brand new to detailing. need advice

K

keeper kleen

New member
I have decided to start a detailing business. I have aquired a fleet of pick up trucks from an agriculture based company. I am currently looking at equipment. There are a lot of different carpet and upoulstry extractors out there. I am currently looking at the sensei at http://www.topoftheline.com/sencarex.html. Do I need more or less extractor for the upoulstry on these trucks. These trucks do not have any carpet. They all have vinyle floors. What do you guys think of the sensei


Thanks for the help
 
I just use my 12amp Bissell machine with the extraction wand. In your case, with the "work truck" vinyl floors I would either get a "residential machine" with a wand for about $225 or use a brush/bucket with a wet vac. I'm not sure if you're looking to save money here or not. It would also depend on what type of "gunk" you would be getting in your trucks. If you are in and out all the time with mud and the like, a good wet/dry vac might work well as an in-expensive extractor. You could then invest in a good DA or circular polisher and a great line of products. Just some of my thoughts anyway.


--I should read better. If you are going to be detailing FT, an extractor is obviously the way to go. Although I have never tried the above model myself, I've heard of people who have used that brand and had no complaints.

Mike
 
Thanks for the reply mike. I am going to be working my business part time after work. I was lookingto save money on the extractor but wanted to make sure it was big enough to do the job. The biggest problem we have in the interiors of these trucks is dust. I was going to buy a larger more exspensive model if needed. I can't wait to get started after reading some of the threads here at detail city

Have a great day
 
Thanks waxxy . I read a post earlier when I was searching through some ols posts. Someone said that they could count the number of times someone wanted an interior done but that exteriors was where the majority of the business was at.

My company pays 80 - 100.00 just for an interior clean. A few of the trucks get cleaned once a month and the others get cleaned once a quater. I talked with my boss and told him I would invest in some equipment if he would give me the business. so far I have ten trucks and they willk be adding ten more this summer.

The guy that does it now . Just washes the trucks on the outside and cleans the interior. I have to say that the interior is spottless when the come out.

I have thought about through in a little extra like say some windshield treatment like (rain repellent).


Can anyone give me some ideas of extras that go the extra mile for the customer
 
keeper kleen said:
Can anyone give me some ideas of extras that go the extra mile for the customer
Click to expand...

I find that very very simple things like placing the articles and change that you find in the vehicle in a ziploc baggie and leaving it in the console goes a long way in showing that you're genuinely interested in making sure that things are right.

I've found jewelry, change, bills, parking tickets, and a plethora of other things between seats, under seats and stuffed in trunks that I've had owners say "I was wondering where that went... thanks...".

Other tricks:

1. Designs in the carpet with the vac or extractor. Simple but, yet again, effective.
2. Wheel wells. Black them out and make them look as good as the rest of the vehicle.
3. I designed a biz card with my info on the front and a personal 'thank you' on the back of the card that I leave in the seat of every vehicle that I detail. Simple and effective. Plus, it leaves your name with the person who's going to be driving it so that he/she can take it home with them and call you to do their personal vehicles and spread your name. This is a very sharp trick on fleet vehicles like you've described.


I'll think of some more but, I'm drawing a blank now that's it's 11pm...

I hope that helps a bit. Best of luck in your endeavor!


RP :D
 
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