any tricks or suggestions. I have looked at the truck but haven't quoted price. I will probably only do the 83 on the hood as it seems to be most noticable swirls and worst, probably b/c it's horizontal surface. I will do 80 everywhere along w/ 21. I have sort of figured out that so far the prices have averaged out to about 25.00 hr. I have quoted people the 100.00 price for their car detail and it took like 4 hours total and the 150.00 for their trucks about 5-6 hours. So right now I'm around the $25.00 hr but I wasn't sure if that was a fair price or not. I just want to make sure I'm setting a fair price and not pricing myself out of any business, but at the same time getting what I deserve. I still have to restock on supplies as well. Right now I've got about 750.00 tied up in suppplies so I will need to recoup some of that over time.
Thanks for the info......

[LAfirefytr]

TH0001, you were at the Tampa Show weren't you? Which one were you?

[TH0001]

Thats me with the shaved head facing towards the camera with the arm infront of my body...

[LAfirefytr]

yea I remember you. Cool, I appreciate the info. I was the one at the Tampa show that drove up from Alabama. Good to hear from you again and thanks for the recommendations.

[N.E.W.car]

To make it simple...

I would say with the steps you are planning on doing and the size of the vehicle, it's probably a 6-8 hour job. With the skills you need to do it right, and the products you are going to be using - I wouldn't work for less than $50 an hour. That's also considering it will be your first job like this.

Now, $50 an hour might be a little much to charge when just doing a basic wash/vac/wax - but getting rid of swirls is on a whole different level.

Good luck!

[LAfirefytr]

yeas, I agree that it is going to be at least an 8 hour job. It took me a little bit longer to do my Nissan Titan the 1st time I did it but I've gotten better since then w/ my technique and skills. I think I'm gonna go for like $25-30 this time and see how it goes. The customer is my old captain from the fire dept. He just retired a few months ago on disability due to cardiac issues. He still has a local mobility business so I'm thinking this job will be like free advertising and will turn into more opportunities once he starts driving his truck around and people notice it. I just wanted to get some input from some of you that maybe do it more full time and have a price scale to go by. I just needed a starting point and believe you all have got me on the right track.

[LAfirefytr]

just out of curiosity, what do you get for a basic wash, vacuum, wax? when I do it, I also clean/dress exterior trim/molding as well as interior console/dash/trim/moldings.

[TH0001]

I personally am too anal to just do a wash/vaccum ect.... I guess when something like this is our passion, it is just as important (if not more important) to us that their vehicle looks outstanding then it is to the customer.

Now the idea I'm currently playing with is like a matience package on a vehicle that I have already detailed, consisting of wash, wax (just a topper of #26, since I apply two coats of 21 to everything I detail), tire and wheel clean, interior vaccum and dressings to appropriate surfaces. I have done this twice, once on an F250 for 135 (which might sound like a lot for a 2-2 1/2 hour job, but agian they where so blow away with my orginal job, and since I am retopping their vehicle) that it is worth it to them. The second car was a black RSX that I did for 85, but it was garage kept and barely dusty, the owner was impressed by my work the first time and doesn't want it to go away.

However, if I feel contaminets bonded to the surface, or see swirls, ect... then I might have to start over. It really depends. But nothing will have my name on it unless I am happy with the way the vehicle looks, and there for I am used to telling customers/potential customers no.

[SL1CK]

TH0001 basically described everything you need to do to close the sale perfectly. Even the part about saying that you charge "300, but since ur a customer..." I agree atleast 25$ per hour, and plus your doing the interior which takes more time as well. Additionally, tell him how long it will last, not the actual job, but the finish. For example, say it'll last 6 months, etc. Tell him that this is by no means an easy job, and how long it will take. The 18" square is a perfect idea. Use the plastic bag test to sell him the idea of claying. I know a professionaly detailer that spends 7 hours on one car and charges 225$, and even then some people still think thats cheap. I say charge ATLEAST 210 and go up to 280$, 300 just sounds WAY too much. I don't think he'll do it for 300$. The 200s will buy him.

[LAfirefytr]

thanks for all the suggestions.............I'll let ya know how it all turns out.

[TH0001]

Sweet, we want pics! Let us know and good luck!