Slightly advanced detailing hobbyist question

[Tillmanator]

Hi Folks,

Through my readings here and practice on my own cars, I now consider myself a slightly advanced detailing hobbyist. I still work by hand with the DC system and Gold Class wax.

Being a teacher, many other teachers see my great looking car in the parking lot (if you don't know, teachers typically don't take care of their cars so mine looks like a show car in comparison even when it's only just clean). Also, many parents of students see it. I have started to get requests for me to do their cars for them. Seeing as how I don't get a paycheck in the summer, I'm kind of considering it! I am also looking into perhaps getting a G100 and some M80 and other things you guys talk about a lot here.

So for those of you who are not professionals but still do other people's cars for them.... people who are your friends and co-workers... do you give them a break on price or charge them what it's worth for your time, materials, and expertise?

Another question, when folks ask you do to their cars, have you ever run across anyone who thinks you're going to spend hours on their car for free just cause you're friends? I have discovered that MANY people who have never done any sort of car care are totally clueless as to how much work and time it takes.

And.... how much (this would be just an educated guess) would you think that someone might expect to pay a friend/coworker for a medium skilled wash/swirl removal/wax job in South Florida that takes several hours to accomplish?

Thanks for any input.

[TrufflePig]

Re: Slightly advanced detailing hobbyist question

Wait a minute.

Have you seen my car? I'm a teacher and take really good car of it.

But yes i agree, most don't.

anyways, why don't you get a paycheque in the summer. we do in Canada. at the start we got a lump sum and its the same as getting the 4 cheques we'd get in July and August.

anways, to sum it up.

Business is Business and friends are friends.

people have to attempt to understand that. no you shouldn't do stuff for free because you're friends. my friends don't expect me to take 10-12 hours on their car and not get anything in return. personally i think its all about respect and appreciation there. thats MY OPINION.

you have to get paid for your time, labour and hard work.

i'd say possibly 100-150. BUT, first evaluate your customer and then if you choose to do the job, evaluate the vechile's finish to see how long you reckon it'll take you.

but who knows. what if it takes you 12 hours. you're doing it all by hand remember that. and if its heavily swirled.

i'm not sure what the prices are in Florida but 100 seems fair or maybe it doesn't b/c our prices are different over here.

[Tillmanator]

Re: Slightly advanced detailing hobbyist question

Thanks, Truffle.

Paycheck in the summer....... we are officially considered 10 month employees as the school year is only 10 months long. We don't teach during July and August. We can choose to have money taken out of our checks each month and then they pay us in the summer.... but that's no different than just saving some yourself for summer use. And anyways, I can't afford that much taken out of each paycheck. I'd rather just get a summer job.

I was thinking around $100, but I have a bad feeling they're gonna cringe at that. And I am looking into getting a G100 soon so I'll be better AND more efficient.

I teach elementary music. What do you teach?

[PorscheGuy997]

Re: Slightly advanced detailing hobbyist question

Elementary music... I'm in high school and I've soprano and alto sax for about eight years now. I don't know how you were treated, but we always harrassed our music teacher. It is really a tough job.

I recently made the plunge and bought a PC. My income is very low - just a summer job. I saved up for a while and detailed a few cars on the side. I got one from a MOL member under the 'For Sale and Trade' section for about $100 with shipping and the backing plate. I can truely say that the results are much better than by hand or with an orbital. It is not that expensive and you can save up by detailing to get one. If you do get a PC, #80 and 83 are almost requirments - they work that well.

Anyways, as Truffle mentioned, the most important factor in determining the cost of the detail is the condition of the paint. I made the mistake of agreeing to detail a Suzuki (see recent extreme makeovers) for $90 for an aunt without ever seeing it. I worked my arse off trying to get that thing clean.

I detailed a teacher's interior as part of a school project and now I get a call from her every spring asking me to detail it again. I too feel bad charging very much to detail for friends. I usually only charge for the products that I use - ~$20.

This summer I'll be taking over jobs for a friend that found a job in Florida (lucky). He usually charges $100 for fairly clean cars and about $125 for dirty and swirled ones. He uses an orbital and cleaner wax and most of the other products are generic. I use mostly the pro series and a few Gold Class items.

When it comes down to charging, go by the condition of the car and your relationship to the owner of the car. I always charge less for friends and people I know.

[TrufflePig]

Re: Slightly advanced detailing hobbyist question

elementary school kids.

yes paint condition is very important before starting.

like i said, Business is one thing and friends is another.

my friends have no problem paying some other detailer 4-500 bucks for an exterior finish so not pay me 2-300.

ya know.

[audioguy99]

Re: Slightly advanced detailing hobbyist question

I haven't run into the problem of people wanting free details. In fact, quite the opposite has happened in that they insist on paying.

I do have quite a few clients, however, that have made a referral or two who will jokingly ask for the next job free (I do express type services too). I definitely take care of my clients, but I'm still deciding what to give them and at what point (i.e. how many referrals, etc.)

I typically have the attitude that I will cut a person a break if he or she isn't expecting it, but if they approach with the "you better" attitude then either I won't do the job or give no break. They don't ask again

It's usually best to do as one of the others said and keep business just that. You pay me as a professional and get a professional job and can have the expectations you would anywhere else. I really don't like people doing jobs for free for me b/c then you're at the bottom of the list for getting it done, etc. Had a computer designer friend promise me a flyer design for a new event a couple years ago (not detailing related). I waited and waited, and postponed the event, and finally got the logo from him and had someone else finish the flyer. It was free though!

That's my rant for the day!

Jonathan

[TrufflePig]

Re: Slightly advanced detailing hobbyist question

to answer a question.

we get paid for the summer. lump sum. we don't get money taken out of cheques if we want. its like we're at work teaching. so they pay us full amount.

if you don't mind what's the starting rate for teaching there with B.A and or Honours degree.

[Tillmanator]

Re: Slightly advanced detailing hobbyist question

I teach in Miami-Dade County (south Florida). The starting salary is just under $40,000 a year. A master's degree will get you an extra $3,000 and National Board Certification (which I have) will get an extra $4,000 a year. Each year of experience gets a bit extra also.

Here is a link to the salary schedule for my county:

http://salary.dadeschools.net/Schd_Teachers/

If you're curious about salaries in different US states/counties, I think they all should have salary schedules posted on their websites. Just search and you can find it. Are you thinking of coming south a bit?

[TrufflePig]

Re: Slightly advanced detailing hobbyist question

i'd love to.

but i got so much here.

starting here is about 40,000 depending on your pay scale.

every year it goes up at least 2,000.

we have 5 pay scales.

A
A1
A2 - BA, Honours with poor marks
A3 - Honours with good marks
A4 - masters

after ten yeras, we currently sit at 85,000 which isn't bad.

[johnyB]

Re: Slightly advanced detailing hobbyist question

Without formal training or any tools, wash and wax 40 bucks maybe 55 with a vacuum windows and dash wipe that would be with you suplying everything. I personaly "Detailed" about 5000 plus cars to date im just a rookie "Detailer" but i do remember the time i just started out i dont charge family... It realy does make a great xmas gift hehehe. O and since were talking teaching how much can i charge to teach in the winter when detailing gets slow in canada! (O and dont think i didnt hear, not a dime to be a english teacher.....)hehehe goodluck.

[TrufflePig]

Re: Slightly advanced detailing hobbyist question

Without formal training or any tools, wash and wax 40 bucks maybe 55 with a vacuum windows and dash wipe that would be with you suplying everything. I personaly "Detailed" about 5000 plus cars to date im just a rookie "Detailer" but i do remember the time i just started out i dont charge family... It realy does make a great xmas gift hehehe. O and since were talking teaching how much can i charge to teach in the winter when detailing gets slow in canada! (O and dont think i didnt hear, not a dime to be a english teacher.....)hehehe goodluck.

who knows how much you can charge or how many people will attend.

Meguiars Canada is throwing a clinic soon and should be great.

remember they live in the US so they're charging rates are different from ours as they can buy supplies much much cheaper.

Johhny B what's your shop called. how much out there for a full detail removing swirls etc...the whole works.

[johnyB]

Re: Slightly advanced detailing hobbyist question

I have 2 shops one i use for express style detailing and the other for private cars tht need a day or 2 and are in need of major paint corection and are usely for cars tht are in the 60 to over 100 range. I try to steeraway from selling a showroom finish to the genral public,but they know they have the option. prices for express cleaning usely dont go past 250 for the biger cars And if you want to have the price is no option and your looking for perfection it can get up to 700 just for the polishing work wet sand paint touch up if needed sorta detailing. Im not on here to promote i dont know if anyone noticed i dont have anything tht has my name or my shops name ill save tht for private message or email. Im sure ill be slaped for poor marketing but hey to each there own and im not on here to drum up biz. Anyways ill hint tht it sliped out during a reply to your post about detailing class in canada. Also if i can swing it i might be able to attend the one coming up. Im very new to the megs system so i can always learn alot from the guys there and hopfuly get to meet you and some of the other canucks on these forums. cheers.

[TrufflePig]

Re: Slightly advanced detailing hobbyist question

yes see that's the normal price range in canada.

about 300 for a nice high speed polish etc..

and then wetsanding etc..is what you have listed.

anyways you got a website for curiosity sakes. if so just PM me. i can't PM you.