Richie's Custom Detailing
New member
David Fermani said:
David,
Who do you consider to be the most successful in the industry?
I consider myself to be pretty successful and I don't offer a warranty of any kind.
Why don't detailers sell warranties? You are losing $$.
- Thread starter imported_Quenga
- Start date
David,
Who do you consider to be the most successful in the industry?
I consider myself to be pretty successful and I don't offer a warranty of any kind.
RaskyR1
Rasky's Auto Detailing
Every time I buy new cars or electronics I always opt for the extended warranty!
NOT!!!
NOT!!!
RaskyR1
Rasky's Auto Detailing
ExplicitDetails said:
They are banking on you never returning with a warranty claim. If you do happen to file a claim they will try and find a way to void it on the basis of neglect or failure to comply with the terms (See annual inspection/reapplication).
Richard Grasa
New member
RaskyR1 said:
What I'm asking is why is he defending the dealers in his first post, wanting to know why detailers call these things gimmicks, yet bashing them on his website saying these things ARE gimmicks.
imported_Quenga
New member
David Fermani said:
Degrees don't make you successful, but they are a start. I don't use college to get me a job, I use it as an opportunity to learn from others. I do not go to a traditional 4-year college. Most of the people are in their 30's-50's and "re-inventing" themselves. I network with these individuals and learn from their experience. I'm also majoring in Entrepreneurship and learning from teachers and mentors that have survived the test of time and become successful.
"A formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune." Jim Cohn, mentor to Tony Robbins.
I just stated I am pursuing a degree and look at things differently. Some people want to be the best, some just want to make a living. I do quality work, I'm not shady and I stand behind all of it. I even offer a money-back guarantee and ALL my customers understand what this means. I will force my customers to listen to me and agree to my terms, lol. I protect myself, I'm not saying that's not on the table.
Flash Gordon said:
As a new business, I can afford to wash cars bi-weekly. Right now it's a marketing opportunity. When I break out the wash mat, say hi to people as they walk/drive by and get to know people in the neighborhood, I am constantly marketing my services. Until I am busy enough to require minimums, it's an opportunity cost I'm willing to take. It's working well for me.
Again, I started the business to learn hands on. I am not concerned about making a full-time living off this stuff. As said, it's hard work and I've already got bad knees and a screwy back. Even if I wanted to, I could not stay on the labor side of things for too long. I am destined to be behind a desk, and behind a desk, you have to think differently. NOT unethically, I am NOT about that. Is it unethical for people to put things on layway? Is it unethical for people to pay interest on credit cards? (the rates, maybe, the idea, no).
For instance. For monthly maintenance plans I require customers to pay $200 up front. They get weekly washes, monthly waxes and bi-annual details. In the end they save up to $200 from paying my regular pricing. However, I get $200 up front. Is that unethical? I don't think so. I haven't had a customer think it was. If they did, well I have other options for them.
ExplicitDetails said:
You're right, I wrote that, because I had my head pointed in a different direction. I wrote it a long time ago and never fixed it. A conversation I was having with a few other entrepreneurs spiked my interest. Research on other warranties and companies already offering these services (CarPro/Optimum) changed my point of view.
Are the dealerships really selling a gimmick? That's the question I asked myself. As someone mentioned above, someone gets their car worked on twice a year. I think she's getting her monies worth. Am I suggesting you sell the same warranty? No. Can we, together, as independent thinkers, detailers, professionals...come up with a better warranty? One that is more up front with customers? The dealers can afford to clean the car twice a year, we can't, so why would we imply this in the warranty?
From my point of view, it's good for detailers, better for customers to buy a warranty from us than the dealership. When you purchase a warranty from a dealership you are paying a commission to the sales person, a commission to the dealership and an underwriting fee to the insurance/warranty company. Do they hope you don't come back? Probably, but health, car, dental, vision, unemployment, medicare and social security all hope you don't collect either. To me, that's too much of a cynical point of view. Do some think that way, yes, I do not deny that.
Again, can we offer a BETTER warranty for our customers? We already charge extra for a better service. People already charge extra for Opti-Coat. Did I once think the dealerships were complete bastards? Yes. Do I see an opportunity to offer a BETTER warranty that benefits the detailer and the customer? I think so.
What if I came up with a warranty program that all detailers could buy in nationally. The fund would be the insurance for the disaster scenarios. You can require customers to come back to you. I already tell my customers I don't guarantee anything done by any other detailer or car wash. If they don't use me for all maintenance, they don't get any warranty. That includes my headlight restorations. IF the customer doesn't agree to my terms, they don't get the warranty. I protect myself and keep them as a regular. If not, I do not agree to any warranty, guarantee, promise or other such insurance.
It's only the spark of an idea. I realize there is much more to it. Unlike most of you guys, I have the time to dive into this. This IS what I started my business for. I don't need to detail to make money. I have already learned a lot from everyone's input. Both for and against it. I think it's possible. Google is "just another search engine", why would they ever take on Yahoo!??
Accumulator
Well-known member
Quenga said:
Just poking my nose into this thread to say *BRAVO* regarding the above! Gee, somebody *gets it*..college is not some white-collar vocational school; it's a chance to learn stuff, all kinds of stuff.
imported_Quenga
New member
Explicit, let me ask you a question.
You state on your website that Opti-Coat is a permanent coating. Do you have any proof of this, other than the company's statement? How are you protecting yourself against that one crisis customer that decides to polish his/her car and removes the coating, then comes back and blames you that it wasn't permanent?
You state that you are "highly trained". What formal training do you have? Are you self taught? What does "highly" imply??
You state that headlight failure can block up to 80% of light output and you can restore it to 100%. Where's your proof of this? Where's your research or testing. What if some crazy scientist has the ability to determine the changes of light output and only receives 99%, then sues you? How are you protecting yourself against this?
Rhetorical questions, but I want to prove a point. You guys already offer an implied warranty with your services, but you are not retaining customers. Customers can sue you for whatever they want, even if it has nothing to do with anything you did. We get liability/garage insurance right? Why not have your customers pay for this "insurance" through a warranty?
I know this idea is much bigger than I understand right now. If I wanted to take it on by myself, I wouldn't have posted the thread. So far I've got 4 pages of input in less than 24 hours. It's a start gentleman, that's all I'm looking for. My business is about learning and experiencing, your business is about detailing and surviving. Another reason I stated my degree pursuit, I would like to become a consultant and help businesses succeed. I am not about being unethical at all.
You state on your website that Opti-Coat is a permanent coating. Do you have any proof of this, other than the company's statement? How are you protecting yourself against that one crisis customer that decides to polish his/her car and removes the coating, then comes back and blames you that it wasn't permanent?
You state that you are "highly trained". What formal training do you have? Are you self taught? What does "highly" imply??
You state that headlight failure can block up to 80% of light output and you can restore it to 100%. Where's your proof of this? Where's your research or testing. What if some crazy scientist has the ability to determine the changes of light output and only receives 99%, then sues you? How are you protecting yourself against this?
Rhetorical questions, but I want to prove a point. You guys already offer an implied warranty with your services, but you are not retaining customers. Customers can sue you for whatever they want, even if it has nothing to do with anything you did. We get liability/garage insurance right? Why not have your customers pay for this "insurance" through a warranty?
I know this idea is much bigger than I understand right now. If I wanted to take it on by myself, I wouldn't have posted the thread. So far I've got 4 pages of input in less than 24 hours. It's a start gentleman, that's all I'm looking for. My business is about learning and experiencing, your business is about detailing and surviving. Another reason I stated my degree pursuit, I would like to become a consultant and help businesses succeed. I am not about being unethical at all.
RaskyR1
Rasky's Auto Detailing
ExplicitDetails said:
Sorry, I should have read all the posts first.
Nth Degree
New member
Some people's thinking about a warranty offered to them is "Yeah, right!" With only a few exceptions this is a business of a degrading product/service. What exactly are we warrantying? Really, what it sounds like is an implied contract; the customer is locked into your services to keep the warranty valid. A warranty that requires your regular service implies that the warranty really isn't much of a guarantee and can cause skepticism of your credibility and character. By being honest and up-front about the capabilities and reasonable expectations of a product or service we offer, combined with a recommended maintenance plan, we should be able to turn the customer into a repeat customer.
When a company tries to sell me an extended warranty for an item my first thought is "Why don't they simply build a better product, charge a little more for it, and guarantee it for free?" I think this is the thought process of most detailers. We take great pride in the high quality of work we do and don't need a gimmick/warranty to try to extract more money from the customer under false pretenses. If someone comes back with an issue that is a result of my work I will take care of it, no questions asked. If it is something the customer did, I might correct it at a discount and try to explain to them the error of their ways. If someone tries to take advantage of me I can send them packing and not worry that they have some claim about what I guaranteed.
When a company tries to sell me an extended warranty for an item my first thought is "Why don't they simply build a better product, charge a little more for it, and guarantee it for free?" I think this is the thought process of most detailers. We take great pride in the high quality of work we do and don't need a gimmick/warranty to try to extract more money from the customer under false pretenses. If someone comes back with an issue that is a result of my work I will take care of it, no questions asked. If it is something the customer did, I might correct it at a discount and try to explain to them the error of their ways. If someone tries to take advantage of me I can send them packing and not worry that they have some claim about what I guaranteed.
imported_Quenga
New member
Richie Carbone said:
He said among, not are. Everyone offers an implied warranty whether they say so or not.
Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law | BCP Business Center
Guys, I'm not just talking out of my *** with some random idea. I have put a lot of thought into this and I know it's not an easy process or everyone's point of view. But, I am taking this serious as a potential opportunity that could help detailers. It can't hurt to try, can it?
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to please everybody." ~ Bill Cosby
"What I can't figure out is why he is even trying. He knows he can't win." ~ Bill Gates talking about Steve Jobs in 1997/8 when Apple almost went under.
autoconcierge
New member
Deleted for good cause...................
rustytruck
Afterglow-detailing
If you want to be a business consultant helping businesses succeed you need a proven track record not a degree. You need to sell your detailing operation for a nice profit then take that money start a different business, sell that for even more money then repeat the process 6 or 7 times. Once you have that type of record then people will pay you to help them. With that kind of record no one will care about your degree.
First things first. You should try to get out of the car washing business. I only offered washes for the first few months. You quickly learn they are not worth it. I just liked your Facebook page so I can follow your progress. Good luck.
First things first. You should try to get out of the car washing business. I only offered washes for the first few months. You quickly learn they are not worth it. I just liked your Facebook page so I can follow your progress. Good luck.
Richard Grasa
New member
Quenga said:
My training came from working in what I consider one of the best aftermarket paint/body shops in the country, many hours studying about paint, and countless hours fine tuning my correction skills in the school of hard knocks. It may not be formal detailing training, but I consider myself "highly trained" when it comes to the subject of paint correction.
I do not have scientific proof to back up the claims I have made under the headlight restoration, and you bring up a good point.
As for claiming Opti-Coat is permanent, I claim that because of the testing Optimum and others have done. Perhaps I should adjust that to say something different, but I'm obviously not the only one claiming this, not that that makes a difference.
I'm still not sold on the idea of offering any kind of warranties, but I still have an open mind to it and will continue to do so.
You're obviously a smart guy and I look forward to seeing how this all develops.
imported_Quenga
New member
Nth Degree said:
That is one point of view, but what you have is a perception of a warranty. Not everyone has the same perception, which is why warranties are good for some, but not for everybody. You won't sell a warranty or a detail to everyone you talk to or service. But you never up-sell anything??
Take this warranty into consideration. A few months ago I bought a Canon T3i and a 3-year warranty from Best Buy. Does Canon not make great products? Is the T3i a crappy camera? What's the benefit? They replace it, even if it's an accident. Drop the camera and it breaks? Replaced. I can bring it into any Best Buy, and since I plan on moving from San Diego, that's a great opportunity for me. Also, they include "free" yearly cleanings, which cost quite a bit to begin with. To me, the warranty was worth it for the cleanings alone. I bought into it after I found out that fact, but initially declined the service. This is why I said, "why are detailers forcing their opinion of quality down a customer's throat?". OK, we're not forcing it, but we are telling them why we are a better service, why we are worth it. Again, you are offering an implied warranty.
When you fix a customers problem, you are warranting your service. Most of us will fix any issue with our work for free, that's not the warranty I'm suggesting.
What are the false pretenses? People already claim Opti-Coat is a permanent sealant, but last time I checked none of your are chemists and tested this claim. Does anyone charge Opti-Coat on a hourly basis? Is your rate washing a car the same as it is for paint correction? In most cases it isn't.
It is a contract and they do not have to sign it. Again, why are you telling your customers what is and isn't worth it. They can make up their own decisions, it is not up to you to make that choice for them. You offer Opti-Coat, but if they don't want it, you don't force it on them. I offer Opti-Coat and have only sold 1 application of it, despite the benefits. These people have daily drivers and purchase a wax service every 3-4 months anyway. I still make money and convince customers to come back or recommend me on my quality.
The issue is not whether or not you are good at what you do. You will not sell this to everyone. You may not agree there is a benefit, therefore you may not sell it. Not every dealership offers warranties. Not every dealership cleans a trade-in before they resell it. People can make a lot more money if they sold their car privately, but millions of people sell it to the dealer for a much lower price. Why? They don't want to deal with the hassle of selling it privately. They are willing to lose potentially thousands of dollars just so they don't have to deal with people privately.
Who are you to tell these people they are wrong?
Just provoking you to take a different look at it. If you feel it's unethical, that is your choice. Will you wash my car for $5?
I use a rinseless/waterless wash (which on another forum when I first started out, I was told I was being ignorant and would not succeed...) and I don't wash any car I haven't detailed. This weeds out the people I won't make money off. Am I greedy? No, but my time is worth something. A car that is heavily contaminated with no protection is very hard to clean/dry. How hard is it to dry a car with heavy oxidation and no protection, compared to that of a wax/sealed/coated vehicle?
RaskyR1
Rasky's Auto Detailing
Nth Degree said:
Thank you!!! :hifive:
From what I've seen most the warranties simply cover the product itself from failure. They don't warranty against swirls and scratches, and I'd be impressed if they actually honored a warranty claim for water spotting, staining, or bird bomb etching. They'd likely just blame it on the installer. Some may also claim they protect against such defects, but what they don't say is that the client will have to come to a pro in order for it to be fixed. All coatings that I've tested will water spot/etch and are susceptible to bird bombs...very few consumer will know how to handle such situations when they arise guess who's on the hook for it?
I still recall some old lady back in the day who came in for a warranty claim on a bird bomb after she used a scrotch-brite scrubber to remove it. Who thinks they told her to pound sand when she tried to get it covered under warranty?
imported_Quenga
New member
Auto Concierge said:
I honestly hope no one thinks I feel this way. If I didn't want to learn something, I wouldn't be asking everyone with more experience than me. Same with college, I am looking to learn off you guys!
Auto Concierge said:
I can take it. I can't learn if everyone babies me. You were in the Navy, you know how thick headed and thick skinned Marines can be. I'm not really offended by anything anyone is saying, but I would like things to stay on track.
rustytruck said:
Yes, I am not looking to be a highly paid consultant any time soon. I have plans on trying to work in the industry for as many places as I can. I have researched and study many of you that have posted your experiences. I remember when David from Street Dreams first started using a rotary. Before I went mobile, I found out through one of his articles that a PB & J sandwich is a good snack/lunch when you're on the go. I remember Eric from Envious when he was detailing without a license! David F. has slapped my hand for being immature and changed my point of view on 3D/HD products.
My degree is for corporate big wigs. I already had a corporate job and was promoted without a degree. I was also told when I quit that the degree wouldn't help me succeed in this business and that I could learn more by sticking around. I was offered a promotion to stay, and sometimes I wish I did. I'd be making a LOT more than I am now. But, the experience I've had so far and the things I have learned could not be learned from behind a desk where I was sitting.
Also, I don't want to wash cars, but it's how I've chosen to market. It's been successful enough and I do let my customers know that I only wash cars because I have the time. They understand and are taking advantage of that, just as much as I am taking advantage of the opportunity. I now know several neighbors and see people on a bi-weekly basis that I say hi to every time. It's a lot better than handing out flyers or putting business cards on door windows. I'm out talking to people and fully set up to show them what I can do. I don't have to talk about it, I can show them. I don't make great money, but I am learning. I also use it as a chance to network. I know a few people now that will help me in the future.
ExplicitDetails said:
OK. I think you should exploit that training. All I know is that you're married and you say you can detail. You need to prove it to me (a consumer). You are not the only one claiming this, and this is what I'm getting at. Everyone is already offering and making money off the implied warranty of Opti-Coat. I think you're starting to see where I'm coming from. You're not ripping off a customer by charging more fore Opti-Coat, but what are you doing to keep them around? I have had great service from a lot of places, but they don't always get my business. I only use one credit card for purchases because it offers the most cash back. I bought a car off a used dealer only after he offered a warranty on the rear glass door that popped open twice while test driving. (I got a PPI done on it through one of the most highly recommended indy shops and he said that was the only issue I should worry about). I didn't get a discount, but I got a warranty and it worked out. I had a piece of mind and I know if something happened, he'd fix it. I now go to him first if I need a new (used) car, but would not have if he didn't offer me the warranty.
I may not always purchase from him, but I go to him first.
imported_Quenga
New member
RaskyR1 said:
All must be explained to the customer. I give my customers a bottle of waterless wash and a microfiber towel, and then show them how to take care of a birds business. This is also why I require bi-weekly washes, so I can take care of these instances fast. The ww/mf towel is my cheap insurance. I don't guarantee it'll come out and won't etch the paint. I don't guarantee that. I guarantee I will perform the service asked, but my services don't cure cancer.
A warranty program can help you in cases like this. You grab the warranty for services to be rendered in the future. You create a pool of this warranty $ as self-insurance. The warranty should be clear to your customer, which is exactly what I'm suggesting you do. I don't lie or oversell any of my services/products. If they can't understand what I'm offering, I know when to back off. I won't be 100%, but that's what a warranty, self-insurance and paid for liability/garage insurance is for.
You know, I think you don't technically have to have car insurance if you can post a bond or something with the state for the minimums that insurance cover you for. Got $35k, show it to the govt and you don't need insurance. *I think*. Could just be a rumor. A warranty pool, to me, is the same thing.
Driven Auto Detail
New member
Subscribed!
RaskyR1
Rasky's Auto Detailing
Quenga said:
I've sold a lot of Opti-Coat jobs but I have not implied a warranty on one of them. I tell them the simple truth...
I tell all my clients the above, maybe not always in those exact words, but the point of my post is that offering a warranty really has zero benefits to my clients and I see no point in making an additional profit on something they don't need. I charge them a price for the application the covers my time, the product, and an amount that I feel the product is worth based on 2+ years of my own testing/experience with it.
I've also had several clients come back for a repolish this summer on cars that were coated 12-24 months prior. All of them were still beading like day one but they all had swirls and needed correction to the point that it compromised the coating. So what possible benefit would an additional warranty offer them???
I also had one client come back in where the car actually looked pretty good with only very light marring, but it had heavy bonded surface defects and some water spot/staining on a section of the hood and fender. I was able to bring life back to it with some TarX and IronX, but the water spotting would not come out with 2 applications of CG Water Spot Remover and would have required polishing. If I'm reading it correctly this would have been a warranty claim under the new OPT warranty policy, and the labor would have been on my dime. Instead, I'm now going to get paid to fix it at a later date when the client is ready for a repolish and recoat.
Now I've seen David argue that if the client only uses touch-less washes that the paint should never get swirled or scratched...I'm simply not seeing it that way, at least not in the snow belt states. Beside the fact that they don't get the cars clean, one need to remember that our cars get covered in sand and salt and people brush against their cars getting in and out of them, walking by them in parking lots, and I don't think I really even need to mention brushing the snow off of a dirty car. My experience has show the average time between my clients needing polishing is about 18-24 months. So again, What value does a lift-time warranty, or any warranty offer my clients?
Just my $.02
imported_Quenga
New member
Think about this scenario:
How often do you recommend Fabric Protection? I personally tell my customers twice a year. Once before the "winter", or rainy season for Californians, and then once again after the season to keep everything fresh. Here's how my conversation goes...
Me: "Have you ever thought about fabric protection?"
Customer: "No, isn't that some bs dealers sell?"
Me: "Haha, well they usually oversell it, but let me show you what it is, explain how it works and then you can think about it. I wouldn't offer it to you if I didn't believe in it!"
I have 303 Fabric Guard on my driver's floor mat, but not on the passenger's. I pull both out, grab a bottle of water and pour it over the mats. The water beads up on the 303 protected mat, soaks in on the non-protected.
Me: "You see, this is how it helps keep liquids from soaking in and staining. This gives you time to wipe them up. I'll give you an absorbent microfiber towel for you to keep in your car. Wipe it up quickly and you shouldn't have an issue. Give me a call and on your next wash/detail, I'll replace the towel for you. Just don't wash it, I'll take care of that!"
I then proceed to rub in the water on the driver's mat to show them it can and will soak in if you don't take care of it. But, I then use a microfiber towel to wipe up both carpets to show the difference of how it protects against liquids that soak in.
Me: "I'm not telling you this won't prevent stains, he gives you time to take care of it. Even if it does soak in, check out how dry each mat is after simply blotting the two surfaces with the same type of towel. No tricks, you saw me do it!"
The unprotected mat is always more damp for those of you who haven't done this in front of a customer.
Me: "Now, while it helps resist, it will not prevent stains. The best thing you can do is blot, not scrub, the liquid and call me right away. If it stains, I'll shampoo and extract it for a discounted fee. I can't promise you anything, it only helps resist stains, it will not prevent them. Dirt and debris will still get in, and if not vacuumed regularly, they can wear the protection down faster. That's why I suggest bi-weekly washes. Maintenance is the key here. I'd recommend you add this to your maintenance detail every 6 months, or right before and after the winter/spring seasons. It's $xx for the floor mat and carpets, $xx for the seats, $xx for the entire car..."
Now, you sell the "warranty".
Me: "So, I can either apply it every 6 months or 1 year for $50 (just a number!), or I can give you a warranty program. It brings the cost down to $30 per application, and all you have to do is stick with me for maintenance. Every 2 weeks I wash/vacuum your car. At least every 6 months, during your maintenance detail, which is extra, I'll reapply the protection. If I see the protection failing in an area, I'll clean and reapply during a wash at no extra cost (a risk you don't have to take on). Now, if I was to charge you $50 per application, it'd be $100/year. Over the next 3 years that's $300. The warranty program is only $180 and is for 3 years. But, I want to be clear that this is not going to guarantee your carpets will never be stained and it doesn't prevent deterioration due to normal or even abnormal usage."
So, all I am doing is selling the service up front and giving them a discount over the next 3 years. You could add a lot of things to make it more enticing. "If you sell the car within the next 3 years, I'll refund you the pro-rated amount, that way you're not paying for something you didn't take full advantage of..."
This "warranty" takes advantage of the time value of money. If you're not interested in investing into your business, that is your choice. I am, I would like to have a service like this. Make your money work for you, don't wait to make money. I am still applying the coating, being clear that details are still extra and that it won't actually guarantee anything. They are pre-paying for a service that will be rendered, refunded if not used and they get a discount. I lock in a customer. The only way they get their money back is if they sell the car. If they don't use my services, then why pay for the warranty?
What issues can you find in this scenario? I get a repeat customer, they get a discounted service and a better service than the dealership!
How often do you recommend Fabric Protection? I personally tell my customers twice a year. Once before the "winter", or rainy season for Californians, and then once again after the season to keep everything fresh. Here's how my conversation goes...
Me: "Have you ever thought about fabric protection?"
Customer: "No, isn't that some bs dealers sell?"
Me: "Haha, well they usually oversell it, but let me show you what it is, explain how it works and then you can think about it. I wouldn't offer it to you if I didn't believe in it!"
I have 303 Fabric Guard on my driver's floor mat, but not on the passenger's. I pull both out, grab a bottle of water and pour it over the mats. The water beads up on the 303 protected mat, soaks in on the non-protected.
Me: "You see, this is how it helps keep liquids from soaking in and staining. This gives you time to wipe them up. I'll give you an absorbent microfiber towel for you to keep in your car. Wipe it up quickly and you shouldn't have an issue. Give me a call and on your next wash/detail, I'll replace the towel for you. Just don't wash it, I'll take care of that!"
I then proceed to rub in the water on the driver's mat to show them it can and will soak in if you don't take care of it. But, I then use a microfiber towel to wipe up both carpets to show the difference of how it protects against liquids that soak in.
Me: "I'm not telling you this won't prevent stains, he gives you time to take care of it. Even if it does soak in, check out how dry each mat is after simply blotting the two surfaces with the same type of towel. No tricks, you saw me do it!"
The unprotected mat is always more damp for those of you who haven't done this in front of a customer.
Me: "Now, while it helps resist, it will not prevent stains. The best thing you can do is blot, not scrub, the liquid and call me right away. If it stains, I'll shampoo and extract it for a discounted fee. I can't promise you anything, it only helps resist stains, it will not prevent them. Dirt and debris will still get in, and if not vacuumed regularly, they can wear the protection down faster. That's why I suggest bi-weekly washes. Maintenance is the key here. I'd recommend you add this to your maintenance detail every 6 months, or right before and after the winter/spring seasons. It's $xx for the floor mat and carpets, $xx for the seats, $xx for the entire car..."
Now, you sell the "warranty".
Me: "So, I can either apply it every 6 months or 1 year for $50 (just a number!), or I can give you a warranty program. It brings the cost down to $30 per application, and all you have to do is stick with me for maintenance. Every 2 weeks I wash/vacuum your car. At least every 6 months, during your maintenance detail, which is extra, I'll reapply the protection. If I see the protection failing in an area, I'll clean and reapply during a wash at no extra cost (a risk you don't have to take on). Now, if I was to charge you $50 per application, it'd be $100/year. Over the next 3 years that's $300. The warranty program is only $180 and is for 3 years. But, I want to be clear that this is not going to guarantee your carpets will never be stained and it doesn't prevent deterioration due to normal or even abnormal usage."
So, all I am doing is selling the service up front and giving them a discount over the next 3 years. You could add a lot of things to make it more enticing. "If you sell the car within the next 3 years, I'll refund you the pro-rated amount, that way you're not paying for something you didn't take full advantage of..."
This "warranty" takes advantage of the time value of money. If you're not interested in investing into your business, that is your choice. I am, I would like to have a service like this. Make your money work for you, don't wait to make money. I am still applying the coating, being clear that details are still extra and that it won't actually guarantee anything. They are pre-paying for a service that will be rendered, refunded if not used and they get a discount. I lock in a customer. The only way they get their money back is if they sell the car. If they don't use my services, then why pay for the warranty?
What issues can you find in this scenario? I get a repeat customer, they get a discounted service and a better service than the dealership!