Ever detail for free? Just as a challenge?

MaThGr82 · 03-14-05, 06:51

A very good friend of mine just bought a black 98 VW Passat that is swirled and oxidized like crazy. When I found out he got a black car, I was very excited and wanted to go to his garage immediately to check out the paints condition. When I saw the paints condition, I told him immediately that I wanted to detail his car for him and try to see how good I can make it look. He asked me how much I wanted to be paid, and being a good friend to him for a long time, I told him that all I want is 10 hours with the car on a Saturday sometime and some of his help and a case of beer for us to split during the loooooonnnnggg day.

I am in the middle of moving to a new home right now so I won't be able to do his car until April but I am already thinking about how I am going to try to make his car look black again. I really think that this car has the potential to be an extreme detail contest entry.

So, have any of you ever offered to detail a car for literally nothing just because you think it will be a challenge to bring the paint back to life? Or do you all think I am crazy?

Sullybob · 03-14-05, 07:32

I don't think you are crazy at all. I have detailed my my families cars for free as practice.

FalconGuy · 03-14-05, 08:13

I have detaild for fun many times, in fact I have only charged one or two people in my life. I have also made some interesting trades...... lets just leave it at that

thinksnow · 03-14-05, 08:17

I have three female roommates (no knock to the ladies) who could care less about their car's appearance. I use their sleds as mules for various products because I know there is no chance of testing interference.

That's 30% of it. Mostly, I just can't stand seeing cars nicer than mine in such bad shape.

I also maintain my parents' fleet but when you factor in my undergrad tuition, I'm paid pretty well for those jobs

White95Max · 03-14-05, 08:21

I maintain my mom's Concorde, and I've done my neighbor's cars for free, even though they insisted on giving me $40 each for my work on them.

JohnnyDaJackal · 03-14-05, 08:36

Quote:

Originally posted by thinksnow
I also maintain my parents' fleet but when you factor in my undergrad tuition, I'm paid pretty well for those jobs

plus a car and insurance payments; i'm indebted to detailing my parent's cars for quite a long time.

I detail family/friend's cars for free or next to nothing. I guess thats what seperates us amateurs from the pros who run businesses.

Scottwax · 03-14-05, 09:56

I take care of my parent's cars for free, even though they do try to pay me.

SpoiledMan · 03-14-05, 10:06

I give away details to people that I know for special occasions to bait them in. It works most of the time that they decide to spoil themselves and kiss the local tunnel wash goodbye.

Accumulator · 03-15-05, 10:35

I always did cars for my family for free, and I've done a few for friends too. They're never all that bad though.

But the real "back from the dead" details are the ones I've done for EuroCar Service in Norton, OH. I like the family that runs the place, so a few times I've done an extreme make-over job on Audi loaners that I felt sorry for. They've done right by me, so I figure it's the least I can do.

I did do a real bang-up job on the Cadillac rental we had after Accumulatorette's S4 got rearended. But that was a purely selfish decision, I just wanted to do their White Diamond paint

audio1der · 03-15-05, 12:53

I'm doing free and heavily discounted details right now while I'm learning the finer points of the PC.
Even made a trade for an OBDII scan- pretty good deal.

PrinzII · 03-15-05, 02:50

Both of my Extreme Detail entries were "practice" cars.

Sullybob · 03-15-05, 03:06

PrinzII, after those "practice cars" you should be ready and able to tackle anything.