People charging $55 for an Interior Detail - Page 4

mshu7 · 02-18-09, 04:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShineShop

Smart businessmen work smarter, not harder.

Exactly!

lecchilo · 02-18-09, 02:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullitt21

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm not mad or irritated that there are people charging $55 and getting the business, I know that when somebody turns down my quote I'll get another email or phone call within hours. The question I'm trying to get across is do you all think these prices are hurting the Detailing Industry as a whole. There are all types of operations out there, from corner car washes to expert detail pro's, and if your making a good profit that's only good business sense( as long as your reputable and honest). The reason I posted is because when I received the email it made me think of an article in Detailer's Digest about pricing and how some business's are starting to hurt the reputation detailers get. I'll look for that article and post a link or what it contains if I can find it. Thanks again for all the input, I learn something new everyday on here.

I don't think there's a clear answer to your question... this is because not everyone charging little is a hack and not every area has the same demand, thus ability to price higher... too many variables to simply say a lower price is bad for the industry, in my opinion of course.

If you don't consider the demand, quality at cheap prices, etc. variables, then, in a sense, the lower prices can be bad, and are bad at the moment, for the detailing industry because people aren't aware of a quality detail and will without hesitation compare your $400 quote to someone's $100 thinking your work is just as "good". In reality, they're getting a crappy job done for a "good" price without even seeing your work. On the other hand, the low pricing is a good thing considering people will finally start to associate quality with higher prices, thus realizing the lower priced shops are doing bad quality work. I try to almost religiously spread this point of view among my clients by telling them to take one car to someone else for $5 washes, $20 waxes and $100 details, while taking a 2nd car to me for $40 washes, $100 waxes and $400+ details, then comparing. This is in hopes that people will start caring more for their cars and not necessarily put the volume car wash shops out of business, rather take the extra business away and give it to someone who will do quality work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramtough

So because I live in an area that i can only get 50 or60 bucks. That means my work is not as good as somebody that lives in a nicer place.It's what the economy in your area will pay. I do good work I use the same products as everyone else the eastern shore of Maryland suxx.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altered-Image

I charge less than any other detailer in my area, but i do better work, a customer of mine (dealer) works with 3 different detailers because of the volume of cars he needs to move. I beat the other 2 detailers prices by at least 20 bucks per car, and i've looked at the quality of work on the others, mine are 10x better.

I'm sorry guys but if someone charges less than you do, its no reason to assume they are a hack. He's undercutting you because hes a businessman, not a hack. Smart businessmen operate on volume, not huge profits.

I agree.. as I said above, the only conclusion or fact one can draw from this discussion is that prices will go with the areas' demand... charge what the people will pay, but also consider your quality of work compared to the competition.

Altered-Image · 02-18-09, 07:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShineShop

If that's working for you and you are making good money have at it. However, after being nothing more than a slave for the dealers (did as much as $40000 a month in details for them) I wised up and raised my prices. I do far less work and make far more money. Smart businessmen work smarter, not harder.

In my personal experiences with detailing i've learned that the working smarter not harder thing is all in the process you go through on a car. Theres an order things need to be done in, and if everything goes as planned, thats how you acheive the volume. I may be the cheapest guy in my area, but im not the cheapest there is, i don't work for free and I don't think anyone in our profession should have to, but a few choose to.

I dont consider how i do what I do hard work. So I guess i must be working smart. I dont consider myself a slave and my volume vs profit equation makes my business very successful, all in all I'm very happy.

brwill2005 · 02-19-09, 06:28

Everyone is entitled to charge what they please. Obviously if a company has developed efficiencies and economies of scale, they can charge less and still make a good profit. That is not the reality for most of us. We need to charge accordingly for our time and expenses. Many of the non-legit businesses have less expenses; no licenses, insurance etc. They can charge less because of this, but usually do not survive very long. In the long run, the companies who charge the right price and operate efficiently are the ones who have long term success. I have said this before, but one way to increase profit, other than raising prices, is to operate more efficiently.

lawrencea · 02-19-09, 06:48

A friend of mine is a pro detailer. He charges $200.00 for a complete detail.It includes inside, engine, Buff, wax , wheels , wheel wells, door jams, glass, . It takes him 3 1/2 hours to do a average car . Now wetsanding, componding, paint correction, claying, leather treatment, excess tar removel, are all extra. These are upsale items. Except for excess tar removel and the claying, very few people want the upsale items. All they seem to want is a basic detail. If he only did mega details he wouldnt have any busness at all. For $200.00 he does a very good job,and his customers are very happy with that.

lecchilo · 02-19-09, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawrencea

A friend of mine is a pro detailer. He charges $200.00 for a complete detail.It includes inside, engine, Buff, wax , wheels , wheel wells, door jams, glass, . It takes him 3 1/2 hours to do a average car . Now wetsanding, componding, paint correction, claying, leather treatment, excess tar removel, are all extra. These are upsale items. Except for excess tar removel and the claying, very few people want the upsale items. All they seem to want is a basic detail. If he only did mega details he wouldnt have any busness at all. For $200.00 he does a very good job,and his customers are very happy with that.

What do you mean by buff?

lawrencea · 02-19-09, 01:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by lecchilo

What do you mean by buff?

Buffing is useing a rotary with a compound,and or polish , to clean the paint and remove scratches.

lecchilo · 02-19-09, 02:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawrencea

Buffing is useing a rotary with a compound,and or polish , to clean the paint and remove scratches.

You said he doesn't do that though... I'm trying to figure out what people mean by the word "buff" when it comes to detailing... to me it always meant buffing off, with a mf towel, a wax or polish residue...

lawrencea · 02-19-09, 06:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by lecchilo

You said he doesn't do that though... I'm trying to figure out what people mean by the word "buff" when it comes to detailing... to me it always meant buffing off, with a mf towel, a wax or polish residue...

He does buff the cars with a polish, with a rotary. He uses a sealant with a PC. He does a one step buff .A compond ,and glaze buff is is a extra charge , in most cases not needed.

gtpaul · 02-21-09, 02:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawrencea

He does buff the cars with a polish, with a rotary. He uses a sealant with a PC. He does a one step buff .A compond ,and glaze buff is is a extra charge , in most cases not needed.

Please stop using the term "buff". It's a horrible cliche for good detailers.

lawrencea · 02-21-09, 05:23

Buffing is the term we used in the 1960s when I buffed cars and is the term I use now. Yes Im a old man and set in my ways.

AeroCleanse · 02-21-09, 05:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawrencea

A friend of mine is a pro detailer. He charges $200.00 for a complete detail.It includes inside, engine, Buff, wax , wheels , wheel wells, door jams, glass, . It takes him 3 1/2 hours to do a average car . Now wetsanding, componding, paint correction, claying, leather treatment, excess tar removel, are all extra. These are upsale items. Except for excess tar removel and the claying, very few people want the upsale items. All they seem to want is a basic detail. If he only did mega details he wouldnt have any busness at all. For $200.00 he does a very good job,and his customers are very happy with that.

Every car should be clayed before touching the paint with anything like a polish, compound or wax.