my biggest beef...

[TrufflePig]

people don't get and or understand the amount of time it actually takes to get rid of swirls.

they want it all for cheap.

i don't get this.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: my biggest beef...

Too many people will "do a full detail" for $100 and too many more people only see that the car "looks way better than before" that $100 detail. Not enough people see with a critical enough eye - witness all the horribly swirled cars you see on the road every day, and even the number you see at car shows.

Maybe the "each one, teach one" philosophy should also apply to spreading knowledge of the problem if the "student" is neither willing nor interested in learning how to correct the problem.

[MR.CLEAN]

Re: my biggest beef...

I have the sme problem in my area due to low income and high gas prices.I lucky to get 125.00 for a basic detail when i fell i should get 225.00.I am looking at relocating.

[PorscheGuy997]

Re: my biggest beef...

Yeah, I totally agree.

Around here, most people never wash their cars. When they do, they send it through a car wash. If the do TAKE THE TIME to wash it by hand, they always use something like dish soap. It is an even smaller percentage of people who then apply a wax. I feel as though I'm one of two people at my school who applies a wax; that's ridiculus and irresponsible. Something that costs $15, takes an hour to apply, dry and wipe off, and offers around six months of protection should be something required. After all, it will save your paint and give you a higher resale value.

There are FEW professional detailers. There is one guy that charges $165 to wash it and put a coat of Zymol cleaner wax over the thing.

I feel that people don't understand the true experience required to do a fine detail. For example, I get eight bucks an hour to work in a warehouse. I detail about six cars per summer for them all with the same hourly wage. They pay for the products, but I bring my buffer and towels. Oh well...

But it really torques me about all the mythical products out there. People always buy what is cheapest and promises the best. We've got some cleaner waxes around here that I swear could take off half of a clearcoat! Others always want to try household products on the car - extreme powerwashers, dish soap, dish sponges with Scotch Brite (I personally like Scotch Brite pads for cleaning, but I've seen some people use it to remove bugs). Most recently, my uncle told me to use some marble cleaner to remove bugs (he's actually pretty smart, but some people take everything someone says).

I just wish people would protect their investment and research the product before taking action. Oh well, I get paid to correct their mistakes.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: my biggest beef...

people don't get and or understand the amount of time it actually takes to get rid of swirls.

they want it all for cheap.

i don't get this.

It's like that everywhere! I'm in Dallas, Tx and we have the exact same people here. They expect things cheap. The one thing you(as a detailer) need to do is to talk to the customer. Explain how "You" are going to make a $xxx.xx(insert your price here) difference to their car. Educate them about the products and process you use.
My theory is this, people are going to do what they want. If they believe that you are too expensive, then you SOL for now.

My approach to people that think my prices are too expensive:
Customer about has a heart attack when I give them my quote. They tell me that "Joe's shop" down the street will do it for $xxx.xx, I explain why I believe in my process and abilities, and if they still don't bite, then I tell them they should head down to "Joe's shop" and have their car detailed. When they get it home, to please call me and I want to do a test spot(free of charge) on top of "Joe's" work. Customer calls, and I go out to do my test spot. Customer is blow away at the difference.
Beleive it or not, this usually works. Granted, sometimes I don't get an immediate customer since they just paid "Joe" down the street to work on their car. But the next time their car needs to be detailed, I am the one that they call.
Bingo, you have a future customer!

One thing you have to remember is this is THEIR money that you're trying to get. They do not owe you anything, you have to earn their business. Some people are very hard headed, and you are not going to talk them out of taking their car to "Joe's Shop" down the street when he is $100-$200 cheaper than you. The only way you are going to make them belive is to let them do what they want, and then show them what you can do after they just wasted their money.

[TrufflePig]

Re: my biggest beef...

this one guy wanted me to do a full detail. so we booked a date and time. i went to see the vechile last night.

Exterior only i should add.

his vechile was covered in swirls. it has only 10,000 kms. never been waxed. seen winter. not parked indoors. scratches on it. swirls everywhere. and its an SUV.

i told him it'd take a good portion of the day probably about 10 hours. i said around $200 bucks and he said that was wayyyyyyyyy to much. i told him to call a shop near by that does it and get the price and then get back to me.

then i told him a shop wanted over $500 to do my MINI. then i lauged.

oh yeah, this is a buddy of mine.

[Matt's 03 GT]

Re: my biggest beef...

It's like that everywhere! I'm in Dallas, Tx and we have the exact same people here. They expect things cheap. The one thing you(as a detailer) need to do is to talk to the customer. Explain how "You" are going to make a $xxx.xx(insert your price here) difference to their car. Educate them about the products and process you use.
My theory is this, people are going to do what they want. If they believe that you are too expensive, then you SOL for now.

My approach to people that think my prices are too expensive:
Customer about has a heart attack when I give them my quote. They tell me that "Joe's shop" down the street will do it for $xxx.xx, I explain why I believe in my process and abilities, and if they still don't bite, then I tell them they should head down to "Joe's shop" and have their car detailed. When they get it home, to please call me and I want to do a test spot(free of charge) on top of "Joe's" work. Customer calls, and I go out to do my test spot. Customer is blow away at the difference.
Beleive it or not, this usually works. Granted, sometimes I don't get an immediate customer since they just paid "Joe" down the street to work on their car. But the next time their car needs to be detailed, I am the one that they call.
Bingo, you have a future customer!

One thing you have to remember is this is THEIR money that you're trying to get. They do not owe you anything, you have to earn their business. Some people are very hard headed, and you are not going to talk them out of taking their car to "Joe's Shop" down the street when he is $100-$200 cheaper than you. The only way you are going to make them belive is to let them do what they want, and then show them what you can do after they just wasted their money.

Good advice. Sales 101. You need to set yourself apart from "Brand X". You should also have examples of the work that they do, compared side by side with your work.

You can get this by having a detail done by Brand x and then doing side by side comparisons with your work. This may cost a couple hundred dollars, but will allow you to show Value to your potential customers.

Most people will respond positively if they can see actual quality differences and will often pay higher prices if they are convinced you are the best in your area... and the word of mouth will be very good if you have truly "Sold" the customer on your service.

[OhioCarBuff]

Re: my biggest beef...

people don't get and or understand the amount of time it actually takes to get rid of swirls.

they want it all for cheap.

i don't get this.

I think it's an issue of marketing, perhaps a portfolio of photographs that show side by side how it will look when your competitor does his "$100 full detail". I own a photography studio and show people side by side examples of good and bad photos and explain what I do to put the extra polish on my work that the competition dosen't

[Scottwax]

Re: my biggest beef...

The best way to counter-act that attitude is to market yourself to the people who are willing to pay for quality work. Joe Blow with a trashed Dodge Caravan who wants it done cheap isn't our market. Neither is the person who waits until 2 days before their lease is up and calls in a panic wanting the car perfect as cheap as possible.

Obviously, if you aren't getting the volume you need with quality minded customers, you do have to take on work from more budget minded customers. The best thing to do is make them aware of what you can do for the price they want. Explain how 3 polishing steps can get the finish as close to perfect as possible and the time it takes to achieve it-but you can eliminate a polishing step to save them some money and get them maybe 85-90% correction-which quite honestly, is more than enough for a lot of people. They don't notice their vehicle's paint with the critical eye we do. You do a good job for them, they will still pass your name along and odds are they know someone who is willing to pay top dollar for top notch work.

As you grow your business, you will be in a position to pick and chose the details you want to do and when someone calls wanting a quickie on a crapped out car you will be able to tell them you are booked 2-3 weeks in advance and they will likely go elsewhere and be someone else's headache.

How are you currently getting business? What are you doing to attact the type of person who will appreciate your work?

[ss600r]

Re: my biggest beef...

Well said Scott. The auto industry as a whole is the worst raped biz there is. Theres so man places that advertise one type of service for another dirt cheap. I see this everyday in a repair garage. Just like people that want Michelin tires. I give em a price, then they say Walmart or sears has it for much less. Then I explain that the tires are not the same and give them some examples of build differences. Ford made the GT-40, but they also made the Pinto.....

Sell yourself and your service. Brand yourself. Explain to them the actual value of the service you perform over others. It may sound odd, but many people need help in deciding what choice to make, they often just dont know it. Just dont drop your price way down just to get the job unless your really strapped for cash.

[Scottwax]

Re: my biggest beef...

Just dont drop your price way down just to get the job unless your really strapped for cash.

...and want to do all their friend's cars for the same price.