Whats your thought on this?

[Chubs]

I've been detailing for about 8 years and still learning. I started with the rotary and have just had the PC for about 2 years and like it alot. My question is I think I'm doing to much in doing an exterior detail. I takes me about 6 hours to do a car and 8 or more for a truck or a black car. I've spent over 10 hours on a couple. I think some of you would call it more of a recondition than a detail but thats what I'm doing, caling it a detail? I'm only charging about $125 for a car and about $150 to $175 for trucks and black cars.
Here's my steps:
wash
clay bar
remove road tar w/ tar remover
tape any moldings that need it
buff with DC 2.0 w/ rotary & wool pad
DACP w/ rotary & foam pad
SFP w/ rotary & foam finish pad
SG w/ PC and foam finish pad
wax
Now with all that the car is in bad shape. Your average wash swirls, buffer swirls, scratches from cats to boxes and purses, acid rain and hard water marks.

What do you guys think? Am I doing to much and for to little. How can I still get great results with this time spent per car.
Is this average with the type of cars I'm getting since I only do them one time a year? My car doesn't take that much since it's in great shape.
I'll include some pics of cars done.

Thanks for any help ahead of time,
Chubs

[Chubs]

Sorry I can't send any pic's do the the files being to large, probably since they are scan photos. No dig camera yet.
How can I get the files in a smaller size?

[Vandelete]

Hi Chubs,

I think that`s a good price you charge for yhose jobs.
when people get reminded on the cost on buying a new car, or have it reapinted.. it will cost a lot more when it get`s cleaned and detailed GOOD! so i think when you tell those people this that they will strat thinking about it..

[Chubs]

I forgot to mention aobut while washing that includes the tires, wheel wells, and door jambs.

Thanks vandelete,
Is that the amount of time you would take? Reason I'm asking this is that I want to start my own business and I think I"m taking to much tmie just buffing the paint. Seems like too many steps to get what I want.

I don't know whats everyone else's thoughts.
Chubs

[Vandelete]

Well Chubs in my opinion,

it depends on how the state is of the car you're about to detail... not every car has more or less swirls for example the other car has. But you can plan a little about this. there`s no one who says that you have to clean more then 4 cars in one day...

better spend more time on one car then a litlle on 3 cars. I don't think that the customer appreciate it if you work at a hurry to get more cars done, because customers see their own cars as a first priotiy and want you to have their full attention. if you give those customers that feeling... they will come back and will make a good word for you to future customers or friends. with that in mind you will be succesful

start small.. it is not the quantity that matters but the quality you can give them, i think that's more important.

[6318]

Sounds like for that service you are charging too little.
If the car needs all those things, charge more...if it doesn't (minor swirls or light color and they don't show much) talk with the owner about options and pricing...

[Chubs]

I agree with you Vandelete.
Not all cars require this kind of work, just most of the ones that are my first time customers. I don't want to lose my quiality over quantity. Thats not enjoying what you are doing, it's just making money. Don't get me wrong everyone wants to make money but I can't rip people off. I just don't want to be screwing myself. I'm trying to figure out and hourly rate that I want to charge and set my prices accordingly. I'm jsut trying to get a feel from you guys if I'm doing to much for too little. Because I see alot of people charging the same but doing alot less. I know it also depends on the area you live in also. I'm not in the richest of area's but I have a good range of customer potential around here.

Thanks for your opinions Im taking in everything positive an negative that anyone wants to give me.

Chubs


You can never learn if you don't make mistakes.

[Beercan31]

Chubbs

you should listen to your self your answers are there but you want to see it from someone else.

I see a lot of people charging the same but doing a lot less.

The quality of your work will speak for it self.
You can keep your pricing the same as your competitors, But in the long run I think this could hurt you, Most people want something for nothing, Don't like changes and will argue to the ends of time over a nickle.
If you are really good and I'm sure you are by put your pricing slightly higher then what you want will give you leverage on negotiating a finale price This way you can tell costumer XYZ you can do the job for this amount of $$$ and still be with in your profit margin.
Your time, experience and knowledge is worth money DON'T under sell your self.

[Chubs]

thanks for the reply Beercan.

I think I'm on track but just wanted to ask others and maybe some other ideas will pop up from other people.

thanks again

Chubs