How to Price for Dealerships - Page 2

Got_Leather · 11-02-09, 07:16

I know a few guys in this area who work with dealerships and the average price is $100-$150 per car. No paint correction but a full basic detail.

I work closely with a body shop at a discounted price. I charge them 40/hr instead of 60/hr. They have the pads lying upside down on the floor, 3M polish bottles open with crap falling into them. Not one car comes out how it should, but in their eyes the owner rarely sees it so they take a chance basically. No wonder I do all the black ones.

DT08 · 11-05-09, 04:30

This went straight to hell. I had a contract ready and before I could even hand it to him he asks, "Can you do $55 per car?" He wouldn't even look at the contract. All I said was no I could not do it for $55. Wasted my time cooking up a contract that was reasonable and this joker didn't even take the time to look at it. Oh, well. It doesn't stop there. Hopefully someone else will not look at trying to get cheap labor out of me.

David Fermani · 11-05-09, 05:36

I've never heard of a dealer signing a contract for detailing services. Why did you do it?

toyotaguy · 11-05-09, 06:16

I would have asked to split a hood for him on one of the cars...perform a wash and wax, a one step, a two step, a full correction. Then mark each one and SHOW him the differences with a pricing point on each - 75 per, 125 per, 200 per, 300 per! Its much easier to sell when you show, rather than tell. Demonstrations close the door, not assumptions!

a full correction car will take about a day in MOST cases (not 100%, but 90ish (dealership standards)) the ROI on that would be about 1000+ on top of the before asking price, so thats an additional 700 profit from the start! Then you can have him SELL the detail packages for you to maintain the car through his dealership!

At that point, you are "sub-contracted" by the dealership at your rate. Rather than working for, you are working with!

DT08 · 11-09-09, 08:13

@ David Fermani: The guy contacted me and the following day I went to his lot to discuss a few things and to see what he really needed. Pretty much he just wanted the cars cleaned and not detailed. In our general discussion I was suggesting a carpet shampoo and before I could get anything else out of my mouth he says he just wants to keep it simple. That should have been a red flag right there.

@ Toyotaguy: Next time I will do a demonstration. Most ppl have to see it to believe it.

Jakerooni · 11-09-09, 08:50

I would've said "Yep..." Walked out and took a bucket of dirty soap water tossed it on the car and said "That'll be $55"

MaksimumAuto · 11-09-09, 09:37

Here in Baltimore, there is a detailer that has contracts with the BMW, Infinity, and other high end dealerships to detail their cars. It's the safe way of doing things.

David Fermani · 11-09-09, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by DT08

@ David Fermani: The guy contacted me and the following day I went to his lot to discuss a few things and to see what he really needed. Pretty much he just wanted the cars cleaned and not detailed. In our general discussion I was suggesting a carpet shampoo and before I could get anything else out of my mouth he says he just wants to keep it simple. That should have been a red flag right there.

People fail to see the big picture & don't realize how much money they're leaving on the table (sounds like a case of typical Autopian sclerosis). Sounds like this dealer is willing to give you $1500-$2000 worth of business each month for basicially doing nothing more than a spiff. No Shampooing, no buffing & probably the chance to upsell ala carte items. You could knockout 10 of those things in 1 day I'd bet. I'd be all over that deal like crap on the back of a public toilet seat. What do you currently do to earn that much income? I'd go running back to see if you can take him up on his offer before he finds someone else.

JohnKleven · 11-09-09, 02:00

Generally for dealerships they want everything for half price, and done yesterday.

MaksimumAuto · 11-09-09, 02:32

Here is my advice. Take it, apply it, and make money.

Do whatever you possibly can to get that dealership contract.

Hire an assistant that you can pay a fairly low wage.

Train the hell out of him.

Have him do most of the work, and do it well.

Make sure you find the right person though.

I've found in detailing, if you don't want to do the job, there is somebody that will...so find them and hire them.

David Fermani · 11-09-09, 02:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaksimumAuto

Hire an assistant that you can pay a fairly low wage.

Train the hell out of him.

Have him do most of the work, and do it well.

Ding, Ding, Ding............Give that man a cigar. Even if you paid someone 50% as a subcontractor, you'd still be ahead of the curve at the end of the day, month, year. It opens up huge potential for growth, profits & success.

mshu7 · 11-09-09, 07:13

David - I was waiting on you to chime in today. Pretty much exactly what I thought you'd say

. Sounds like the guy can make an easy buck with that dealer not wanting any of the stuff that takes the most time and effort.