Shorted Money on a Detail

stilez

New member
So I detailed quite possibly the worst paint I've ever done this morning on a late 90's Eclipse. Swirl marks were a far understatement. The paint looked like it went through a paper shredder...deep scratches everywhere as well as scuffing. All the horizontal panels were oxidized and to put into perspective what it was like to clay... Go take your car down a dirty/muddy road, dont wash it, just take clay to it. I have never dealt with paint worse.





Anyways, I washed, gave an acid bath, then neutralized, clayed and had a bare surface to work with. I compounded x 2 on the entire car, did a medium cut polish, final polish, wax, and finally topped with OCW. I polished/sealed the rims and exhaust, dressed the trim, wheel wells, and tires. The windows were cleaned and I did a final inspection before he came back (did this at my house).



He got there and didn't seem to happy to see all of the scratches didn't come out. I went over with him everything I did and he asked a price. After just shy of 4 hours of work, I quoted him at $140...He questioned "$140?" and I said yes, 140. He handed me the money and I put it in my pocket. He pulled out and left. I always find it rude to count money in front of people which is why I put it straight into my pocket.



After coming inside I checked, double checked and rechecked the $120 he gave me. Short $20.



I decided not to call him back in the end. I really don't need clients like this nor do I want to do a car that abused ever again. How many other people have been shorted and what have you done about it?





Off to another detail...
 
Sorry to hear that Sean. Obviously he did not appreciate just how good of a detailer your are and the poor state of his car.
 
I always discreetly counted the money before returning the car keys.





GSRstilez said:
I washed, gave an acid bath, then neutralized, clayed and had a bare surface to work with.



Are you using the Finish Kare system? ABC?
 
You definitely don't need customers like that. How disrespectful. I'm sure he didn't even say thanks or anything. I mean, if you think you can afford to have your car professionaly detailed, be ready to pay up, simple as that. What was he expecting, a family discount? :rolleyes:



My grandfather has a great name for people like this: "A$$holians"



Sorry to hear about the cheap shot he took. :down
 
That sucks man, nothing worse than losing money. So are you sure he shorted you on purpose, I guess it's possible it was an honest mistake but you're probably right in just letting it go, pursuing it will only get you more angry and upset if he denies it and you'll still be short that $20.
 
I'd just let it go. It sucks, but dealing with him is going to be more trouble than its worth. Figure that your time is worth atleast 30/hour (and probably more like 40, from what I've seen). Unless you think you can get the money in half an hour or less, I'd avoid it. If did a mobile job and therefore know where he lives/works....well I'm not gonna suggest anything ;).



As for really trashed cars, I kind of enjoy working on them, as long as the owner appreciates the work (I know a lot of people who have "seen the light", at a point where amateur restoration is not going to be possible). Its also important that they know whats reasonable to expect as far as what will come out/what will not, etc. When I do a detail, I usually do a walkaround with the customer first and point out stuff that I can definetly fix, stuff that I can probably fix, stuff that I can improve, and lost causes. If you're conservative on it, its hard to get an unsatisfied customer. If someone says "well I think you better get that scratch out", tell them not to let the door hit them on the way out :).



That, or just give him a free buff job. With a wool pad. And tap water :).
 
Hey, count the money in front of the guy anyhow, always. It's not rude, it's business. If you feel awkward, say, "I'm just making sure you didn't give me too much. After all, you'd want me to give it back if you did, right?"



I've been taking money from people for 20 years. All you need to do is miss a hundred somewhere and you'll never not count it again.





Tom
 
Think about every time you go to pay for something; clothes, groceries, etc... the person ALWAYS counts it in front of you.



When people pay me cash, I talk to them as I count the money so it's not as "rude" as it may seem.



I understand your perspective and agree, but its good always to do a quick count before you leave. It takes 2 seconds to flip through a few $20's.



$140 for all that work? You should charge more!



You know, if you aren't going to deal with him again, I would call him and ask if he gave you $120 instead of $140 on purpose because it was short and he questioned the price.



It's unappreciative, rude, jerky a-holes like him that when I worked as a short order cook during my summer college years; we would spit in his food and mix it up.



People like him just tick me off. What a weeny.
 
I'd send him a bill for $20 and explain to him what happened. Can't hurt and at best he'll send you the money, most people will if they realize that they realy do owe the money.
 
Thanks for the support Autopia :).





I always count the money before I leave a client (in the car) and usually do if they come to me as well. This happened to be when a buddy of mine just stopped by so I was chatting and not checking.



Furthermore, I should've turned this job down from the start. However, he came almost 2 hours to me. He asked if I was going to wetsand the scratches out. I tried to educate him letting him know that wetsanding levels out the surface and if I did you'd have a nice patch of no paint. He told me the detailer near him could get all of the scratches out (right) but he leaves heavy buffer marks. I informed him you need a heavy cut compound and high speed polisher to move the paint creating a filling technique. Finished up with a lighter polish to remove any hologramming, then a sealant.



In the end of all of this, I did learn something, actually a few things, from it all. If nothing else, this car will make for some insane pictures. They'll be up soon :).
 
1- why waste your talent on junk?

2 - why are you under selling yourself still?

====================================



Seriously, I think that he made an honest mistake due to being "upset" by the """high price"""" you were charging him.



ALWAYS COUNT THE MONEY.



f... him! He should be happy that yoiu took the job.





I am sorry.
 
I always find it rude to count money in front of people which is why I put it straight into my pocket.



You already decided not to pursue, so the question is how to prevent this from happening to you and others. You're one of the good guys, that destructive people take advantage of.



20/20



What if the client gave you $160 and you just put it straight in your pocket without showing your appreciation.:nixweiss



Treat it like a Business and count your money, you can say, "I'll get you your change/receipt," as your counting the money. That way if there is a mistake you can catch it on the spot, or thank the customer if he say's keep the change and leaves you a big tip.



You know your regulars would not short change you and tip you well for your work. Perhaps you mistook him for one of your regulars?



5918mike might be right. :nixweiss

quote: "it's possible it was an honest mistake"



themightytimmah makes a good point-

quote: "Its also important that they know whats reasonable to expect as far as what will come out/what will not, etc. When I do a detail, I usually do a walkaround with the customer first and point out stuff that I can definetly fix, stuff that I can probably fix, stuff that I can improve, and lost causes. If you're conservative on it, its hard to get an unsatisfied customer."



There's no doubt in your talent, just be mindful of the one who undermines. Murphy is alive and well. ;)
 
I don't normally count out the money with regulars, besides, I see them count it out and most hand it to me so all bills are visible. With new customers I do and like as Soarer said, if they tipped you, it is an opportunity to thank them and let them know you appreciate it.



When the guy first brought the car to you, did you discuss a price range with him? Did you go over the car with him and show him areas that you wouldn't be able to get perfect? I've found that by doing that with rough cars, I educate the customer not only about why I charge what I charge but also what the limits of detailing are so they don't have unreal expectations.



When I did that horrible S-10 last week, I went over the whole truck with the owner to show him areas I knew I could not make perfect and the price range I was expecting the detail to run. I was pleasantly suprised when a few problem areas turned out a lot better than I expected and since I had cautioned him about what might not come out, when the truck turned out better than expected, he didn't even haggle the price and gave me the max price I had quoted.
 
i always count the money in front of the customer..........smile........and say thankyou.

they do it to everybody in the grocery store. do you get offended? of course not. so let it be a lesson. but if i were you i'd charge at least $170.00 for the work you did. and you still did good.
 
GSRstilez said:
So I detailed quite possibly the worst paint I've ever done this morning on a late 90's Eclipse. Swirl marks were a far understatement. The paint looked like it went through a paper shredder...deep scratches everywhere as well as scuffing. All the horizontal panels were oxidized and to put into perspective what it was like to clay... Go take your car down a dirty/muddy road, dont wash it, just take clay to it. I have never dealt with paint worse.





Anyways, I washed, gave an acid bath, then neutralized, clayed and had a bare surface to work with. I compounded x 2 on the entire car, did a medium cut polish, final polish, wax, and finally topped with OCW. I polished/sealed the rims and exhaust, dressed the trim, wheel wells, and tires. The windows were cleaned and I did a final inspection before he came back (did this at my house).



He got there and didn't seem to happy to see all of the scratches didn't come out. I went over with him everything I did and he asked a price. After just shy of 4 hours of work, I quoted him at $140...He questioned "$140?" and I said yes, 140. He handed me the money and I put it in my pocket. He pulled out and left. I always find it rude to count money in front of people which is why I put it straight into my pocket.



After coming inside I checked, double checked and rechecked the $120 he gave me. Short $20.



I decided not to call him back in the end. I really don't need clients like this nor do I want to do a car that abused ever again. How many other people have been shorted and what have you done about it?





Off to another detail...



Can I be objective here and ask maybe a taboo question? Are you just sticking this money in your pocket or are you actually running a real business and charging all the applicable state and federal taxes, and remitting the proper amount of income tax on that money? If not, $120 cash for 4 hours isn't too shabby. It doesn't justify the guy stiffing you on a quoted price but if it's cash then it isn't bad. I ALWAYS count the money no matter who the customer is - I got burned the same way early on and it has never happened since.
 
To clarify a bit, I got the customer through another customer whom I had an excellent business transaction(s) with. They never gave a problem, offered me drinks, bathroom, and anything else needed. I figured it would be the same if they would send someone else my way.





I called the original customer after this happened to let them know that it did happen but I do not look down upon them after it. I asked if they didn't say anything to the person as I am not totally blown over by it, just didn't want this person to dirty their name. The customer told me no matter what he'd call them and go over it and apologized for the actions took.





To answer if I went over the car, yup the whole thing. I told him the areas would be reduced but not perfect. He tried to pull the "I'll educate the person doing my work" on me and I tried my best to be polite and start a different belief.
 
There's an an expression... you can't make chicken salad out of chicken s***...



Some people abuse their cars for years and then expect miracles.



I would forget about the $20.. I highly doubt he will be coming back..and if he does... charge him the 20+ just for the aggravation!
 
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