How do you guys make a living - Page 2

toyotaguy · 10-05-09, 10:40

thats why a simple 3-4 hours one step is MORE than enough for most clients!!!

advs1 · 10-07-09, 06:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyotaguy

i have had a few cancellations in the past couple of weeks due to "economic situation" - basically people are still scared to spend money

I have also lost a couple of accounts, and couldnt get a couple more because of "expense accounts have been cut BIGTIME" and one business place I routinely get work from went from 6 people down to 2 or 3....

its killing me, which is why I have to come up with a more efficient way to market and get a smile on EVREYONE'S faces (theirs AND mine) with the detail packages...

care to share?? if not in an open forum, you could PM a brother and share some ideas??

StadiumDetail · 10-08-09, 11:43

I live in a small town with mostly a low income population and I charge $160 for wash/wax (no clay), complete interior + carpet extraction, engine, and usual extras like trim/tires/wheels/polish chrome etc. Basicly a deep clean.

All of my customers are happy to pay that amount when they pick up the cars, I can't see charging any less like you did and I don't do any polishing since like you mentioned, my clients don't notice/care enough or don't want to pay $400-$500 for a full correction.

Note: I would include claying if the average vehicle around here wasn't driven down a dirt road 3 times a day. When I clay a vechile I generally use a whole bar for one car so I can't justify $20 in clay alone "just because."

toyotaguy · 10-08-09, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by StadiumDetail

I live in a small town with mostly a low income population and I charge $160 for wash/wax (no clay), complete interior + carpet extraction, engine, and usual extras like trim/tires/wheels/polish chrome etc. Basicly a deep clean.

All of my customers are happy to pay that amount when they pick up the cars, I can't see charging any less like you did and I don't do any polishing since like you mentioned, my clients don't notice/care enough or don't want to pay $400-$500 for a full correction.

Note: I would include claying if the average vehicle around here wasn't driven down a dirt road 3 times a day. When I clay a vechile I generally use a whole bar for one car so I can't justify $20 in clay alone "just because."

I would do a test panel right there on the spot, show/make them feel the difference, and then charge an additional $50 bucks and explain that the feeling they got will last over months!!!

toyotaguy · 10-09-09, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by advs1

care to share?? if not in an open forum, you could PM a brother and share some ideas??

pm sent - give me your thoughts

StadiumDetail · 10-09-09, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyotaguy

I would do a test panel right there on the spot, show/make them feel the difference, and then charge an additional $50 bucks and explain that the feeling they got will last over months!!!

I've done that before, it's a 50/50 of yes/no. I just don't include it where most the forum members do.

wagsjr · 10-09-09, 01:42

I live in northeast pa so a clay doesent take long and is fairly simple for me. I think the sealant adheres much better and saves me from dirty applicators but I understand your point totally. Im glad I talked with you guys.

Just doesent pay to do correction.

Thats Fresh · 10-13-09, 05:32

i do it on the side with about 4-5 cars a month. i try and schedule them when i have a couple of days off where they can drop the car off one day and pickup the next day. i would say that most people dont care for swirl removal, they just want their car shiny and a clean engine bay and interior. its total opposite with me. the people who call me know about my work and expect for me to take care of the swirls and then the engine bay. they could care less about dirty interior. anyone can vacuum a car. since i have the cars for a couple of days, i have plenty of time to clean the interior

flamewerks · 10-13-09, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thats Fresh

i do it on the side with about 4-5 cars a month. i try and schedule them when i have a couple of days off where they can drop the car off one day and pickup the next day. i would say that most people dont care for swirl removal, they just want their car shiny and a clean engine bay and interior. its total opposite with me. the people who call me know about my work and expect for me to take care of the swirls and then the engine bay. they could care less about dirty interior. anyone can vacuum a car. since i have the cars for a couple of days, i have plenty of time to clean the interior

Most my work is interiors. I usually take an average of 8 hours for the interior, sometimes more, hardly ever less. Second is a polish, but like stated here, for most cars a 1 step is enough, most people won`t want to spend twice the money to get only 15% better results.

MichaelM · 10-14-09, 07:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamewerks

Most my work is interiors. I usually take an average of 8 hours for the interior, sometimes more, hardly ever less.

You do this for a living? What do you get for an interior?

StadiumDetail · 10-15-09, 10:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelM

You do this for a living? What do you get for an interior?

since he said double for paint correction, I guessing minimum 200 and as high as 300.

I could see that if seats were pulled side panels removed, and a full stripdown of anything just held on with clips which in todays cars is about 40% of the panels in your car. If you have the tools needed, it actually makes the interiors a whole lot easier to do since you aren't trying to get all the little crevices like under the seats.

vecdran · 10-17-09, 08:23

I wish I could charge the prices some of you guys do. I don't have a reputation, and have to charge $25/hr just to compete and break into the market. Not anywhere near as fast as some of you guys though.