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  1. #91
    Holden_C04's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Picus
    I`ve found it`s best to estimate about 25% more $ and time than you think it will take. In almost all cases it ends up taking that long anyway, and if not you have a surprised and happy customer.


    Ain`t that the truth. I have nailed every single estimate I have ever provided. They`re all about 20-30% too low. I am very consistent. :chuckle:

  2. #92
    salty's Avatar
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    It seems everything takes twice all long as you think unless you are working at 200%. kinda funny but its true.

  3. #93

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    Exactly, I always quote them a tad bit higher than what I expect. If it takes that long then fine, but if it`s shorter, they are surprised the price is cheaper and usually end up giving the full amount anyways.
    DJ Mayo

    Paint Correction Specialist

    Northern, Va

    Detailed Image Mid-Atlantic Featured Detailer

  4. #94

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    Does anyone know how I go about getting my web site to show up on Google, Yahoo and the other top search engines? I was told the more hits I get on the site the site would show up on these engines. I would appreciate some help from all of you. If you could go to my site and forward it to any and everyone you know. I will gladly retun the favor any way I can. Just ask. Hope this doesn`t offend anyone, I`ve got a GREAT product here in San Diego and I am tasked with showing everyone here in my market. After all if we can`t turn to our friends for support who can we turn to. Thanks!







    Mobile Auto Detail San Diego, Car wash, Auto Interior Cleaning

  5. #95

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    I had someone PM me about advice creating their own product line. My response was too long for the PM system and I spend enough time on it where it might have value for other people, so I am posting it here:



    Hi,



    I`d say the bes way to learn about what products professional detailers need would be to put yourself in a situation where you need the products yourself. From my perspective, products are about more than their effectivesness. Price plays a big factor as well as customer service, ease of use, low risk of damaging parts of the car, etc.



    The company that I like the best is called Stoners "www.detailingdirect.com" I like them because their products hold their own, but are much cheaper than anything else available. Their customer service is exemplary and they are able to ship me literally hundreds of gallons of product to arrive a day or two after I order it... for free. Stoners themselves have been around since the early part of the century and have developed and manufacture all of their chemicals themseleves, which is probably why their pricing is so competitive. I`ve had other companies tell me straight up that they can`t compete with Stoners.



    The other company I like is Zaino. I wish he would sell me stuff at a discount for bulk quantities though, but he won`t (then I could use more of his stuff). The thing with Zaino is he`s been able to formulate at least his flagship products like the Z-2 Pro himself. Though suspect he might re-package some of the other stuff like leather and clay (don`t know for sure). That gives him the edge he needs because no other product performs quite like his flagship products.



    To be successeful with a business, they say you have to have something called a Unique Selling Point. I`ve found this to be true. Althought, I`d say it can be broader than just a "selling point." But I think you really have to have some sort of definiative edge that no one else has. If not, you`ll either fail, or even worse, end up treading water for years, being able to pay your bills, but never actually pulling into a position of comfort and success. So I probably wouldn`t just go out and find a few products you like, re-package them and then put together some marketing. I think you`ll end up just like every other company selling good products but with none of the special "juice." And if you don`t have the financial backing, experience, and knowledge of the other comapnies that people talk about on here (what is it? Sonus, Wolfgang, Optimum..?), then you`ll be dead in the water.



    Chris

  6. #96
    Holden_C04's Avatar
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    All patents for clay in the United States are owned by Clay Magic. Whether it`s Meguiars, Mothers, or Pinnacle, it`s a rebrand of Clay Magic.

  7. #97

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    Quote Originally Posted by Holden_C04
    All patents for clay in the United States are owned by Clay Magic. Whether it`s Meguiars, Mothers, or Pinnacle, it`s a rebrand of Clay Magic.


    I was able to use this information to find and negotiate a far better price on my clay. Thanks so much for the time you took to write this post.



    Chris

  8. #98

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    I was responding to another PM and found myself typing some information that would be useful to more people:



    I developed a lot of my methods, ironically, after reading a group of posts on lawnsite.com that closely paralelled this thread.



    The site was dominated by "Premium" law mowers or rather "Landscape Professionals", guys who took their jobs mowing lawns and doing landscaping just as seriously as the Detailers on here.



    One day someone started complaining about some "scrub" who was advertising in his area doing lawns for way under the industry average (I think it was like $15-$25 a cut). Everyone pitched in talking about how these guys come in and underbid the competition, then only last a year and do ****** work. Finally someone actually called the guy and found out he has 5000 lawn accounts and grosses 1.44 million dollars a year, drives a BMW 740 and spends all winter in Hawaii. It caused a huge stir and finally the guy himself wrote a few posts on the forum when he heard everyone was talking about him. After a little bit I think he got bored and doesn`t post anymore. Was real interesting though.

  9. #99
    Holden_C04's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DutrowLLC
    I was responding to another PM and found myself typing some information that would be useful to more people:



    I developed a lot of my methods, ironically, after reading a group of posts on lawnsite.com that closely paralelled this thread.



    The site was dominated by "Premium" law mowers or rather "Landscape Professionals", guys who took their jobs mowing lawns and doing landscaping just as seriously as the Detailers on here.



    One day someone started complaining about some "scrub" who was advertising in his area doing lawns for way under the industry average (I think it was like $15-$25 a cut). Everyone pitched in talking about how these guys come in and underbid the competition, then only last a year and do ****** work. Finally someone actually called the guy and found out he has 5000 lawn accounts and grosses 1.44 million dollars a year, drives a BMW 740 and spends all winter in Hawaii. It caused a huge stir and finally the guy himself wrote a few posts on the forum when he heard everyone was talking about him. After a little bit I think he got bored and doesn`t post anymore. Was real interesting though.


    Performing high quality work doesn`t mean receiving high quality pay. It means being rewarded a *little* more than a hack production shop per job. Often, the pay drops well below the hourly rate of a detail shop.

  10. #100

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    Quote Originally Posted by DutrowLLC
    I was responding to another PM and found myself typing some information that would be useful to more people:



    I developed a lot of my methods, ironically, after reading a group of posts on lawnsite.com that closely paralelled this thread.



    The site was dominated by "Premium" law mowers or rather "Landscape Professionals", guys who took their jobs mowing lawns and doing landscaping just as seriously as the Detailers on here.



    One day someone started complaining about some "scrub" who was advertising in his area doing lawns for way under the industry average (I think it was like $15-$25 a cut). Everyone pitched in talking about how these guys come in and underbid the competition, then only last a year and do ****** work. Finally someone actually called the guy and found out he has 5000 lawn accounts and grosses 1.44 million dollars a year, drives a BMW 740 and spends all winter in Hawaii. It caused a huge stir and finally the guy himself wrote a few posts on the forum when he heard everyone was talking about him. After a little bit I think he got bored and doesn`t post anymore. Was real interesting though.


    wow, maybe i should move in lawn care???

  11. #101
    Holden_C04's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DutrowLLC
    I was able to use this information to find and negotiate a far better price on my clay. Thanks so much for the time you took to write this post.



    Chris


    :hifive:



















    10 char

  12. #102
    Forza Auto Salon David Fermani's Avatar
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    This was a great thread and deserves to have a big fat :bump:
    Metro Detroit`s leader in cleaning, preserving & perfecting fine automobiles!

  13. #103
    Nth Degree's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by David Fermani
    This was a great thread and deserves to have a big fat :bump:


    I`m glad you bumped it. I probably never would have found it otherwise. So many good points and I have had many thoughts about how to do higher volume without compromising quality. It made me realize that I sometimes forget to think like my customers rather than like a car guy. This thread: "...lost potential customer" was good for that too.



    I find the most important thing when dealing with a new/potential customer is to find out exactly what they are looking for. Sometimes that can be difficult, though, as they often want to hand you the keys and walk away. I`m thinking about creating a questionnaire to help me understand the customers state of mind before negotiating price/services.



    I wouldn`t mind spending a little time in a high volume shop to learn their techniques for speed. Even if I don`t like the quality I can still take what I learn and tweak it to my needs.

  14. #104
    JAFO Junebug's Avatar
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    I just read this whole thread (slow day at the office!) and I have a few things to comment on. First, forget lawn care! Second, having a good, well organized volume detail shop is what I`d love to have.
    All I have in this world is my word, and my balls and I don`t break `em for no one, you understand?"

  15. #105

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    Quote Originally Posted by JuneBug
    I just read this whole thread (slow day at the office!) and I have a few things to comment on. First, forget lawn care! Second, having a good, well organized volume detail shop is what I`d love to have.


    case in point, Barry`s shop!

 

 
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