How many of you put your bus. cards on cars?

C

clnfrk

New member
I know some of you think that it is a bad idea to do such a thing. Same goes for flyers placed under the windshield wiper. With that said, I am still contemplating doing this. I know some people may get annoyed by it, but what about those who would actually not mind and perhaps take the time to call and inquire about my services? If I don't do this, I feel as if I am denying my chance at alot of prospective clients. What are your opinions on this matter?
 
If a card or flyer appears on my car I never even look at it. It is wadded up and thrown in the floor to be discarded once I get home. You could not pay me to do that to someone's car. A waste of time and paper in my opinion and you might even be charged with cleaning up the parking lot. Can you tell I don't like it?
 
Every once in a while, if it is a car I really want to detail...but I also add a personal note.



Just FYI, a business card on a car at my kid's school 12 years ago not only got me that person and his family's (they all work for their own small business) cars to clean twice a month but several referrals whose cars I still clean regularly as well. :)
 
Coming out from somewhere to find a flier on my car is something i really hate, maybe because I get fliers for services that i think are ridiculous (I have only gotten detailing business cards from valeting my car, so they were put inside the car), or because I have a feeling the people doing it have no respect for my car. So that being said, I think it is a bad idea. I do think it would be worth finding a restaurant w/valet service to help you out. That would target clients that would be more likely to value a detailed car (in theory) or at least are willing to pay for service.
 
I saw an M3 in a strip mall parking lot, it took me three stores to find the owner. I said who's M3 is that in the parking lot, some poor guy sheepishly raises his hand and says "do I need to move it" (he was double parked). I said no Id like to detail your car. I said I would do it for 1/2 off since I bugged him. he said yes and I ended up doing the inside and out for $50. now hes one of my best customers. I do his cars and his family and friends cars each a few times a year.He even has me detail his plow truck! Thats pretty extreme but the point is try and talk face to face and you will be remembered better. I don't see anything wrong with leaving a personal note on a card though. that means you singled someone out and weren't just sticking a card on every window.
 
Something about "their" car. A problem you noticed that they have, suggest a product to fix it , and finish with if they dont want to do it them selves give you a call.
 
i dont like the flyer in the window approach at all....is very impersonal and cheezy IMO...



with that said if i see a car i would really like to detail i will put a business card in the driver side window in between the glass and the molding, this way the customer has to look at it at least....with flyers in the front window i know myslef and many others dont even look at what its about just crumple it up and throw it out..
 
Well... with all of the negative feedback concerning this matter, I have to agree with you guys that this is a bad idea. Now that I think about it, it does come off as unprofessional and impersonal and can potentially tarnish my business image before I even have a chance to build it. I appreciate all the feedback.
 
There is negative and also positive feedback in this thread and I'll back it up.

Flyers on the windshield make me think of illigal rave parties and club promotions and are very tacky and get thrown away.



However, a business card is much classier and professional.

I agree with I.A.S. about putting a card in the drivers side window because I have done this as well. I always have a stack of business cards with me and even a short note like, "Nice Porsche! I absolutely love *blank* color, it looks amazing when properly polished".



I don't do it often, but i have gotten jobs as well by this method.
 
I would think a good method would be to leave a business card in the window molding but have the back showing, and on it is a personal note, something like "Nice car. I noticed you have some minor swirls that are preventing it from looking its best. Check out my website if you are interested in having the paint corrected."



I think this would be beneficial, but perhaps the more experienced detailers out there can chime in.
 
tunnelengineer said:
If you put something on my car it is a sure way to NEVER get any business.
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Amen. If I catch someone putting something on my car they are lucky if I don't chase them down. Sorry, I dislike touching people's property without being asked to. Must be a big city thing.
 
I totally understand some negative comments but I have found that the driver's window molding works great. It is less offensive than the flyer under the windshield, I think because generally you get in your car and then see the flyer. At that point it’s aggravating to get out and remove it. With the drivers side window the drive gets the card quickly and easily. Further more it is alot smaller thus less conspicuous than an 8x11 pc. of paper. I have had issues with people getting upset but once I explain what I am doing they seem to be ok.



The card in the driver’s side window molding has given me my highest ROI of any advertising except word of mouth referrals.
 
I'll put a card on the drivers window if its a nice car that it looks like the owner is enthusiastic about, but NEEDS my services (Swirl marks, etc.)

Put my card on a VERY clean (but VERY swirly) white IROC-Z and a dusty/swirly WS6 Trans Am

I'd LOVE to do either of those cars, cause they look real sweet from far away, but up close they've DEFINATLY got room for improvement
 
tunnelengineer said:
If you put something on my car it is a sure way to NEVER get any business.
Click to expand...



Perhaps, but even if 9 out of 10 people agreed with you it would still pay off. I don't have your business in the first place, so what do I have to lose?
 
I think some people will react negatively to it like some people have here but I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to stick one on a car the sticks out on the lot and leave a hand-written comment on the backside of the card like "I'd love to work on your Lexus! Call me if your interested."
 
I think telling someone that their car is swirly right away may not be a good idea until they have been actually educated about "true swirls."
 
HenrikP said:
I think telling someone that their car is swirly right away may not be a good idea until they have been actually educated about "true swirls."
Click to expand...



True, I guess it's tough to play. However, this is why the homepage on my website would go right to examples of paint correction (swirls, oxidation, scratches, holograms, etc).



OK, perhaps not with swirls, but I would definitely be tempted to leave a hand written note on a car with rotary holograms on it, something like "i like your car, but i noticed that the detailer left some holograms on the paint. Please check out my website for more information about these holograms and contact me if you would like them corrected."



An expensive swirled car could mean that the owner just isn't interested in keeping it in good shape. However, an expensive car with holograms on it shows that the car owner is indeed interested in having his car detailed, and with your assistance can see the difference between an autopian detail and a run-of-the-mill detail
 
Thinking about this, maybe it would not be so offensive if you took the time to make up special business cards just for this purpose. Maybe say something on the reverse side of the card like; 'I noticed you keep your car in very good condition and I just wanted to let you know about my detailing services. I sincerely appreciate your understanding.'
 
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