Sick of The Price Shoppers

zippymbr · 12-12-07, 05:49

First off I enjoy this site and have learned alot. In the last 8 months it seems I get 10-15 PM's a month through Autopia of people price shopping. I am getting to the point that I do not want to answer any PM's anymore. I get very few of these shoppers as customers, and I know that my prices are very competitive. I talk with the other local detailers here in the area who I met through Autopia and they all get the same junk. The latest guy wanted a full detail in and out for $125!

. He then contacted 2 other detailers who I talk to often. I mean do these people thing that we never talk to each other? They told him what I told him. I am sick of my time being wasted. OK rant off

zaxjax · 12-12-07, 06:14

I get the same here! People think a detail is a wash and wax that costs $29.99!

brwill2005 · 12-12-07, 08:07

Interesting. Most of the PMs I get from Autopians are not price shoppers. It could have to do with the particular market you are in. Here in NOVA the per capita income is very high, and so is the cost of living. People seem to expect paying a premium price for professional services. I do get price shoppers, but usually it is from some other sources other than Autopia.

Scottwax · 12-12-07, 08:49

Same with Brad, no Autopian price shoppers. The Yellow Pages, on the other hand....

toyotaguy · 12-12-07, 09:34

yeah I get a few on here looking for the 100dollar hookup...not going to do a full three step for 12 bucks an hour....

BillyL207 · 12-12-07, 09:49

Especially where you live toyotaguy looks like you live in a high end area. Very strong market in orange county! I hear ya on the 12 dollars an hour definately not worth it.

zippymbr · 12-13-07, 03:57

I live in a high income area. I am finding that if you do not have a retail location here these people do not let go of the cash.

howareb · 12-13-07, 04:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippymbr

I live in a high income area. I am finding that if you do not have a retail location here these people do not let go of the cash.

I agree with you there. It is like the quality of service you are providing means little, in comparision to the building that you are in. I understand facility presentation, but what about the quality of work provided. The local carwash in my area has a nice area to do their details in, but they put the car through their carwash and swirl up the vehicle. To add insult to injury, instead of correcting the paint, they then use fillers and a cheap wax and charge anywhere from $150.00 to $300.00. The customer then glady pays this amount.

How do you educate these people?

zaxjax · 12-13-07, 04:52

It's hard to educate someone who falls victim to advertising and someone who looks for convenience. I live in a high income area as well and my best advertising are those places. I offer to pick up vehicles at a clients home or office and do it in my garage or will do it in their's. People that generally go to car washes don't care about their vehicle anyway, and they are the people who are tire kickers!

MotorCity · 12-13-07, 05:32

If I sense I am being price shopped I tell them right off the bat that my services may not be for them... I really don't have time to waste with price shoppers.

I treat my customers and their vehicles like royalty, and to them it is priceless... Hell I even get holiday cards from some of my customers

I really do hand pick my customers, BUT I can afford the luxury in doing so since this is not my only source of income.

I feel for you guys that have to deal with price shoppers!!!

bert31 · 12-14-07, 10:13

When you guys get calls from the phone book for a detail, do they assume a detail just invovles a 30 minute wash and wax and therefore only want to pay $30-50 or do some realize it will take you 4-6 hours to do a full detail and still assume you will only charge $50?

My assumption is that it is the former. When people ask what I use on my car, they are assuming a simple wash and a nice wax is all I do. When they start hearing things like clay, compound, AIO, glaze, immediately I get a very confused look.

Scottwax · 12-14-07, 11:21

I would suspect any Autopian price shopper would be someone who hasn't done any reading on the board and really has no idea what is involved with a proper detail. Probably just registered to find a detailer and didn't bother to actually research what true detailing is.