Strange People

[pampos]

Re: strange people

I agree. But I am like Rasky,I have a full time job so I can turn vehicles away. I do perfection nothing else that is where my passion lies. To try and achieve perfection how ever unattainable that may be...COSTS. I'd rather be known for quality not quantity. If that means working a full time job to supplement my income so be it. I've had a couple opportunity's to do car lots and turned them down,know why? Because I didn't want to learn that type of work ethic. That works for some,not me. Choose where you stand.Money or Pride.

i agree with both of you guys,but the problem is that i am new on business,so i don't have the option yet to choose my customers...So i guess i will give to them the option of a clean swirled car too,hoping that they will never choose it ..i hope one day to have the opportunity of doing only full correction jobs...I prefer for someone to tell me that he wants a full correction but he don't have enough money to do it,and i will do my best for him as i have done on the past,instead of those people that they want the best on the lowest price....

[pampos]

Re: strange people

I went to a local car show last year and i saw a yellow corvette and while it was clean it was very swirled out and the hood had what appeared to be severe holograms. I wonder if the owner even knows its there?

pictures from a local car show

[Heatgain]

Re: strange people

I agree with you 100%,but when a customer wants to remove the swirls,RIDS etc,what that suppose to mean??

You tell him what that process would involve and you give him a flat price before you start.

Or if he don't ask you from before how much it will cost??

You inspect the vehicle, discuss with him what he expects, and you give him a price, before you start.

Or if he tell to someone else to tell you to do his car,what are you going to do??

Same as if you're dealing directly with the customer. Inspect first, discuss the customer's wants/needs, and quote a price before you start.

I know that i have my mistakes because i didn't tell them,i will do this and it will cost that,but when i want to buy something,i asking for the price first,except the case that i don't care about the price,so i will buy it anyway....

Customers that are knowledgeable and/or want the finest care for their car will opt for the better work at a higher quoted price. The customers that are shopping for price will go for the 1-step price that you already explained the price and the expected results.
Inspect, explain expected results, and quote flat prices before doing the work. It's a win-win situation.
If you inspect first and expect a job will take 10 hours for a correction, quote your 12 - 14 hourly rate but quote it as a flat rate. If it ends up taking you 15 hours, collect only what you quoted and adjust your similar jobs flat-rate price accordingly for the future.
This is all based on detailing is the way you make your living. If you don't depend on detailing as your primary source of income, just turn down jobs that aren't full corrections, if you wish.
Hope this all makes sense.

[Dentless Dave]

Re: strange people

There is a quote that I saw on another forum I'm on and it goes like this.

"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten."

I'm sorry that I don't know who exactly to credit for the saying, but it rings true IMO.

If your customer goes to a lower priced detailer, he may then begin to understand why you charge the prices that you do, BUT the downside to that is you lose the job.


I'm not one to tell you what to do, but follow your gut instinct on it. If you pride yourself over quality and not price, then stick to your guns.

dave

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: strange people

For what it's worth...

I recently had my 2008 Royal Blue Accord sedan professionally (hi-speed) polished to remove severe wash damage that resulted from a complimentary car wash administered by a paint and body shop (my car was in for bumper repair and I specifically requested NO complimentary wash), mostly because I don't trust shop guys to wash a car correctly, but also because I just had my car detailed 1 week before. The guy who "washed" my car essentially ran a wet rag over the finish to remove accumulated shop dust and then rubbed it down with a dirty chamois.

Initially I was set to have my car polished by the same detailer who waxed my car before, and he quoted me a price of $100. The original detail wax he had given it cost $65, and that had been a discounted price because I was a new customer. So I was a little apprehensive that he could remove the damage to my satisfaction, so I joined this site specifically to seek advice for the best approach.

After researching the local high-end detail shops (in San Diego) and emailing the good folks at Meguiar's for invaluable advice (Big round of thanks to Rick M), I finally opened up to the idea that I could not let price be a barrier to having my paint properly restored. I settled on two of the best detail shops in San Diego and asked them to write up estimates which I submitted to my insurer. My comprehensive claim was approved and I was asked to choose which of the two shops I wanted to use.

I ended up choosing the shop that cost me more money out of pocket for one very simple reason. The winning shop (Total Pros in Oceanside, CA - a total Meguiar's product shop) took the time to not only explain what process was needed and why, but also performed a demonstration on a 24" diameter section on my hood (where the most serious scratch damage had occurred) to show me what the final result would look like. The detailer performing the work took the time to give me a brief education on polishing, waxing, and detailing in general while he ran the demonstration. The other shop was also impressive and used a different product line that required twice as many steps as Meguiar's, but did not offer to give a demonstration.

IMO, education and sample demos will go a long way to justifying your pricing structure. Equally important will be your presentation of facilities - if you have them, equipment, and how you present yourself. Are your tools arranged neatly, even if you're mobile? If you have a shop, is it clean and orderly? I think it also helps if the detailer wears clothes that are not only neat in appearance, but also project a "no-scratch" consideration to detail. Belt buckles and rivets from blue jeans always give me pause for concern whenever anyone works on my car, detailing or repair work. Presenting yourself as someone who takes those unspoken concerns into consideration presents you as a pro, and one who will subconsciously justify his prices through that same professionalism.

BTW, I was totally pleased with the end result when my vehicle was polished last week. Not only were the scratches removed, but also the holograms and swirls that appear so easily on dark painted cars. The car looked better than when I purchased it. I do not even think about the final price, only that it was done right and done professionally.

[pampos]

Re: strange people

Thanks very much guys....As i told before i didn't had any problems with MY customers,because they know everything (process/price/differences with other detailers) before i start...The problems were created from the common customers with the mechanic....I say it again,that it is my mistake that i didn't called them first to explain/say price etc,but i felt very very strange and sad when i learned from a third person that they were more than happy with the results but not with the price....

[Golden]

Re: strange people

I went to a local car show last year and i saw a yellow corvette and while it was clean it was very swirled out and the hood had what appeared to be severe holograms. I wonder if the owner even knows its there?

I am not sure they do. Honestly. It's hard to believe, but most people see swirl marks and think "That thing is always waxed! I can see the evidence!"

Mind boggling, eh?

[Oni]

Re: strange people

Hi All

Im new to Detailing ( if i could call what im learning that ). I went to a car show today and there were arround 75 cars, there were a few daily drivers but most had special interest plates on them. There were no exotics but some nice older and high end cars like corvettes etc. All of the cars were peoples baby's and i was very impressed with most of the cars, apart from one part. Every single car was swirled to pieces, i was super excited to go today and look at some show car perfection but i came away saddened that my 19y/o daily drivres paint job was in much better condition than these cars that have had 50k+ poured into them. Alot of people just dont realise how much work would be involved fixing them, or like myself not even realising that it can be corrected.

[Andy's Pro Detailing]

Re: strange people

hehe if it makes you feel better. I just got a call from some guy that saw my ad. He wanted me to wash his pick up truck for $20. People have no clue about car detailing.

[Robby144]

Re: strange people

When the question of my price vs. other local shops comes up, I simply explain the greater amount of time involved in my work vs. those other local high volume shops. You get what you pay for. If they want a $150 buff job than that is what I will give them.


Well, actually I usually give them more than they pay for because I can't stand to let something like that out my door.

I totally agree!! I had a modest detailing "business" in my neighborhood when I lived in Lodi in Northern California. I always invested extra time on a car even polishing the aluminum rims on one car because the owner and I agreed they were a bit dull. I only charged for a basic wash and vacuum, but the owner was a little stunned that I refused the extra coin for the extra work. I just told him "I did it because I love doing it." Its nice to know there are others out there like me.

[pampos]

Re: strange people

A guy came a few days ago with an F430, he get out of the car and said to me: ''Hey Pampos,make it like new,the paint,the interior the engine bay and everything and i will come to pick it up in 2 days""
I said OK but it will cost to you about $xxx .
Then the smile of his face was gone....He asked me why i want so much to do it,i explained to him,i remove a deep scratch from his car that moment,and then he said:
''OK do it"".
They just used to get their cars for a full ''detail'' to cheap petrol stations or cheap valeting center and they used to pay about $200 for everything and they think that i am doing the job same with those guys....
I guess it is because of they have know idea about detailing...They think that just a pass with AIO product for example and a layer of wax it is detailing...

[Tuck91]

Re: strange people

im glad this thread came up, the biggest problem i have is when i do a car for someone , which is usually once or twice a month, it seems that all the customer wants is a " clean car", as in its riddled with swirls but no dirt on the finish. And i find it even harder me being just a 17 year old kid talking down to or educating a 40 year old man, i just get this vibe that they think i am cocky and i act like a "know it all". And even eduatig the customer would take some time and the chances of them retaining that info is pretty slim.

For example: Over the summer i detailed a 2005 Honda Oydessy Minivan and it was not worth it at all. The detail consisted of the interior and exterior, wash, clay,Color X, M07, and NXT and M26. This job took about 5 hours just to get the exterior done and not even including the interior or dressing the tires, trim etc plus everything was done by hand. She wanted the job done so her van could be evaulated and after it was evaulated she decided to pay me 50 bucks. I guess i am either very greedy or i deserved somewhere around 80 bucks. the month before that i did a similar size vechile and they gave me 120 dollars and to be honest were just better to deal with. So now i see why Mike says evaulate the customer first

[Larry A]

Re: strange people

Different people want different things. A friend has a couple cars that he gets detailed once a year. His main concern is the interior. The glass and the vents must be perfect. Every nook and crany must be perfect . On the outside he doesent care that much. He does want a buff and wax , but the interior is his pet peve.

[pampos]

Re: strange people

Different people want different things. and wax

I agree with you mate..But most people in Cyprus they want a 100% Perfect job and 100% discount on every job/shop etc....

[Jeff U]

Re: Strange People

I'm not a detailer but I am in sales so here are a few thoughts.

There are two big issues in any sale, price and value. Price is only an issue when value is not appreciated or misunderstood.

Here’s what I would do:

Put together a book showing before and after pictures of your interior & exterior work. The visual examples of your work (removing swirls, scratches, etc...) will show them exactly what value you are offering.

Before taking a job, review this book with the potential customer and agree on the level of outcome they expect, and the price you are charging, before you begin work. I would even create a simple “work order” that specifically lays out the services you will perform and what outcomes the customer can expect. Hand it to the customer when they turn over the car.

Have three or four pricing levels:

1) Basic wash/wax exterior & vacuum clean interior
2) Detail exterior- clay, polish/wax, vacuum clean interior
3) Detail exterior – clay, 2 step polish/wax, detail interior/shampoo carpets
4) Complete detail – clay, 2 step polish, glaze, complete interior, engine, etc.. The best you can do.

Realize most people will pick “medium” so price both #2 & #3 so you make good money.

People that choose #4 are your BEST customers. Bend over backwards to make them happy and they will provide the referrals that will make you a success.

As a bonus, deliver with the completed job a simple one page handout that includes:

1) Your contact information
2) Asks for referrals
3) Describes the proper method of washing a car.

This handout puts your name in circulation and educates your customer that swirls are not natural but are produced by poor care & car washes. In other words, they need you.