Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

[ClearlyCoated]

I know that the immediate and professional reply to my question is to buy a generator and bring my own power supply. In a perfect world where I was fully funded and equipped to do so, I certainly would. But...

I am doing this part time, on the side, as supplemental income and I will be working out of my trunk. As such, I will have to rely on my clients providing me with a power source to run my DA's. What I need to now is how much power, expressed in kilowatt hours, does a G110 consume per hour? I looked online, but I can't seem to find that particular spec.

Using this equation, I can formulate an appropriate offset to my clients' fee. Depending on how much power the G110 or other DA's use in an hour, I would probably offer a straight percentage offset (say 5% for a working number).

I know from my own limited experience that for one hour of machine polishing does not necessarily translate into one hour of continuous polishing. There are cycles of running the DA and stopping to wipe down a section and inspect the results. I personally estimate that for every hour of polishing, the DA is actually in use for maybe 30-40 minutes out of every hour. For you more experienced detailers, would you agree with this estimate?

Thanks for your input

[InfiniteDetail]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

Personally I wouldn't worry about it. You can state that your services are XX dollars and they supply the electricity and water

Otherwise you'd have to charge more anyways to cover the cost of a generator and water tank

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

I've been detailing out of a compact car without a generator for a long time without a single complaint. I explain that I do this because I have a legitimate passion for polishing and for a little extra money on the side, and they appreciate the results more than the rig used to get them.

I wouldn't worry about it.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

I've been detailing out of a compact car without a generator for a long time without a single complaint. I explain that I do this because I have a legitimate passion for polishing and for a little extra money on the side, and they appreciate the results more than the rig used to get them.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Your operation gives me confidence going into this, Mark. I appreciate your POV. I just figured if a client expresses concern about the amount of power being used, I could ease his or her concern by stating truthfully something like "the polisher uses no more electricity than a standard (pick one) light bulb, microwave oven, fridge, etc". If the client persists about the power used, then I would offset the cost of the detail by a certain percentage, unless some other discount had already been applied.

[Kevin Brown]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

Yeah, don't sweat it.
It costs more to bring along a fully equipped truck and all the associated equipment, so you would need to charge MORE if you didn't use their electricity.

Besides- nobody enjoys hearing a generator run for hours on end.
Whenever possible, I would plug in to electricity just to keep the noise down the the customer and their neighbors.

Plus, it was easier to listen to the radio with the generator turned off!

[JuddGA]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

supposedly the g110 uses 4.2 amps. Thats 462 watts per hour I believe. Electricity is billed by KWH (1000 watts per hour). The KWH rate varies by area but it can be from 10-35 cents, cali folks get slammed.

So it costs less than a couple dollars and that would be running the machine a LONG time.


If a customer nitpicks over the electric you are using, you should probably pack up and leave because the nitpicking has only begun

[akimel]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

Simply inform the customer at the start that you will be using his electricity. When I hire a man to pressure-wash my house, I understand that he will be using both my water and my electricity. No big deal.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

supposedly the g110 uses 4.2 amps. Thats 462 watts per hour I believe. Electricity is billed by KWH (1000 watts per hour). The KWH rate varies by area but it can be from 10-35 cents, cali folks get slammed.

So it costs less than a couple dollars and that would be running the machine a LONG time.


If a customer nitpicks over the electric you are using, you should probably pack up and leave because the nitpicking has only begun

Thanks for the info and good point on the nitpicking. But those are the hard numbers I was looking for.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

Yeah, don't sweat it.
It costs more to bring along a fully equipped truck and all the associated equipment, so you would need to charge MORE if you didn't use their electricity.

Besides- nobody enjoys hearing a generator run for hours on end.
Whenever possible, I would plug in to electricity just to keep the noise down the the customer and their neighbors.

Plus, it was easier to listen to the radio with the generator turned off!

Thanks Kevin. Good to know that even the seasoned pros prefer not to use a generator.

[Ryan L.]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

Yea I agree with all the posts above me. When I go to a customers house or before when I'm talking to them I ask them if it is okay to use their water and electricity and I haven't had one person complain or say something about it.

If you think about it, electricity for running a DA for a couple hours can't be more than $3-4.

And like others said also, just make sure to put it in your description if you make a website or pamphlet or something.

Ryan

[the_invisible]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

If a client is asking for a price reduction on the basis of you using their electricity to operate the necessary tools for the job, never deal with that client again.

Maybe companies like PC should invent a cordless DA. Proprietary batteries are expensive and cost very little to produce.

[SHYNEMAN123]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

supposedly the g110 uses 4.2 amps. Thats 462 watts per hour I believe. Electricity is billed by KWH (1000 watts per hour). The KWH rate varies by area but it can be from 10-35 cents, cali folks get slammed.

So it costs less than a couple dollars and that would be running the machine a LONG time.


If a customer nitpicks over the electric you are using, you should probably pack up and leave because the nitpicking has only begun

Right on the Money Volts x amps = watts 4.2a x 110v = 462w

were talking penny's It cost Dollars to chase penny's

When you do your walk around with the owner B4 detailing point out all the imperfections and make it clear the ones that will still be ther after.

Under sell and over deliver !!!!!!!!!!!!

Leave the area cleaner than it was B4 you started.

Always ask the owner there exceptions before and set yours higher and you should never have a problem

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

I never concerned myself with this part. The customer wants me to come to his house. At his convenience. Like Al stated, to me it is a given that their electricity and water will be used.

[Calais]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

I've never detailed at someone else's place of residence without using their water an electricity. Who could complain about a couple of dollars worth of electricity when their car looks so shiny and clean?

[rusty bumper]

Re: Using a client's electricity. How much to offset?

If a customer nitpicks over the electric you are using, you should probably pack up and leave because the nitpicking has only begun

Great insight Judd.

I'll keep that one in mind.