Eastcoastdetail
New member
Should my prices be on my website??? or will putting prices deter customers???
prices on websites???
- Thread starter Eastcoastdetail
- Start date
WAS
Driven
Why would it deter customers ?
tssdetailing
New member
put em up! it will eliminate a lot of pointless phone calls-unless you're a smooth tawlka and feel you can pull sales on every call.
Jean-Claude
Keeper of the beautiful
Being someone who has prices on my site. I love knowing when someone contacts me they mean business.
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
buda said:
Absolutely not! Does a dealer quote you an exact price or payment of a car without test driving it and running your credit? Coming from a Sales background I feel it's important to not talk price without having the car and it's owner in front of you. I tend to give ballpark prices, but usually add bits of info telling them that the price is subject to final inspection. Giving a price up front can weed out tire kickers, but it can also scare good clients away too. On a website I would give a range or a low starting from price. I also feel doing a comprehensive evauation of the vehicle as well as the client is key for a win-win relationship and sale.
Thank you David you have substantiated my position that you should never post prices on flyers, menus, in ads or on the website.
Why?
For the same exact reasons you present for not giving a price over the phone.
When you post a price you have quoted a price without seeing the car.
Posted prices close the sales window before it opens.
Not all customers who talk about price are price conscious or cheapie it is they don't know anything about detailing or what's involved or what their car needs so like all of us who don't know about a service we need we ask price.
Get the customer into your shop or go to them if mobile and sell to the need of the car.
If you post prices and a potential cutover does not call you never have the chance to educate them and sell to them.
Just a few thoughts
Bud Abraham
Why?
For the same exact reasons you present for not giving a price over the phone.
When you post a price you have quoted a price without seeing the car.
Posted prices close the sales window before it opens.
Not all customers who talk about price are price conscious or cheapie it is they don't know anything about detailing or what's involved or what their car needs so like all of us who don't know about a service we need we ask price.
Get the customer into your shop or go to them if mobile and sell to the need of the car.
If you post prices and a potential cutover does not call you never have the chance to educate them and sell to them.
Just a few thoughts
Bud Abraham
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
buda said:
Exactly. The 1st thing I do is get their phone number as ask them qualifying questions. After working the phones for tons of years you can easily weed out the price shoppers. Regarless, I always felt that I had a package I could tailor fit to almost anyone. I'd rather have $50 more in the til that day than $50 less.
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
I've also mentioned tons of times that every business owner/detailer should take a class on selling. It's almost as important as knowing how to detail and can singlehandedly and dramatically increase your profit.
C. Charles Hahn
CCH Auto Appearance, LLC
David Fermani said:
I disagree. It's not ALMOST as important, it IS AS IMPORTANT if not MORE important.
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
Good to know you're on the same page too!
Jean-Claude
Keeper of the beautiful
Closing classes > sales classes.
If you have not read "The E Myth-Revisited" by Michael Gerber I suggest you all go to Amazon.com. Books and you can buy a used copy of the paperback for $1.00 - $2.00.
Best book a detail business owner could ever buy. Only 1/2" thick but filled very relevant information.
You don't like it let me know and I will give you a $5.00 credit.
It is really great
Bud Abraham
Best book a detail business owner could ever buy. Only 1/2" thick but filled very relevant information.
You don't like it let me know and I will give you a $5.00 credit.
It is really great
Bud Abraham
buda said:
I make it pretty clear that the prices on my website are a starting point and it keeps people from who want a cheap $75 detail from bothering me. Those types are far more interested in price than quality of work. When I am contacted, I go over with the customer what is included in the starting price and what types of conditions will increase their cost and that I have to see the car in person to give them an accurate quote. What I am doing is setting a minimum price and weeding out the price shoppers.
If that works for you no one can tell you to do anything different.
However, my experience indicates that people read very little and listen to even less so when they "see" a price they make a decision right then and there and do not necessarily go any further.
What I am concerned about are all those who do not call you because they sell "the price" and think it is too high simply because they cannot differentiate between one detail operation and another and what should be done to the car.
But if you are getting all the business you can handle then ignore what I am suggesting.
Regards
Bud Abraham
However, my experience indicates that people read very little and listen to even less so when they "see" a price they make a decision right then and there and do not necessarily go any further.
What I am concerned about are all those who do not call you because they sell "the price" and think it is too high simply because they cannot differentiate between one detail operation and another and what should be done to the car.
But if you are getting all the business you can handle then ignore what I am suggesting.
Regards
Bud Abraham
buda said:
I understand what you are saying but not listing prices to some people is like at a fancy restaurant where they don't list prices-you know it is going to be expensive.
List prices and you might scare potential customers off because they think are you too expensive (or cheap), don't list prices and have people assume you are going to be real expensive. Probably ends up being a wash in the end, I don't think there really is a right or wrong answer to this. Like you said, do what works for you.
Envious Eric
New member
at one point, I didnt have prices on my site....I was getting a lot of $49 detail shoppers, even when I was only $150 for a two step (hey, I had to start somewhere...lol)
I then switched up my pricing structure and added it on my site and those phone calls all but stopped completely.
I asked a friend of mine what he thought of a company that didnt post prices vs did post prices and here is the breakdown of what he thought...
Do post prices:
-tells people a starting price
-lets them know if they can afford you or not right off the bat without wasting their time (price shoppers)
-DOESNT allow for you to explain your service to those who dont know what a detail entails if they are turned off by the price (without process listed)
Dont post prices:
-allows you to explain your service when they ask for a price on X service
-turns off some people because they assume its going to be expensive, hence the "hiding of the price"
-dont get to explain your value to those under the "too high" assumption
-doesnt lock you into a set price if listed
In the end, there are pros and cons to be argued for both sides. I think putting up something like the following is a terrible idea:
one step - 250
two step - 350
three step - 500
vs a better idea
one step - 250
"includes....(explanation)..."
two step - 350
"includes....(explanation)..."
three step - 500
"includes....(explanation)..."
This way, ^^^, allows you to slow down the price shoppers, all the while educating your potential clients as to what is included in your service. You dont immediately turn someone away by a higher price because of the extra explanation. That might be the key component to getting their business because they will see that my "two step" is actually a lot different than another detailers "two step"....apples to oranges analogy comes into play here.
I then switched up my pricing structure and added it on my site and those phone calls all but stopped completely.
I asked a friend of mine what he thought of a company that didnt post prices vs did post prices and here is the breakdown of what he thought...
Do post prices:
-tells people a starting price
-lets them know if they can afford you or not right off the bat without wasting their time (price shoppers)
-DOESNT allow for you to explain your service to those who dont know what a detail entails if they are turned off by the price (without process listed)
Dont post prices:
-allows you to explain your service when they ask for a price on X service
-turns off some people because they assume its going to be expensive, hence the "hiding of the price"
-dont get to explain your value to those under the "too high" assumption
-doesnt lock you into a set price if listed
In the end, there are pros and cons to be argued for both sides. I think putting up something like the following is a terrible idea:
one step - 250
two step - 350
three step - 500
vs a better idea
one step - 250
"includes....(explanation)..."
two step - 350
"includes....(explanation)..."
three step - 500
"includes....(explanation)..."
This way, ^^^, allows you to slow down the price shoppers, all the while educating your potential clients as to what is included in your service. You dont immediately turn someone away by a higher price because of the extra explanation. That might be the key component to getting their business because they will see that my "two step" is actually a lot different than another detailers "two step"....apples to oranges analogy comes into play here.
Understand what you are saying but how many auto service companies list prices for their services:
Auto mechanics
Muffler shops
Body shops
They give you estimates based on their hourly rate.
The detail industry needs to educate the customer to understand that our service is not like shining shoes, one price fits all.
At least that is the approach I have taken and it works for me and allows me to sell to the every customer who walks in the door. When I had a price board and prices on the menu it was, "oh, I was just checking your prices." And away they went.
When I took all prices off the service board and the menu they had to stay and allow me to see the car.
Regards
Bud Abraham
Auto mechanics
Muffler shops
Body shops
They give you estimates based on their hourly rate.
The detail industry needs to educate the customer to understand that our service is not like shining shoes, one price fits all.
At least that is the approach I have taken and it works for me and allows me to sell to the every customer who walks in the door. When I had a price board and prices on the menu it was, "oh, I was just checking your prices." And away they went.
When I took all prices off the service board and the menu they had to stay and allow me to see the car.
Regards
Bud Abraham
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
I think the contents of this discussion can benefit a fixed location or larger mobile operation the most. They tend to not have a specialty concentration and can market themselves with a broad line of services to a broad mix of customers. But, people like Scott and Eric who are 1 person mobile high end detailers want to stay within their branding of services which are contingent on specific pricing to specific types of people. Businesses that want to broaden their scope may want to avoid listing pricing and cater to customer specific operations rather than fixed specialty ones. Regardless of which, I still believe an exact price should not be listed, but one with a range or starting point. This can still weed out price shoppers and still leave room for upselling.
Does this seem accurate?
Does this seem accurate?