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I took a little break from the detailing and I am now helping my friend run his mechanical garage. Fast and easy money with no hard and heavy constant thinking of paint correction. I love paint correcton and it has always been a passion of mine and I am very good at it, but sometimes the amount of hours I put into a car are not worth it. I will do a few here and there for my good customers.



Now I love turning wrenches and selling jobs.
 
Scottwax said:
This thread is exactly why I don't do dealer work. Just not worth the hassle.
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true Scott, but this one dealer (the owner) was paying me close to what I want and he told me to not be as picky as they will be sold fast. It was mainly the quality of cars they are getting lately and expecting me to fix things that are beyond fixing.



Now that winter is here, I do want to do this till spring. It's getting way to cold to be washing cars outside. I just got the opportunity to help my frind run his busy shop and split the deals that I do. The money is way better than detailing.
 
Ryan, it's too bad you're turning wrenches as opposed to spinning the wheel, hopefully we can get the right tool in your hands in the near future.
 
Scottwax said:
This thread is exactly why I don't do dealer work. Just not worth the hassle.
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Oh ya, I seen this ad in the newspaper looking for an experienced recon speacialist.



We are a high volume GM dealership speacializing in trucks and Vettes. Looking for a responsible and motivated person to run this recon shop to make sure quality is #1.



Must have 3+ years experience

Must have body work/wetsanding knowledge

Must be willing to work very hard



Full benifits and TOP PAY for the right experienced person.



I was bored so I called just to get a laugh and told them what I do. Then they tell me I am over qualified.:think: :think: He tells me the job is only paying $8.50 an hour.



I told them the ad says top pay for the right qualified person. He said the other recon guys are only getting $7



I laughed so hard at them and said they will never find what they are looking for and I would never buy a car from them. They should really change their ad.
 
VaSuperShine said:
Ryan, it's too bad you're turning wrenches as opposed to spinning the wheel, hopefully we can get the right tool in your hands in the near future.
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I have always altered from wrenches to buffers. I will always love detailing cars, but I am very tired of it lately. Detailing is not that big around here and the average rate is $75 in and out. None of them have any clue on what true correcton is and could care less. Details shops around here are all going out of business.



I might come down to Florida to meet Todd and you and maybe do a bunch of cars for fun.
 
rydawg said:
Detailing is not that big around here and the average rate is $75 in and out. None of them have any clue on what true correcton is and could care less. Details shops around here are all going out of business.
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At an average rate of $75 it sounds like the high end market of over $225 is totally untapped. In order to stay in business and make a reasonable profit, you have got to go after the right market. That is usually the biggest reason why most detailers go out of business. It is all about finding those clients who have a need for true top end detailing and then being able to fill that need. Becoming a true entrepreneur has very little to do with your detailing skills and even less to do with paint correction, it takes business skills.
 
mirrorfinishman said:
At an average rate of $75 it sounds like the high end market of over $225 is totally untapped. In order to stay in business and make a reasonable profit, you have got to go after the right market. That is usually the biggest reason why most detailers go out of business. It is all about finding those clients who have a need for true top end detailing and then being able to fill that need. Becoming a true entrepreneur has very little to do with your detailing skills and even less to do with paint correction, it takes business skills.
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Frank, A shop or mobile detailer targeting the lower end market can succeed if they develop economies and efficiencies that allow them to detail more cars at a lower cost per car. Not that this is my model, but it can be done.
 
Sure, just do the math. 8 hours polishing a large vehicle for x amount of dollars or doing 4 cars in that time for less.
 
mirrorfinishman said:
At an average rate of $75 it sounds like the high end market of over $225 is totally untapped. In order to stay in business and make a reasonable profit, you have got to go after the right market. That is usually the biggest reason why most detailers go out of business. It is all about finding those clients who have a need for true top end detailing and then being able to fill that need. Becoming a true entrepreneur has very little to do with your detailing skills and even less to do with paint correction, it takes business skills.
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That's true Frank. All the shops around here are just mainly hacks and could care less about stepping up their business to quality. But on the other hand 90% of the people around here are only willing to spend up to $150. If I tell them $300 to perfect their paint to perfection, they just tell me it is too much. Now granted they have plenty of money, but in their head they know you can get a car detailed for $100.



I however do have a very good customer base which do pay me very well. Sometimes my tips are more than what a detailer gets for a whole detail in my area. I do work my butt off on their cars and if it takes me 15 hours, then I work straight to get it done right. I know me being a perfectionist is my own worst enemy, but that is how I keep my happy customers and they pay me very well. Now that winter is here, I have to close shop up for a litttle while till it gets warm.



Most of my business does not come from my local area. All of my customers are mainly from the Boston area, which is 1 hour from me. The people down there are willing to spend for quality and it is a different market. I even have some people drive 2-3 hours just to come see me. It's just wierd that I can not get any local person to spend the money for quality work, but people are willing to travel hours away for quality and have no problem with my price. It's amazing how the market changes 20 miles away.



The dealers and low budget shops have ruined the market around here locally big time. They put big signs out front for $99. They are all very slow too. The area where I am in has taken a huge plunge, no matter what business you are in.



The mechanic shop I am in now is normally packed. I have known the owner for 3 years and have never seen him slow ever and you can never find a parking spot. The past week has been so slow and the parking lot is now empty. I talk to the parts guys also, and even they say it is beyond dead. The local Mac tool guy just went out and got a job.



Back in 1994 -2000, my buddy and I had a used car dealership and I personally sold between 60-105 cars a month. We had so much money we had no idea where to hide it all. It was CRAZY! Last year when I got out of the business we were down to 10 cars a month. The economy had taken a plunge and this time it is big.



I can not wait till the economy gets better.. This time I am saving every dollar.
 
BTW, this can also apply to most of us doing higher end work. Rather than keep raising prices, improve processes and efficiency reducing the time and/or cost of doing a car. This equals greater profit per car. This is an often overlooked way to increase profits.
 
I really hate dealer work myself. Coming into winter here in Michigan I thought what the heck I'll go to a few lots around the area and try to drum up some steady work for the guys to get through winter.... Now I've been out of the quoting for dealer work for a little while now but the dealers around here seriously told me that they only pay $35 now for full details. I falt out told them "No you don't It cost more than $35 in product alone to do a full detail. Your obvoiously paying for spiff work" I thought the first dealer was just seriously on crack but then 3 dealers later it seems to be a very sad trend. Needless to say I have no new dealer accounts set up because I wouldn't even spiff a car for that much.
 
That I believe. I know every car dealer around here is hurting big time and is not spending the money at all unless it is sold. I am beng told that the average wholesale price per detail for dealers is $55-$75. The dealers are fighting with these desperate detailers for every penny and the dealers are winning.
 
A friend of mine does pinstriping and miscellaneous paint touch-up work locally, and he knows of one detailing company that will detail an entire car inside and out for $80-$100, depending on size. That includes removing all of the seats and even the carpet, to clean the metal surfaces under the carpet, cleaning the engine, and what most of us would consider involved in a normal detail. These guys have a fixed shop location and I don't see how they pay for the building, utilities, insurance, wages for the employees that do this work, supplies, equipment, etc. and still make money.



Then again, there is another company advertising retail work locally for $65, inside and out, including pickup and delivery.



Oh well, to each his own. I detail part-time, and still get my share of business, but I would never work for dealers from the stories I've heard.
 
The last few posts further prove the point that it is all about finding those clients who have a need for true top end detailing and then being able to fill that need. Just about anyone can get wholesale work. The key is finding those long lasting retail customers who can afford to pay the price.
 
A friend of mine has a used car lot . Last Saturday I went to the lot to visit him. He sells cheap cars so he doesent spend much money on his cars, mostly making sure that they run good . He had a guy buffing cars a Monte Carlo, and a Taurus. This guy was useing a black foam pad and a pink polish with a rotary. You guyes wont believe me but he did both cars in 35 minutes. After that he just had the lot kid just wash the polish splater off with soap and water. Both cars look better and I guess thats all that maters. Ive never seen a guy buff so fast .It seem that thats what dealers want, a quick buff, some simple green on the interior, and your done.
 
mcc said:
A friend of mine does pinstriping and miscellaneous paint touch-up work locally, and he knows of one detailing company that will detail an entire car inside and out for $80-$100, depending on size. That includes removing all of the seats and even the carpet, to clean the metal surfaces under the carpet, cleaning the engine, and what most of us would consider involved in a normal detail. These guys have a fixed shop location and I don't see how they pay for the building, utilities, insurance, wages for the employees that do this work, supplies, equipment, etc. and still make money.



Then again, there is another company advertising retail work locally for $65, inside and out, including pickup and delivery.



Oh well, to each his own. I detail part-time, and still get my share of business, but I would never work for dealers from the stories I've heard.
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Several detail shops in the Dallas area have been busted for drugs over the years. The detailing is just their 'honest' business. Detailing in the front, drug dealing in the back.
 
Scottwax said:
Several detail shops in the Dallas area have been busted for drugs over the years. The detailing is just their 'honest' business. Detailing in the front, drug dealing in the back.
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One of my main competitors just got busted for selling coke out of his detail/limo business. The Sheriff seized all his limos and personal vehicles. Seems like our industry takes a hit in the image department every day.
 
ahh the old "car wash" money front, lol



I remember the days of doing detailing for dealers. I used to work at this detailing shop, I basically ran it all by myself and the boss took a 60% cut for his profit and expenses. he just come by every couple days to collect the money. we did details on trade ins for the dealer across the street for $70 a piece so I wasnt making jack, but I made sure I didnt spend more than an hour an a vehicle for them. I used nothing but spray wax on them, lol. The dealer loved my work haha.
 
I knew a guy many years ago that had a very profitable detail business. They actually did a very good job. One day I see like 75 unmarked and marked cruisers at Dunkin donuts and I then seen helicopters in the sky.. I knew someone was getting busted. Come to find out it was this detail shop owner and they were filling trunks as they were cleaning. I knew they had way to many out of state cars in their shop and something was going on.



They had high prices for the average person, and no one could understand how they were getting everyone to pay the high prices. Surprise!



I wish I could tell the whole story, but I can't on the internet...
 
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