Just got a deal to do 20 - 25 cars a month for a small dealership, need help on......

WilliamHBonney · 08-24-07, 07:38

Pricing and product.

Its a little mom and pop, actually brother and brother dealership and they move about 20 to 25 cars a month. Here is what they want me to do:

Hand wash outside
Clean interior
Spot clean seats and carpet (he said they might change that to fully shampooing carpets)
Exterior buff and wax

Obviously this much less detail than I am used to.

The only products I would need to get would be a good one step that will repair some defects, clean, polish, and seal the paint. I would also need a tire and rim cleaner that I can get in the gallon that can cut fast.

This dealership only sells cars in the $2000 to $12,000 range.

I am thinking either:

Optimum Poli-Seal

or

Poorboys Polish with Sealant

For tires I was thinking

I know its not good to use often but these are used cars that they just want to get clean.

Now for pricing, I told him I normally have a $200 minimum but that is obviously for a much more detailed detail with higher quality products.

I was thinking I try and bill out at $40 an hour this job would take me at the most 4 hours putting me at $160 with a volume discount proposing $140. The thing that is a b!tch is that they want me to work at my house which is about 12 miles from the lot so there would be travel time in there as well. I figured $140 is a good starting point but I really would not want to go below $120. I can whip through these depending on condition but I do bill myself out higher than most because quite frankly I do a better job.

Thank you in advance and I appreciate your thoughts

WHB

Setec Astronomy · 08-24-07, 07:51

Will they pay $120/140/160? That seems a huge amount compared to what most on here say dealers are willing to pay.

jsatek · 08-24-07, 07:56

I dont think too many dealers pay more than $100 per car.

kapinnn · 08-24-07, 07:57

Yeah, last time a dealer contacted me I got offered $70 per car for a full detail. Wash, vac, carpet and upholstery (or leather), polish and wax.

Maybe you wanna step out of the "autopian mode" and go with a quick wash, vac, extract, and wax with a cheap liquid wax. Do you really need to polish them? Can you just use a filler glaze?

gmblack3a · 08-24-07, 08:10

The PB SnR is for the wheels. It is a true spray and rinse product.

Jakerooni · 08-24-07, 09:12

Yea if I go above $80 for a full dealer detail here they just cut me loose and go to the next detailer. WE have a boatload of mobil detailer in the area now willing to go to their lots and do a complete full detail for $75. Really cutting my b*lls on it. You defiantly won't make much coin doing dealer work. But if your in the snowbelt like me they will make your bills through the winter months when your normal paying customers flee for warmth.

WilliamHBonney · 08-24-07, 09:22

Well I told him my normal detail rate is $200 minimum and stated that he may need me for a few of those if they pick up a good vehicle. And remember that this isnt your typical dealership not to mention where its located is in a remote area where I cannot imagine that there is much detailing talent. The city is at least 20 miles from the Twin Cities and I dont think they are going to get someone from the TC to come out to them. Maybe I will lower it a bit. Yeah I wont make a ton of money but I just lost my job because my company sold to their competitor so any income is good income right now.

And to answer another question yes they require a machine polish.

themightytimmah · 08-24-07, 09:34

Meg's #66 on a white pad and rotary is excellent for dealer work, it's cheaper, cuts harder, and fills better than PS. I would go with wheel brightener instead of SnR - it's cheaper and dilutes 4:1, so you can make 5 gallons of spray and rinse cleaner for 20 bucks.

kapinnn · 08-24-07, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamHBonney

And to answer another question yes they require a machine polish.

Yeah, that alone makes for half of the time spent. I wouldn't charge less than $120 per car, even with the guaranteed busines you are going to get. That would take at least 3-4 hours per car so including your driving time you would do 2 cars a day (3 if you wanna push).

I would use something like the Eagle One tire and wheel cleaner, cuts grime and dust quick although it's a little harsh on the wheels. Duragloss 901 for the wash. Probably OP for polishing and aqua wax or OCW as LSP.

Try to get a balance on products that work fast, are easy to apply, cheap, and decent looks.

DavidB · 08-24-07, 11:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamHBonney

Pricing and product.

Its a little mom and pop, actually brother and brother dealership and they move about 20 to 25 cars a month. Here is what they want me to do:

Hand wash outside
Clean interior
Spot clean seats and carpet (he said they might change that to fully shampooing carpets)
Exterior buff and wax

...

Thank you in advance and I appreciate your thoughts

WHB

Ryan,

You either plan to take a pay cut or you're thinking you can do cars at a much faster pace (working twice as hard). Either way, it does not sound like a very good deal for you.

db

jeteast99 · 08-24-07, 03:14

Buy some products from automagic. Use their new car glaze followed by bannana wax or wet wax. About $25 per gallon. Then use one of their drressings and they run for about $20 per gallon. Also get someone to help you. I was doing some dealer work and was able to do wash, glaze, wax, clean wheels, dress tires and wheel wells, and spot clean with folex in about 2 hrs for $70.

WilliamHBonney · 08-24-07, 03:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by themightytimmah

Meg's #66 on a white pad and rotary is excellent for dealer work, it's cheaper, cuts harder, and fills better than PS. I would go with wheel brightener instead of SnR - it's cheaper and dilutes 4:1, so you can make 5 gallons of spray and rinse cleaner for 20 bucks.

Good call I forgot about that. Just sucks its so hard to get someone besides AutoGeek to ship it and Im not spending any money at AutoGeek unless I really really have to.