have you ever asked people

E

Envious Eric

New member
...their idea of a full detail?



I just posted on a couple message boards and the answers I am getting are not what I expected...



mainly people think that its a wash, wax, (full interior shampoo, all plastics/leather dressed), wheels and tires cleaned and tires dressed



NO ONE, except one person, mentioned anything about clay, and NO ONE mentioned any polishing....



I also talked to a manager at my work, and he was shocked at the 250 price for an expedition...wash, clay, two polish steps, two wax, full interior...he told his wife and she said no and he told her "but its three coats of wax and it will come out looking better than new."



Needless to say i knew they know nothing about detailing and what it really involves.



Next step, how to explain to these people the different aspects of detailing and what they do in a short two minute explanation...seems like most people think they know all about it and wont let me finish my explanation to them without cutting in and interrupting...
 
When dealing with women just use a weight analogy. Tell them your full detail is like going to the gym and working out to lose weight and look great. It involves a lot of work. Where the typical $100 detail is the cheap way out. Instead of working out, you just go buy new closes that fit better and give the "slimming" affect. :chuckle: :D
 
Grimm said:
When dealing with women just use a weight analogy. Tell them your full detail is like going to the gym and working out to lose weight and look great. It involves a lot of work. Where the typical $100 detail is the cheap way out. Instead of working out, you just go buy new closes that fit better and give the "slimming" affect. :chuckle: :D
Click to expand...



Good idea, I might change the easy way out to a diet pill, it really doesnt work, its just trying to take the easy way out.
 
Never asked, but I know the people around here think it is a full interior, shampoo and such, and on the exterior, wash and a wax, tires dressed, etc. Nothing to do with claying, polishing, swirl and scratch removal etc...



It is sad. All the local fixed locations start full details at $65ish, but that includes what I just stated above. The additional services are shampooing, leather treatment, polishing, claying, etc......



When a possible customers askes a price for a full detail, I give them an estimate and their eyes get big. The next words out of their mouths are..." So and So down the road only charges $65" In which I reply, "Their" full detail IS only MY Wash and Wax package.

I then have to run down my services and explain everything. I usually land the job 75% of the time. More-so when I am face to face with the customer explaining my service.



THEN, you have the customers that are hesitant, but schedule an appointment anyways, only to cancel within an hour before the appointment, or just not be at the place they are suposed to be. It gets annoying. I ALWAYS get a sob story. They wwere GOING to call...blah blah blah..... I have heard it all..... One guy was a no show 3 times..... Next time he calls, I need the money up front, then he can schedule....... Sorry....I kinda took it a little off topic there....lol
 
Mind if copy your idea and ask that on another forum I am on???



Here is what I gathered from the responses..

Most think a detail is waxing the exterior, no correction They get the inside down alright, spotless, but nobody mentioned alot about stain removal. Seems like everyone's detail is my wash and wax package...lol
 
that is what I am saying...they all ask how much for a full detail quote and i give them my three packages that I offer, and mention that they can add on things (for and additional charge) and I am "too high!" I explain it will take a good 6+ hours to give them a close to new car again, but all they want to pay is 80 bucks...i tell them it will get a wash and wax for that price...lol, i am not working for 12 bucks an hour...



go ahead and copy and paste if you want
 
Hey bud, you're right - very few people understand what is involved in a proper detail. In my area, claying is mandatory...and when you're claying this much rust off, subsequent polishing is mandatory too. On good conscious, I almost never let custumers get an exterior wax only (even though at $70) it's easy money, rather I emplor them to get a clay, polish, and wax at an absolute minimum; and even though I loose a lot of the cheaper-minded prospective customers, it obviously doesn't hurt me since I have enough work to keep me and a full-time employee booked well in advance (and I've only been in this area for a little less than a year and a half, so I think most customer appreciate the honesty and corresponding results).
 
well i have some to the consensus that the majority wants a wash, clay, wax, interior cleaning as a full detail, and that is worth about 100 bucks to them...now I figure I can get about 3-4 cars a day if that is all I have to do!



I have a tough time getting people to pay what I want for a full detail that takes me 8 hours - 320....just $40 per hour at this point in time, and when I expand and get busier, $50 per hour+....



I think that I am going to split off a section on a hood and do a half and half comparison...one half washed, clay, waxed, and the other half wash, clayed, polished completely, waxed...then post those pics up and ask which they would want...and take it around and show to people kinda like here is what you get with this, and here is what you get with this....when I show up to their house....
 
A full detail to me.



*Interior*

Complete shampoo,wipe down and dress all plastics,leather. clean windows



*exterior*

Compound/Polish to remove swirls,spiderwebbing,etc. and throw on a coat of wax. Dress all plastices. clean windows.



Thats the basic full detail. Any further and it becomes a re-conditioning. IE: Removing/touching up scratches in the paint, Painting wells, Dying the carpet or interior plastics, Painting exterior moldings, Polishing Glass, A full 3-4-5 step polishing,several coats of sealent and wax, you get the point.



I think it comes down to if you do this professionaly or as a hobby that determines what a full detail is. To a hobbyist, everything that i just said would be classified as a reconditioning to them would be a full detail. But to the guy who puts food on the table, a full detail is what i posted above as a full detail.
 
Here is a suggestion: Addopt average customer's definition of full detail so you are not frightening them away. Then come up with names for "extras". So menu could be:



Full Detail - Classic Edition (includes blah blah blah)

Full Detail - Gold Edition (includes Classic, plus these extras)

Full Detail - Platinum Edition (includes Gold, plus these extras)
 
some people just have no idea on what professional detailing really is. I think a lot of those big $89 car detailing signs sitting in front of fancy shops hurt us mobile guys. But the funny part is that most of you guys will blow those places away, but people do not know that.



When people hear of car detailing they think,"wax and a clean interior". Most average people will faint when you tell them $200 minimum and up depending on condition. They will say, I will wax my own car for that and how hard is it to wax a car. They have no idea it needs clay, prep, wheels, engine, int., sealant or wax, etc....That's just the begining! Don't waste your time with these people!!!!!!! There is negativity in every business and low baller customers everywhere..Don't let it bring you down.



Don't give up and keep searching for your customers and if the jobs come out great, the word of mouth will keep you booked.
 
Your basic "Detail" on the mainstream Car Wash Market is Cleaning Inside & Out, Waxing and Applying some dressings, goes for $160 (Carwash Magazine).



Now factor in Paint Restoration, Prep, and Proper Multi Step Sealing and you get proper Detailing: Paint Restoration and Maintenance.



- Charge accordingly! Don't undercut yourself, this is why Detailing is so ambiguous and why there are so many unqualified people. Learn to teach your customer the big differences between just cleaning & protection, but maintaining the proper vehicle condition.
 
Just do like McDonalds does with their extra value meals. A full detail would be the wash/wax like people expect, and then call the real full detail with polishing a "supersized" full detail. :grinno:
 
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