I am sure I have brought this up before in the not so distant past. can I get a listing going from all of you on what you charge "just" for a wash and wax alone, including the door jambs? I am thinking the going rate is somewhere between 120 and 150. could you guys back me up on this. (would also include cleaning tires,rims, wheel wells) thanks godoman
Sorry, I think you are in dreamland. No way is that service is worth that much money unless it's the size of an RV. That's what we WISH we could make. You are way out of line price wise. Obviously this depends on where you are but I just don't see it............perhaps $80-$100 on the average sedan, say Honda Accord size. Many people do that for $45-75.
funny that you brought up the RV thing. I am friends with the owner of a storage lot full of RV's. for a 25 foot RV she pays 300 dollars for a wash and wax. the dealership that I do business with says that my wash and waxes are worth, retail wise, 140.00. I am trying to confirm that with others on here and have been quoted those prices from others here before, I know I have. even so, 80-100 dollars is good money in my opinion. I just want to hear everything from everyone else as well thanks for the feedback godoman
My dealership does wash, wax, n interior for $175, now on special for $140-150ish I think. Well to me it looks like they wash, spray wax and shampoo interior, wipe the door jams. greasy interior dressing n tyre dressing. I dunno if clay bar treatment or polish is done. On my side job I charge somewhere the same as my dealership but at a higher standard. either I get what I like or I don't do it. simple
right on overtime my business partner were tired of not knowing the answers so we went around to many detailers locations in malls and private shops yesterday. alot of driving. we found this place in the mall that is charging 95 dollars (small), 115 dollars (medium), 135 dollars for over sized or large SUV. dude....we are talking about a wash and wax only. not even touching the interior and I am not making this up or the listed prices up either and these guys also have work they do at the microsoft campus from time to time on their fleet vans and they have opened up 12 locations in washington in the last 10 years with crazy prices like these. we were down in the garage talking with the employee yesterday for 30 minutes and he was willing to tell us everything about them. hehe, even after the customers pay these super high prices, then the go and tip him 15-30 dollars because they are so please even after they just got ripped off. now what do you think? godoman
I live in MA and I'm charging between $130-150 for a wash, wax, and full interior detail. I do know that some places around here charge around $200 for the same service and they don't even wax it. So, depending on your location you may be in the ballpark, but that seems like a lot for a wash and wax.
It really depends on how much work is needed. I charge $40/hour and I'm usually there for 3 to 4 hours, but I also clay the car. My service includes removing and washing each wheel, then sealing them. Washing the car twice, once normally, then once with a degreaser. Claying the car, then washing it off again. Then wax. And that's how I get to $120-$160 for just a wash and wax. EDIT: If I were to simply wash the car once, without claying or degreasing it, then I simply charge my 2 hour minimum of $80. EDIT II: I can also do more if the client so desires it. Full paint correction etc.
I agree with the last two posts. we thought alot more work would go into it, but these guys are just washing and then waxing. no claying and this is at a mall parking lot and they have a HUGE sign posted on the wall and they are making a killing. we just sat there staring at the prices in disbelief and we can do it faster, more thorough with our technique (meaning we get out the mold and green build up and litte areas fingers and brushes have a hard time reaching and takes more time). it also costs us a helluva lot less to do per car and we saw the results. they are just using megs waxes, no power lock so our shine and wax life is better and longer! geez. I have been doing the wrong jobs my whole life.... godoman
Wow. I charge $125 for a midsize car. But I clay it. Usually takes me around 4 hours. This is the kind of stuff that I run into though...thank you CL hack jobs. I tried posting there once...horrible idea. I need to move out by you. Here are the Packages- Wash Package $25 Hand Wash, Vacuum, Interior Wipe Down, Windows, & Tires. Wash & Wax Package $45 Wash, Wax, Vacuum, Interior Wipe Down, Windows, & Tires. Detail Package-1 $90 Wash, Clay Bar, Wax, Wheel Wells, Tire Shine, Door Jams, Shampoo Carpets/ Seats or Condition Leather, Clean Dash Board, Vents & Console. (One Free Wash With Package*) Premium Detail Package $120 Everything from the “Detail Package” is included, Along with Polishing With a High-Speed Buffer. (One Free Wash With Package*)
jc98. let me post what these guys are charging with their packages. the other detailers in the area are not that far off from this by the way. have their brochure right here to type it out for ya guys and you can then share our disbelief: hand wash 25.00/cars 30.00/ wagon/small sport utilities 35.00/van/full size mini detail 45.00 60.00 65.00 includes following: hand wash with wheels and wells door jambs dash vacum windows dress tires wash and wax: 95.00/ cars 115.00/wagon/small sport utilities 145.00/van/full size interior detail (only) 120.00/cars 140.00/wagon/small sport utilities 165.00 van/full size includes: door jambs dash vents, crevices treat leather vacum including trunk shampoo carpets windows wash and wax with interior detail 205.00/cars 225.00 wagon/small sport utilities 250.00/ van/full size then there is a list of exterior polishing and stuff like that which is starting at 135.00 dollars and up. they hae a "full service" thing that starts at 225.00 dollars. we just could not believe the pricing and they have 12 shops all over doing this. they are not half ass. they are detailing cars here but I still could not believe the pricing! godoman
That's crazy. We have one here that posts on CL....$50 full detail inside and out and claims to buff the car. I have only recently gotting into doing cars besides mine, this is a side thing for me, but people like that make it really hard to find jobs that I can make money on.
jose, indeed they are Valet Detail Prices. how did you pick up on that so quickly when you are all the way down south? I am over in the maple valley area, about 30 minutes from tacoma. godoman
I start interiors at $75 and up. Depends on size/mess. I have a guy who has me clean his interior every 2 months or so, and since it's a regular upkeep, I just charge $50 each time, unless there is some serious cleaning needed. A wash/clay/wax/interior hoover w/a quick wipedown is $100 and up depending on vehicle condition and size. That's a single wash to strip, clean wheels/etc, clay, wax. dress the tires. quick interior vacuum and wipedown and clean the windows. No engine, no sealing windows or wheels, no doorjambs.
godoman, im in south seattle, i kinda figured it was them when you mentioned how many locations they had. I applied there for a job before i just decided to stary up my own business doing this. I did some research on them when i applied, i would like to do what they do someday though. Having locations in shopping centers just makes sense. Good to know someone local godoman.
sweet. jose, maybe we should meet up in the next few weeks. I would love to do the same thing except ultimately we want to do something like the pink elephant except we want it to be pink elephant meets start bucks and fast. follow? godoman
