Covering of the behind...

M

Magellan498

New member
I heard some of you mention that you have contracts with customers or something. Do you have like a kind of procedure that car rental companies have where you check the car first for defects and what not and have the customer sign something? I have been thinking I need to do something like this for a while but I don't know how to go about it. Don't want to make it too cumbersome...



Miguel
 
Miguel,



It would be in your best interest to have a "waiver" of sorts that your clients sign BUT the draw back to that is some folks in their minds have......"Hey, what kinda damage can this guy do to my car??".....



I have several of my clients under a "spoken" contract where they agree to pay me X amount of dollars and I agree to do their car X amount of times in each month. I get paid regardless of the weather or if they go on vacation.



Now what you can do is get a picture of a car drawn up, like a top view, side view (right and left) and rear. Get them printed on two part carbonless paper and for each new client you take a walk around the car and mark each scrap, dent, ding, paint chip, etc. If there is a ding on the drivers door then mark the spot on your paper. Have the client sign it and this way they are covered and you are covered. You get a copy and they get a copy. Also reserve some space at the bottom for general notes and such.



You can put your company logo on them, phone number and a little saying like....."Because we care".... or some other lame deal like that :)



After this client has been with you for awhile you will gain their trust and no longer need this with them. But for the new ones I recommend it.



Hope that helps,

Anthony
 
Yea, I was thinking along the same lines of not instilling fear. I had played around with the idea of that carbonless paper deal and it sounds more and more like a good idea. Once I get my website up, clients will be able to make appointments as far into the future as they want. Well i'll have untill the summer to think on it. By then I will have finished my website and restocked. I'll start advertising again and get those forms. Should I have a waiver dealy for the client to sign once on the first job and just keep for records or is the scratch checklist enough?



Miguel
 
Miguel,



Good questions. If you get some regulars they will come to know and trust you and the waivers will no longer be needed. I'll tell ya that a great deal of people leave detailers and car washers because they find that their loose change is being lifted as well as candy, gum, sunglasses, cd's, etc. Always be honest.



Just to cover your rear though I would do a waiver and a checklist for each "new" customer. A great deal of them might love the idea that you are being so careful.



Happy Detailing

Anthony
 
Anthony,



Thanks for the great advise. This will help alot. This is a great forum for business newbies like me :). And of course I will run a very honest business. Never cheat my employees or clients. Its the absolute best way to go.



Miguel
 
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