How much to charge to detail Police Cars

[kopkars]

Hello, we upfit police vehicles and are thinking of detailing cruisers and trucks for quite a few depts here in pa, is there a going rate for details? we did a few marshals vehicles and charged them $150.00 is that about right? only thing was boy did we screw up first time, police cars have rubber floors we armour alled them one guy slid out of the seat and ended up on pass floor, guess i need to ask what to use on rubber floors huh? LOL! Randy

[RLdetail]

That's a fair price.

I use #40 on mine. Just spray it on rub it in with a brush or terry towel let it sit for a few minutes then wipe off the excess. It even renews the rubber smell!

[kopkars]

Thank you for info RL Randy

[Mike Phillips]

Re: question

Originally posted by kopkars
is there a going rate for details? we did a few marshals vehicles and charged them $150.00 is that about right?

That's not bad, it kind of depends on what you're doing and how long it's taking you. If that includes washing the rig and then detailing the inside and the outside but the outside is simple, for example clay and wax, then that's a fairly ballpark figure. If you start spending more time on the outside and start doing multiple step process to the paint, then you need to bring your prices up.

I would guess that doing detail work for a city agency like a Police department that you're going to be limited by their budget. I'm sure the police officers will love to have a show car finish on the outside and thorough and complete detail on the inside all of the time, (who wouldn't), but I'm also sure they're going to be under some type of limits as to how much they can spend on a detail and how often they can have it done. If you want the account you may have to make accommodations for these limits.

I start at $300.00 a day for paint polishing only and often times want the car for two days if it's been butchered by someone else before me for the second day I charge $200.00 I don't work on daily drivers either, the car has to fall into the general category of special interest and before I evaluate the finish I always evaluate the customer to make sure they are the type of person I want to work for and that they will take care of the finish I produce for them.

This week I have a black 1997 Camaro Convertible and next week I have a 2002 Kompressor, both are paint only, $300.00 for one day.










I have a 1958 Cadillac coming up on the east coast that will likely be two days.

[showtime]

I wish people had that kind of money where I live. Hacks around here are charging $100 and less, it's hard to even get someone to pay $150. People think a detail is a detail. I think I'm the most expensive detail around besides the ones that sell gimicky sealants. There's still a good amount of work for me but in a different area I could easily make double what I am now.

[Rollman]

Re: Re: question

Originally posted by Mike Phillips


I have a 1958 Cadillac coming up on the east coast that will likely be two days.



[/B]

Man that's a sweet 58 !

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by showtime
I wish people had that kind of money where I live. Hacks around here are charging $100 and less, it's hard to even get someone to pay $150. People think a detail is a detail. I think I'm the most expensive detail around besides the ones that sell gimicky sealants. There's still a good amount of work for me but in a different area I could easily make double what I am now.

I hate that.... where I am, I can't charge even $150 to most folks and have them accept the price. I even had a lady with a nasty, bug-encrusted Aztek scoff at $125 once. I ended up doing the job for $75. And the only reason I still went at it for that cheap is because it was my boss' mom (from my "real job").

[rusty bumper]

That '58 Cadillac looks a lot like the '58 Buick model my father used to drive, except his was a bronze looking color.

Sure wished I owned it now!

Have fun Mike.

[RamAirV1]

Mike, are you going to the east coast to do the '58 Caddy? Or are they bringing it to you?

RamAirV1

[Mike Phillips]

If and when we hammer out the details, I'm flying out there.

This car was a wedding gift from the husband to his wife, he spared no expense restoring the Cadillac to show car quality. The last part of the project was to have it professionally detailed, this is where the story goes downhill and for professional reasons we'll just leave it at that.

The goal is to restore the finish, teach the owner Matt how professional techniques for cleaning, polishing and waxing the paint on this car and the rest of his collection so that he can take ownership of the care and maintenance of all of his vehicles.

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
If and when we hammer out the details,

So you're trading in your rotary for a sledge, and the G100 for a ballpeen? Can't wait to see the thread on techniques for that!!

[Accumulator]

KopKars- If the #40 still leaves things too slick (think- slipping during panicy exits, a real no-no ) you can just clean the floors with something mild and not treat them. Won't look *as* nice, but won't look bad. If the stuff in today's P71s is like the stuff in the old 9C1 Caprices it'll hold up just fine even without treating. IMO this is a form-following-function situation. Or you could just treat the "customer area" in back.

Be careful when polishing the graphics so you don't compromise the top layer of their "film" and/or get buildup along their edges.

Well-detailed units really stand out, and are also appreciated by those of us who buy them when they come out of service

[the other pc]

How much to charge to detail Police Cars? That's easy. The answer is the same for any business, detailing, dentistry or ditch digging. Charge a price gives your customer good value and you a reasonable profit.

The key is understanding your customer's needs and perceptions of value along with your costs for proving the service. If you know how much time/work it takes you to do the job and how much you need to make per hour worked you at least know what you must charge. If you then learn what the customer is willing to pay you'll know if it's even feasible or if you need to change your process to hit their cost target.

Cop cruisers are working vehicles, not show cars. I'd think you'd want to tune your process for maximum efficiency, fast turnaround with very good quality rather than maximum effect, slow and painstaking at highest quality. I'm not suggesting compromising quality, just tuning it to the customer's actual needs. I'd think they'd be happy when their cars look clean, with no obvious defects and a nice, but not necessarily ultimate, gloss.

To that end I'd suggest products from the Pro and Detailer lines, #66, APC, #40, Hyper-Wash, X-Press Liquid Wax, etc. and fast, easy to use tools like the Versa-Angle Wide Body Brush and the Microfiber Super Suede Drying Towel.


PC.

[Rollman]

Re: How much to charge to detail Police Cars

Originally posted by kopkars
detailing cruisers and trucks for quite a few depts here in pa, is there a going rate for details?

How about some Get out of Jail Free cards ? Maybe 2 per vehilce . Those thing would be priceless on the open market

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by the other pc
How much to charge to detail Police Cars? That's easy. The answer is the same for any business, detailing, dentistry or ditch digging. Charge a price gives your customer good value and you a reasonable profit.

The key is understanding your customer's needs and perceptions of value along with your costs for proving the service. If you know how much time/work it takes you to do the job and how much you need to make per hour worked you at least know what you must charge. If you then learn what the customer is willing to pay you'll know if it's even feasible or if you need to change your process to hit their cost target.

Cop cruisers are working vehicles, not show cars. I'd think you'd want to tune your process for maximum efficiency, fast turnaround with very good quality rather than maximum effect, slow and painstaking at highest quality. I'm not suggesting compromising quality, just tuning it to the customer's actual needs. I'd think they'd be happy when their cars look clean, with no obvious defects and a nice, but not necessarily ultimate, gloss.

To that end I'd suggest products from the Pro and Detailer lines, #66, APC, #40, Hyper-Wash, X-Press Liquid Wax, etc. and fast, easy to use tools like the Versa-Angle Wide Body Brush and the Microfiber Super Suede Drying Towel.


PC.

Agreed, depending on how often you're seeing these, I'd go straight to #83, follow it up with #66. If you see them more often you can use #80-82 with #66; (for all, the 80 series would be with a rotary, the #66 with your G100)