Think I made a mistake....

[usafcrk]

My Dad owns an automotive repair business here in town. A guy drops off his truck and says, "This truck isn't running well, do what you have to do to get it running perfect, and if you know anybody that does detailing, have them detail this truck to look like new again. Price isn't an issue." So...Me being a beginning detailer, I jumped at the chance. Real quickly...This truck was in HORRIBLE shape. Looks like he hasn't washed this thing in maybe a year. After spending three hours washing this thing, I noticed really bad water spots covering the entire vehicle. I mean windows and all!! So I pull out my rotary buffer and buff the entire truck with #83 and the buffer at 1400rpm. Long story short...It took me 14 hours to do the entire outside of the truck, start to finish, wash included. Did I do something wrong? Do I charge this guy for 14 full hours of work on just the outside? What could I have done differently?
Thanks for ANY help or advice!!

[CWM3]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

If the truck looks good and you know you did your best I say charge for the 14 hours. Do not doubt yourself. The customer said money was no object.

However, if the job took 14 hours due to you learning things as you went along then charge what you think fair.

[roushstage2]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

If he told you to do what you had to, and you did, charge him. Unless he brings anything up, leave it at that.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

Be fair, but do not short change yourself.

[usafcrk]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

Thanks guys. Looks like I'll charge him for the full 14.

[BlueZero]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

If the truck looks good and you know you did your best I say charge for the 14 hours. Do not doubt yourself. The customer said money was no object.

However, if the job took 14 hours due to you learning things as you went along then charge what you think fair.

I agree! Do you think if you had to do it again you could have done it any faster? I remember the first time I used the PC to do correction it took me forever to just do the hood. I'm a bit faster now but I'm sure no where near the professionals on here.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

So...Me being a beginning detailer, I jumped at the chance.

Sounds like you're still learning?

Maybe I didn't catch the story correctly, but are you saying that it took you 14 hours to wash and make 1 pass with the rotary?

Give us some more details on your process(ie wash, rotary, DA, wax). What exactly did you do start to finish? Also need to know what you plan to charge by the hour.

14 hours x your hourly rate =???

To me, 14 hours is pretty excessive to wash and make 1 pass on the rotary, unless you're just starting to learn. For me it would be 14 hours x $50(my hourly rate)=$700

Nick

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

did you talk ballpark pricing with the guy? What specific keywords did you use to describe the results you would achieve?

did you achieve those results? If so, I say charge a *reasonable* rate by 14 hours as long as your time taken wasn't increased due to lack of skill, if so consider dropping it to 12 hours charged.

[usafcrk]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

Sounds like you're still learning?

Maybe I didn't catch the story correctly, but are you saying that it took you 14 hours to wash and make 1 pass with the rotary?

Give us some more details on your process(ie wash, rotary, DA, wax). What exactly did you do start to finish? Also need to know what you plan to charge by the hour.

14 hours x your hourly rate =???

To me, 14 hours is pretty excessive to wash and make 1 pass on the rotary, unless you're just starting to learn. For me it would be 14 hours x $50(my hourly rate)=$700

Nick

I AM still learning. I haven't used the rotary much at all. Most of my details have been with a DA. This is my first job with pretty bad water spots covering the entire surface of the vehicle.
A little background...
2000 Ford F-250 Quad Cab...Forest green so everything shows. This truck appears to be a work truck. It hadn't been washed in months. Covered in dirt, mud in the wheel wells and on the quarter panels. Bird **** that had been sitting on the hood for who knows how long, and bug splatter all over the windshield and front.
My process for this truck: Complete wash, Clay bar, Masked off the decals and trim, rotary on painted surface and ALL windows, DA/wax, and dressed all black trim.
My hourly rate is $35. 14x35= $490 for the exterior

[usafcrk]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

did you talk ballpark pricing with the guy? What specific keywords did you use to describe the results you would achieve?

I didn't speak to the guy. He dropped the truck off to my Dad and said "After you're done with it, have it detailed if you can, I want it to look like new. Money isn't an issue."

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

I AM still learning. I haven't used the rotary much at all. Most of my details have been with a DA. This is my first job with pretty bad water spots covering the entire surface of the vehicle.
A little background...
2000 Ford F-250 Quad Cab...Forest green so everything shows. This truck appears to be a work truck. It hadn't been washed in months. Covered in dirt, mud in the wheel wells and on the quarter panels. Bird **** that had been sitting on the hood for who knows how long, and bug splatter all over the windshield and front.
My process for this truck: Complete wash, Clay bar, Masked off the decals and trim, rotary on painted surface and ALL windows, DA/wax, and dressed all black trim.
My hourly rate is $35. 14x35= $490 for the exterior

$490 doesn't sound bad, if this is what he was wanting.

I know your time is worth the $35 per hour that you're charging, and I'm not trying to down play your work. Please don't get discouraged with me My only concern here, and this is just me thinking out loud(personal opinion), most people relate "detailing" to just cleaning their vehicle. No buffing, or having the paint in pristine condition, just cleaning(inside and out). You didn't speak with the owner before you started the job. Did he not want the interior touched? You're getting ready to drop a $490 bill on him, and his interior still looks the same.

[usafcrk]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

$490 doesn't sound bad, if this is what he was wanting.

I know your time is worth the $35 per hour that you're charging, and I'm not trying to down play your work. Please don't get discouraged with me My only concern here, and this is just me thinking out loud(personal opinion), most people relate "detailing" to just cleaning their vehicle. No buffing, or having the paint in pristine condition, just cleaning(inside and out). You didn't speak with the owner before you started the job. Did he not want the interior touched? You're getting ready to drop a $490 bill on him, and his interior still looks the same.

I see what you're saying. The interior is pretty shot too. I called the guy after about 10 hours and let him know where I was at with the whole process. Still waiting to hear back from him. If he's unhappy with the bill I guess I'll just vacuum the interior, wipe it all down, do the windows and be done with it.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

I see what you're saying. The interior is pretty shot too. I called the guy after about 10 hours and let him know where I was at with the whole process. Still waiting to hear back from him. If he's unhappy with the bill I guess I'll just vacuum the interior, wipe it all down, do the windows and be done with it.

Or just go ahead and tackle the interior, tack on another $50 and then drop him the bill

[Hemin8r]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

Did you make a final pass with polish on a DA before waxing? If you're not too experienced on the rotory there will be rotory trails/holograms after a few washes. I would hate for him to come back to you complaining about the visible swirls on his truck.

[RaskyR1]

Re: Think I made a mistake....

Pics?