maybe I have the wrong thoughts...
- Thread starter Envious Eric
- Start date
Migue
New member
i got the same problems with people coming up to me at work while i'm polishing a car and they ask how much i charge and most times i'll tell them between 150-180 and they think that's SUPER expensive and these are car salesmen that work at the same dealership i work and they give me the"aw come on man we're co-workers give me a deal and blabla...". That kind of stuff really bothers me because they have NO CLUE of all the work that's involved and they think a full great looking detail takes an hr or 2 and once they hear it takes 6 or more hrs for a correction job they act surprised and don't want to believe you,i just simply ignore them and don't even bother trying to negotiate with them. I know i'm barely starting out and i do this for the weekends only but i'd rather have a handfull of loyal customers that appreciate my work and are willing to pay for it than have a bunch of cheap-os that think 150 for a detail is expensive.
imported_paintxpert
New member
It should take 3.5 hours to do the job you describe...If you high speed polished this car the women would have passed out because the paint would POP in her face when she picked it up. I will say it again ...TRY and learn to pro polish if you can. With apro angle power polisher. There is NO substitute! PERIOD!!!!! With all do respect of course!
imported_paintxpert
New member
I dont do completes for 150.00. I do exteriors and wheels for 150.00. My completes start @ 210.00 unless the car is SUPER clean. Tell them to go down the street. You cant polish all the cars! If it is a severe Compound job ADD 75.00....thats the way it is!
WAS
Driven
Holy thread resurrection !
Interesting tho, toyotaguy: Your last posts were just over 3 years ago on the topic of downtime (days with no bookings). How are you fairing now, with your business being 3 years older ? In retrospect, would you have done anything differently than you did when you made your posts on the topic ?
I ask because I'm in a similar boat. My business is not that old and now that we're creeping into the fall season, I am getting sporatic days here and there where I have no bookings. While it's not a HUGE deal at the moment (from an expensive / revenue perspective), I'm wondering if I should hit the advertising button yet, or give it some more time to perpetuate itself.
Interesting tho, toyotaguy: Your last posts were just over 3 years ago on the topic of downtime (days with no bookings). How are you fairing now, with your business being 3 years older ? In retrospect, would you have done anything differently than you did when you made your posts on the topic ?
I ask because I'm in a similar boat. My business is not that old and now that we're creeping into the fall season, I am getting sporatic days here and there where I have no bookings. While it's not a HUGE deal at the moment (from an expensive / revenue perspective), I'm wondering if I should hit the advertising button yet, or give it some more time to perpetuate itself.
Barry Theal
New member
paintxpert said:
What do you consider a pro angle polisher?
For 60 percent - Many people I find want a wash and wax(as thats what they are accustomed to hearing) along with " inside shampooed"(again used to hearing) but the referrals are always asking for what I did to _______ persons car. Meaning my results tend to upsell for me for paint correction. Again its area marketing but aside from the special groups much of my detailing is as scott said, 80 percent detailing and value - "oh I get a polish AND WAX!?! for that price PLUS interior work"...
imported_paintxpert
New member
I know this is an old post but what I mean by a pro angle polisher is the Flex rotary for example. Or any rotary for that matter. Also want to clarify if I may, about a detail taking 10 plus hours. That is not the main thrust of my business. That said I base all my details on 3 to 5 hours. Any more than that would send the price to high for any of my clients to afford. I hope this clarifies things. I do paint correction and allow only so much time as I don't want to be upside down in the job. How do you spend 10 plus hours on a job and make any money. Unless the job is a thousand dollars or more. My labor rate is between 50.00 and 80 per hour. Depending on the situation. Sorry about the delayed response.
Envious Eric
New member
holy thread bump! LOL
editted as post was pointless
editted as post was pointless
justin30513
Mobile Detailing Services
Simply ask what the customer wants done.
Sometimes we can over educate a customer and end up spending more time making less money.
Sometimes we can over educate a customer and end up spending more time making less money.
Junebug
JAFO
<span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup><span style="font-size:18px;">I wish I could bottle that "glaze" that look that comes over people when you try to explain paint polishing. After years of trying, I just do this - Mr Customer, your paint looks bad due to: swirls from the autospa, oxidation from never washing or OMG what happened? Then I tell them it would need as a minimum, wash, clay, polishing step and wax. And no, you can't "wax" these out. I show them the polishes/tools needed and let them know about how long it will take. If I detect any doubts, I'll do a small spot - QD, clay and hand polish out, then it will stick out like a 2 pound wart and they'll be convinced to get the rest of the car up to that level. I've only had to that twice. </sup>
Beccia
New member
toyotaguy said:
Yes, but I appreciate the bump as this was a great thread with a lot of tips for starters, and you've had a lot of great success since this thread.
House of Wax
Active member
It was a good read for me as well as it really hits home. I just mess around this as a side gig, but I have a hard time touching a car without doing whatever necessary to make it look great. My biggest struggle is matching up what the customer wants to spend, what their expectations are, and then the appropriate amount of work I put into it
toyotaguy said:
I made $300 on an emerald green Miata for exactly the same treatment in Dallas. I also made nearly $800 on a full correction of a Ford F-150 Platinum in metallic black when I lived in Virginia. I would have charged $350 or more for a G35. I owned a black 2005 G35 coupe so I know about the paint. Don't sell yourself short. People have this weird tendency to see expensive things as being more valuable. If you sell the value of your work (and then deliver) rather than the cost, you may make some progress. Then again, I was an Air Force recruiter at the time so my sales skills were sharp... Sell the sizzle, not the steak. Caveat, I am not a professional detailer. I am a hobbyist who picks up work by word of mouth wherever the Air Force takes me. It does take me a bit longer to do what you guys do in terms of completing a job. I have the luxury of telling people what I think the job is worth and walking away if they don't want my services. Regardless, I generally have no problem picking up work but I couldn't live on the proceeds. That could be because my focus isn't on picking up jobs though...
LeadingEdgeDetail
New member
Great old thread...
I always get a feel for what the customer wants or expects, and how much they are willing to spend... Quite often all they want is a great cleaning inside & out, and that's a 'Detail' to them... and am able to charge $150 for 3 hours or less of work.
My magic number is $50/h. If it is a large black SUV and they want it to look beautiful, absolutely I can do that for them... But I will need the car for the entire day, and I will likely spend 6+ back-breaking hours on it... so I won't charge less than $300 for that. Usually $400ish is a good number for a decent $ SUV paint correction.
I always get a feel for what the customer wants or expects, and how much they are willing to spend... Quite often all they want is a great cleaning inside & out, and that's a 'Detail' to them... and am able to charge $150 for 3 hours or less of work.
My magic number is $50/h. If it is a large black SUV and they want it to look beautiful, absolutely I can do that for them... But I will need the car for the entire day, and I will likely spend 6+ back-breaking hours on it... so I won't charge less than $300 for that. Usually $400ish is a good number for a decent $ SUV paint correction.
I've found that most customers would be happy with a wash and swear you worked some kind if magic. For the average joe a simple wash, clay and one stepper will have them beyond happy with a vacuum and wipe down of the interior. Although I did have a guy bring over a black Ram once that he used for his side landscaping business and thought the detail included touch up paint and rust removal. And just last week an old friend emailed me and asked if I could "detail the rust and gouge off". My words if advice, don't kill yourself giving everyone a show car finish. They'll usually swirl it up the first time they wash it with their dirty rag laying in the kids sandbox.
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