HELP....what to charge....

E

Envious Eric

New member
2002 black ford explorer (the bigger one)

wants full detail inside and out, never been polished before or waxed - clay, two step polish, sealant, carnuba wax, carpets, cloth seats, dash, wheels polished, tires dressed, windows, etc THE WORKS



what would you charge if you told her you need to see the car first and she said oh price doesnt matter??? she said it was pretty in bad shape



she thought I would be able to do that suv and the same thing on an escalade on the same day starting at 10am (she picked the time)



also, what would you recommend I do to cut down on time....I have never done such a big car! I was planning on a PG/rmg 50/50 mix to maybe save a step, clay while I wash, do the inside first to let it air out.



out of menzerna pg, ip, fpII, or megs 83, 80 what combo has anyone had good results with on ford paint?



thanks for the help
 
Figure out what your hourly rate is and charge accordingly. For a black Explorer in average condition, I would charge about $250.00 and plan on it taking you around 5-5.5 hours or so to complete by yourself. A couple of things you may want to consider is if she has kids or pets that ride in the vehicle regularly as this could add a significant amount of time to the interior. Also, what kind of condition is the exterior in? And do you have a rotary as well as a dual-action polisher? While these may not be a necessity, they will certainly speed up the completion time and give you better results in my opinion.



One thing I noticed in the steps you described is that you don't need to apply a carnauba wax over a quality polymer sealant. That would actually be counterproductive as a sealant needs time to cure properly. As far as doing the Escalade on the same day, it can be done as I schedule two SUV's for full details on the same day regularly. However, just be prepared for a long day, and see if you can start the details earlier...say around 8 am. Just tell her that you'll need to start earlier in order to complete both vehicles. This way you're not working until 9:00 in the evening!! Good luck.



Matt Williams

Silver Lining Detail
 
the sealant is poorboys ex-p...stop there??



dont know if she has kids, I couldnt really speak as she was dominating the whole conversation and wanted to setup an appointement and get off the phone because she was in a hurry....its on a referral from another client so I dont think that she is worried so much



as far as the interior goes, she said there was some spilt food and stains she would like taken out....



I asked her if she wanted showroom condition like when she brought it off the dealer lot, or cleaned up and shiny! she said she knows it wont be like when she bought it, so something to make it look good and clean. I figure it will take me alone about 7 hours, so I am bringing a friend along to do the inside while I polish the outside. Maybe we can get both done in one day if she lets me start at 730-8am...hopefully because the escalade owner I think wants it done asap as well as this lady and they can only do saturdays....so I tried to schedule for the 20th and the 27th and she hold off on the 27th....we will see
 
PC only?



If so, hit it with #80 or #83 depending upon its' condition, then apply your EX-P, no need for the carnauba IMO--unless she is paying for it.



I would charge around $160-$185 for this type of thing, but it would only take me 4-5 hours to complete.



Consider the fact that the interior will be *much* worse than what she described, her standards are *not* ours. :D



If you can do the same treatment to the escalade, I don't see a problem doing both vehicles in one day.



If there is rotary work involved, increase the price to around $275-$325, again depending upon the correction needed. This type of correction would also call for you starting a little earlier.



GOOD LUCK!!
 
With 2 guys you should be able to do both in 7 hours and excellent work. 2 of my guy’s can do it in 6 and take a lot of smoking brakes. LOL........
 
yeah PC only, with all megs pads

we will see how it goes because I did a sabb the other day and spent 7 hours on just the paint to get it 90% scratches and 99% swirls out....and I didnt think it would take more than 4-5 hours....but with me on the outside, friend on the inside, I would think no more than 5 hours tops....maybe I will try to get both in on one day....
 
I go on the general rule of thumb of 30 an hour. The detail you described to me (a lot of other factors to consider) I would say it would take me 6 hours roughly maybe 7. I seem to be slower than other people on this board! :(
 
If you attempt both vehicles, I'd budget 16 hours (one IS Black).



My friend, that is a long day!



As to what the client expects... hey, there is only one (Autopian) way to clean a vehicle.

Either do it right, or not at all.



When I explain this outlook on the phone to shoppers, it quiets them down immediately...



"We only know one way to clean a vehicle, and that is complete. If you're not happy, we either keep cleaning, or explain why we can't do more."
 
I would not even look at it for under $300.00.



I did an escalade (regular client) yesterday that I detailed 6 months ago. Charged $250.00 I have only done the inside due to weather/owner was leaving town, but I did it in a little more than 2.5 hours. Outside may take me 3 or so hours. I don't know where you live but around No Va nothing is cheap, and gas costs $3.29/gallon. You are a skilled person. Not everyone can do what you are doing. Ask what people charge to clean your house. $100 an hour around here. 4 people working so it takes an hour only. ANYONE can clean a house. Just for the OP information - I did this Jeep today. Done his honda accord already, so I gave him a break. $150.00



Took me from 1:07 pm to 4:30 pm



Process.



qew

clay

OC with an LC orange pad on the PC

#16 by hand

clean & protect wheels/tires

Vacuum interior

clean all plastic

clean all carpeted areas/seats (fabric)

clean windows/door jambs

dressing on all exterior plastic.



Car is only a few years old but looked much worse prior to washing all the dirt off. Bad pictures but you see where I had to do it.



In the end it came out looking fantastic.



Don't sell yourself short.



Hope this helps.



tn_IMG_4452.jpg




tn_IMG_4451.jpg




tn_IMG_4453.jpg
 
First off, I wouldn't decide on a plan of attack with polishes until I saw the vehicle. It could take light polish and a seal or several steps with heavy polishing before you can seal it. With two people working at the same time, I'd plan 4 hours per SUV (8 man hours) and 3 for cars. By yourself, 8 and 6. True, you may get done quicker but you don't want your appointment scheduled in a way that tempts to you to take shortcuts so you aren't late to your next vehicle.



Typically, it takes me just over an hour to detail (cleaning only) an SUV interior if it is well kept, but anywhere from 2-4+ hours if it isn't. Really filthy interiors can slow you down as much as heavily swirled paint.



My son and I started at 9:30 am today, washed an F-250 at one location, the other guy asked us to go to his house (about 3 miles away) and do a wash/polish and wax on his new Carrera 4 instead of washing his truck at the same location as the F-250, then we washed a Lexus LS430 and Escalade at another location and then washed an H2 and washed, clayed (paint overspray), polished and sealed an Escalade at our final customer's house. We finished just before 8:00 pm. Long day but I had set it up so we started at the farthest location (about 8 miles from home) and worked our way closer to home, only drove 25 miles total. You really have to plan like that when you are mobile. Not always possible to have it set up like that, but I try.
 
I plan on charging about 250-300 for the exploder, and at least 220 for the escalade, but that is without seeing....300 for sure on the exploder, but maybe 275 or so for the escalade if I get that one too....they are both black! She has a canopy already, so I am safe there! But as of right now, I only have the explorer booked, so If I can somehow manage to get it done with lots of time left to do the escalade, that might be my only way of getting that job too....if not, I dont think that she wants to wait another saturday because she called me up today and asked if I could come out tomorrow, but I am already booked...sounded like she got mad that I wasnt available! haha....but I will wait and see what happens....I am available during the week, but I dont think she wants it done sunday-friday, only sat for some reason!
 
toyotaguy said:
I plan on charging about 250-300 for the exploder, and at least 220 for the escalade, but that is without seeing....300 for sure on the exploder, but maybe 275 or so for the escalade if I get that one too....they are both black! She has a canopy already, so I am safe there! But as of right now, I only have the explorer booked, so If I can somehow manage to get it done with lots of time left to do the escalade, that might be my only way of getting that job too....if not, I dont think that she wants to wait another saturday because she called me up today and asked if I could come out tomorrow, but I am already booked...sounded like she got mad that I wasnt available! haha....but I will wait and see what happens....I am available during the week, but I dont think she wants it done sunday-friday, only sat for some reason!
Click to expand...



I'd tell her where to go. You run a business, and she should move her schedule according to you, not the other way around.
 
ScubaStevo said:
I'd tell her where to go. You run a business, and she should move her schedule according to you, not the other way around.
Click to expand...



Exactly.



I think the price you've decided to go with sounds pretty good. I also agree you should definitely make that the starting price without seeing the vehicle(s) yet.



The overtone of your customer sounds very familiar....the type that rushes to get the service done, complains about the pricing, and exaggerates the condition of their vehicles saying they are in good shape when they are really busted! I would just make sure you are professional but firm with everything, and if the customer doesn't like your scheduling, pricing, etc., do not give in but kindly do away with her and recommend someone else...as much as that hurts!
 
ScubaStevo said:
I'd tell her where to go. You run a business, and she should move her schedule according to you, not the other way around.
Click to expand...



Hmmm, bossy and demanding Orange County women with money? My kind of client!!! Too bad you are not closer geographically. You guys need to learn how to handle Type-A women. LOL...... ScubaStevo, maybe in a few more years!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top