Question Concerning Friends and Detailing

Imatk · 04-03-07, 09:41

So I have friends that have pretty much taken the piss with me about detailing. Saying I was crazy, anal, etc. etc. etc. for washing / detailing my car so much.

I just had a guy (not a friend) come up to me this weekend while I was polishing my car and say, "You know you can pay people to do that for you."

Anyway so NOW after I've gotten better with my PC and my friends have seen the results they now want me to do their cars!!!

Thing is... I love doing it, but it is definately a lot of work to do a car properly and I totally understand why people get paid very well to do it.

So on the one hand I want to do it for my friends and help them out... also I just enjoy doing it... but on the other hand it's kind of... I don't know annoying that they made fun of me and are now wanting to benefit from my hard work.

What should I do?

Thanks again everyone... this place makes me feel like I'm not so "crazy, anal, etc. etc. etc."

Diesel1 · 04-03-07, 10:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imatk

So I have friends that have pretty much taken the piss with me about detailing. Saying I was crazy, anal, etc. etc. etc. for washing / detailing my car so much.

I just had a guy (not a friend) come up to me this weekend while I was polishing my car and say, "You know you can pay people to do that for you."

Anyway so NOW after I've gotten better with my PC and my friends have seen the results they now want me to do their cars!!!

Thing is... I love doing it, but it is definately a lot of work to do a car properly and I totally understand why people get paid very well to do it.

So on the one hand I want to do it for my friends and help them out... also I just enjoy doing it... but on the other hand it's kind of... I don't know annoying that they made fun of me and are now wanting to benefit from my hard work.

What should I do?

Thanks again everyone... this place makes me feel like I'm not so "crazy, anal, etc. etc. etc."

The fact that they now come running to you should be all the satisfaction you need. If they are truly your boys, then have them pay a few bucks for teh supplies you will use $20 beans or so and lunch/drinks in addition to having them help you so they understandjust how much work goes into it! Then they will have a deeper appreciation for your work and not take you for granted and ask every 3-4 months! I say give the first one as a freebie and after that just make up excuses that you are busy or that you're getting paid for one and can't do the freebie.

Bbasso · 04-03-07, 11:46

I have my friends (guys) help me out with the work, they buy the supplies and keep them so they can do it themself later. As for the women... I just cut the prices in half and they are happy.

mose · 04-03-07, 11:52

When I first started out Idid a few friends cars just for the practice. Now that I am doing it for money my friends are like anyone else. Make an appointment and bring your checkbook! They have to understand that your time is worth something. If they want it bad enough they will pay for it. If you are still wanting the practice then by all means knock yourself out and hook them up! They can pay for the products and lunch to compensate you for your time and energy. Friends might warrant a discount.....but only if they don't "expect" it.

velobard · 04-03-07, 01:02

I volunteered to do my next-door neighbor's car this past Sunday. It was just a quick wax and wax, I invested about an hour. Since we moved here a year ago he's always acted aloof toward us. He's about the the same age and has a kid in the same grade as our oldest, but he would barely acknowledge us in passing, if that much. I decided to do a little bridge-building and offered to wash and wax his car. It turned out fairly well, especially for the time I had available. On top of that, he hung around the whole time and we had a nice chat, with him helping me do the final buffing.

Diplomacy through detailing.

ZoranC · 04-03-07, 01:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imatk

So on the one hand I want to do it for my friends and help them out... also I just enjoy doing it... but on the other hand it's kind of... I don't know annoying that they made fun of me and are now wanting to benefit from my hard work.

What should I do?

Do they help you out with something when you need it? Did they ever help you out without any prior favors by you, just because they are nice? Do they help you out with something even after you give them hard time, especially if you gave them hard time exactly about same thing? If yes is the answer to either one of these then they are friends and things go both ways, treat them like they treat you. If not they are probably just acquaintances and don't go in same category like friends.

Imatk · 04-03-07, 02:25

Thanks for the replies everyone... I appreciate it.

I'm thinking perhaps they are more like acquaintances like you wrote Zoran.

So I guess I'll just give it a pass

ZoranC · 04-03-07, 02:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imatk

So I guess I'll just give it a pass

Or they can always "pay", not neccessarily in money. Cost of job = New collection of products for you.

WCD · 04-03-07, 02:39

What do they do? I've been using my new Vapormaster and some products on my neighbor's cars for practice. He owns a paint store so he brings me painter's tape and foam brushes for a permanent trim repair kit I am learning. Maybe your "friends" can trade something of value?

Rob

Gears · 04-03-07, 03:33

For my real true friends I'd work for nothing. I get them involved in doing the simple things. Its nice if you can show someone how to do something the right way.

Oh yeah, they do know to bring beer.
When it comes to the friend of a friend...$$$ is the only way to go.

MobileJay · 04-03-07, 03:50

I charge my friends. I used to hook them up with free or extremely cheap but now good friends get a good price, not so good friends get a not so good price. Its up to you. A detail is a lot of time and hard work, I have some friends that don't realize that and don't care to take the time to so they can kiss my arse and pay me. The ones that do understand and hang out while I'm working, they are the ones that get a real good price cut. I offered a really good friend of mine a deal and he said no. Thats a good friend. He knows how much work it is. I told him a price and he thought I was giving him a deal(wich I was) but I told him I wasnt and that was that. Other friends will just come out and say "hey I got like 20 bucks, wanna detail my car this weekend? " No, but thanks.

Denzil · 04-03-07, 04:25

I usually do different discounts depending on that person's relationship to me but I generally follow this:

Family - 50% off
Close friends - 25% off
Referrals / Friend of friends - 10% off