$120 to detail a LIMO! - Page 3

Jeremy1026 · 07-27-07, 07:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by LangMan37

instead of sending a "note of thanks", try calling them a few days after the detail. Now that's the personal touch.
Also if you are slow (not enough work) call up your just detailed clients and offer a free quick wash & wax. Tell them it's included in the price of the initial detail service. It puts you back in the neighborhood/office park and gives you a chance to offer them a maintenence program/service.
This works out really well.
Remember, everyone likes something for free, whether it's a free wash, a free MF to dust their interior, or any other inexpensive item that you could give them.
I gaurantee they would remember you and your business.

Only problem with that is, the next time they will be expecting you to give them the wash again.

Danase · 07-27-07, 07:17

This makes a GREAT way to say "Thank You"
https://www.sendoutcards.com/cgi-bin...t_intro:11217:

Scottwax · 07-27-07, 09:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by LangMan37

Also if you are slow (not enough work) call up your just detailed clients and offer a free quick wash & wax. Tell them it's included in the price of the initial detail service.

So what do you do in a year when you are constantly booked and those same customers are expecting their freebies? Better to just call them and say you will be in their area and if they'd like, you would make time to wash their car (or whatever level of service they want). Be very careful about offering freebies like that, customers will expect them all the time.

I have a customer who is particularly anal about his cars and has me out at his office 5-6 times a year to polish and wax his MDX. When I call him, he then goes around to everyone else in his office and drums me up more business. One call to him usually means at least 3-4 more cars to do so I give him a $20 discount (which, btw, he never asked for in return for getting me more customers) which makes him pretty happy. I still get paid for working on his MDX, he does all the leg work drumming up more business and earns himself a discount. I am happy, he is happy and this has worked well for the last 12 years.

LangMan37 · 07-27-07, 10:29

ok everybody you can do this a couple of different ways. When I was starting out 4 years ago and I was trying to drum up business (pretty busy now though) when I sold a sale I would tell the client that the price includes a free follow up wash the next week. This would put me back in the area I would want to be seen in. This also gives them the idea of how convenient it was for them to have a clean car. You could also tell them at the time of sale that for a "limited time this price includes the free wash the following week". No one has ever expected free anything from me but when you can do something like this they will remember and if they were happy with the job you've done and just as important, if you've taken the time to actually build a relationship with them, and act professional they won't expect it the next time or at any time. It all boils down to your sales skills.
Something else I've done when I was slow was to choose what cars I knew I could clean easily and call them up (usually only one or two a month) and say " Hello you have won the FREE WASH OF THE WEEK". They usually are pretty excited to have won something and if you're not busy at least you're working in an area you want to be seen in. I can't tell you how many jobs I've gotten just by being seen in the same area 2 weeks in a row. The client is spreading the word about you at their business and people get excited and maybe a little jealous that someone else in their office is driving around in a freshly detailed car and they are not.
FREE is a powerful word and as long as you don't make a habit of giving things away and let your clients know that these "free" services are for a limited time I can't see where you could go wrong.
It really is all about your sale skills and your relationship building skills.
Now if you are really busy and booked up all the time then obviously you would not do this but if you're slow it works out pretty well.

LangMan37 · 07-27-07, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

Better to just call them and say you will be in their area and if they'd like, you would make time to wash their car (or whatever level of service they want).

Yes this is exactly what I do now that I've been working pretty steady. Don't really give out many free washes any more.

LangMan37 · 07-27-07, 10:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by brwill2005

Yes, 'Thank You' cards work well. I send one to each customer after a job. People comment on how it is a 'nice touch'. In addition, make sure your customer's walk away with something such as a receipt or invoice. Just another way for them to remember you and your business.

I think sending out cards is a fine idea of course but along with this a follow up call is more personal and a nice touch. Sending out birthday cards, Christmas cards, anniversary cards, etc is also an inexpensive way for customers to remember you and appreciate what you do for them. I think in this day and age of crappy customer service anything you can do on a personal level will set you apart.