Work at Dealerships

[Fischer]

Re: Work at Dealerships

Ive learned you will have to work your way up and prove your work. It took me 2 months to be noticed when my manager saw my car and how clean and swirl free it was. I talked to him about some of my experience and I went from car wash to detail shop. Pay wasnt different but I didnt mind. I now atleast enjoy going into work.

[Robby144]

Re: Work at Dealerships

When I worked for a Benz and Volvo dealer, my dad who was the finance manager would be allowed to bring home a present for me in the form of an E55 or a pre-owned SL 500 for me to detail. Doing that, because I loved it, is what got me noticed by the manager and the owner. But the manager was expecting a thorough 6 hour job to be compressed to an hour and a half! They just didn't care if the car was perfect, just as long as it looked perfect. It's just sad.

If I may suggest, get a good size body panel from the junkyard (the best condition possible obviously ) and fully clean and polish the paint on one side and leave the other side of the same panel exactly as you found it and use that as part of your sales pitch. It will show the potential client the great work you do, without the client worrying of damaging the paint of a Merc, BMW, Audi, etc. etc. As soon as my G110 gets here that is my plan to detail for dealerships as well as owners.

[Scottwax]

Re: Work at Dealerships

Thanks Andy for Your Response.
No.
See I am concerned that my age will scare them away.
I looked at Ford's Website and it talked about internships for college kids.
I would use my stuff, and I would take a low wage and them paying for Products.

Honestly, that approach isn't the way to go if you want to become a real detailer. Most dealerships only care about getting the cars in and out as fast as possible and likely all you will learn is how to cut corners.

You are much better off looking for a fixed location detail shop (or maybe a mobile detailer) that uses high quality products and proper technique to turn out swirl free, properly detailed cars.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Work at Dealerships

Move to Dallas, I'll hire you

Honestly, the simple explanation is dealerships don't care. I have a close friend that owns a large dealership here in the Dallas area. He contacted me because he was looking for a new company to take care of the cars on their lot(a little over 600 cars on the lot at a time). He offered a whopping $0.80 per car to wash the exterior! I respectfully turned him down

[TimG]

Re: Work at Dealerships

0.80 per car? wow. that don't even cover the most basic cost..

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Work at Dealerships

0.80 per car? wow. that don't even cover the most basic cost..

Guess thats why we always see those "detailers" rinse then dry really quick when they do those car lots. It doesn't pay to do it correctly. No bucket, no soap, no mitt. Just rinse them off with a pressure washer, then dry really quick.

[Scottwax]

Re: Work at Dealerships

Move to Dallas, I'll hire you

Honestly, the simple explanation is dealerships don't care. I have a close friend that owns a large dealership here in the Dallas area. He contacted me because he was looking for a new company to take care of the cars on their lot(a little over 600 cars on the lot at a time). He offered a whopping $0.80 per car to wash the exterior! I respectfully turned him down

I get calls from the tote the note dealers on Division in Arlington wanting to know what my dealer discount is for details and usually throw in a comment like "the guy I am using now charges me $45 per car, you beat that price, you get my business". I tell them I offer no discounts and if they want me to detail auction cars, it will be $200 and up. No takers yet.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Work at Dealerships

I get calls from the tote the note dealers on Division in Arlington wanting to know what my dealer discount is for details and usually throw in a comment like "the guy I am using now charges me $45 per car, you beat that price, you get my business". I tell them I offer no discounts and if they want me to detail auction cars, it will be $200 and up. No takers yet.

I tried to do one of those little lots about a year ago. Guy paid $75 a car, and I ran through them like my hair was on fire. Complete full detail in about 1.5-2 hours. No wax and only shampooing the mats. He complained about everything! Told me that for the price he was paying, there better not be any swirls, and the car better be perfect. I kindly told him that he needed to find someone else.

He's actually called me about 5 times since then, trying to get me to come back. No way I'm doing that again!

[Ryan L.]

Re: Work at Dealerships

I have to agree with everybody else. 95% of the population out there doesn't go looking for a new car and is turned away because it is swirled or has bonded contaminants. They go out looking for a safe, reliable car that drives nice and has features they want. The main thing is the deal they get on it, not how shiny it is.

My brother worked at a dealership and didn't love it, but didn't hate it at the same time. It was warehouse work with minimum wage and no A/C.

I understand that you want a job and all, but I would try finding a job you somewhat like and has flexible hours and continue detailing on the side. Thats what I'm doing and I love it. I work at a local grocery store that I know every week I'll be bringing in money and then when I get detailing jobs that just add's on top of the money I get. I pretty much choose my hours which decides what I get paid.

Ryan

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Work at Dealerships

I have to agree with everybody else. 95% of the population out there doesn't go looking for a new car and is turned away because it is swirled or has bonded contaminants. They go out looking for a safe, reliable car that drives nice and has features they want. The main thing is the deal they get on it, not how shiny it is.

My brother worked at a dealership and didn't love it, but didn't hate it at the same time. It was warehouse work with minimum wage and no A/C.

I understand that you want a job and all, but I would try finding a job you somewhat like and has flexible hours and continue detailing on the side. Thats what I'm doing and I love it. I work at a local grocery store that I know every week I'll be bringing in money and then when I get detailing jobs that just add's on top of the money I get. I pretty much choose my hours which decides what I get paid.

Ryan

Ryan hit the nail on the head! Detailing is unpredictable, especially when you're working for someone else. I have a full time job at a major airline, and I detail on the side. Honestly, I put more hours in detailing than I do at my full time job. Point being, get something outside of detailing to pay the bills. Detail on the side for your fun money.

Nick

[Tuck91]

Re: Work at Dealerships

what about becoming self employed and starting up a business?

but now would be a bit hard i guess, i would love to have my own detail shop and do cars for customers, but is too hard to be a full time detailer?

[Ryan L.]

Re: Work at Dealerships

what about becoming self employed and starting up a business?

but now would be a bit hard i guess, i would love to have my own detail shop and do cars for customers, but is too hard to be a full time detailer?

You don't even need to open a real business, he's 16. I'm 17 and have been doing cars for money since I was about 14 and don't really have a business. I have a website and a business card, but that's it and I still get plenty of customers to keep me busy.

Focus on school, get a part time job and detail on the side. Trust me, you wont be disappointed.

Ryan

[barry]

Re: Work at Dealerships

I detailed for a dealer for 4 years and the only good thing you will get out of it is experience.I worked for myself,they paid me every week by the detail.Some cars I made $75.00 and others I made $90.00,sometimes more, sometimes less.I didn't really average but about $15.00 a hour.The good I got out of it was experience because sometimes they would get some really nasty cars and trucks.I can honestly say I 'm pretty good at bringing nasty cars back to life inside and out. Now I make double the money doing individuals costumers cars. To me it was well worth the sacrafice as far as the money goes.

[Carfire]

Re: Work at Dealerships

I have "my own business". I have Business Cards that I got for Free only 100 though. I do not think I will really need that many though plus they were free. Also the cards do not come in a big variety. But at the same time they were completely free so who can complain. I Detail Cars For Money and this summer and Spring Break I have a big line up ready. I was just hoping to get a bigger volume of cars and some more money. My Business does not really support a lot for what I need. I also Have an offer with one of my customers landscaping company, which I am pretty sure I have, but I still need to talk to him to lock it in.

Thanks A lot For Your Replies and Opinions.
One of My Friends from the Fire Department Worked at a dealership and said the same thing you guys did. I told him what I hoped to do, and he said the only time a 6 hour detail would be partially okay is with a used car. Otherwise about 20 minutes to an hour with wax per car.

[miahjohn]

Re: Work at Dealerships

there has got to be a detail shop in your area?? that where I would apply if I were you. From my experience, people apply for these jobs and soon realize how much work it actually is and quit. they always seem to be hiring.