People trying to bargain you down

I

imported_topnotch

New member
I feel with my pricing I am very fair being that I do this as a weeknight and weekend hobby but what I don't like is when people try to undercut me on my price. I had an ad for a full detail for $140 this winter only b/c things were slow and it was a seasonal special which the ad specified would last until the end of February. Last week I get an email of a customer who wanted me to complete a full detail on his car this upcoming weekend, he proceeds to tell what I can and cannot use on the car, I was being nice and would cater to him as he wished and in the end he thought my price tag was too high after a weekend of emailing back and forth, price was increased all of $60 higher of my expired advertised special. I try to tell people what I offer for the price and usually throw in something for free in the end like to Scotchguard their mats, but if they want a $100 job then I think they are looking in the wrong place. Also it is scary how picky this guy is via email so I fear even if I do drop my price a few dollars I will end up losing big time. Am I being too snooty by holding my price? I also don't want to do 5-6 hours for a few bucks I mean I need money to support my family which is why I chose to start to detail professionally, well mainly its a way to make money doing what I love for once. Sorry for the rant.
 
I think you should stay firm with the price. He should not contact you in hopes of getting a special price. He saw your advertisement and understood your price, THEN e-mailed you. I think he will come around soon enough...
 
Direct this guy to the nearest flea market :rolleyes:



I'd refuse him altogether and try to seek out folks who have no issues with your prices. Theywill likely be loyal customers over the long run; something I'd highly doubt about that guy. He's probably going to try to find something to get money off the job any way after you worked all those hours,losing money.



Some detailers don't publish prices for these sort of reasons even if they have a set price in mind.
 
My theory is there is no such as a good customer if you lose money on the deal no matter how often he shows up. Some guys think because money trades hands you are making a killing. But supplies and labor add up. Being in business also means knowing when to say no.
 
thanks guys I needed to hear it from you guys, I don't budge on price and I think I provide a good value. I also figure that if I do this once my other loyal customers might here that I gave this guy a break and might think that I take advantage of them which I don't. I emailed him explaining to him my process and hoping to show him that I am giving him perfection and no less. I told my father I am going to email him with the number to a local car wash who will be happy to steal his money and have some laborers install some swirls(lol).
 
Stay firm on your pricing never let your customer dictate your pricing . Your not ebay , I doubt they would ask the electric company for a break , or tell the corner gas station , I'll pay you $2.04 for that gas you have marked at $2.15. yeah that would work . Stay firm .
 
The only time I negotiate prices is if they agree to a multiple-car contract UPFRONT. One of my clients has 3 cars (her's, husbands, and son's), and I cut her a deal at 435 for all three, when it would have usually been about 160 apiece. Plus I threw in a free detail on her Vespa, she was delighted :).



That, or I occasionally give people "convenience deals", a break on the price if they agree to have the detail done when I have a lull in my schedule, rainy day, etc, when its convenient for me rather than them. As a college student, I'm willing to lose a few bucks in order to make my schedule work out. I make it very clear to customers upfront that if they want a lower price, something has to give. Its never going to be workmanship, but oftentimes its scheduling, engine detailing, or compounding.
 
I never detailed cars for a living but I detailed clothes, as in dry cleaner but I never negotiate price and I was the most expensive in the area, this is the price, take it or leave it. Also I did piano tuning as a side job for fun and I never negogiated a price, not once, if they couldn't afford it I offered lower cost solutions or reffered a hungrier tuner but my price is my price. People are used to haggling over merchandise and I can understand that but service oriented businesses are based on time and materials, if I skimp on one or the other to lower my price then I compromise my quality and I much rather have my reputation be that I'm expensive than I do crap work.
 
I had guy come into my dad's shop for a quote. He had

one of the baby Benzes, and wanted the outside done, and

the interior cleaned. The inside was nasty, and the outside

was totally dull and scratched up. I quoted him 200.00 to do

the job. He looks at me and tells me he could get his car

painted over for 200.00 I smiled and told him, "Yeah, but

the interior would still be dirty." He wasn't too happy with

the remark and left.



2 days later he comes back to the shop to show off the detail

he had another place do. Now the dull and scratched paint

was replaced with severe compund swiling, waterspots on the

chrome, brake dust still in the rim spokes, and the inside

was just vacuumed and wiped down (I could actually see

streaking from the ArmorAll on the dash, seats and trim). He

then tells me he only paid 100.00 for the whole job. I smiled

and told him he got exactly what he paid for, and just went

back to what I was doing.
 
Well I have not heard from this person anymore in the past 2 days now, he must of found the car wash to do the job. No loss here b/c I booked a guy with 2 cars for saturday instead.
 
USDM, at least he wasn't picky. Many people can't appreciate quality unless they had it before. If they are cheap to begin with they probably never had a quality job so their standards are set by the corner car wash.
 
We have a auto repair shop in the family for over 30 years now.

I am faced with bargain seekers every day and I politely state we are unable to meet their needs at that price level. Normally these are new customers only as our base is extremely loyal to us and our prices are always at the high end of any estimate.

We do offer freebies, gifts left on the front seat from time to time. They are actual branded promotional material ex. Ice Scrapers with our name and address on them are always a big hit. Key chains of various types, air fresheners, stick on non smoking signs, frig magnet calendars, small Mag flashlights, digital ltire guages, coffee mugs.



Customers actually mention the freebies when they come back in for service.
 
To my regulars I often give them a free microfiber and a small 8once bottle of quickdetailer to keep in their cars, this has made a great impression on many. I am just glad that you guys feel as I do though.
 
Find out what he does for a living and ask him for a price break. Suppose he is a banker. Ask him to knock a few percentage points off a loan.
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I get that occasionally too but I hold firm on my price. One of my early customers told me the first time I did his car to not be afraid to ask for what your work is worth. Good advice and more than 11 years later, he is still a regular customer.



In addition, I have found that people who try to get the price down have the nastiest cars and are absolutely the pickiest people. You miss one speck of dirt and they will find it and want you to knock off $$$ for missing it.
 
Scottwax said:


In addition, I have found that people who try to get the price down have the nastiest cars and are absolutely the pickiest people. You miss one speck of dirt and they will find it and want you to knock off $$$ for missing it.
Click to expand...





Yeah, I figure that about this guy too. No need to be more paranoid about missing dirt than we already are . :D
 
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