Am I charging too low of a price? $18?

The thing I don't get is this kid seems to be happy offering the services he does. Could he bump it up a couple bucks? Sure i can see it. Hopefully his clients will as well. But I don't get the overwhelming assumption on this site that as soon as you sign up you automatically MUST become a high standard "Autopian" professional detailer. Otherwise you get ridiculed belittled and told you're either way undercharging or your flat out doing it wrong and you need to switch to "Brand X" products only use "Brand X" Machines and tools and charge a minimum of "X" per hour or you'll never ever be taken seriously.... I mean seriously.. what the he..? Can't people just come here to converse and talk amoung others that have the same passions even though maybe on a different level without having to questions themselves?
 
Hydroman, I'd stick with the $18 for your basic wash package. You have gotten yourself a few clients now, and if you continue to do good work, you will get more customers. I'm sure they appreciate the care you are giving their vehicles.



Now is not the time for you to be raising your prices. Given the state of the economy, people are looking for reasons to cut back on expenditures. Even raising your price to $20 might cause them to look elsewhere, get their cars washed less frequently, or take it to the local coin-op. One thing for sure: a price increase certainly isn't going to bring you more customers, and it could cost you customers.



And as already noted, $18 ain't bad for an honest hour's work.



Don't worry about the customers bitching about it taking it so long. Explain to them that it takes you that long because you are doing the job well. Perhaps explain to them the damage that the ordinary car wash does to their cars. Their cars are in better shape than they would be because YOU are washing their cars. If you were to rush the job, you wouldn't be able to do as good a job for them. In other words, turn this to your marketing advantage. Anybody can do a bad job washing a car in 20 minutes. You take an hour because you are doing a great job!



Keep up the good work!



Al
 
Charge 18.00 for the wash and vaccum, but try to upsell. For example , spray wax like Aqua Wax for 12.00 more. You can do tar removel, clean alloy wheels better, shampoo carpets useing spray foam like Tuff Stuff or Prestone. With carpets you vacuum, spray with foam, brush , wipe with towels. They will dry fast and no extracter needed. Will they come out perfect "no", but they will be cleaner . After all you are only charging 15.00 or so , and only taking 20 minutes. Time is money and you going to have to work fast.18.00 here and 15.00 there will add up.
 
lawrencea said:
Charge 18.00 for the wash and vaccum, but try to upsell. For example , spray wax like Aqua Wax for 12.00 more. You can do tar removel, clean alloy wheels better, shampoo carpets useing spray foam like Tuff Stuff or Prestone. With carpets you vacuum, spray with foam, brush , wipe with towels. They will dry fast and no extracter needed. Will they come out perfect "no", but they will be cleaner . After all you are only charging 15.00 or so , and only taking 20 minutes. Time is money and you going to have to work fast.18.00 here and 15.00 there will add up.
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^ Good advice! When I sold furniture, we were always encouraged to add on to the ticket--lamps, pictures, side tables, accessories; it all adds up. Find ways to increase your business by offering more services to your customers.
 
Jakerooni said:
But I don't get the overwhelming assumption on this site that as soon as you sign up you automatically MUST become a high standard "Autopian" professional detailer.... Can't people just come here to converse and talk amoung others that have the same passions even though maybe on a different level without having to questions themselves?
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Amen, brother.
 
Jakerooni said:
Again. HUGE difference here. you're showing up ready to do a full on corrective detail. This kid is showing up with a bucket some soap and a few rags. His expense is not anywhere near the same as yours. However if you're customers are calling you to just simply wash their car and you still quote them $50 I think there's something wrong with your business strategy. I would think upselling would be the very first thing on your list to make it worth the while to turn the key. And last point. If your doing this as a business, You have your truck all stickered up you hand out business cards have a DBA at minimum then regardless of your "Skill" level you most certianly are a professional.
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I am not doubting his work at all. Matter of fact, I am 99% sure that he is doing work that is WEEEELL worth $18! Heck, if he lived anywhere close to me, I would hire him because i can tell he has a passion for what he does. And as far as my 'customers' calling for a 'car wash'.. I hate to say it again, but it is not worth my time to do 'car washes'. there are plenty of guys around here that sell themselves short and cut throat everyone else. They advertise 20 buck details and i have seen thier work! They are TWENTY DOLLARS WORTH OF DETAILING! ha. So if my business strategy is wrong to focus on the clientelle that can and WILL pay for what they are getting, then I will crash and burn on my own.. But im sticking to my guns. In my opinion, which is what this guy asked in the title, he is horribly undercharging his work.. I understand the economy is bad, but he is washing G35's, not 02' Grand Am's.. They just know that they have someone that is busting his *** and doing more work than they are paying for. I mean, I got a high school kid that cuts my yard for 20 bucks and I KNOW its worth atleast twice that! So i tip him 10-15 bucks every week..
 
Jakerooni said:
And last point. If your doing this as a business, You have your truck all stickered up you hand out business cards have a DBA at minimum then regardless of your "Skill" level you most certianly are a professional.
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im not quite sure what all of this means, but im guessing it is sarcastic.. I do not even have any gaphics on my trailer or my truck and do not want any for the time being. All of my business is word of mouth and selling my work to potential clients. I prefer my truck and trailer to be low-key.. hard to explain exactly why, I just feel that way..
 
Why on earth does it matter what kind of car he's washing. Prep work is prep work regardless if it's an 02 grand am or a G35.... I don't get that. Are you saying for some odd reason your going to wash a G35 in some strange, special, and unique way that you wouldn't provide the exact same service to the 02 grand am? You may have to approch different clear coats and paint types in very specific ways to correct them but simply washing a car should be the same regardless of what type or how expensive a car is.. I may be in the wrong here but for learning sake please inform me of the difference in your process between washing a Grand Am and washing a G35. I'll give the benifit of the doubt that maybe I'm missing something here.
 
Jakerooni said:
Why on earth does it matter what kind of car he's washing. Prep work is prep work regardless if it's an 02 grand am or a G35.... I don't get that. Are you saying for some odd reason your going to wash a G35 in some strange, special, and unique way that you wouldn't provide the exact same service to the 02 grand am? You may have to approch different clear coats and paint types in very specific ways to correct them but simply washing a car should be the same regardless of what type or how expensive a car is.. I may be in the wrong here but for learning sake please inform me of the difference in your process between washing a Grand Am and washing a G35. I'll give the benifit of the doubt that maybe I'm missing something here.
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well, simply put.. The 02' Grand Am is more than likely going to be in alot worse shape than the G35. Wheels are probably alot more caked up, interior is probably ALOT worse off.. Not saying that ALL older model 'regular' cars are like this, but if you cant agree with me that the majority of older non- sport/collector/luxury cars take MORE time to 'detail' than a the majority of newer model Luxury cars, then I dont know what else to say.. And yes, a higher costing car usually costs MORE to detail than a cheaper car. Take this for example: A guy charging over 1000 dollars to detail a lambo LP640, and the car is already in dang near mint condition anyway.. THEN you look at the same type of detail done to a Ford Mustang.. Is it feasible to charge the Mustang guy 10% of the TOTAL VALUE of his car for a detail?? I dont think so.. So my answer is yes, I think (IMO) that higher end vehicles do fetch higher end prices when detailing..
 
OK so because the grand am is in worse shape and the G35 won't take as much to wash it he should charge MORE for the G35??? :think: That dosen't make any sense to me.



And I know the higher end cars usually fetch higher prices. The question is "Should" they? Now I'm excluding the exotics in this because they are a completly different beast. Different materials more curves nooks and cranies that require a higher skill level to deal with properly. But lets say a BMW X5 v. Chevy Blazer. Both are roughly the same size and would require roughly the same process to correct both. Why should I charge the BMW owner more? Because it's assumed he has more cash to burn? seems rather stupid if you ask me. taking advantage of a persons social status is kind of low. I won't do it at my business. They all get the same quoting process regardless if it's a 80 ford pinto or a 09' Benz CL 55.
 
@ the OP: are you charging enough? I think given the fact you have some monthly clients you must be doing something right! Charging a little and having alot of business is better than charging a lot and having no business....



I would rather have alot of customers and have great satisifaction while making a ton because I have alot of customers VS. not making much of nothing because I over charge my area.
 
Flawless Image said:
well, simply put.. The 02' Grand Am is more than likely going to be in alot worse shape than the G35. Wheels are probably alot more caked up, interior is probably ALOT worse off.. Not saying that ALL older model 'regular' cars are like this, but if you cant agree with me that the majority of older non- sport/collector/luxury cars take MORE time to 'detail' than a the majority of newer model Luxury cars, then I dont know what else to say.. And yes, a higher costing car usually costs MORE to detail than a cheaper car. Take this for example: A guy charging over 1000 dollars to detail a lambo LP640, and the car is already in dang near mint condition anyway.. THEN you look at the same type of detail done to a Ford Mustang.. Is it feasible to charge the Mustang guy 10% of the TOTAL VALUE of his car for a detail?? I dont think so.. So my answer is yes, I think (IMO) that higher end vehicles do fetch higher end prices when detailing..
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Setec Astronomy said:
So you're saying that an older car takes more time to detail....but you charge less?
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yea, what?
 
Setec Astronomy said:
So you're saying that an older car takes more time to detail....but you charge less?
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it takes MORE work, not more time. A the G35 takes less time (with my examples of 'nasty grand am' and 'decent G35') BECAUSE it is in better shape, but requires more attention to detail because it is demanded by the owner. The typical 02' Grand Am owner DOES NOT WANT a 500 dollar detail job (but im sure you got some other smart *** response up your sleeve for this one).. But if he did, the work involved would be much more strenuous, such as steam cleaning seats, carpets, cleaning headliner, Claying the hell out of it BEFORE you even get to the sealing and waxing. And under the hood of a 02' Grand Am?? Dont even get me started..
 
what it all comes down to is NO, THE OP IS NOT CHARGING ENOUGH FOR HIS SERVICES, PERIOD.. would you wash/detail/whatever vehicles for $18 bucks?? I think we both know the answer to that, so im thru with it.. what diference does it make if 'he's a college kid trying to save beer money' or whether he is a career detailer?? your same theory applies here.. so his work is worth LESS money because he is a college kid saving for beer money, but he performs the same work as some detailers charging 4 times that much?
 
Flawless, I think you need to take a breath, man. This college student is not your competition, he's not trying to be a pro mobile detailer. No one is trying to rain on your parade if you get $50 a wash, there are tons of pros on here who do the same thing, and they HAVE to to make ends meet.



I guess you must really think I'm an idiot because I only wash/detail for friends/family, and I NEVER charge them at all...what a maroon I am!
 
BigJimZ28 said:
I think that all Flawless does also:Geezx
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well if people are dumb enough to pay for my $300 car 'washes' then, yeah, i guess thats what im doing.. so who is blowing who here? Jim, are you the one on your knees?
 
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