Limit of a customer`s understanding.

[Fleet]

I checked out your website, and I have 2 comments.

1. On the front page, there are 2 parts of the screen. On the left side, is the navigation for your site, which is fine. But on the right side, it is very difficult to read your front page. The picture takes up 2/3 of the page (left to right) and the text is in the margin on the right. It would be much easier to read, and look more professional, if you had the picture in the center at the top and the text below it.

2. Being a full time student, you may want to check your grammar. It does not read professional to me. There are a few instances of mixing up "we" and "I" in the same sentence. "We simply try to take life one car at a time, with my primary goal to have a happy customer each and every time". Also, on your front page, "Thank you for considering Dan’s Auto Detailing for you car detailing needs." You probably should change that "you" to a "your". Proof read you whole site, there are more examples than that.

Aside from that nitpicking, I do like the gallery and pricing seems in line with expectations.

[ncal]

My first recommendation for the site may seem minute but it is highly distracting to a reader. The royal usage of "We" (ie. plural pronouns for singular) is often used by businesses to come across as professional. Since your business is clearly a smaller operation I would drop it because it is superfluous and grammatically confusing because you repeatedly switch between `I` and `We`.

ex. Which basically translates into, we have no secrets. All of my processes are industry standard...

Small note on the "What if I need to cancel? FAQ

"Cancellation is possible at any time; however, we ask that you cancel your appointment at least 24 hours before it is scheduled."

You need to reconcile these two statements because they are contradictory. A more understandable sentence may be:
"If you must cancel an appointment please do so at least 24 hours in advance." Saying you prefer they do so but will still cancel with no charge opens you up for customers to feel that they don`t need to tell you in advance because you`ll understand anyways. Try to make it an exception and not a rule.

I would also just make one page of for work/customer satisfaction/ etc. Having it broken into the mustang/corvette/integra parses it up too much and I think discourages someone who wants to take their 1994 Explorer to you because it seems you are specifically highlighting upper echelon vehicles.

Besides that the website is constructed fine, prices are fair (perhaps elaborate more on the services for customers though), etc. I agree with Dr. Detail I myself believe that a customer may be intimidated. This doesn`t mean you are arrogant but a customer who is wary of a new service needs to feel 100% secure. Here are some examples (in my opinion) of statements that may come across differently than you intend:

Anyone seeking high-end professional detailing, and knows exactly what they want done, and how they want it done, are encouraged to call us

No special effects have been added, this is only the work showing itself. The glazed effect is not a short term effect; it actually tends to last for weeks. And remember, this is possible on your own personal car.

This is what happens when you treat a paintjob right. Remember, the paint you are looking at is nearly 14 years old

[Tassadar]

1. As for the spacing, I just left that how it is. Try increasing your monitor resolution a bit, it will look right then.

2. The grammar has been fixed, I had known about the "I" and "We" conflict for quite a bit of time. I have been too lazy to go back and fix it, but I went in and took care of that.

3. I did not want to make just one page showing pictures of all different kinds of cars for reasons of bandwidth. If I haev someone coming from a dial-up connection, I don`t want to choke them; because the individual pages alone do that job rather well. As for seeming like I only do high-end cars, thats not an idea I want to give. A 1990 Mustang is far from high-end, and I do not really see a 2001 Mustang GT as high-end either. I am assuming I see things from a diferent perspective perhaps? Can you elaborate a bit more?

[ncal]

To alleviate the bandwidth issue I would put the work on one page but utilize thumbnails. By showing `detailed cars` and sublists it comes across as either one of two things to a prospective customer in my opinion: a) These are the only vehicles you have done b)These are the only vehicles you have decided for whatever reason to show. Of course you don`t want to give the impression that you target only a certain class of vehicles, because the majority of your business will encompass average vehicles. The three vehicles you have listed do not ostend this. I would endeavor to place in addition to those three vehicles some less than spectacular vehicles to demonstrate that you can turn any vehicle into a show car.

[Tassadar]

I don`t see how a Mustang or Acura Integra are high end. Sure, they are not a 4dr. beater...but I don`t see them as high end at all.

[ncal]

You clearly don`t understand. Buona fortuna

[Tassadar]

Originally posted by ncal
You clearly don`t understand. Buona fortuna

Ringraziarlo, finché incontriamo ancora, arrivederci.

[ncal]

Ti parli italiano, ma è Ringraziarti perché il soggetto non è `la terza persona".

[dr_detail]

Next questions...

• how long has the "other guy" been in business
• does the "other guy" have a fixed location or does he work out of his parents garage as well
• can you stand to reason that others with more experience may have something to offer you in the lines constructive criticism, and would you be able to accept some brutal honesty

If the answer to the last question is no, then you need not read on.



Because let me tell ya, at one time I too was young, dumb, and full of cum... then came reality. The reality that many had walked the path that I was walking many times before. I too had a flipit attitude and knew all the answers. Then I moved out of my parents house and found that that life was not all peachy. There was no one to catch me when I fell. I had pissed off allot of people along the way, made some stupidly-bad decisions, and tried to take everything everyone said to me as a personal attack. I thought the world owed me, and those who told me different could kiss my a$$. There came a point when I had to accept that it was my attitude that needed to change, not other people. I could stop and listen to the wisdom of those who offer up help when I ask for it, take what I liked and save the rest for when I needed it. I could humbly ask for help and admit that I was not the God of my understanding. Today, I have a mortgage, raise three kids solo, and have over 17 years worth of towel pushing expertise... recently I almost lost it all too. Going from a $22.50/hr job it was quite humiliating walking into a welfare office because I seriously needed help. Being told in a roundabout way that because I`m male and white that I would not qualify was even more of a slap in the face. So I`ll tell ya what, keep doing it the way you are, quit askin` questions when you already know the answer, and when you are ready to be humble and listen to the experience and wisdom that others are offering you, then maybe ask. Remember those bridges you burn today may be the ones needed for your retreat.

[Tassadar]

Originally posted by dr_detail
Next questions...

• how long has the "other guy" been in business
• does the "other guy" have a fixed location or does he work out of his parents garage as well
• can you stand to reason that others with more experience may have something to offer you in the lines constructive criticism, and would you be able to accept some brutal honesty

If the answer to the last question is no, then you need not read on.



Because let me tell ya, at one time I too was young, dumb, and full of cum... then came reality. The reality that many had walked the path that I was walking many times before. I too had a flipit attitude and knew all the answers. Then I moved out of my parents house and found that that life was not all peachy. There was no one to catch me when I fell. I had pissed off allot of people along the way, made some stupidly-bad decisions, and tried to take everything everyone said to me as a personal attack. I thought the world owed me, and those who told me different could kiss my a$$. There came a point when I had to accept that it was my attitude that needed to change, not other people. I could stop and listen to the wisdom of those who offer up help when I ask for it, take what I liked and save the rest for when I needed it. I could humbly ask for help and admit that I was not the God of my understanding. Today, I have a mortgage, raise three kids solo, and have over 17 years worth of towel pushing expertise... recently I almost lost it all too. Going from a $22.50/hr job it was quite humiliating walking into a welfare office because I seriously needed help. Being told in a roundabout way that because I`m male and white that I would not qualify was even more of a slap in the face. So I`ll tell ya what, keep doing it the way you are, quit askin` questions when you already know the answer, and when you are ready to be humble and listen to the experience and wisdom that others are offering you, then maybe ask. Remember those bridges you burn today may be the ones needed for your retreat.

Well then offer it! I have corrected things you have mentioned, and I have asked for more help. If I come acorss as arrogant, I don`t mean to! I don`t know how to rephrase myself to sound less arrogant! This is why I hate text, it does not convey emotion without some kind of attached imagery that looks unprofessional.

I know of no other way than this method to ask for help. I have been asking for help throughout this entire thread. I do not think that even once I shot down an idea, with the exception of the performed work pictures due to me simply having no other pictures.

Yes I am young, yes I live at home, and I certainly do realize the consequences of each and every action I make. My parents ahve been there for me, but I got myself where I am today with nearly $32,000 in scholarships and moving to college in a little under 2 months (signing myself to $130,000 in debt).

I simply do not know what more to say.

[ACE]

People are people and some people just don`t care if the car lives up to your personal standards - they just want a clean car. I do some local work and when people ask about my work I show them a full-blown detail I did on a new black Grand Prix and tell them - if you want this, it costs X dollars. They feel the glass-smooth paint and usually decide to go for it. I also explain without clay, the paint can NEVER feel this perfect and if they do it even once, the paint will be remarkably improved. If they say no, I will go with Medallion and a sealer - the car is smooth, clean and looks great. The other option is to turn down customers who will not do what is required. The rationale being that you do not want cars driving around that do not represent your best work. Finally, nobody mentioned this, but, with all due respect, you are still very young and some folks have a bit of a problem handing over $150 to such a young fellow. Just a fact of life. If you want to sell high-end detailing, you have to do just that: SELL. That means convincing someone they should buy something they may not initially want or think they need. Selling is an art and a skill and, while some are naturally better than others, has to be worked on and developed. I usually start with the rear deck because it`s small and use a PC with a cleaner/glossifier like UPC or P21 cleaner. Let them feel the surface. They are very impressed, but then I point out the bumps - I explain that they are bonded contaminants and the only way they are taken out is clay. Then I clay and when they feel the perfect surface, 9 out of 10 say yes. Another quick pass with the P21S cleaner and the finish is gorgeous. Defect removal on dark cars is another story... Good luck.

[freedre]

Good morning Tass;

I am very impressed with your initiative and work ethic and predict good things in your future.

You have gotten a lot of good advice from everone here and it sounds like it (the advice) will complement what you are allready doing.

My $.02 - I have always had a problem with putting an `estimated time` in a price list. Time and money are the same to me and the first thing I do as a customer is "the math". ("HMMMM, $100 for four hours work = $25/hour; that`s too much, here`s $20/hour instead, .......... etc, etc") There is no need to give a prospective client something to debate with you - it`s going to take as long as it takes and the work will be perfect at the end of it.

All the best to you and good luck in your endeavours. Wish more young people had your work ethic.

[dr_detail]

the answers are within you...

Sorry for blasting ya... I realized your young, and trying I could see it. Like ACE said, "some folks have a bit of a problem handing over $150 to such a young fellow." I`m gonna guess that your competition has been doing this for some time now, probably more than two years, and has built up a reputation and is in this for the long haul. It`s hard cutting in to a market where you are new. I too, would have a difficult time paying top dollar to someone working out of their parents garage. Less though if they came to my location, and maybe even less if they were offering pick-up and delivery. How we present ourselves that gets the sale. "To keep our cost`s low, we do not offer pick-up and delivery" what are your costs -- yet you`re charging top dollar to me, that`s arrogance. Having a customer sign a standard mechanics lien/release of liability prior to perfoming any work helps indemnify you from some of the risks involved. We are what the customers perceive. If we come across as a flash in the pan fly by night service, we are that -- we will make the sales but our longevity might suffer. We can change that though -- it takes hard work, effort, and dedication. Word of mouth is our best selling tool. Make that customer happy, they tell someone. Focus on your strengths without belittling the competition, since your overhead (I`m guessing) is lower, pass that on to the consumer. He charges $X because his overhead is _____. You have the ability to charge less and still give good service. Maybe try doing some trade work... a mechanic, printer, accountant, insurance agent, whatever, maybe a free wash to those who refer you a complete detail. Now if you are not in this for the long haul, and this is just a way to make some quick $$ then keep it at that, show gratitude for those customers you do have, and lower your expectations -- for high expectations can easily turn into bitter resentments. I`ll post a little more later... gotta go do a free wash at a busy upscale location simply for the marketing opportunity... high exposure helps spark walk up clients intrest.

[elortt]

Originally posted by ncal
Ti parli italiano, ma è Ringraziarti perché il soggetto non è `la terza persona".

Ti parli italiano, ma è Ringraziarti perché il soggetto non è `la terza persona

Eric

[Tassadar]

Originally posted by dr_detail
the answers are within you...

Sorry for blasting ya... I realized your young, and trying I could see it. Like ACE said, "some folks have a bit of a problem handing over $150 to such a young fellow." I`m gonna guess that your competition has been doing this for some time now, probably more than two years, and has built up a reputation and is in this for the long haul. It`s hard cutting in to a market where you are new. I too, would have a difficult time paying top dollar to someone working out of their parents garage. Less though if they came to my location, and maybe even less if they were offering pick-up and delivery. How we present ourselves that gets the sale. "To keep our cost`s low, we do not offer pick-up and delivery" what are your costs -- yet you`re charging top dollar to me, that`s arrogance. Having a customer sign a standard mechanics lien/release of liability prior to perfoming any work helps indemnify you from some of the risks involved. We are what the customers perceive. If we come across as a flash in the pan fly by night service, we are that -- we will make the sales but our longevity might suffer. We can change that though -- it takes hard work, effort, and dedication. Word of mouth is our best selling tool. Make that customer happy, they tell someone. Focus on your strengths without belittling the competition, since your overhead (I`m guessing) is lower, pass that on to the consumer. He charges $X because his overhead is _____. You have the ability to charge less and still give good service. Maybe try doing some trade work... a mechanic, printer, accountant, insurance agent, whatever, maybe a free wash to those who refer you a complete detail. Now if you are not in this for the long haul, and this is just a way to make some quick $$ then keep it at that, show gratitude for those customers you do have, and lower your expectations -- for high expectations can easily turn into bitter resentments. I`ll post a little more later... gotta go do a free wash at a busy upscale location simply for the marketing opportunity... high exposure helps spark walk up clients intrest.

Well I am not in this for the long haul, I really only do it for a little extra money. I ahve never had anyone complain about the prices, and I have actually been delivered cars from other detailers and asked to fix their mistakes. My word of mouth recommendations are strong, and in fact its most of my buisness.

I guess I am just wondering if overall i present myself well.