OLD CAR, Need a little Advice

[jarred767]

Alirght, I'm doing a detail for this guy next week and I had a couple of questions for you guys. It's a 1982 Cutless, yeah '82. That's 25 year old paint, and he says it chipping it places. Therefore he does not want me to use a buffer on it, but rather do it by hand. I'm not a fan of hearing that. Anyways, it's understandable why he wants this done, to avoid anymore chipping. My question is, can anyone give me some basic advice in things I should be watching for, tips with older paints, or anything else that might be useful. Thanks a lot guys.

Jarred

[Jimmy Buffit]

Re: OLD CAR, Need a little Advice

I would not do it by hand.

You'll be able to remove some oxidation by hand, and give it *some* shine, but it won't be right, that's for sure.

BTW, buffing certainly can cause problems, but chipping isn't one of them.

Without sounding TOO arrogant, I've never met a client who knows more about my craft than I do...

Good Luck.

Jim

[the other pc]

Re: OLD CAR, Need a little Advice

It doesn't sound like a job worth taking on to me.

If you do decide to do it make sure the client understands that the results won't be as good as if you had used a machine, that what he's paying for is the labor and skill it takes to do the job and if it would have taken 5 hours to do it by machine but takes 25 hours by hand you need to charge him 5 times as much money.


PC.

[jarred767]

Re: OLD CAR, Need a little Advice

Thanks guys, I think I'm gonna go there and check out the car, let him know what i think. He sounded really adament about not using a buffer and make sure that he is aware of the situation. I'll also make sure to be more sure and stear clear of these types of situations in the future. Thanks a lot guys, I'll let you know the outcome.

Jarred

[TrufflePig]

Re: OLD CAR, Need a little Advice

maybe you can do this.

wax the car using the G100 and then just tape off the parts that are chipping sort of speak. then go back and go around those with an applicator.

if you want you can try that.

but to do it all by hand. no thanks.

[jarred767]

Re: OLD CAR, Need a little Advice

Yeah, I actually did exactly what you mentiond

Originally posted by TrufflePig
wax the car using the G100 and then just tape off the parts that are chipping sort of speak. then go back and go around those with an applicator.

The actually wasn't too bad, the only thing was he just wanted a one step wax, so I ended up using M66. It turned a lot better than I figured it would have, but I probably could've gotten a lot better results had I been able to sell him on process of claying, cleaning, polishing, and waxing. What do you guys suggest to when in this situation, what works best for convincing a customer to have something like this done instead of a one step wax. I wish I could have shown to him how much better ot could have looked. Thanks for the help.

[PaintPolisher]

Re: OLD CAR, Need a little Advice

Yeah, I actually did exactly what you mentiond
The actually wasn't too bad, the only thing was he just wanted a one step wax, so I ended up using M66. It turned a lot better than I figured it would have, but I probably could've gotten a lot better results had I been able to sell him on process of claying, cleaning, polishing, and waxing. What do you guys suggest to when in this situation, what works best for convincing a customer to have something like this done instead of a one step wax. I wish I could have shown to him how much better ot could have looked. Thanks for the help.

I have been working on this response for a couple of hours and here are my thoughts.
Do you want this customer again? Nice person, nice car and pays in full?
You have to think like a business salesman for a top 10 company which you are doing by requesting some help for your company which is #11 and climbing quickly.
Do you have a file on this person which contains their likes and dislikes, sports they participate in or like, girl friends name, brides name, kid’s names, where they work and what they do to for a living? Chat the customer up and then be quite and let them talk because most people like to talk about themselves. Here are some leading questions to get the conversation [BS] going. Remember your LSP is to ask for the sale. If no sale, be nice and move on. They may call you up again, you just never know. Some clients do not like to respond right away, they want to sleep on their decision which is OK.
What type of Cutlass are we talking about? Ohhhh…I just love dark colored cars, what’s the name Cutlass called this color again…I forgot? Ask about the different options the car may have and let him brag about his car. Is this a trailer queen, got a 445 squeezed into the motor compartment, Hurst packaged goodies, or just a nice 25 year old car? My reason for asking is that you want to up sell this client at this point. You must have done a great job for what was agreed to. You are building a client base and if you want this person’s future business and possible referrals you need to sell them on you and your process. Now take a couple of sandwich baggies out of your pocket and ask very politely if you can touch his baby while handing him a baggie? I tell them this is my magic trick and it works almost every time! Now you are switching back to you being in charge of the conversation and providing some free education that this customer needs and believe me he will show others. Feel those bumps? Let’s go here on the trim or here on the windows….yep, you need to have your car clay bar with the whole 5 step process. Then while walking to your vehicle [performing this same magic trick on your vehicle] give a short description [bullet points only] of your 5 step process. If you need too write it out and then practice out loud your selling points to the dog. For me it is like a second nature, I have the BS gene!
This works for me and I hope this process or your own variation works for you.
Again - Remember your LSP is to ask for the sale.
Side note about me:
As a professional buyer in my previous life I have interacted with thousands of sales people and I can list my best top 10 sales people and why they are the best. Then there are the rest whom I learned from on what not to do during a presentation.
Your LSP is to ask for the sale.
Al

[TrufflePig]

Re: OLD CAR, Need a little Advice

very good response above.

you have to sell them on you, and make the customer believe in you and your ability.

if you protrude confidence, that's the first step. the customer will see this and believe in you. but if you're hesitant on your abilities the customer will also see this.

you have to make them believe in what you're going to provide for them is in the best interest of their car and themselves getting the best value for their buck. show it to them.

perhaps keeping protfolio might not be so bad.

but like the guy above me said, striking conversation goes a LONG WAY.