I feel some kind of way.

[Ultimate Custom Detailing]

Ok maybe its just me. Do any of you mobile
guys feel some kind of way when it rains shorty after detailing a clients car. I issue rain checks but only to those that purchase a package $100 or more if it rains within 24hrs after work is performed. But what about those basic wash n vacs? Sometimes i give them a $10 discount off the next wash but they always pay me full price. I feel bad for them sometimes.
What do you guys think?

[jarred767]

Hmmm, I've never really thought twice about it. Heck, up here in Seattle most jobs that I do from October to May its either raining while I'm working or raining as I'm leaving (and almost always raining within 24 hours during those months). I've never had a customer ask for any discount or refund (although sometimes they will reschedule). Maybe it's just what we expect up here; I'm interested to hear others' thoughts.

[DrdetailNashville]

Re: I feel some kind of way.

Well I'm sure we all pay pretty close attention to the weather, except you California guys that hardly ever see any rain If I see a good chance of rain in the forecast I try to be pro=active and let my customer know. I ask them if they want to reschedule or go ahead with the detail. Of course this is not full proof, sometimes it rains and it just is what it is.

[Detailing by M]

Re: I feel some kind of way.

a little but it's all up to the customer when I work.
WE DO HAVE RAIN! here in Cali, sometimes.

If a customer companies that it rained after I detailed... I'd .... I'd..... I'd say "oh well". How is it my fault you got your car detailed before it rained?
I'm not a miracle worker. Not on paint or the controlling of the weather.

I've detailed cars while it's been sprinkling
I've finished up jobs as it started to rain.

Oh wait, I did have someone complain about his car being dirty after he drove it and it rained. He blamed me because I detailed his car.
He said it was my fault because I should have watched the weather and not detailed it because it might rain. REALLY? And it only sprinkled
He cried so much I told him I'd wipe it down for $10 bucks and he stiffed me!
The next week he was shocked that I didn't come detail his cars!
What a turd. But this wasn't the only problem with this customer, just the straw that broke the camels back. Cheapo Celebrity too!

[russelldetailing]

I used to feel bad for clients when I would do any work on a vehicle and then notice rain later in the day. Here in Ohio it's nearly impossible to keep up with weather percentages which never seem to be accurate enough.

if I know there's a high chance of poor weather the day of their scheduled appointment I let the customer know and then determine if they will go ahead as planned or reschedule. I don't by any means try to encourage them to be 'scared' off by the weather.

I say leave the choice on the table as best you can, but don't feel guilted into shorting yourself on the work, it's more often than not out of your control when it comes to mother nature.

[jarred767]

^^ Very well stated, I couldn't have put it better myself. You may love a clean car that doesn't get rained on, but if your doing this as business to earn a living, you gotta work to make money.

[mesport]

Re: I feel some kind of way.

Good to hear.thanks

[C8N]

Re: I feel some kind of way.

Unless you are some witch doctor who can execute a proper rain dance and make the skies open up and pour down water, it really isn't your fault.
It should be the customer's responsibility to plan accordingly. I always check the weather before I head out to my garage to wash my car.
All you can do is perform the task you were contracted to do at the given time.

[Christopher.Brown]

Re: I feel some kind of way.

I always was my car in the rain...


more important than Esthetics.. when washing your are protecting by removing industrial fallout, dirt, tar... not to mention the greatly multiplied road film from rain loosening up the contaminated roads...


I always emphasize how my services are protecting the car rather than just making it a shiny precious... because of this I don't get many rain comments

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: I feel some kind of way.

Oh wait, I did have someone complain about his car being dirty after he drove it and it rained. He blamed me because I detailed his car.
He said it was my fault because I should have watched the weather and not detailed it because it might rain. REALLY? And it only sprinkled
He cried so much I told him I'd wipe it down for $10 bucks and he stiffed me!
The next week he was shocked that I didn't come detail his cars!
What a turd. But this wasn't the only problem with this customer, just the straw that broke the camels back. Cheapo Celebrity too!

Look, I said some things I sorta regret and you were wrong, so why don't we just split it at $5 and you get back over here and finish my fleet?