I can't believe someone called me about this

Scott,



Some people see things as they are and say why, while others are busy seeing things as they can be and saying why not.



That my friend is the basic difference between someone who is operating a business and someone who is growing a business. The fact that you are not willing to share your techniques with someone so close by, only indicates that you are not allowing yourself to be open to new business opportunities.



Let me be the first to tell you that everyone in this world is important. Yes, everyone is important! You may consider yourself an expert in the field of detailing, however that does not make you any better than someone who is at the beginning stages of just wanting to learn more about what it takes to get started.



We have all been there. We all started somewhere. And of course there were plenty of good people who helped us along the way. Contrary to what some of us would like to think; we did not do it alone.



You would be smart not to refuse this accommodation.
 
If someone ask me to train them to open a detailing shop in the same town I do Detailing in I would say that I’m to busy to do so but I would give them a few tips in Detailing also if they need help with something just feel free to call me with any problem that you might have I would be glad to help out.

Come to think about it does take some nerve to call up your competitor and ask to train them but like I said before I like honestly and I will respect them for it and I would find it a honor for them to call me.
 
I still stand with my first post...kinda. If your neighbor asked for help with something thats one thing. This is your livelyhood. Others that want "professional" training pay for it everyday. Other businesses have programs by where they teach you a trade with a contract stating that they must work for you for X amount of time.

With that being said. This is your full time business and AFTER a sit down interview with this person you can better determine if this would be a good fit for you or just more work at less gain.
 
I would explain to him how busy you are Scott and unfortunatly don't have the time to train him. If you don't have it in your heart to train someone then you should not, its like when you detail, you do it because you love it. The same goes with training someone, you don't want to do something that your not going to do perfect because lets face it you are a perfectionist and a master in your field and you would not want him running around using your name and stating he was trained by you and then he goes out and does some half a@@ job and some people out there might be dumb enough to look down on you about this. Ok I will stop now ;)
 
Super said:
My ex GF that lives in Waxahachie Tx
Click to expand...



"I was born in Philadelphia but I was rasied in Waxahachie Texas!"



"Waxahachie Texas?"



"Yep. I shot a man's nose of down there once."



"You shot a man's nose off?"



"Yes. I was walking down the street and I saw a man, and I said, 'I'm gonna shoot that man's nose off.' Bang! I shot it off clean as you could cut it with a buzz saw."



WC Fields
 
Well (a deep subject for a shallow mind like mine ;) ) I called him today to talk to him. Seems like a nice enough guy. I told him the main problem is the time factor. I don't mind training him using my car or his but I really can't train someone on my customer's cars. Two reasons-one, I don't know his skill level; and two, I really don't want to open up my customer base to anyone else.



If I get done earlier enough tomorrow, I told him he could come by and I'd go over some of the techniques (probably buffing) but I'd probably only have a couple of hours. He wants to learn the proper steps and I have a detail on Tuesday for a friend so I said he could come out and watch on that day. Since I know this customer very well, I am not worried that he can be taken.



I also let him know that Meguiars will be having a detailing class on the 18th of February and he would be smart to register there and sign up for the class.



In the end, I decided since he seems determined to start a mobile business regardless whether I help him or not, I'd rather there be a new good detailer than another hack who makes us all look bad. Besides, I am so busy right now, it would be kind of nice to have someone closer to send new people to. Rick Springer (rlspringer) and I do that for each other but I know this side of town is a long drive for him and he is probably as booked as I am. Neither of us can usually work someone in the same day they call. Someone just starting out can and I'd prefer someone I refer a customer to be a quality detailer.
 
Scottwax said:
Well (a deep subject for a shallow mind like mine ;) ) I called him today to talk to him. Seems like a nice enough guy. I told him the main problem is the time factor. I don't mind training him using my car or his but I really can't train someone on my customer's cars. Two reasons-one, I don't know his skill level; and two, I really don't want to open up my customer base to anyone else.



If I get done earlier enough tomorrow, I told him he could come by and I'd go over some of the techniques (probably buffing) but I'd probably only have a couple of hours. He wants to learn the proper steps and I have a detail on Tuesday for a friend so I said he could come out and watch on that day. Since I know this customer very well, I am not worried that he can be taken.



I also let him know that Meguiars will be having a detailing class on the 18th of February and he would be smart to register there and sign up for the class.



In the end, I decided since he seems determined to start a mobile business regardless whether I help him or not, I'd rather there be a new good detailer than another hack who makes us all look bad. Besides, I am so busy right now, it would be kind of nice to have someone closer to send new people to. Rick Springer (rlspringer) and I do that for each other but I know this side of town is a long drive for him and he is probably as booked as I am. Neither of us can usually work someone in the same day they call. Someone just starting out can and I'd prefer someone I refer a customer to be a quality detailer.
Click to expand...



Sounds like a good plan to me. Just whatever you do, don't tell him about Autopia!!! ;)
 
Scottwax said:
Well (a deep subject for a shallow mind like mine ;) ) I called him today to talk to him. Seems like a nice enough guy. I told him the main problem is the time factor. I don't mind training him using my car or his but I really can't train someone on my customer's cars. Two reasons-one, I don't know his skill level; and two, I really don't want to open up my customer base to anyone else.



If I get done earlier enough tomorrow, I told him he could come by and I'd go over some of the techniques (probably buffing) but I'd probably only have a couple of hours. He wants to learn the proper steps and I have a detail on Tuesday for a friend so I said he could come out and watch on that day. Since I know this customer very well, I am not worried that he can be taken.



I also let him know that Meguiars will be having a detailing class on the 18th of February and he would be smart to register there and sign up for the class.



In the end, I decided since he seems determined to start a mobile business regardless whether I help him or not, I'd rather there be a new good detailer than another hack who makes us all look bad. Besides, I am so busy right now, it would be kind of nice to have someone closer to send new people to. Rick Springer (rlspringer) and I do that for each other but I know this side of town is a long drive for him and he is probably as booked as I am. Neither of us can usually work someone in the same day they call. Someone just starting out can and I'd prefer someone I refer a customer to be a quality detailer.
Click to expand...



Good Karma Dude!!!
 
Scottwax said:
Well (a deep subject for a shallow mind like mine ;) ) I called him today to talk to him. Seems like a nice enough guy. I told him the main problem is the time factor. I don't mind training him using my car or his but I really can't train someone on my customer's cars. Two reasons-one, I don't know his skill level; and two, I really don't want to open up my customer base to anyone else.



If I get done earlier enough tomorrow, I told him he could come by and I'd go over some of the techniques (probably buffing) but I'd probably only have a couple of hours. He wants to learn the proper steps and I have a detail on Tuesday for a friend so I said he could come out and watch on that day. Since I know this customer very well, I am not worried that he can be taken.



I also let him know that Meguiars will be having a detailing class on the 18th of February and he would be smart to register there and sign up for the class.



In the end, I decided since he seems determined to start a mobile business regardless whether I help him or not, I'd rather there be a new good detailer than another hack who makes us all look bad. Besides, I am so busy right now, it would be kind of nice to have someone closer to send new people to. Rick Springer (rlspringer) and I do that for each other but I know this side of town is a long drive for him and he is probably as booked as I am. Neither of us can usually work someone in the same day they call. Someone just starting out can and I'd prefer someone I refer a customer to be a quality detailer.
Click to expand...

sounds like good money :2thumbs:
 
Tell him to stock up on Dawn and lots of cheap terry cloth towels. You could take him on as work free apprentice, by the time he realized how much it takes and the knowledge you need he'll probably lose interest. Either that or he'll take the clients that you don't really want that drive the well beaten cars and that are hesitant to pay.
 
foxbody said:
Tell him to stock up on Dawn and lots of cheap terry cloth towels. You could take him on as work free apprentice, by the time he realized how much it takes and the knowledge you need he'll probably lose interest. Either that or he'll take the clients that you don't really want that drive the well beaten cars and that are hesitant to pay.
Click to expand...



His experience at this point is with his own car and those of his friends. I've already warned him he should be prepared for minivans that look like a landfill inside. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top