I guess I need a form for written estimates

[Scottwax]

Holy cow, $150 for 6 hours of work = $25/hr. Why so cheap on such a big job?

I'd have to see your car to give you a reasonably accurate estimate, but a basic detail (full interior cleaning and protection, wash/clay/1 polishing step and wax or sealant would be $150. Any additional needed polishing steps would be extra...



I didn't quote him only $150 for 6 hours.

 

[Thomas Dekany]

Sorry about that Scott.



Look at his car. He doesn't know a thing about paint correction.



He isn't worth it.



Good for you for walking away from trouble.

 

[David Fermani]

I didn't quote him only $150 for 6 hours.

I'm confused. It sure does seem like you quoted him $150 for up to 6 hours of work. You actually said 6 hours of polishing, which doesn't account for the wash, interior or LSP which will take even more time. I'd hope to assume that this amount of work for the "basic detail" would take most people that amount of time?

I got an e-mail from the owner of a supercharged '05 Viper asking about a detail. I send him back this reply:



I'd have to see your car to give you a reasonably accurate estimate, but a basic detail (full interior cleaning and protection, wash/clay/1 polishing step and wax or sealant would be $150. Any additional needed polishing steps would be extra...



I make an appointment with him to see the car. The back half isn't too bad, light holograms and spider swirls. From the doors up it was pretty bad. Deeper holograms and spider swirls, pigtails, RIDS, etc. I gave him a rough estimate "assuming I can get the swirls out in about 6 hours". He then said something about polishing the wheels and I repeated "assuming it only takes about 6 hours". I am postive I told him if it took longer it would cost more. I also pointed out a few areas that probably wouldn't come out 100%.







After about 2 1/2 hours, I give the customer a call to let him know it might end up taking more than a day to complete the car. He asks if the cost would be more. Of course it would. He then says "you've already gone up on the original estimate of $150" and I explained to him (and thought it should already be clear based on the e-mail I sent him) that the price was for a basic detail that only includes 1 polishing step and no way would the swirls come out with just one step. He then says "well, you looked at the car and gave me a price" and I said that was based on 6 hours of work and I know I mentioned that more than once. I told him there is no way to really know for sure until you start buffing a car. Just like a brake job. You get quoted for a basic brake job (turn the rotors, replace pads, repack wheel bearings) but once the wheels come off there might be more issues that need to be addressed at a higher cost. He goes on about others quoted him $150 to take out the swirls and completely detail the car and Classic (a body shop I guess?) said they'd take out all the swirls and put another coat of clear on the car for $600 and he certainly wasn't going to pay me that much if all I did was polish it. :wall

 

[imported_Denzil]

Wow, this guy owns a Viper and wants a detail for $150? He must have bought the Viper for all the wrong reasons...

 

[DaGonz]

Scott... that Viper owner is an "a$$hat".

 

[Scottwax]

I'm confused. It sure does seem like you quoted him $150 for up to 6 hours of work. You actually said 6 hours of polishing, which doesn't account for the wash, interior or LSP which will take even more time. I'd hope to assume that this amount of work for the "basic detail" would take most people that amount of time?

I gave him a price of $150 for a basic detail, not heavy swirl removal. After I saw the car, I have him a higher price, based on it taking 6 hours to complete the car. The $150 price was not an estimate per say, but the typical price for a basic detail. I guess my mistake was given an estimate based on 6 hours of work and assuming the owner would know that if it took longer it would cost even more. From now on, I am going to put it in writing before starting the car so there is no confusion. I'm also going to base correction details on a minimum of 10 hours labor with the understanding that a longer detail will cost more and a shorter detail (the car polishes out quicker than expected) will be less. I just want to be sure the customer knows going in that odds are the detail will cost based on 10 hours of work.



I can do a basic detail on a car the size of a Viper in about 3.5 hours. Full interior cleaning, wash, clay, 1 polishining step via PC and either wax or sealant.

 

[imported_Detailing Technology]

Mechanic, "THE BOOK says 275.00, so that's what it'll cost you."

Tell the mindless zero's like that to get THE BOOK to write the check...

 

[gtpaul]

I feel for you Scott. This is why I have all my customer's sign an estimate with the quoted price on it. They are then signing a contract.. I have had zero issues, and hope to have none in the future. At least you know how to avoid situations like this in the future.

 

[Jean-Claude]

I just had my new sales tickets printed up. I had been using a fill in the blank type ticket....



On my new tickets I have a few different sections and I explain to the client what they are signing.



I have my company name and contact info, the date, work description column, initial column, work cost column and a few waivers.



Most of it is self explanatory. But I will describe what it does for my client AND my company.



For every area there is a work description there is an initial column and cost column. Directly above the initial column there is a waiver describing what their initials mean.



To paraphrase:

By initialing, the owner or vehicle operator(important to have that as not everyone initialing is the owner) is agreeing to have the work completed by *company name*. The initial also acknowledges that the bill will be paid in-full upon completion.



I also have a waiver stating that *company* is not responsible for any belongings left in vehicles. -I don't have a problem explaining that this is not because we want to steal your belongings. But because people can forget or misplace something they thought was in a vehicle we work on it's easier if the client removes those items. Though, I've never had an issue with this.



At the bottom of the ticket I have an area for the client to sign once the car is returned. To paraphrase:

By signing, the owner or vehicle operator, is acknowledging that all work was completed, that the vehicle was inspected and no damage has been done by *company name*.

________________________________



I feel this covers me when I am asked to have work done and this saves a rotten client from having to figure a way to screw me out of money or time.



Let me say that I've only run into one of those "rotten clients". I love my customers and making them 100% happy is A #1 for me.



The only time I don't request an initial is when they are having just a basic wash (when I'm at a property where I already was when they requested work). If I had to go to a specific location for a single client I will always get a signature for everything.