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  1. #61

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    Quote Originally Posted by Relaited
    I do want the appropriate enforcement, and to level the playing field. A guy who comes in and details without a wash mat has a lower cost structure than I do.


    Socialized Detailing. Now I have read it all.
    Ridding the world of swirls, one car at a time!

  2. #62

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    Sep 2008
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    Leaving so soon Jim?



    Don`t you want to talk more about our "regulators?"



    Maybe you could tell everyone about how your a member of the California Urban Water Conservation Council, and how you`ve spoken to the Municipal Water District of Orange County and the State of California Regional Water Quality Control spamming your Pronto Wash company and talking about how much water it saves, and how mobile detailers should have fines in place for not doing it your way. I find it funny that everyone here was right about you. You do have a single-sided opinion in what will be profitable for you. The only reason you are ECO friendly, is because when your done acting as a "player" with the regulators, you`ll be racking in the dough! Don`t hate the player, hate the game!



    I`m listening.



    Socialist.

  3. #63

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    So there you have it guys. He doesn`t care about the environment nor does he care about you as a detailer.



    The only interests he has are money.



    push the regulators to fine mobile detailers works out best for both parties.



    The city gets money and at the same time he puts his competition out of business.



    We all knew you weren`t who you pretend to be. Just a dirty businessman deep down. You care nothing about runoff and how many species its killing. It just sounds good to tell people that. So I`m sure your gonna run to your regulator friends and show them our responses.



    "Look they don`t care about the enviroment!"



    Captilism at its best.



    Good luck with your prontowash.



    I hope this is the last of your posting as you really have nothing to offer to us.

  4. #64

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    Apr 2011
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    New Jersey
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    Quote Originally Posted by Relaited

    I meet with a San Diego County City on Monday, I do not have any devious intentions. They are concerned that the Total Maximum Daily Loads as put out by the SWCB will create a finable offense as the City cannot just allow things to happen without proper controls.

    Now, as they are introducing those controls, I advocate reasonable controls. Use a wash mat, No Rinse, Steam or waterless and best available technology as a best management practice.


    Well, I wish them well. Here in NJ, about a dozen years ago, we weren`t passing our Clean Air Act air quality standards. So even though we are one of the minority of states that does regular inspections, all of the state and private inspection stations, at an enormous cost, switched over to dynamometer emissions testing, so they could test just like the EPA, and get all those polluting cars fixed. Hundreds of private inspection stations (gas stations and tire places and car dealers) gave up doing inspection rather than spend the $100,000 or more to put in the new test equipment.



    How did that work out? Well, the state tore out all the dynamometers, and now just check to see if your "check engine" light is on. Why? Because it turned out that taking the time to fail 100 or 1000 cars that are marginally over the emissions limit makes less difference than taking one car off the road that is grossly polluting. What`s the easiest way to tell a gross polluter? By seeing if the car`s OBDII system is TELLING them if something is wrong. Not that they are saying it`s right for those 100 or 1000 cars to be slightly out of spec, just that it`s more effective in the long run to zero in on the gross polluters.



    Moral of the story? It`s the Pareto principle, that 20% of the cars are going to cause 80% of the problems. Or in this case, IMO that most of the car-based contaminants in the ocean, lakes, and streams are going to come from the cars driving on the road, and not the small percentage of cars that are washed in the driveway or by mobile detailers.

  5. #65

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    Lame......

  6. #66
    Bostonsfavson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dsoto87
    Typical relaited post:







    OP makes a thread asking about leather care.



    Relaiteds response: well caring for your leather is nice and all but what about the contaminants that my drop from your wash rag! may I ask where that`s going? I do water detailing. My method > your method.



    OP: responds to others tips



    Relaiteds response: no one has answered my question yet. You wait till I get my inspector buddies. They will show all of you. I make more money than all of you. I`m a business man. I am the future. How many cars do you clean? I make 12000 an hour....what about you? Go on cleaning your leather the "old way", while I keep water my contimants........... Your all idiots.





    ----------------------







    ..........Good point about being his own worst enemy.


    Hahaha, love it. So, so true.
    Will

  7. #67

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    If there`s no money in cleaning cars tell me then how an average tunnel wash can pull in an easy $600,000/yr and then some??? I don`t know about you but that`s a good chunk of change by anyone`s means if you ask me. I know I don`t pull in anywhere near that amount. But I do what I love because I love doing it.

  8. #68

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    before you know it, we wont be able to fart in public without some sorta

    collection cup.......Dang treehugging hippies.:nomore:

  9. #69

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jakerooni
    If there`s no money in cleaning cars tell me then how an average tunnel wash can pull in an easy $600,000/yr and then some??? I don`t know about you but that`s a good chunk of change by anyone`s means if you ask me. I know I don`t pull in anywhere near that amount. But I do what I love because I love doing it.


    Source for your stats? Is that takehome $ or before rent, supplies, equipment, insurance, employee wages, taxes, and other operating expenses?

  10. #70

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    Autolaundry mag. And I`m sure it`s all gross. But still it`s not chump change. I don;t see many well managed tunnel washes going out of business. In fact I see them with lines all the way around the drive when the sun is out. Might be a local thing but to say there`s no money in washing cars is bull. There`s actually a LOT of money in washing cars if you know how to market it.



    Edit* Here`s a projection quote for financials out of a coin op. Mind you tunnel washes make considerably more than this but it`s just off hand of an idea.



    Revenue Projections-Bays

    • Studies find that it takes a population base of 1000-1500 people to support 1 selfserve

    bay. ( A town of 5000 people could theoretically support a total of 5 self-serve

    bays between all competitors.)

    • At this population level the National Average is approximately * $1350 per bay, per

    month of gross income for one self-serve bay. (This is an estimate average only,

    incomes can and do vary.)

    Revenue Projections-Vacuums

    • The ideal number of vacuums to have is 1-1/2 vacuums per 1 bay of self-serve. (I.E.

    a 3- bay wash should have 4-5 vacuums placed somewhere on the lot).

    • National average of revenue per vacuum is approximately * $222 per vacuum per

    month in gross revenue. (Incomes can and will vary.)

    Revenue Projections-Vending

    • National average of vending revenue is approximately * $347 per month gross

    revenue based on offering at least 4 different vending products.

  11. #71

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    You guys don`t know what you are talking about!!! Jim can do a complete detail for $29.00 and turn a HUGE profit!!! So, just be quiet because you are jealous!!! He does all that business, is green, makes one billion dollars AND...pulls chicks!!!

  12. #72

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jakerooni
    Autolaundry mag. And I`m sure it`s all gross. But still it`s not chump change. I don;t see many well managed tunnel washes going out of business. In fact I see them with lines all the way around the drive when the sun is out. Might be a local thing but to say there`s no money in washing cars is bull. There`s actually a LOT of money in washing cars if you know how to market it.



    Edit* Here`s a projection quote for financials out of a coin op. Mind you tunnel washes make considerably more than this but it`s just off hand of an idea.



    Revenue Projections-Bays

    • Studies find that it takes a population base of 1000-1500 people to support 1 selfserve

    bay. ( A town of 5000 people could theoretically support a total of 5 self-serve

    bays between all competitors.)

    • At this population level the National Average is approximately * $1350 per bay, per

    month of gross income for one self-serve bay. (This is an estimate average only,

    incomes can and do vary.)

    Revenue Projections-Vacuums

    • The ideal number of vacuums to have is 1-1/2 vacuums per 1 bay of self-serve. (I.E.

    a 3- bay wash should have 4-5 vacuums placed somewhere on the lot).

    • National average of revenue per vacuum is approximately * $222 per vacuum per

    month in gross revenue. (Incomes can and will vary.)

    Revenue Projections-Vending

    • National average of vending revenue is approximately * $347 per month gross

    revenue based on offering at least 4 different vending products.


    Very interesting info Jake! :thx

  13. #73

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    Dec 2003
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    California
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    Having worked alongside Jim with SuperiorShine and Yvan in Los Angeles a few weeks ago, I will say that he isn`t the least bit pushy on his product. In fact, we were not using his product and he never even took his out of the car. We all worked a section of a car with different methods and then polished for a bit, had lunch, and talked business.



    After reading back a few pages I can`t help see a "geography" difference in opinion. I`m also on the coast and to run any discharge into a gutter/storm drain means that I get fined, or that the property owner gets fined. If that occurs then I am out of work. Thus, using a method that puts no discharge on the ground is beneficial to me as a business person.



    Tomorrow I start a weekly account at a private club that borders a creek. I was given this account because of my certification from the city and methods. Therefore, it`s good business practice and has nothing to do with the "art" of detailing. If Joe from Superior showed up, a friend of mine and one heck of a paint guy, he would do a better job on paint for sure, but would be kicked off if he pulled out his pressure washer- even with his boom. I`m sure he would use the same methods however to stay there. My point is that it`s not about who is better at detailing, this is business. Image counts! I`ve seen people here working out of their garage and spending 2-3 days on a car. I question that has being good business. I hope that this person is receiving at least $50-60 per hour. In our model, once going and hopefully it goes, we should gross at least $80 per hour with two workers. With my method of zero discharge I plan to lock in three private clubs by the end of June and staff them with 1-2 workers each day. Just 4 car washes over 6 six hours will pay salary, thus it is my hope to get more than 4 cars per six hours.



    If detailing is needed, it`s an appointment and I have to work. Otherwise, I`m not working that much in detailing, but running the business and making calls and selling.



    At one time cotton diapers were the rage and now we have microfiber towels. There are other towel types coming and so changes happen. They are happening in detailing with water.



    Pronto Wash and other types are here. I do not feel from my city officials that this is a fad, but more like a requirement that is going to stand. We used to put kids to work in factories, but found out that black lung disease wasn`t a good thing for kids to have. Times change and it`s hard to change, but do not be a dinosaur- we know how they ended up- or at least we have theories.



    Bill should do a survey of how many detailers on here now were on here 5-8-10 years ago. This would give us some indication of what the success rate is- I expect it to be like restaurants..pretty low.



    Too many are techs and say they love detailing and that is what they do. This does not make a good business person and as soon as one comes around, your business will suffer. Read and read all that you can. There are great books for small business owners on sales, marketing, etc. Please spend your time improving your business. Going into public forums and jumping on someone is a waste of energy. How much money did you make by responding with negativity?



    Sure, you are frustrated by comments and that is what is great about a public forum, but constructive comments are meaningful, not some of the ones I read. Of course, this is also my opinion. Perhaps after making such commentary, you made more money, loved your kids a bit more, and spent time with your spouse. Who knows?



    Happy Easter to everyone that celebrates it. If not, have a great weekend and continue in your efforts to improve the industry with educated and meaningful dialogue.



    I`ll let you know if I get 2 cars tomorrow- first day and working alone.



    BTW: I have two newer EZ Up canopies--Embassy II model. Both broke after only a few uses. I bought them last February. I was poised to have them tell me, "too bad," but today the rep called to tell me that he ordered all the new parts and sent the warranty order right through. Great customer service!

  14. #74

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    Aug 2005
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    Toronto, ON
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    Quote Originally Posted by WCD
    ...


    Interesting post, thanks. I think the point I am trying to make (and maybe others?) is that although you guys have mentioned more than once that our business may be hurt if we don`t adopt a new style of green-detailing, I don`t think that is true for the majority of Autopians. I live in a very "eco-friendly" area, west queen west in Toronto, and the bottom line is my clients don`t care how I clean their cars, they care about the results. I am not dealing with corporate accounts or large scale washes, I`m working on 5-7 cars a week, and I think that number of more representative of most Autopians` businesses. You could say that soon Toronto will start fining operates who don`t control run-off, but again, if we`re not power-washing 50 cars in a parking lot, but washing one car a day in a garage, how likely is that, really?
    Click here to see what I`ve been working on, or here to see my YouTube page!

  15. #75

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    ROB, great post.



    I too do not have customers who care how I wash their cars, what they want is the result. I spent money to develop a waterless product, because as a business person I see the benefits, less labor, less waste, less damage, higher quality, better results, more profit, happier customers.



    There are many good waterless products on the market now(not the case when I developed mine), and even if you only do a car a day, the time you save washing can be put to use on perfecting the paint, or even better spending time with family and friends.



    AS for Jim(relaited) I can attest that he has absolutely nothing to gain from posting here. Jim has a passion for making our industry one that gets respect, far from the case now, and with these negative attitudes that is not about to change fast enough. Jim may come off strong, but he is here to help those who wish to increase there profits, and reduce there waste. He has nothing against using water(in our shops we use water when needed, but not all cars need it), in fact pronmotes its use when appropriate.



    To recap, water smart is a good business decision, and Jim is passionate to a fault, but has nothing to gain other than the sense of accomplishment when another detailer reduces his wasteful ways.



    At Your Service



    Yvan




 

 
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