Pricing

NY detailer · 07-24-03, 04:28

I have be getting lots of emails from people wanting to know how much for a detail and why i do not list the pricing on my site.

Here are my reasons.

each car is different. you will need to do something different to every car you touch. some need clay some don't, some need to be compounded, some dont.

I have basic set pricing and i use that as a base. When the customer shows i up i over the vehicle and make all final price adjustments with them. I am sure to tell them over the phone that prices are based off of visual inspection.

when you go to a Dr's office, he has a set fee for the visit and any additional testing done he charges you for. same as a detailer. Have a set for but for add on's you must charge more.

Jngrbrdman · 07-24-03, 04:46

Yup. It takes a bold detailer to list the prices for a job site unseen. I base my prices on a desired hourly wage. I estimate how long the job will take me and I just do the math. I figure the cost of products into the hourly rate so I don't have to figure out that part. I base everything on $40 per hour. I've found that my prices are at least competitive with other mobile detailers and I've very rarely had to haggle with anybody. It has been a good system for me. I struggled at first trying to find a fair pricing system and I've had the easiest time explaining to people how this one works. No complaints so far. I've been using this system for 3 years now and its still working fine.

Putting in a bid for a job without seeing it first is just brave. You might make out like a bandit or you might get screwed. I've been screwed too many times to make that mistake very often. I still screw up and do it from time to time. I'm a slow learner I guess.

Auto Care USA · 07-24-03, 07:21

I believe that you need a base price and you can go from there. We have set prices for cars, trucks and different size SUV. If a particular vehicle comes in and it is totally abused we charge accordingly. But you must have a starting point for your cutomer. 9 times out of 10 my customers will pay our base price.

ShineShop · 07-24-03, 07:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Jngrbrdman
Yup. It takes a bold detailer to list the prices for a job site unseen. I base my prices on a desired hourly wage. I estimate how long the job will take me and I just do the math. I figure the cost of products into the hourly rate so I don't have to figure out that part. I base everything on $40 per hour. I've found that my prices are at least competitive with other mobile detailers and I've very rarely had to haggle with anybody. It has been a good system for me. I struggled at first trying to find a fair pricing system and I've had the easiest time explaining to people how this one works. No complaints so far. I've been using this system for 3 years now and its still working fine.

Putting in a bid for a job without seeing it first is just brave. You might make out like a bandit or you might get screwed. I've been screwed too many times to make that mistake very often. I still screw up and do it from time to time. I'm a slow learner I guess.

I wouldn't call it brave - it's more like CRAZY! I fail to see how anyone can accurately assess the time needed to detail a car without a thorough visual inspection first. I won't even talk about a firm price until I have seen the car and gone over the entire thing top to bottom. We used to have a guy around the block who told a customer of mine he would do a full detail on her camry for $99.95 (too low to begin with) and then said it was the same price for her Suburban too. Simply insane. By the way - he quickly went out of business.

bretfraz · 07-24-03, 08:11

Like the Junior Bird Man, I base my rates on an hourly figure, $30/hour, and go from there. I have a pretty good idea how long a vehicle will take me to detail so I'm rarely caught off guard. I did get thrown by a motorcycle last weekend but it had been 10+ years since I detailed one completely so I was a little clueless. Not any more.

If I owned a shop, had employees, payroll, insurance, taxes, etc. I'd definitely have set base prices with options priced accordingly.

Wash_Me · 07-24-03, 09:45

I'll post my price list not sure mods will like it thou.

Jngrbrdman · 07-24-03, 09:53

Wow. Actually, that is pretty sweet looking.

You can post that kind of stuff when the topic is related to it. As long as you aren't trolling for business and using the thread as your own private advertising platform then its cool.

Clinton · 07-24-03, 10:15

I got burned a few times when I first started aswell. I wanted the business so bad I was low balling myself.....LOL, and doing the quote over the phone. I learned the hard way...lol

But I run on a basic guideline system and won't quote a price until I inspect the vehicle.

The only fixed price I advertize is my monthly and weekly packages. And if something does come up in my customers vehicles I let them know it is a bove and beyond teh fixed rate.

Clint,

Taxlady · 07-25-03, 08:42

Once again, this is similar to my tax-prep & consulting business. People phone me up and ask how much for an income tax return. "It's just a simple return." Yeah, right. I give an estimate and explain that <i>anything</i> more will cost extra. It's amazing how much more there usually is.

I've learned the hard way that the people who are trying hardest for a cheap price are the worst clients. They give me the most headaches. Same goes for the ones who want me to work for cash and skip the sales taxes. I imagine that holds true in the detailing biz too.