"well i can just go to carspa"

[8Banger]

every time i try to sell a detail, even if it`s just a basic wash/clay/wax everyone uses the excuse "i can just go to car spa and get the same thing for $30" or some other place. ill explain to them the differences between washing 25 cars in 1 hour and me washing 1 car in 4 hours. people just dont seem to understand and would rather waste their money to have their car run through the brushes.





do you guys ever get this kind of stuff?



dont get me wrong, there are people out there that would rather have my services, but for the most part people would rater just get their paint swirled and interior greased up...i guess?

:grrr

[imported_Detailing Technology]

Can they get the same thing for $30?



What makes you different from Carspa (sp)?



Sounds like you are not selling hard enough for people to justify the price increase.

[threehundo]

Exactly bro sell yourself!



It looks like once they drop that line you become defenseless. Perhaps when you are exclaiming to them about the price increase, visually show them the differance in your services compared to the "brush".



People want to see what there results are going to look like as in a picture, rather than exclaimed in words what it could look/will look like. Give that reassurance.



Try to keep your car, or a just detailed vehicle in site as an advertisement for people to see. Rather there driving by, or talking to you next to a vehicle that is BLINDING them from the sunlight gleaming off of it.



Sounds like it would be fustrating, but tell yourself that you are not allowing "carspa" have this client!

[imported_JoshVette]

Do you actually explain to them that claybaring is like exfoliating the paint and getting out all the contamination, like a deep cleansing? or are you just telling them you take alot longer to wash a car??



Do you explain to them how oil based interior products atract dust and dry out the vinyl and leathers??



Sounds like you need to educate yourself about your products so you`ll have a winning arguement.



So tell us what makes you better then car spa?

[howareb]

I got this off of their site. Detail Packages





It should be easy to beat this crappy service. Look at the first package where they do polishing. What exactly does "Precision applied" high quality polish mean. Do they use a DA or Rotary? What type of correction are they really going to accomplish if they hand polish? Not very much, unless Scottwax is doing it.



Just on this fact alone you should be able to sell your customer on your services and get them away from CarSpa. This list makes me angry, with the kind of wool they try to pull over customer`s eyes. :bat



$99.00 for a crap detail, that probaly damaged the car more than helping it.



Seriously study this list and see where your services differ. The best way of getting customers is studying your enemy. Believe me, this enemy should not be that hard to beat with the crap that they are offering.

[baseballlover1]

Man Josh! You really know what you are talking about here! lol... I feel like an idiot! I am defiantly going to keep an eye on this thread because i have to be able to beet these hacks verbally! Im defenatly remembering about the oil based products on leather and vinyl and all the other stuff you said!

[imported_Detailing Technology]

Do you actually explain to them that claybaring is like exfoliating the paint and getting out all the contamination, like a deep cleansing?

Good one. Just when I was patting myself on the back about marketing:thx





Give the client an EXPERIENCE and they will pay you.





Example: I am getting $700+ per car right now from my clients. Granted I only do 1 per week, its a weekend thing. But I am investigating partnering with a local shop that is getting $400 to start, average bill $500, for a detail. He is a marketing machine, pumping a true spa like experience down the throats of local car owners.



Sell, Sell, Sell.

[brwill2005]

Maybe you are not projecting a professional image to your potential customers. How are these people hearing about you? Do you detail as a profession, or just part time? Are you licensed and insured? Do you have business name, and what is it. If people do not perceive you as being `professional` they may be reluctant to pay you for a quality detail no matter how good you explain the process.

[imported_Gumball]

I agree with alot of the previous posts. You need to present yourself professionally and arm yourself with all the right info. Have the answers for your customer because one of you are going to be sold. You are going to sell your customers on why you are better by having the ultimate in product and the skill sets to get the job done right, or they are going to sell you on why they cant spend the money and I dont know about you but, them selling me anything is just simply not an option.



You are always going to have someone you just cant tell anything. Those kind of customers are out there for sure but a little preperation and knowledge is probably just what you need to be a more effective salesman! They came to you because they want to spend the money, you just need to give them permission to buy!



Happy selling! I think you will get alot of good out of this thread. Keep us posted on your success!



.................................................. .....Chris

[imported_JoshVette]

Good one. Just when I was patting myself on the back about marketing:thx





Give the client an EXPERIENCE and they will pay you.





Example: I am getting $700+ per car right now from my clients. Granted I only do 1 per week, its a weekend thing. But I am investigating partnering with a local shop that is getting $400 to start, average bill $500, for a detail. He is a marketing machine, pumping a true spa like experience down the throats of local car owners.



Sell, Sell, Sell.

$700 per car is great? or do you mean $700 per week no matter how many cars you do?? I`m a bit confused?



If $700 per car, that`s a great average, what are you doing for that price?



Josh

[asleepz]

$700 per car is great? or do you mean $700 per week no matter how many cars you do?? I`m a bit confused?



If $700 per car, that`s a great average, what are you doing for that price?



Josh

Yeah really.... That`s a good market around there, all high end cars I`d assume.

[imported_Detailing Technology]

$700 per car is great? or do you mean $700 per week no matter how many cars you do?? I`m a bit confused?



If $700 per car, that`s a great average, what are you doing for that price?



Josh

1 car = $700.00. I only provide one service to my customers, a full detail.



I have a F/T business, non-car related, which I run during the week that keeps me fully exhausted from M-F. I just love to clean cars, I cant help it.

At $700 per visit, its currently not debatable by my wife as a waste of a Saturday or Sunday. I give her the money I make detailing to spend as she likes, minus supplies.

[imported_Detailing Technology]

Yeah really.... That`s a good market around there, all high end cars I`d assume.

To simplify my business, I build trading floors for banks. I project manage all of the market data, cabling, electricity, and furniture through the selection, installation, configuration, and day-to-day operation. Positively riveting huh?



The people I meet and service that buy these trading floors make insane cash. To say they make millions and millions just doesn`t do it justice. I turned a few car nuts into clients from time to time and they tell all of their buddies to bring their car to me. They think I am "one of them" but just love to clean the cars. I don`t have enough detailing business to pay my home and office bills, and I don`t have the physical stamina to do this F/T. 1 per week is sufficient to satisfy my entrepreneurial spirit and exotic car appetite. My wife is actually getting sick of it.

[SamIam]

Wow, what a great business model. What do you do for $700?



By the way, I am also in the IT business. The nice thing about detailing is immediate results, as opposed to the long sales cycles in IT. After a 6 month sales cycle, a 2 day detail seems like immediate feedback.

[imported_Detailing Technology]

Hence my need for some detailing action.



I signed my current client in January 06, its now Jan 08 and we still are not done with their build out!



I have plenty of the $40 guys near me also. I just haven`t channeled into their business. I personally wouldn`t hire their car clients to mow my lawn. My clients like experience, trust, confidence, and service over price. I`m 36, own 2 homes, employ 10 project managers, and design and deploy money making IT tools to global financial institutions.



When they hand me the keys to their $200,000 Gallardo Spyder for the weekend, they aren`t too worried.



Its service, experience, and trust.



1. I service. I have my office receptionist answer my detailing extension properly. She takes all info and schedules appointments. Should the caller need selling, I jump right on the call.



2. I give an experience. (Im now adding the exfoliating analogy to my sales pitch) I resurface the factory clear coat then shield it form the elements with highly-engineered boutique lotions. I vaporize dirt and debris from the engine, carpets, and seating surfaces. Post sealing, I hand apply pure carnauba wax which is stored at 42 degrees Fahrenheit to slow the molecular decomposition and improve surface adhesion. I deliver all cars under 500 Watt halogens and go panel by panel with the client. I point out all defects I could not correct before the client does. I also give them a bottle of Z-8 and 2 microfibers to wipe the car down with should they need to.



3. Trust. I come recommended. The past work and satisfied clients sell for me. They all get excited to talk about the work to a friend.



I have not yet had a price negotiation with a potential client, they know what it costs before they call me.