The cost of doing business(story)

Setec Astronomy said:
Time and time again I see threads here which basically say "don't give pricing over the phone".



I guess it takes being burned by people like that to learn your leasson for a lot of people. I can't tell you how many people call me every day wanting prices and I always tell them THE PRICE STARTS AT $XXX AND GOES UP FROM THERE BASED ON CONDITION. Most of the time the car is fine but I would say 50% of the people who reply "well it's not that bad" have some kind of issue like pet hair, vomit, feces, spilled milk, gasoline or God knows what else and just think you won't charge them extra. ALWAYS quote a range for prices and never guarantee a price until you see the vehicle in person THE DAY OF the detail. I had a guy come in on a Friday once to book his car and get a quotation and when he brought it in on the Monday it was about twice as bad as 2 days earlier. He said he went and got it extra dirty "so he could get his money's worth". His price went up by 60%.
 
Yea I just had a lady do this type of thing to me this morning. I sold her husband a gift certificate a few months back for $90 (my base interior charge) she calls up to book the appointment and wants to make sure I polish out all the scratches (Black Saturn Vue that is just messed up) and degrease and shine the engine for her. I told her all that would be at an extra charge and she got all snippy with me about it. Saying last time we did everything for the $90.. I was polite in telling her that I don't think it was us because I wouldn't have done all that for $90. I said if I did do anything extra it was probably because I had extra time and I probably just washed your car. But I assure you that I didn't polish out any scratches or do the engine bay plus the entire interior for $90. And that if she really wanted all these extra done we'll talk when she comes in. She dropped it off in the middle of the night... So basically I just did the interior and nothing more. Wonder how's she's going to take it when she picks it up tonight.
 
Sales 101 tells you to never discuss price unless you're asked for one or you're collecting money. People who are price shoppers(~strokes) won't *usually* waste their's and your time stringing you along without a minimal understanding of your charges. There's so many variables that go into price like condition, clients expectation and time frame that I will not give a firm price and will only give a relatively large price range instead. Unless a vehicle condition is seen or known and I physically discuss the job with the client to get an understanding of their needs, I won't quote a price. People that shop for the cheapest price, usually aren't the best clients to deal with anyways. Quoting prices without being able to build value in you and your services will ultimately leave money on the table for the next shop the shopper calls to grab.



If someone were to call me to have them clean up vomit, I'd be asking lots of questions to help me understand the scope of the job & the customer's expectations. I don't see it a super hard thing to wipe down the door panels/dash and shampoo/extract the carpets. If you have the proper tools/products, this type of cleaning is not that big of a deal and doesn't take that much longer to complete. Yes, Bio-Hazard requires special safety gear and chemicals (and a higher charge due to the risks involved), but as long as you're trained to do the job correctly, it's a breeze. People that charge 10X's their normal rate because they're scared to do something usually means they lack the knowledge to do the job correctly and efficiently.



Also, it's mandatory to have a signed repair order with price ranges listed before starting a job. If you do a job without an endorsement/agreement, the customer can refuse to pay and win if challenged. If common sense isn't used by people running their businesses, I can assure you that these "costs of doing business" will escalate.
 
Those are some good points David. I don't have the training or equipment to do bio hazards in cusomers' cars, but being a dad - Ive cleaned up my share of them from my kids! Difference being - they were my little bundles of joy and I couldn't ask someone else to do it. I turned down a minivan a while back after a friend of the owners told me that one of the kids picks his nose and...well, no thanks.
 
I used to clean carpets professionally. After cleaning up sewer back-ups and plenty of bodily excretions, I can handle vomit.



But I won't do it for the same price as my usual wash price. They aren't paying me for only my time but also my knowledge in getting it done right the first time. ;)
 
Hey guys, take it from a former cop... be careful with bodily fluids. Cleaning up some stranger's mess is a whole lot different than wiping Junior's fanny. You're probably certain that your own little bundle of joy is not carrying HIV or Hepatitis.



It's not about whether you can take it, or the gross-out factor. This is a life and death matter.
 
David,



Keep in mind that I am not a doctor, I only play one on the internet. :LOLOL



My layman's understanding is that any fluid that can carry blood has the potential of transmitting several diseases, including hepatitis. The virus could be introduced through a wound, or via the eyes, nose or mouth. Granted this is an unlikely scenario, but why expose yourself and your family when some simple precautions are very effective in preventing disease?



The reason that I expressed some concern was that I read into some posts... "I've cleaned up puke all my adult life... What's the big deal?" I was a slow learner when I was an invincible (translate much younger) patrolman. After about my tenth TB screen, I started taking this stuff seriously.
 
I would have flipped it around on her and said my rate is X to clean this... If you were me, how much would it cost to have you clean human vomit out of a car, and not in your spare time, but for a living... People just dont understand the value of work sometimes, and its really sad. Obviously there are many that are understanding and very appreciative, but thats business for you. Personally, I have made the switch to hourly, bc I don't have to keep worrying about price. With a job like that it will take longer and that will costs more. I am always honest and hard working with my customers and I havent had an issue yet. There are def people out there that just dont care though. Hopefully you wont get a puker again.
 
well remember also the worst thing about vomit clean up is the smell. If you have any common sense at all you'll never pyshically touch it. (at least I know I wouldn't) Weather you shop vac it steam it or (pending on location if feesable) powerwash it you'll never actually touch it. I'd treat it in the same category as skunk or pet odor removal. (same basic process to clean up any of them) if you have an extra charge for that so be it (in this case definatly because she tried to decieve you in the first place) if you don't have an upcharge for this type of thing then just refuse the work.
 
In this situation, I would turn the job down very quickly. For one, I do not care to clean up vomit at any price. Second, she is very unlikely ever to call you again. I am very hesitant to do work for people I suspect will never call again.
 
FWIW, I won't touch a car like that for any fee. I must have a weak stomach but I'm sure I would have added to the problem. LOL
 
Back
Top