As a professional detailer, I consider a gift certificate to be...

[Scottwax]

...the ultimate compliment.

Seriously, when someone either has the confidence in your abilities to give that as a gift to someone else or that someone would request my services as a desirable present, it makes me feel real good.

I have a regular customer whose cars I wash every week. An older gentleman walks the neighborhood while I am cleaning the cars each week. His daughter called me from Houston (I live in the Dallas area) and told me her Dad had seen the sign on my car and also washing cars each week and told his daughter that is what he wanted for Christmas. She told me that was the first time in ages he actually specified a gift. It really made me feel good when she said that.

Anyway, to make a long and beautiful story short and ugly, she asked for a gift certificate for $200 worth of detailing and her Dad could make up his mind what he specifically wanted done for that amount. Once he gets the work done, I am going to make sure he considers my services indispensible and will continue to have me clean his cars, even though he will have to pay for it himself!

[edschwab1]

Scott,
Congrats on being some popular and wanted.

You sold certificates last year and showed us some awesome interior transformation.

I am not prefessional, but sold two certifactes and gave my family certificates for the Christmas. The people who who received them are very excited and cannot wait for the spring.

Do you have picture of your certificate?

Eric

[Scottwax]

Eric-I'll try to scan one tonight, but I will have to host it somewhere else since we cannot have anything that can be considered advertising in the Autopia gallery.

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

I think I'm going to start giving certificates to family and friends for birthdays/etc. for my services.... maybe that way I can start building more of a customer base for my "weekend warrior" detailing....

but Scott- with the way you get cars looking, its no wonder why people want you!.... host pic elsewhere?? OTusa looks good to me

[Scottwax]

Originally posted by Shiny Lil Detlr
I think I'm going to start giving certificates to family and friends for birthdays/etc. for my services.... maybe that way I can start building more of a customer base for my "weekend warrior" detailing....

Have you considered donating some to your local schools for use as door prizes when they have events? Not only does it open the door for new customers, but it gives you a good reputation as someone involved in the local community.

but Scott- with the way you get cars looking, its no wonder why people want you!

Thanks! A lot of it is keeping up with the Jones' also though. I love it when neighbors compete like that!

.... host pic elsewhere?? OTusa looks good to me

www.off-topic.org ...but don't click if you are easily offended-no restrictions on pic they will host and some are definitely not Autopia friendly!

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by Scottwax
Have you considered donating some to your local schools for use as door prizes when they have events? Not only does it open the door for new customers, but it gives you a good reputation as someone involved in the local community.

good idea.... I didnt think about that!

Thanks! A lot of it is keeping up with the Jones' also though. I love it when neighbors compete like that!

LOL! like me and my neighbor seeing who can keep our cars the cleanest (we both are do-it-yourself detailers aka weekend warriors- but he doesnt do customers anymore, hasnt for like 5 years)

www.off-topic.org ...but don't click if you are easily offended-no restrictions on pic they will host and some are definitely not Autopia friendly!

wow... they certainly upgraded that from the last time I used the "gallery host" feature on there....

[THESANTINI]

Great to hear.