Your thoughts on vendor deals/club discounts

[512detail]

Gonna keep this simple...

Should I offer some form of discount to my car club "family" ?


A) Don`t offer them, my prices are already more than fair for them or anyone for that matter

B ) Offer at max 10-20% off regular prices (in line with some of the other vendors for our car club)

C) Offer premium product upgrades instead of discounts (for instance use PA RapidWaxx instead of standard spray wax)

D) _____ insert suggestion/thought here

[GearHead_1]

In giving discounts to a potentially large group of customers, you have in essence lowered your price. The members will tell someone and they`ll tell someone and they`ll tell someone.

[Angus]

Option A - you are worth every penny Brandt.

Perhaps an Option D could be a detailing clinic for club members? Who knows, maybe some are too intimidated to ask for your help.

[GearHead_1]

I thought about option C for a moment but I believe the truth is that most people (even the connoisseurs) don`t really notice the difference. You spend more on the product and a week out they couldn`t begin to tell you the difference. Ultimately you feel better because you know you did them right and they can`t see it anyway.

I like how YOU throw in a few products to help them keep that feeling going. In the end, that and your time explaining to them what it is you do and why you do it may be the very best thing you can give them.

Parting thought on this. I believe that this is the reason that those other guys in your club that charge less than you do gather business. Even car guys can`t see the difference or at least more often than not. Your work speaks for itself, Brant. Stop and show your customers what it is you do for them. If people have more money than time this doesn`t really matter, they`ll nod their head and say great but there are some that will really appreciate you educating them on the subject. You`ll continue to get the customers that really know what they`re looking at.

[trashmanssd]

I would say either 10% or free upgrade on product used for guys you know well and like in the club or for repeat customers. Or you could give 10 percent off to club across the board if you dont want to ruffle feathers and look like a good club member. Could do free upgrades for your own repeat customers that you think take good care of there cars and you think they may actually notice the difference and appreciate it.

I am not a huge club guy (car or fishing my 2 hobbies that have them) I was in fishing club with my brother and out off 15 guys there were 2-3 who I liked and 2-3 I could tolerate the rest were highly annoying and I couldn`t stand the sight of them. So for me giving those guys a discount for my work would be intolerable to me.

[512detail]

In giving discounts to a potentially large group of customers, you have in essence lowered your price. The members will tell someone and they`ll tell someone and they`ll tell someone.

I think I ran into that last year. My prices have more than doubled since last year, quadrupled on some coating packages in fact.


Option A - you are worth every penny Brandt.

Perhaps an Option D could be a detailing clinic for club members? Who knows, maybe some are too intimidated to ask for your help.

thanks. I have actually tried to do an open house detail clinic (up to 5 people) but nobody wanted to come out. And have three times unsuccessfully arrived early to a club meet where I was going to give a free RW demo to a slightly dirty car to show them how to RW- once again, failed


I thought about option C for a moment but I believe the truth is that most people (even the connoisseurs) don`t really notice the difference. You spend more on the product and a week out they couldn`t begin to tell you the difference. Ultimately you feel better because you know you did them right and they can`t see it anyway.

I like how YOU throw in a few products to help them keep that feeling going. In the end, that and your time explaining to them what it is you do and why you do it may be the very best thing you can give them.

Parting thought on this. I believe that this is the reason that those other guys in your club that charge less than you do gather business. Even car guys can`t see the difference or at least more often than not. Your work speaks for itself, Brant. Stop and show your customers what it is you do for them. If people have more money than time this doesn`t really matter, they`ll nod their head and say great but there are some that will really appreciate you educating them on the subject. You`ll continue to get the customers that really know what they`re looking at.

I throw in free samples because I want them to see what quality products can do and I want them to be able to enjoy the good work as long as possible. The sooner they jack up my work the more likely others may be to think that I didn`t do a proper job (because they don`t know the owner was the one who ruined it, not me).


I would say either 10% or free upgrade on product used for guys you know well and like in the club or for repeat customers. Or you could give 10 percent off to club across the board if you dont want to ruffle feathers and look like a good club member. Could do free upgrades for your own repeat customers that you think take good care of there cars and you think they may actually notice the difference and appreciate it.

I am not a huge club guy (car or fishing my 2 hobbies that have them) I was in fishing club with my brother and out off 15 guys there were 2-3 who I liked and 2-3 I could tolerate the rest were highly annoying and I couldn`t stand the sight of them. So for me giving those guys a discount for my work would be intolerable to me.
well if not for the club members who trusted me with their vehicles last year, I definitely wouldn`t have accelerated my coating learning curve and got as much quality experience in as I did...so I kind of feel slightly in the clubs debt for that, but I also think I`ve more than evened out the karma scales



all I know for sure is I`m not giving huge discounts to them anymore

to be honest I only received two tips all last year from all of those mopars I did... TWO...and my prices were ridiculously low, ridiculously low

[atgonzales]

Option A - you are worth every penny Brandt.

Perhaps an Option D could be a detailing clinic for club members? Who knows, maybe some are too intimidated to ask for your help.


+1

A demo when they to car shows, do not give away your labor or service

[Dwhite0960]

I have one customer that gets a good discount due to him being my first paying customer ever. I do his wife`s Durango for 100 which is robbery but he has in turn made me around 5 k in a year from referrals.

I would only discount a person if they have made a significant impact for you on referrals. You could do some type of loyalty card on your business card, after 5 details get x amount off the next or a free upgrade in products on the next visit.

Your work looks impressive and it sounds like you have worked hard to get your prices more inline where you want them. Don`t sell yourself out for slave labor is my suggestion

[65chevy]

my friends are all ways looking for discounts do not give in they are never happy they want more than person off the street

[rlmccarty2000]

I would only give discounts on a case by case situation. If someone brings you a car that is in good shape why not knock off a few bucks? If they are a repeat customer (3 or more) give a 10% discount. You could go volume with volume too. If they bring or make an appointment for 2 cars give them 20% off. Also if a customer asks for a discount, look at the amount of work and cost of materials before offering anything. At the end of the day you have to make money and it is up to you to make the most money in the shortest amount of time. I really think the quality of your work will bring in and keep customers for you, not discounts.

[Accumulator]

Option A - you are worth every penny Brandt..

Same here, just the way I am about such stuff. Either charge your usual rate or do it gratis.

But OTOH I know absolutely nothing about the Pro end of this stuff so my opinion is worth what you pay me for it ;)

[Old Pirate]

I had order from Stay Fresh...( sorry ) and it was 40% off last week.

[JSFM35X]

If would offer something of value for a referral for use on their car when you correct it like a free wheel protection. You can use hydro or super sport. It`s not time consuming and as part of the package won`t kill you and they get something of value.

[Marc08EX]

I would pick option A Brandt since your prices are already more than fair and you do amazing work. Your work speaks for itself and that`s why you keep on getting these Mopars coming in for you to work on.

But I wouldn`t blame you if you want to give your club members a small discount. Maybe 10% maximum just to make them feel good and special.

[512detail]

I decided to just knock 20 off my polishing prices and coatings (as additions)
and just to clarify, any client from last year will be receiving complementary products and a slight discount for loyalty and appreciate and all

I feel this is the happy medium of charging more and still having prices low enough to even possibly bring me some business that would have gone to some Pro with a brick and mortar building.

1step 180/200 (2 dr/4 dr)
2 step 240/300
-free 6 month sealant/wax (p808 etc.)

PBLv2- +100
CosmicV2 +200
CSL +325
CSL+exov3 +475

I printed that out, folded it up in my pocket and carried it with me the past few days.

Three days ago I booked a 13 charger Daytona for 1step at least and pbl
Two days ago I booked a 16 charger hellcat for 2 step and csl+exov3 (and they`re coming from 150 miles away)
Yesterday I booked a 16 challenger hellcat (with 335 miles) for 1 step and cosmic v2
Now I just need to get in touch with the owner of the 16 go mango challenger hellcat (previous client) and get him on the books for whatever PA LSP setup I decide on for him

those four jobs there...probably more money than I made on ALL the mopars I did last year alone

that`s how badly I needed to change prices

the way I see it, it`s a win for all of autopia! (although I`m really the one who reaps the benefits here)