Detailing for dealers new/used?

Flexin · 01-14-05, 06:45

Is anyone doing any detailing for any dealers? What services do they ask for and what prices do you charge for them? My shop is about about a month an a half to two months from opening and today while doing work on the shop the dealer next door stopped by. He asked when we will be opening. Introduced himself and asked what we would charge to do all of his cars. I know he asked for a wash, interior clean and I can't remember if he said wax. I wasn't ready for him to show up. I went blank. I need to sit down with him and see what he really wants done to these cars. I know he washes his cars and I think cleans them out so if he wants something quick then it wouldn't be worth it to get me to do it when he has been doing it. I want the work because it can help pay the bills. He has 20+ cars right now ranging from cars like a Precedia ($2500) and Intrepid ($2850) to 5 BMW's ($6500-34000) to a 55' Thunderbird ($37500) to a Ferrari Mondail Cabriolet to two H2's($62000-72000). I really want to get my hands on some of these cars. Well all of them really. Even the cheap ones because they look good for what they are but they have bad swirls that I want to remove. He also said he will have a lot more cars in the summer. Damn I'm long winded.

Anyway I'm trying to decide what to offer him. I know I need to sit down with him first to see what he really wants me to do with these cars before I can really price anything up. I do know that one of the shops around here offers a 30% discount if they are giving at least 4 cars a month.

So does anyone do this kind of work?

James

Flexin · 01-14-05, 07:14

I just rechecked his website and I was off by a little bit. He has 68 cars listed on his site.

James

a.k.a. Patrick · 01-14-05, 07:20

Well, I think you would first need to come up with a contract. Offer him a package price for say maybe a light, medium, and heavy duty details. (Not necessarily those words, more or less descriptions) Im sure he is, and you will come across some cars that just need a little refreshing, to complete details with SMR and interior work galore. Make sure you dont sell yourself short, or leave yourself without anytime to detail the real money maker clientelle. Your also going to have to set yourself up with proper products for all of the above type of details. Obviously a all in one type of cleaner/protectant like ColorX or AIO, cleaner/mild protection products like Moosewax, etc...You get the pic, if he accepts your offer, you have to be prepared......

Flexin · 01-14-05, 07:24

Thanks for the reply. Thats another thing I was looking for. Some products that would save time.

James

JohnnyWinter · 01-14-05, 09:06

Dealers, dealers, dealers........LOL. They are a totaly different breed of detailing customers. Even over the years I have had high end car dealers trying to kill me on the prices. The price you give the dealer is probably going to have to be pretty cheap. Most dealers that have been in a location for a while already have detailers. The best thing is to phone the other companys in your area and ask what they are charging. This will give you a better idea of what to charge. Most dealers want a total clean up. There are alot of little tricks you can do do save time and money when dealing with dealers. PM me and I will let you know some. For starters if you don't already know start learning how to use a rotary. A rotary and a cleaner/wax will work great for this application. They will want a cheap price 9 out of 10 times. Your objective here is time is money. As far as products go,sta away from the good "name brand" stuff. Call your local distributer and start buying in bulk. To use AIO or any other stuff is a waste of your money. Cheap and fast is what you want. No name distributer products work really well when used properly. If you can't find your distributer go down to your local new car dealer and ask their detail dept. Where they order from.

JW

Flexin · 01-14-05, 09:16

I have a dealer down the street from me that has a full line of Malco products. You can get them in bulk. The thing that is going to get me is I don't want low quality work rolling out our doors. I know most used car dealers won't want the best but I need to try to get him to meet me half way. For example. I don't want to send a car back out with swirls. Idon't want something that I'm not happy with out there and him saying "yeah the guys next door cleaned that car"

I'm picky and I'm starting to think that could be good and bad in this kind of business.

James

Scottwax · 01-14-05, 10:26

Honestly the dealers around here want the work done for $50-60. Not worth it for me.

Flexin · 01-14-05, 10:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Scottwax
Honestly the dealers around here want the work done for $50-60. Not worth it for me.

What do they want done for the $50-60? Your mobile right? If so for that price they would need to have enough lined up to keep you going all day. For me he is right next door to me so depending on what he wants done and what he is willing to pay it might be good for me. And I might try to set some up for after hours. Try to fill my day with retail and do some of his cars after I close my doors. I could take two of his cars and do them that night and leave them there. When I open in the morning I have give him his cars.

James

tdekany · 01-14-05, 10:45

All the used car dealerships around here stock cars with swirls. I also doubt that the dealer wants them swirl free. Malco is great stuff. Wash and use a AIO type of product. They pay $80.00 around here.

Flexin · 01-14-05, 10:47

Quote:

Originally posted by tdekany
All the used car dealerships around here stock cars with swirls. I also doubt that the dealer wants them swirl free. Malco is great stuff. Wash and use a AIO type of product. They pay $80.00 around here.

Do you know what they get for the $80?

James

Flexin · 01-14-05, 10:52

Quote:

Originally posted by tdekany
All the used car dealerships around here stock cars with swirls. I also doubt that the dealer wants them swirl free. Malco is great stuff. Wash and use a AIO type of product. They pay $80.00 around here.

So in the Malco line then the Restore-it Cleaner/Glaze or Rejuvenator One-step paint restoration would be good products? I'm going to buy a few of them in the smaller bottles to see what I like then get the larger size.

James

tdekany · 01-14-05, 10:53

Quote:

Originally posted by Flexin
So in the Malco line then the Restore-it Cleaner/Glaze or Rejuvenator One-step paint restoration would be good products? I'm going to buy a few of them in the smaller bottles to see what I like then get the larger size.

James

yes