vdubbya
Rochester Auto Spa
You guys that do work for area dealers, how do you charge them? Do you have a flat rate or what? Just looking into extra money here for the off season.
Dealer charge??
- Thread starter vdubbya
- Start date
rollman
Professional Detailer
I dont do work for dealers but if I did I would charge them the same price as everyone else. I do sale cars for a local rental car company and my price is my price. I put the same time into a car I do for them as I would anyone else, so why should I give my services away.
Ace Of Spades
New member
Right on Rollman. I've been approached by 4 stealerships this summer and none of them want to pay squat for a full detail. I told them I don't do subpar work, and my price is my price. I'm not lacking for business. These people amaze me. They feel like they're being generous paying $80 for a full detail. I wanna tell them I'm not some high school kid trying to score a bag, but I just say "No thank you". What kills me, is they have the nerve to complain about the detailers they have that they are paying $80. What do they expect?
vdubbya
Rochester Auto Spa
I feel what you guys are saying but I could really use the boost in business. I have heard that some guys will charge dealerships a "wholesale price" just to keep the cars flowing into their shop. That price could be as little as $100 from what I've heard. I still work full-time at another job on second shift(5pm-1:30am) so I really don't need the money for everyday living. I just want to fill my savings account so that someday I can maybe quit my night gig and open up a "real shop" Would that change your opinions on this situation? Just looking for a little support that's all. Thanks guys!
I know of a local hackshop here in SA that put's out "make ready's" for a Lexus & Lincoln dealer at $75 a pop. He's got a filthy, yet decent 3-bay building that the dealer drops the cars in front of the night before.. shop opens, there's at least 10 "details" waiting to be done, I know an aqquantince of the "shop" owner & he'll do anywhere from $1k-2k PER DAY, using shotty workers, using shotty tool's & products(makes me sick)..now I know most people here aren't really hyped up over doing dealer work, but if you could have that type of volume waiting for you every day, there's no way not to make money...that said, each situation is different & if an opportunity presented itself where you could start doing a steady stream of dealer cars & make a niche for yourself just among dealers, then I don't see it as a problem, the consumer based approach isn't working & if you could fill up your appt. book with $80-100 jobs at no more than 2 hours each, that's pretty could money..get a good rep & word will spread... eventually you'll have to turn away work or hire help, good luck vdubbya.
rollman
Professional Detailer
vdubbya said:
Like yourself I do this as a second gig. I wouldn't call it a job because I love doing it . I can only speak for myself I don't want to be known as the *Detailer to the Dealers* I would rather be known as the *Detailer to the Stars*. :lmfao but seriously I love to detail and I get a high from customers when they see the results of a first class detail. You won't get that from a dealer.
I don't believe you'll get a good reputation doing sub-par work.
Like Big P said it all depends the situation your in. If doing dealer cars is in your plan, there's nothing wrong with that . Make it work for you. There's plenty of cars to go around.
Fill the niche thats needed in your area or make one and watch it full up. Best of luck to you :bigups
ron`s
New member
vdubbya
There is a mobile guy in san antonio thats doing dealer details for 60.00 per car. I was told he dose up to 100 of these per week. The works not very good Ive fixed a couple of paint jobs for one of the dealers. The same dealer asked me what I would charge him for one of these make ready details. I told him 80.00 for a standard passenger car (honda accord) but that it would not include a high speed rotary polish. Just a wash wax and interior detail. If you get slow these might help. I personaly dont like to do them but the same dealer gives me a little retail work.
Good Luck
There is a mobile guy in san antonio thats doing dealer details for 60.00 per car. I was told he dose up to 100 of these per week. The works not very good Ive fixed a couple of paint jobs for one of the dealers. The same dealer asked me what I would charge him for one of these make ready details. I told him 80.00 for a standard passenger car (honda accord) but that it would not include a high speed rotary polish. Just a wash wax and interior detail. If you get slow these might help. I personaly dont like to do them but the same dealer gives me a little retail work.
Good Luck
vdubbya
Rochester Auto Spa
I ran around town today and tried to sell myself to the managers of the used car depts. Not sure if I'll get any response from anyone but at least I made an effort. I did talk to a friend of my brothers and he said that he could get me some extra work cleaning boats and RV's at like $50 a pop(insides only). He said that it takes one guy about 1/2hr per one unit. I kind of like the idea that Big P brought up about having the cars dropped off the night before so they were there at the crack of dawn. I work until 1:30am and wouldn't have a problem getting up at 5 or 6 for 3-5 cars a day.
Ace Of Spades
New member
Big P said:
What kind of detail are you going to do in 2 hours? That's not detailing, that's a wash and wax.
vdubbya
Rochester Auto Spa
I'll post for Big B. Around here that is all that dealers want to invest in their cars on the lot. Saves them money. Then if the person who is looking to purchase the car thinks that it looks all right then the dealer saves money. But some times the new owner will ask for it to be cleaned up and buffed out. Not a problem because that will only happen a few cars out of a dozen. Most people that buy a new car treat it like an egg. They take it home and clean it themselves. I've seen it happen many times in past years when I worked for a dealer.
I don't know, I go back and forth with this one. On one hand, volume=$$. Plus, how dirty can a new car be? I mean, most of time you are just fine tuning them and so its not what I would consider a true detail. That said, what's wrong with $80-100 for a deluxe wash n wax? It sounds like a lot of people have integrity on this sight. I still don't know if I want to wade into the world of auto dealers. I guess if the situation presents itself after some prayer and meditation, I would have to check my gut. :dcrules
TDMAN: I think most of the posts are in regard to used cars, not new. I think everyone has some idea how bad those can be.
There are detail(?) shops in our area that will do a quicky for $50 or less for used car dealers. They are very good at what they do, but what they do really shouldn't be called detailing. They can rotary polish, put on a shine product, half-assed extract the interior, hit the engine compartment with the pressure washer and spray some shiny crap on everything under the hood in 30 minutes to an hour. The cars actually don't look that bad when they roll out of the shop. The products are all show and have no lasting ability, but most car dealers don't care. They only have to look good for a short time. If they don't sell, they go to the auction and another dealer goes through the same process.
Would they pay more for a quality job? I doubt it.
I have two very good friends that are used car dealers and I'm sure they wouldn't. Maybe for their personal car, but not for one going on the lot.
Charles
There are detail(?) shops in our area that will do a quicky for $50 or less for used car dealers. They are very good at what they do, but what they do really shouldn't be called detailing. They can rotary polish, put on a shine product, half-assed extract the interior, hit the engine compartment with the pressure washer and spray some shiny crap on everything under the hood in 30 minutes to an hour. The cars actually don't look that bad when they roll out of the shop. The products are all show and have no lasting ability, but most car dealers don't care. They only have to look good for a short time. If they don't sell, they go to the auction and another dealer goes through the same process.
Would they pay more for a quality job? I doubt it.
I have two very good friends that are used car dealers and I'm sure they wouldn't. Maybe for their personal car, but not for one going on the lot.
Charles
mobiledetail1
New member
Definately huge potential in the dealer work do to steady flow of cars. If your persistent you will find a dealer that will use you, yes USE you. And that's ok as long as you know up front, what theyl pay , when they pay and try to get cash if at all possible... Don't kill your self over the job, do good work but they don't expect the same level you or a retail customer does, and they probably won't mention it if you give it to em.