Twista616 said:
Example...I did a full detail...quoted the guy after I inspected the car...is was an X5...in the rear there was excessive dog hair...i charged an extra hour to remove it...but what I didnt realize, the dog hair was ALL over the car..under seats everywhere...
..since I already quoted him for the job already, I couldn't go back and charge more...bad business practices...but i removed every piece of dog hair...took forever, may have costed me some money, but I didnt half *** the job...it paid off since the client had me do 3 other cars he has...
Just dont sell yourself short...tell them upfront...this its what its going to cost...and let them know, you dont do half *** work...(dont say it like that though!)
The above is the correct way to go about it. :up
Many years ago I stopped doing "detail packages" and instead went for an hourly rate. So when someone calls or talks with me and the age old question is asked, "Hey, how much for a detail?" My reply is now,
"Well, what do you mean by detail? Do you want a wash and wax because I can do that for $80.00 or are you looking to have the interior and exterior completely gone through, every nook and cranny and Q-tipped?"
Now the original post -
I've come across quite a few jobs where the car was totally neglected on the inside. Spending 30+ minutes just to get a thorough vacuum job done kinda-work. Sand and heavy soiling.
I personally have a hard time cutting myself off. Vacuuming is such a "basic" on interior cleanings. How in the world do you handle situations where it's so filthy but a time-consuming vacuum job would take care of it? It's one thing when I am already charging $45 for a basic interior cleaning. It's another when I quote a group of folks $45 for basic int/ext on a small car and each one needs an hour and half for the "basic" due to being neglected.
Is there a point where you tell them you only spend so much time on an area like that?
A great tool to have with you is an air compressor. On those cars with all types of small particles strewn about the carpets and under the seats it can be a huge time saver as it allows you to blow the majority either out of the car or at least loosen a lot of it to make for easier vacuuming. You can also use your compressor to apply tire dressings.
In your case then you need to pre-define what you mean by "basic vacuum" to your customers.
Potential client - "Hey, how much for a wash and vacuum?"
You - "Well my normal price is AROUND $XX.00 for a basic wash and vacuum on a 4 door sedan but if you allow me to look at the car I can give you an exact price?"
This allows you to give the potential client 2 prices, maybe even 3 prices. The first price is to wash it plus a thorough vacuum, meaning you'll get under the seats, the vents and as much dog hair, sand, etc. as possible up and out of the car.
The next price is a standard wash and vacuum while the possible third price could be for stain removal, etc.
Personally I go by an hourly rate. If you're spending over an hour on an interior and exterior and only charging $45.00 then you most likely are making little to no profit when you take into account your cost for products, towels, tools, gas to get there if mobile, etc.
If no one listens to anything I ever post up that's fine BUT they would be fools to not listen to this one piece of advice......never sell yourself out of your own livelihood.
Anthony
). I guess I have consolation in the fact that the customers were happy. It seemed to reinforce the paint of discussing with the customer what they wanted done, and with starting out many a good, brutal reality check type lessons have been learned.