What would you charge for this...

Jngrbrdman

New member
I've got a repeat customer who is the referal of a really good customer who wants me to get some fall detailing done for him. We are talking clay, polish, sealant, engine, interior... the works. He wants it done on a 996 Porsche, an H2, and a Toyota Land Cruiser. His vehicles are likely not trashed, but they are all going to require the minimum amount of time to do a complete detail. The H2 and Land Cruiser are likely going to be five or six hour jobs apiece. I've got an interior detailer who will be doing those on all three, so I am hoping that I can get them all done in a day and a half.

So my question is, what would you charge? Typically I would charge $160 for the Porsche, $240 for the H2 and probably $240 for the Land Cruiser too. $600+ would be a nice day for sure, but I don't know if that is enough or too much. I hate HATE hate doing H2s. There is way too much real estate on those suckers. I don't want to wind up making $20/hr on these jobs, but I don't want to screw a friend of a great customer. So I'm having a little bit of a dilema. What do you guys think?

Oh, and he lives about 30 minutes away as well, so I would be traveling a couple hours if I have to go there twice. That sort of factors in too. Do I charge him for travel and cut him a deal on the jobs, or free travel and normal fees for the jobs. Aragahhh!! I hate this part of the job....
 
Personally I think the prices you mentioned are fair for both parties. I wouldn't charge for traveling just factor it into the detail. If you start throwing all these numbers at the guy it might turn him off. It happened to me once. What you think might be fair for traveling this guy might not think is fair.
 
I've got a repeat customer who is the referal of a really good customer who wants me to get some fall detailing done for him. We are talking clay, polish, sealant, engine, interior... the works. He wants it done on a 996 Porsche, an H2, and a Toyota Land Cruiser. His vehicles are likely not trashed, but they are all going to require the minimum amount of time to do a complete detail. The H2 and Land Cruiser are likely going to be five or six hour jobs apiece. I've got an interior detailer who will be doing those on all three, so I am hoping that I can get them all done in a day and a half.

So my question is, what would you charge? Typically I would charge $160 for the Porsche, $240 for the H2 and probably $240 for the Land Cruiser too. $600+ would be a nice day for sure, but I don't know if that is enough or too much. I hate HATE hate doing H2s. There is way too much real estate on those suckers. I don't want to wind up making $20/hr on these jobs, but I don't want to screw a friend of a great customer. So I'm having a little bit of a dilema. What do you guys think?

Oh, and he lives about 30 minutes away as well, so I would be traveling a couple hours if I have to go there twice. That sort of factors in too. Do I charge him for travel and cut him a deal on the jobs, or free travel and normal fees for the jobs. Aragahhh!! I hate this part of the job....
Keep in mind that all you have to sell is your time and your knowledge. If you start giving either away, then what do you do. :)
Based on what most of you guys seem to consider a going rate of $40 an hour, you're probably pretty close on your prices.
$40 an hour may be all the traffic will bear in this field, but it's tough to make any money at that price after all your expenses.
One thing I learned a long time ago, people hate to pay for your travel. If you have all three in one location, not charging him any travel time might work. It wouldn't cost you a lot and makes him feel good. If they don't take as long as expected, you could give him a little break on the total after you know how much work the three vehicles required.

addendum: Make sure he knows he is getting a deal because of three at a time and being a friend of your good customer.
 
As I was reading your post I was adding up in my mind what this may be worth. You actually came up about $10 lower than my mind suggested. You're certainly in the ballpark. I wouldn't bother with travel where you have 3 vehicles in one location. It's no different than having 3 separate details 15 miles apart. You likely wouldn't charge travel on those and the combined travel would be somewhat the same. The very description of the vehicles seems to say he's got money. The minute you make a discount you've set the standard. You are worth exactly what you are worth and that is for you to decide. I'm thinking your market will handle it.

I haven't been able to work on my fathers truck recently. He's getting older and is now very antsy. He couldn't wait 2 or 3 weeks for me to get on it. His truck is a 2008 F150 SuperCrew (lots of real estate). He ended up going to a drive through located in our area (SuperSonic). I don't know if these are up your way or not. He had the works done to it, wash, wax, 2 separate interior services, mats etc. He walked out of there an hour and something later with a $180 bill and never thought another thing about it. All I could do is look at the swirls I would have to fix next time I'm on it.
 
Thanks for that feedback. Yeah, typically I don't tell them exactly how the prices break down when it comes to travel, time, product, etc. When he is giving me three cars I definitely feel that I should probably give him a break. I'll tell you one thing though... I do NOT want to do that H2. They aren't like other vehicles when you are detailing them. Nothing on them is easy to reach because they are so stinking tall and wide. I'm a tall guy at 6'2", but getting the hood and the roof done required me to get pretty dangerous. They are just way too big. The nice thing is that this one is a goldish/champange color and it won't take a lot of effort to get it looking good. At least it isn't black. I don't think I would do it if it were black.
 
Thanks for that feedback. Yeah, typically I don't tell them exactly how the prices break down when it comes to travel, time, product, etc. When he is giving me three cars I definitely feel that I should probably give him a break. I'll tell you one thing though... I do NOT want to do that H2. They aren't like other vehicles when you are detailing them. Nothing on them is easy to reach because they are so stinking tall and wide. I'm a tall guy at 6'2", but getting the hood and the roof done required me to get pretty dangerous. They are just way too big. The nice thing is that this one is a goldish/champange color and it won't take a lot of effort to get it looking good. At least it isn't black. I don't think I would do it if it were black.
But, if you didn't do the Hummer, would you still be able to do the other 2 vehicles.
Probably not. :D
FWIW, the goldish/champagne color is probably the dirt and mud from when he was offroading with it. :rofl
 
lol I suppose that is possible. I heard that he bought this car earlier this year and I have actually been dreading the call to come out and detail it. I swore earlier this summer that I would never do another H2, but when there are two other vehicles involved and it is an opportunity to make some pretty good money, I just have a hard time turning it down. All hail to the almighty dollar, right? ...i'm such a sellout.
 
But, if you didn't do the Hummer, would you still be able to do the other 2 vehicles.
Probably not. :D
FWIW, the goldish/champagne color is probably the dirt and mud from when he was offroading with it. :rofl
lol I suppose that is possible.
I did see one covered in mud at a service station about a year ago. I mentioned to the driver that it was the first one I had seen that looked like it was being used for it's intended purpose.
He was a pipeline inspector and said that where he wanted to go, he either drove it to and from or it had to be winched out. It did have a winch on it. :)
 
I do NOT want to do that H2. They aren't like other vehicles when you are detailing them. Nothing on them is easy to reach because they are so stinking tall and wide. I'm a tall guy at 6'2", but getting the hood and the roof done required me to get pretty dangerous.
I hear you, I'm 6'3" and I've always owned a truck, many of them lifted. With a truck you can get in the bed and do the roof. With the onset of Crew Cabs this isn't necessarily the case. I've never done a Hummer, I have done F350 Crew Cab 4X4's. It's probably similar.

I invested in a quality step stool so to speak. This is an iffy proposition because much damage can occur to both deatailer and vehicle should one slip from under you. It needs to be a quality product. Ultimately I ended up with a Little Giant. Might be worth a look. The 3 step model is what I settled on. It doesn't move on me while reaching. I'm sure you could tip anything over should you try. By the way I throw a towel over the top rail/handle for those just in case moments.

Little Giant ® Safety Step Stepladder by Little Giant Ladder ®
 
If it was me and someone wanted a full detail on this vehicles then my price would be 1800.00 for all. But that's me. A 996 full detail for me is 700, the H2 is 600, and the Toyota is 500. These are my prices for my area.
 
Maybe take another approach... is it possible to get all three done in one day? It would be with a helper (or two). The insides, washing, drying, wheels, wheel wells, dressing, etc. can be done by just about anybody -- and at $8/hr (a ten hour day is $88). you work a little less and get more accomplished quicker.

Next, these are big cars -- they take time, he wants them done right, and obviosly he can afford it -- charge him $624 -- to get their, it's $300 on the H2, $280 on the Toyota, and $200 on the Porsche --less 20% as a "Multi-car Discount" (300+280+200=780-20%=624). Get them all done in one day, you work a little smarter, not harder, you have another day open for another client, yes you have to subtract the labor, but you put the balance in your pocket and in the long run you will make much more by having others do the work.

Also, by charging a little more, you help us all out (industry wide) by adding value to our skills and by not devaluing our services.
 
If it was me and someone wanted a full detail on this vehicles then my price would be 1800.00 for all. But that's me. A 996 full detail for me is 700, the H2 is 600, and the Toyota is 500. These are my prices for my area.

Yeah, that sounds like a nice area to be a detailer. Here is my question though... The 996 is a tiny car. It has got to be less than third of the surface area of the H2. I could fit it inside of the Land Crusier probably. Why would one charge a hundred bucks more for a such tiny vehicle? Do they base prices on the type of car or the amount of work out there? A customer would have to be pretty dense to pay three times what a job is worth just because of the badge on the hood.

I'll have help with me. I have an interior detailer who knows what she is doing and will help make the job go much quicker. I don't believe it will get done in one day by any means. My plan is to go out on a Friday and get the Porsche done and then come back on Saturday morning and bust out the other two vehicles on that day. I expect to earn my money next weekend for sure.
 
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