What would YOU charge?

[Turbonator]

here's my question for all the other pros out there and anyone one else who cares to chime in. i'm curious as to what YOU would charge to shampoo the entire interior of a super-stretch H2 Hummer with non-scotchguarded zebra print carpets, a super-stretch Navigator with non-scotchguarded dark gray carpets, and a super-stretch H1 Hummer with non-scotchguarded tan carpets. all three sets pf capets are actually carpeted mats over the original carpetting which also has to be shampooed. these aren't done regularly and the zebra print is pretty much beige instead of white and the dark gray mats are brown, and i haven't had a look at the tan carpets yet but i'm sure they're horrible as well. i've got the little durrmaid hot water extractor. for each of these vehicles it takes a minimum of 3 hours to do the carpets if not more. the customer is a PITA and is already asking for larger than a 20% discount(he's not getting it) off of my hourly rate. i charge by the hour for anything outside the normal passenger vehicle(car,truck,van,suv,etc.). what would you charge the guy? it's just for my info cuz i think once i get my money for doing the work on the navigator i'm gonna tell him to take a hike, if i can get my money without too much hassle.

 

[Jngrbrdman]

I charge $40 per hour. Upon inspection of the vehicles I could then give an estimate. It would depend on how long I felt it would take to complete based on what they wanted done and the condition. I tend to stick to my estimate price in the end even if I overshoot my figured time a bit. Sometimes I'm under and sometimes I'm over. It just teaches me to learn how to be more accurate. I'm pretty good at guessing within 45 minutes either way on how long something will take.

 

[imported_Luster1]

My going rate is about $35 an hour.



Typically, for a large SUV:



1. Exterior wash, dry, dress....1.5 hours

2. 2 layers of Zaino/ZFX.........2.5 hours

3. Interior, jambs, hinges........1.5 hours

4. Engine bay.........................1 hour



Around 6.5 hours. Or $227.50....rounded to $225.

 

[imported_edschwab1]

I would give the client an estimate based on your standard hourly rate. These limos sound like they will take a couple of hours a piece. Let the client know the amount of work involved in restoring the carpets to a presentable condition. I think you will need more firepower than the durramaid.



Will this lead to steady work? Will you receive referrals from this?



Eric

 

[Ryan]

The durmaid is the spotter right? If you try a larger machine with heat and recovery I'd say this will easily cut your time in half.



Personally I would not negotiate with the customer. In your case, if he seems hesitant, I would bet he is thinking of where to bring the vehicle and have it done for less. In this case, offer you lowest price of $100. Keep the customer happy but, remind him to use your services when he needs anything else done.



Ryan

 

[Spilchy]

Please post pics of zebra striped hummer interior so we can all make fun of it and the cheesey people would dare rent such a revolting item.

 

[BumpersPlus2]

If this person is already being a jerk, send him to the hackers. Im not in this business to haggle, negotiate, or argue over my prices. I will give a break for multiple vehicles, sometimes for referrals that MAKE their appt. etc. I try to never let a customer get on my nerves, does he negotiate with his Dr. bill? I am not saying I have even close a dr's level of education, but I DO know the level of my abilities and experience. If someone has a problem with the dr. analogy, how about the bug guy every year, or the yard maint. , the power bill , etc. I dont think a professional should negotiate, but always over deliver on service. If this guy is already being aggresive before you even do the vehicles, how is he going to be when your done? Sorry for the ramble.

 

[Turbonator]

thanks for your replies, but Bumpers Plus you've hit the nail on the head. that is exactly how i was thinking about the whole situation. i have done the vehicles once before and he was a jerk then too. i completely agree with your dr. analogy; i don't feel like i need to "bid" on a job. i've already got enough business that i'm totally booked 7 days a week. he seems to be acting as if he's doing me a favor when it's actually the other way around; i'm doing him a favor by giving him a discount that i don't even offer to anyone else. i really don't need his business and besides, he's not getting me any extra business anyway.

 

[jimmybuffit]

For me, each 'stretch' is $300, minimum.

My experience with most (not all) limo firms is negative, they are hustlers by nature...



If you don't NEED the biz, exercise your perogative, charge him 20% MORE.



Jim

 

[Scottwax]

If this person is already being a jerk, send him to the hackers. Im not in this business to haggle, negotiate, or argue over my prices. I will give a break for multiple vehicles, sometimes for referrals that MAKE their appt. etc. I try to never let a customer get on my nerves, does he negotiate with his Dr. bill? I am not saying I have even close a dr's level of education, but I DO know the level of my abilities and experience. If someone has a problem with the dr. analogy, how about the bug guy every year, or the yard maint. , the power bill , etc. I dont think a professional should negotiate, but always over deliver on service. If this guy is already being aggresive before you even do the vehicles, how is he going to be when your done? Sorry for the ramble.

Agreed, and like sonnydaze said, when you are booked 7 days in advance as it is with customers paying your asking price, you just don't need customers like this guy sounds like.



I get used car lots calling me and wanting me to detail their POS's for $50-60 each. I tell them my minumum for used car lot cars is $125 and that is for small cars in decent shape. They will then tell me they can get me 5-6 cars a week if I drop down to their price and I have to explain to them I am booked up 5-7 days in advance all the time and there is no way I will turn down private customers with nicer cars who pay more to do some POS from an auto auction, and the more cars I would do for them, the more money I would lose.



I also occasionally get the one who want to haggle on the price when I haven't even seen the car. Ugh. I just don't need the headaches.

 

[Taxlady]

As everyone else has said, if the guy is a PITA, then skip it, if you can at all afford to.



My experience with clients (consulting and income tax) is that the ones who try to bargain are a headache. And, they usually want you to do exta stuff for them for no extra fee, which they will usually wait to tell you about until you've started the work.

 

[safetyman2010]

For me, each 'stretch' is $300, minimum.

My experience with most (not all) limo firms is negative, they are hustlers by nature...



If you don't NEED the biz, exercise your perogative, charge him 20% MORE.



Jim

A local limo place is now the "newest auto detail shop" in my city. They are located in the seediest part of town and are just cleaning cars to keep their employees busy when not working on the limos - sound like someone you would want working on your car?

 

[DaGonz]

I did some detailing for limo company on a part time basis... it's was a thankless job.



Some of the drivers who complained the most about the way the passenger area looked were absolute expletive deleted slobs in the driver's area.



The worst vehicles in the fleet were the "party barges"... the van based 15+ passenger busses ... they would come back smelling like a brewery, with all kinds of crap on the floors.



The second worse were the limos rented out for bachelorette parties... The girl's couldn't hold their liquor well, and in some cases... barf city!



The upside was the pay was decent, and I worked with another detailer who was a DOD cop and worked 4 to midnight shift at a military facility who knew his stuff.



We quit when they hired a new "fleet manager" who basically told us it was either quit our full time jobs or leave, as they needed someone there 7 days a week...



Ironically, a year later, I got a phone call from the "fleet manager" who "told" me to come in...they were in a bind (apparently, their "detailers" quit on them).



I reminded him that ....



1. He drove two good detailers out of the company.



2. I no longer worked for him.



3. I could come in... my "emergency rate" would be $100 an hour, as I did not know what condition the vehicles were in.... and theu would have to pay me in cash!



After he told me I was crazy to demand $100 an hour, I agreed with him... and told him that's the rate, take it or leave it ...and then he told me he would have to talk to the owner, and that he was "really, really desperate" and would call me back.



Of course, he never called.....

 

[Scottwax]

I only detail a couple of limos and both are privately owned. I prefer it that way. Limo companies don't usually pay enough and the insides are trashed.



Both the ones I do are always in great shape overall.

 

[safetyman2010]

I did some detailing for limo company on a part time basis... it's was a thankless job.



Some of the drivers who complained the most about the way the passenger area looked were absolute expletive deleted slobs in the driver's area.



The worst vehicles in the fleet were the "party barges"... the van based 15+ passenger busses ... they would come back smelling like a brewery, with all kinds of crap on the floors.



The second worse were the limos rented out for bachelorette parties... The girl's couldn't hold their liquor well, and in some cases... barf city!



The upside was the pay was decent, and I worked with another detailer who was a DOD cop and worked 4 to midnight shift at a military facility who knew his stuff.



We quit when they hired a new "fleet manager" who basically told us it was either quit our full time jobs or leave, as they needed someone there 7 days a week...



Ironically, a year later, I got a phone call from the "fleet manager" who "told" me to come in...they were in a bind (apparently, their "detailers" quit on them).



I reminded him that ....



1. He drove two good detailers out of the company.



2. I no longer worked for him.



3. I could come in... my "emergency rate" would be $100 an hour, as I did not know what condition the vehicles were in.... and theu would have to pay me in cash!



After he told me I was crazy to demand $100 an hour, I agreed with him... and told him that's the rate, take it or leave it ...and then he told me he would have to talk to the owner, and that he was "really, really desperate" and would call me back.



Of course, he never called.....

Looks good on him. He sounds like the "typical" old school mentality used car managers I deal with on occasion who just don't get it that you are one of their most valuable assets. Feels nice to "give back" to somone who treated you so well in the past doesn't it? :xyxthumbs