A topic everyone can talk about...please read...

[salty]

Short answer " I don`t try to be the cheapest, I just try to be the best" works well for price shoppers.

[imported_Detailing Technology]

Customer: I want my car detailed.



You: "Ok Mr. customer, I am very interested in working with you. I like to view every vehicle personally before I commit to any serivces. I`d hate to make a bad recommendation over the phone. Would now be a good time to meet you to see the car?"



Customer: How much do you charge?



YOU: My services start at $45.00. Its best if I see the car and make a proper suggestion to your vehicle and budget. When is convenient for me to see the car, I am out now and can ne anywhere in 30 minutes?



Customer: Ill call you back (Because- I am dead lwood)

Customer: How is 3pm?



YOU: Perfect, what is the address?





OR:



Customer: I want my car detailed.



You: Great, I`d be happy to work with you. Where is your car?



Customer: ahh, what do you charge?



You: Services start at $45. I`d need to see the car to tell you exactly how much and whats recommended. Im available now to take a look if you are?



Customer: ahh, thanks (DEAD WOOD)

Customer: how is 4pm on Sunday?



You: Can we do 1pm on Saturday?



Customer: Ill be a little league with my son.



You: No problem, Ill come to the field and take a look for you. Can I have your cell so we can find eachother on Saturday?

[imported_Detailing Technology]

Really??? "Short answer " I don`t try to be the cheapest, just the best" works well for price shoppers."





Follow my favorite, its form the Bernie Mac show:



There are three things all customers want in a contractor:



Quick

Good

Cheap



You can only choose two, which would you like?

You can have cheap and good, but it aint gonna be quick.

You can pick good and quick, but it aint gonna be cheap.

You can pick quick and cheap, but it aint gonna be good.

[Twista616]

Really??? "Short answer " I don`t try to be the cheapest, just the best" works well for price shoppers."





Follow my favorite, its form the Bernie Mac show:



There are three things all customers want in a contractor:



Quick

Good

Cheap



You can only choose two, which would you like?

You can have cheap and good, but it aint gonna be quick.

You can pick good and quick, but it aint gonna be cheap.

You can pick quick and cheap, but it aint gonna be good.

Ive actually heard that once...curious on when you can pull somthing like that off in a conversation. Maybe if the customer has a good sense of humor...

[imported_Detailing Technology]

You cant pull it off unless you are on TV or in a movie. Any human with any level buying power will blow you out for trying it.

[Twista616]

or unless you are a super smooth talker...and tweak the statement alittle bit...im smooth...but not super smooth!! haha

[DaGonz]

I let my work speak for itself... My own vehicles are my "calling card".



To those who say that your prices are too expensive, that they can get it done cheaper at the local swirl-o-matic car wash... use this line:

The bitterness of the poor quality detailing of your vehicle remains long after the sweetness of low price

[gregk]

As others have said, education of what you actually do to the car is crucial. Knowing your competition and what services they provide and then explaining what makes you different is key. I have customers that ask what I charge for a wax job, and I tell them I don`t just put wax on a car. I explain to the customer how I hand wash the car, clay bar the car, polish the car then apply wax. You then tell them how you don`t just vac the interior and wipe some cheap shiny stuff all over the dash. You then properly clean every nook and cranny with brushes and q-tips then apply a factory finish conditioner for just a little more money than those guys down the street who do just wax the car and you look like a hero for not charging more!



Selling high end audio/video gear for 17 years has taught me that knowing your product, knowing your competitions product and why yours is different/advantages of yours, knowing common customers concerns so that you can overcome them and minimizing drawbacks(ie Price too high). For an example-you can buy Home theaters in a box at Costco for $400, but systems at our store start at closer to $2000 and go up to over $500,000. When you tell customers the difference between them and explain to them why they would benefit from those having one of your systems and what is bad about their systems, you look like a hero from saving them from wasting $400! That is what you should be doing talking your customer away from the $50 wax jobs!



ps-I have found clay bars and q-tips are the "money" words for explaining wax jobs vs detailing. I have many referrals that have been told by one of my existing customers that "you should your car clay barred" because that is what I did on their car and it looked great after it was done. They phone requesting clay bar/full detail jobs like their friend just had. Talking about using q-tips in the vents etc. seem to wow people as well for some reason as I always get a reaction when explain I use them when doing interiors. This again would explain the difference between a cheap car wash and a detailer.



I hope some of this was helpful!



Greg