Talking prices with customers

[imported_JoshVette]

I have a question when charging hourly. Do you tell the customer well I charge $50 an hour, then explain what is involved with the detail and tell them it will take between 5-8 hrs to complete. Or is there a different approach? What if your customer is looking for their car to look better then they can get it with wax but not looking to pay what it will take to do a paint correction? Would you tell them you can do that in 4-6 hours and do a one step?

I would not compromise the quality of work because someone either doesn't want to pay that much or can't afford to pay that much.



I'd love to help every car on the road but no way I can afford to work for cheap or less then what I'm worth.



If they want there car looking new again the only other option is to have it repainted and I'm sure they won't like that price.



Josh

 

[LeadingEdgeDetail]

I have a question when charging hourly. Do you tell the customer well I charge $50 an hour, then explain what is involved with the detail and tell them it will take between 5-8 hrs to complete. Or is there a different approach? What if your customer is looking for their car to look better then they can get it with wax but not looking to pay what it will take to do a paint correction? Would you tell them you can do that in 4-6 hours and do a one step?

A better approach would be to do the math in your head and just have a total for the customer, then tell them what you will be doing.



In your head think "This is gonna take me about 5 hours, so $50/h $250 should be reasonable" and then tell the customer "Total charge will be $250, and that will include yadda yadda blah blah"



Customers usually just want a total anyway, not how you came up with it.

 

[imported_sal3291]

Thanks guys

 

[MCWD]

I honestly am taking a different approach with the price making. I have made it clear to my customers that I charge a fee of $60/hr. If they are price driven with the work they want done, then I pinpoint what they are looking for exactly and give them options. An example would be, I had a customer that wanted to have his car look good, but didn't care to much about correction. I offered to do my signature wash which includes an in depth wash, vac, windows, tire shine, etc. Then I said I would clay and apply a one step product that would take me around an hr. For that, it came to $120. Then this past Sat, I had a customer that wanted me to only work on his paint and make it as perfect as possible. He taped everything off, removed plates, and had it ready to go. I spent 7 hrs doing paint correction. Prior to doing the work I assumed it would take about 6 hrs maybe more, because I had to clay, compound, intense polish, nano polish, and wax. I havent had any issues with how I tackle my new pricing as of yet! Learning new ways to handle the customers that don't want perfection, and are price driven has been much easier when I tell them about my one step ontop of the signature wash service I offer. Any additional scenario's would be appreciated though!

 

[imported_mystic04]

I charge by the hour and ask the customer up front what are they looking from me and what do they expect their car to look like after i am finished. This way i know just what i am in for job wise and the customer will have a good idea of the cost at price per hour of work. not being a full time person i can charge less, and custom fit to a persons needs and price range. so far i haven't had any problems at my set per hour wage.I also try to educate as to why this or that should be done like claying some don't know what it is at all. I asked one person to ask the last place who did his car to see if they clayed at all and they don't.telling them just what you are going to do helps in the long run with pricing.

 

[MCWD]

I charge by the hour and ask the customer up front what are they looking from me and what do they expect their car to look like after i am finished. This way i know just what i am in for job wise and the customer will have a good idea of the cost at price per hour of work. not being a full time person i can charge less, and custom fit to a persons needs and price range. so far i haven't had any problems at my set per hour wage.I also try to educate as to why this or that should be done like claying some don't know what it is at all. I asked one person to ask the last place who did his car to see if they clayed at all and they don't.telling them just what you are going to do helps in the long run with pricing.

Thanks for your opinion!:spot