Full detail, $159.99

I showed ken the flyer I received from a buddy at school. I had to laugh, as he laughed about it as well. Here's an abbreviated list of stuff included

3 stage high speed polish
Interior shampoo (removing all salt stains)
Fabric Guard
Wax
Door jambs

ect ect ect

all that plus more for $159.99
I found the pic

 

"three stage" and "high speed polish" you never be used in the same sentence...

 

I know most people will get a kick out of this but a lot of customers aren't willing to spend more than 100-200 on a detail. Sometimes you have to adjust your prices accordingly.

I wish I could charge more than 250 for a two stage polish and detail because it takes me from early morning to night to complete. But it's better than nothing and I do it part time.

 

even with a team of Umpa Loompas I would still charge more

 

Lmao why not just bend over for the customer while you're at it. But what if he pays the umpa loompas with candy.. maybe he's making money than.

 

I plain just won't do it then, and just enjoy my weekend rather than pissing away my Saturday for $100...

 

I agree, these aren't the people that I'm targeting anyways

 

I'm convinced that the dealership/mechanic industry has completely ruined anything involved with cars. Everything is negotiable, everyone is trying to rip everyone off, dog eat dog bullshit. I remember earlier when I had my detailing business down the shore when I was just starting out and I did a basic interior/exterior for $120 and someone called and said something like that was worth $100 to them. $20, really? And what sort of method did you use to analyze that my prices were 17% too high? Another thing I've learned is to charge by the hour and not a flat rate. Give an estimate but make sure they know it is by the hour. That way you make sure fair is fair. The people who trashed their cars paid for it, and the people who just want them tidied up don't pay as much as the slobs, because they shouldn't have to.

 

I won't waste my time detailing anyone else's car if the price is not worth my time. Heck, I even charge my friends $100 for an exterior detail including up to a 2 stage correction and although most uninformed people would think that is expensive....it really is not when you consider how much time and effort a proper job really takes.

 

If you were out of a job and had to put food on the table you sure would do it for $100.

Lets not make fun of another establishment.

 

No one is making fun of someone else's job. Some here do it as a job, but a lot of us do it as a hobby when we have some free time. Personally, I don't mind helping out a friend to detail his car but it better be done in the morning so at least I can enjoy my Saturday/Sunday afternoon...

 

I agree with you completely. The problem is often times you give someone a price and they come back at you with a "this guy does it for x". I can imagine how frustrating this can be for you guys who do it for a living.

We all know that most of the time the other guy will do a hack job in a shop where they pump cars in and out as fast as they can. I guess it's a matter of finding the right customers that are willing to pay for quality work.

 

Well, at least you got friends that care about their paintwork... mine didn't give a crap when they started writing stuff on the layer of dry salt on the paint... Almost flipped out. $100 is CHEAP! Thats ridiculous pricing, and yet somehow I think not many took your offer.

 

I did a full three step polish and wax along with headlight restoration on my friend's car for free. Spent most of a Friday night and all of Saturday doing it. Well...actually he bought me a tub of wax that I have yet to open, but still...$50 for a full correction. I did it because I wanted to and he's a good friend. This guy probably doesn't do this for the money and rather enjoys detailing (as many of us do) and doesn't need to make a profit. Who knows...he may do a bang up job in which case it's a steal for a lot of people. Let's not poke fun at our fellow breath en.

 

I charge friends more than that for single stage polish now...If someone don't like my price, so be it....but all my friends are good and is willing to pay what Im asking for. some even buy towels and products from me, after they have experience the products im using compare to OTC ones. but a year ago when I was starting to detail, lol I charged less than that. now i know how much work is needed to perform the work I like, so I charge MORE!

The only way to get most $$$ for your work IMO is to educate your customers, I told one my co-worker that he will get holograms etc if he let someone else detail his S4, indeed it happen, so now he wants me to detail it.

 

i do it for a job and put food on my table, and I would never charge that price for what is being stated.

 

you are correct on this one. I have a few customers that try and pick at my pricing. I tell them that's what it costs to use my services and I really don't care what others charge. My feelings are never hurt if they don't choose me. I ended up seeing 5 customers last year that weren't happy with other's services, and that's fine.

 

With the prices on the flyer - a hacked car could take 2 days to finish.

I'm a hobbyist too, but I wouldn't do a correction for less than $100. Even for friends. My time is valuable. Especially when I have another job and could be relaxing.

I agree that we must educate customers - unfortunately, the average Joe doesn't care about their car.

Hell, to many people, their car is the biggest asset they own yet they let it get beat to s***.

Remember, the average driver treats their auto as a means of getting from A to B.

It takes more than being a neat freak too; it take someone that has pride in their auto to care enough to hire one of us.

I've found that more than often, it is people with higher-end autos that expect the best. Probably a combination that they have disposable income, and maybe they have an image to uphold.

So if your customers are complaining on price, perhaps you need to find higher end clientele.

 

I do family and friends cars for $150.00 minimum..... the recognize my time is a premium.

But Im not doing 3 stage corrections for that price either, usually its a single step polish, sealant, maybe wax, depending on what they want, usually I tighten up the interior etc..... spot clean carpets, basic stuff.

Half the people I know dont care how or what I do, they want it "shiny, clean and better then it was before" They drive SUVs or Pick ups, etc.


I totally agree with Reflect, people think everything should be cheap and on sale or its not worth thier time. Sadly that mentality is ruining small business, its called the Walmart syndrome, people think because Walmart or Target or X retailer has it at X price, everyone should have it for less or the same............... sad. sad sad.

 

I was actually going to mention that term "Walmart syndrome" too. People are too cost driven instead of value driven.

Walmart may have the best price on something - but the local SBO not only has the item, he can give you hands on knowledge of how to use it, etc.

If I expanded on these thoughts I could be writing for days. But please take the time to read this excellent blog related to this issue:

How's business? Here are a few thoughts and lessons from the NOW!

by Jeffrey Gitomer