Kudos to all involved. I am really surprised this thread didn`t get locked. Dutrow, you care a lot more about quality than most shops I know. That means something.
Kudos to all involved. I am really surprised this thread didn`t get locked. Dutrow, you care a lot more about quality than most shops I know. That means something.
I have really enjoyed this thread as well. Dutrow, some of your posts could have been written by me, almost in their entirety. I really agree with the point about interiors. I get so many customers that let me know they really just care about the inside, but the price was good so I might as well do something to the outside as well. None of my customers have ever really cared about keeping up on the waxing of their vehicle, but if the inside gets dirty, they`ll call me out. They are usually thrilled with the exterior, which shows that they just don`t have a lot of expectations as far as that goes.
In my area, the detail goes in this order of importance:
1. Price
2. Interior
3. Exterior
My website has also been responsible for getting me a lot of work. People will tell me that it really stood out to them and caught their attention, then they looked at my prices and photos, and then what I actually do last. I try to tailor my services to what the market in my area will bear. If I lived in other areas of the country I would probably do something different. I do this as a business first, but if I`m going to do something, I`m going to give it all I have for the services that I`m being paid for, even if just a basic wash.
Interesting thread. In general, autopians detailing expectations are much higher than average. I would say that most here do detailing more as a hobby than a profession. Those of us that do detail for a living have to make a profit above all else. Do not get me wrong, quality is very important to me and my business. At the end of the day it does come down to money though. The three years I have been in business full time have been a very good learning experience to me. I feel I am offering services that are a great value and high quality. I strive to operate efficiently as possible by buying great equipment and using high quality products that are cost effective. The more efficient you operate the less you have to raise your prices to be profitable. I have decided to concentrate on the maintenance aspect of the market. I have signed up a good number of clients for maintenance detailing (wash and vacuum) on a monthly or bi-weekly basis. This gives me x amount of guaranteed income throughout the year. I have stopped offering my wash and vacuum service unless there is monthly or bi-weekly service agreement. I also offer mini-details and full details. I find I rarely do full paint correction because most people do not want to pay me $40 an hour. Most are just interested in maintaining their new car and having it protected a few times a year. Those types of customer`s understand that what I do preserves their car`s appearance much better than a car wash. I would also much rather work on cars that are maintained regularly as opposed to cars that have been neglected for years. The types of customer`s who do neglect their cars are least likely to be repeat customers in the near future.
Brad Will- Owner
Reflections Auto Salon LLC
Originally Posted by brwill2005
Ok, you are doing something that I`ve struggled thinking about and deciding if I wanted to handle it or not:
How do you do the bi-weekly and monthly services in terms of keeping the price reasonable for the customer in terms of reducing your driving and waiting overhead. Driving because you have to drive between locations a lot. And waiting because customers have to come out and give you their keys, or might not be there, etc...?
About how much do you charge for these services?
Thanks!
I do try and keep the price reasonable because (1) they are having me do the service monthly or bi-weekly, and (2) it does not take me long because the cars stay very clean. For a typical sedan the price would be around $50. For me, it is the guaranteed income year round and the fact that the cars stay clean that makes it worth it. Of course this is in addition to the mini-details and full details I do for these and other customers. I am also building long term relationships with these customer`s that will hopefully provide me income for years to come. They trust me to take care of their prized cars like they were my own.
Brad Will- Owner
Reflections Auto Salon LLC
Originally Posted by DutrowLLC
In my case, I schedule all my wash customers on Thursday and Friday and every is set up so all my appointments are in the same general area. I don`t do washes outside of the city I live in at all.
Originally Posted by DutrowLLC
Sure it`s really easy to be like the majority and do fleet work etc and you will make a good living from it
However what is needed in the world are true professionals not more monkeys with no idea what they are doing (thats not you obviously)
You`ll never revolutionise the industry or be the best in your state or country if you just do fleet and car yard work
Yes there are people working in or owning a shop that does fleet work (I know one) but he also does autopian quality work and the shop is flat out with cars
The results from the typical shop who do non private work last a couple weeks and then it is back to zero again
The chemicals used by them are cheap and nasty and hazardous to their health
Car care/detailing sadly isn`t high on the agenda for 98% of australians.
Originally Posted by Scottwax
I have thought about doing this as my scheduling becomes harder, however, I try to be as flexible as possible with the maintenance clients. After all, they are my best customer`s.
Brad Will- Owner
Reflections Auto Salon LLC
You know the biggest problem I have ... besides being overweight, is estimating a detail job. Some times I hit it but others I screw up cause it took way longer than I thought. That is one area that I`m going to fix real quick though, especially after last weekend`s marathon.
Originally Posted by JuneBug
Well, that comes from experience. It takes a while to be able to nail them...with paints being different from car to car. One thing I`ll do sometimes if I`m not sure, is to quote an extra 2 hours. Then, if I don`t need them, I can charge less that I originally quoted, and the customer is happy. If you are missing by a lot of hours, that`s a different story.
Ridding the world of swirls, one car at a time!
As one of the part time, weekend warrior types (I am a firefighter first and a detailer second, my work schedule allows me the freedom to detail) I see that there is room for both the volume/fleet/express detailing as well as the Bella Machina level of detailing.
It all depends what your market will bear and what your client is willing to spend.
For example.. I raised my prices for the first time in 2 years. I do just one vehicle a day (well today I did 2... I got another layer of Megs #21 on my Mustang! )... and take my time.
One customer thought that the increase was an outrage and told me that he would be going elsewhere...
Of course, he checked out the shops that do it for a living...
I have his car scheduled for next week :grinno:
Originally Posted by JuneBug
I`m never low by less than 4 man-hours in my head. My average high-end job is 10+ man hours when I figure 6, and the "favors" for friends and family are usually 5-6 when I figure two.
I try to name a price that sounds unreasonably high in my head...by the time I get done, it`s spot on.
Once you buff black, you never go back
I tell people sometimes 3-4 hours but take about 6-7.
I don`t charge them anymore than 1-2 hours over what I said it would take. Its my fault if it took longer and didn`t quote it.
Thanks guys, I`m getting better, but sometimes I just miss it by a mile, but I figure it will all come back around like "My Name is Earl" says - karma!
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Bookmarks