Pricing for specific vehicles....

[Eldorado2k]

True for the most part. I had a Range Rover to deal with one time that had every type of grill guard, light guards, tail light guards, every type of African jungle protection that existed. This thing never even saw a muddy road but those areas were all but impossible to reach. Due to that and the time involved I charged them a Princely sum and they paid it. No guilt here friend, it was bugger to work on.

This.
Not to mention the sheer size of the vehicle compared to normL vehicles.

The point in my original question was meant to be "is there any justification to up-charging exotic vehicles, and if so why?"

One could most certainly up-charge anytime there is additional work required beyond what the standard service provides. But that goes for any vehicle and is not exclusive to exotic cars. At least that's what I am thinking at this point.

Exotic/show cars/classic cars almost always have their own special quirks or require some sort of specialized approach.. Take this car for example, the owner’s going to want you to hit every nook & cranny... BTW you cannot get the car wet... So you’re going to have to do it all either waterless or rinseless.

This is after I did a waterless wash. The car had been sitting under a loose car cover for over a month and it was filthy.

 

[sudsmobile]

Right. These aren't upcharges because the guy is rich enough to drive the latest Porsche or you think he dropped $100k on a new RV. These are specific instances where the job is much more difficult due to the demands placed on you either by the customer or the specific vehicle.

Those same demands could have been made by a guy driving a 2009 Toyota Tundra with every Pep Boys add on imaginable or a guy driving a 1977 Datsun B210 that can't get wet because none of the window seals keep water out anymore. That's not vehicle specific pricing, that's job specific pricing.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I’m set to do this car on Saturday.

It’s black, it’s a classic car, it’s never been washed in the whole year since it got re painted, and the owner knows how to spot swirls... lol. It’s a good thing I’m confident with my waterless wash technique.

 

[sudsmobile]

Cool old car!

 

[dcjredline]

Right. These aren't upcharges because the guy is rich enough to drive the latest Porsche or you think he dropped $100k on a new RV. These are specific instances where the job is much more difficult due to the demands placed on you either by the customer or the specific vehicle.

Those same demands could have been made by a guy driving a 2009 Toyota Tundra with every Pep Boys add on imaginable or a guy driving a 1977 Datsun B210 that can't get wet because none of the window seals keep water out anymore. That's not vehicle specific pricing, that's job specific pricing.

Totally agree. Every example here is because of the work you will have to do on the car NOT just because its an exotic. The price shouldnt be different BECAUSE of the name on the front. It should be more because it will take you longer or you need special tools. I dont think a door jamb NEEDS an Ibird or a Nano. I think small areas like that example can be done by hand and not necessarily need a special tool. Same thing with a glass/plexi cover. Its not cause its an exotic, isnt that just considered a window? Do the other windows not get "show car ready" Do you charge by the window too in that case?

I think it all comes down to NO you dont charge more cause of what the customer makes or because he spent $390k on a vehicle. You charge for your time.

 

[Dr Oldz]

I keep it simple. I charge hourly. No matter the vehicle. Paint correction is more. A simple wash is less. I pick and choose my service.... if it’s something that is risky, I talk to the customer about it or I refuse the work.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Right. These aren't upcharges because the guy is rich enough to drive the latest Porsche or you think he dropped $100k on a new RV. These are specific instances where the job is much more difficult due to the demands placed on you either by the customer or the specific vehicle.

Those same demands could have been made by a guy driving a 2009 Toyota Tundra with every Pep Boys add on imaginable or a guy driving a 1977 Datsun B210 that can't get wet because none of the window seals keep water out anymore. That's not vehicle specific pricing, that's job specific pricing.

Totally agree. Every example here is because of the work you will have to do on the car NOT just because its an exotic. The price shouldnt be different BECAUSE of the name on the front. It should be more because it will take you longer or you need special tools. I dont think a door jamb NEEDS an Ibird or a Nano. I think small areas like that example can be done by hand and not necessarily need a special tool. Same thing with a glass/plexi cover. Its not cause its an exotic, isnt that just considered a window? Do the other windows not get "show car ready" Do you charge by the window too in that case?

I think it all comes down to NO you dont charge more cause of what the customer makes or because he spent $390k on a vehicle. You charge for your time.

Call it what you want... All I know is 9 times out of 10 classic cars require a specialized approach and that definitely results in me charging a bit more. Same thing with an RV, if it wasn’t for me doing it who will? The owner sure isn’t going to climb on that roof and scrub it clean... Do you charge a measly $60 bucks to wash a 40’ RV?

 

[Belo]

Right. These aren't upcharges because the guy is rich enough to drive the latest Porsche or you think he dropped $100k on a new RV. These are specific instances where the job is much more difficult due to the demands placed on you either by the customer or the specific vehicle.

Those same demands could have been made by a guy driving a 2009 Toyota Tundra with every Pep Boys add on imaginable or a guy driving a 1977 Datsun B210 that can't get wet because none of the window seals keep water out anymore. That's not vehicle specific pricing, that's job specific pricing.

I think the moral of the story is that you should make it clear to the customer. Because rich guys are probably used to being sought after for their money lol.

Detailer" "I know my package costs $250, but I will need to charge $300 for this ride because it's big, has a bunch of attachments or difficult angles/paint etc."

that would be the best approach I think.

 

[Koogs]

I'm not detailing for money here and have had 0 experience with a car costing more than $60K, so for whatever its worth, here's my opinion of what everyone is saying.

IF you come in with a Ferrari, classic car, kitted out hummer or whatever high end, or intricate merchandise, the bill will be more. Its not the pricey car upcharge; the job is just different.

It will take longer time, it will take more tools, and it will take specialized labor.

Be realistic, if a Ferrari owner came in and said they want your $100 (or $150, or whatever the number) quick buff and spay wax special, you would say no, thats a quick and easy job for a Toyota Camry where the owner just wants it clean and a bit shiner than before. And if he insisted, yeah thats what I want... you really shouldn't take the job because you won't be able to do the job to your standards, there is a ton of liability there, and it isn't going to come out nice.


I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't see anything wrong with telling the guy flat out, that the job you need to do on a Camry is different than the job you need to do on a Ferrari. The expectations, work involved, tools involved and people involved etc. Also as a guy that understands business, I think you're crazy if you're nto charging a higher rate on specialty work. Your time doing specialty work getting the car to 99% on a Ferrari is worth significantly more than bringing the Camry to 85-90%

 

[Farmallluvr]

I keep it simple. I charge hourly. No matter the vehicle. Paint correction is more. A simple wash is less. I pick and choose my service.... if it’s something that is risky, I talk to the customer about it or I refuse the work.

That's probably the best way to go about it ,that way way your backside is covered for unexpected difficulties

 

[LEDetailing]

I don't typically upcharge just due to the type of car. But I do usually end up with a more expensive job because those owners want a more thorough job completed, coatings, wheels off service etc.

For instance I have a F430 spider in the shop. It's getting corrected, top tier coating, fabric coating on the top, leather coating on the seats, wheel off service and full frontal Xpel PPF.

Now here's where the risk of working on these cars comes into play and maybe you or I should upcharge. The car went to my buddies shop for the Xpel. The car had a couple old strips of PPF behind the front wheels that needed to be removed. My buddy started removing it and low and behold it tore some clear coat off down near the bottom of the fender. Now my buddy is on the hook for fixing it. Due to the design of the front end. Both fenders are connected so both need to be resprayed along with blending into the door. Also because of the design the fenders need to be removed in order to remove the headlights. What would be a straight forward repair is now something much more complicated.

Now this could happen on any car but it does prove that everything on these exotics is more money.

Regarding the lifting of clear coat with removal of old PPF. Why would your buddy be liable for the damage?
I would definitely have customers sign a waiver that removal of old PPF could cause damage to underlying surfaces upon removal.

Totally unreasonable for the PPF installer to pay for that type of damage in my opinion.

 

[LEDetailing]

I keep it simple. I charge hourly. No matter the vehicle. Paint correction is more. A simple wash is less. I pick and choose my service.... if it’s something that is risky, I talk to the customer about it or I refuse the work.

Simple answer and most logical reasoning for how to handle this situation.

 

[JustJesus]

I keep it simple. I charge hourly. No matter the vehicle. Paint correction is more. A simple wash is less. I pick and choose my service.... if it’s something that is risky, I talk to the customer about it or I refuse the work.

Kind of like this for me, except I charge a flat rate after inspecting the car.

 

[sudsmobile]

Call it what you want... All I know is 9 times out of 10 classic cars require a specialized approach and that definitely results in me charging a bit more. Same thing with an RV, if it wasn’t for me doing it who will? The owner sure isn’t going to climb on that roof and scrub it clean... Do you charge a measly $60 bucks to wash a 40’ RV?

I'm honestly not sure what your argument is here and I don't think you know either. The question, as I and most people are reading it, is "Do you upcharge for working on exotics?" (Paraphrased for brevity). Your next step is to ask if we charge $60 to wash a 40' RV. That is neither an answer to the question nor a legitimate argument to such. Of course I don't charge $60 to wash an RV. I charge $4/foot to wash and $2/foot extra to scrub and spray the roof. So, the answer to the question that nobody asked is I get between $160 and $240 to wash a 40' RV. The question, which you completely missed the point of, is do you charge more to wash a 2018 Monaco than you do to wash a 1988 Holiday Rambler? Do you gouge the owner of the Monaco because he paid 10x as much for his coach than the other guy? Or is washing a 40' RV about the same no matter how much the guy paid for it. THAT'S THE QUESTION AS ASKED.

 

[dcjredline]

Call it what you want... All I know is 9 times out of 10 classic cars require a specialized approach and that definitely results in me charging a bit more. Same thing with an RV, if it wasn’t for me doing it who will? The owner sure isn’t going to climb on that roof and scrub it clean... Do you charge a measly $60 bucks to wash a 40’ RV?

Nope, cause there is more time involved. Getting a Ferrari to 99% and comparing that to a Toyota getting to 80% isn't even apples to apples. Wash on either car would be the same price. Apples to apples. I am not gonna charge someone more for the same work just becue of the badge on the front. That's the point here.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I'm honestly not sure what your argument is here and I don't think you know either. The question, as I and most people are reading it, is "Do you upcharge for working on exotics?" (Paraphrased for brevity). Your next step is to ask if we charge $60 to wash a 40' RV. That is neither an answer to the question nor a legitimate argument to such. Of course I don't charge $60 to wash an RV. I charge $4/foot to wash and $2/foot extra to scrub and spray the roof. So, the answer to the question that nobody asked is I get between $160 and $240 to wash a 40' RV. The question, which you completely missed the point of, is do you charge more to wash a 2018 Monaco than you do to wash a 1988 Holiday Rambler? Do you gouge the owner of the Monaco because he paid 10x as much for his coach than the other guy? Or is washing a 40' RV about the same no matter how much the guy paid for it. THAT'S THE QUESTION AS ASKED.

I understood it as a customer with an RV, not a new RV compared to an old RV. And see you do charge more to wash an RV, that was my point.
You could spend the same amount of time washing an RV as you would 2 sedans, but you’re charging the RV customer more to basically do the same thing which is wash & dry the paint.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Getting a Ferrari to 99% and comparing that to a Toyota getting to 80% isn't even apples to apples.

I’m not sure what you mean by this.^ I mean if you’re doing a regular wash on both vehicles, why would you go all out and get the Ferrari to 99% but only put 80% effort into the Camry? I thought both were getting a the same service?

 

[Eldorado2k]

And just to clarify: What I meant by the Ferrari owner paying more for me to maintain his vehicle in pristine condition means he’ll have to make the initial investment to have me correct the paint on the vehicle and if he winds up paying a bit more than he would at the local swirl em up car wash for me to maintain it then it’ll be worth it, not only because he’ll get wash service at home, but he won’t have to worry about his paint becoming swirled up again.

If he values that sort of care for his vehicle then we’ll make a good fit, if he doesn’t value that then he’ll just go his own way and save a few bucks and have his Ferrari return to a swirled out mess. People make their own choice.

 

[Submariner]

Some interesting comments so far. Keep 'em coming!

Before I decided to do it myself (mainly based on an enjoyment factor) I looked at 3 detailers.
One expensive seriously experienced company, but they do all the work for Mclaren and Ferrari.
And one cheap on, and one mid priced.
Imwould have gone for the expensive ine simply because they expalianed their fastidious approach to removing as little clearcoat as possible, comstantly checking with a £2,400 paint guage that can measure the clear coat and another £3,200 one that can measure clearcoat on plastic bumpers.

No way could the cheaper guys afford £5,600 in paint guages.

And one balances it against possible repair prices ... around here you may pay £1,000 to repair and blend in a panel, but if you want it done perfectly its nearly £2,500!

To me if one is £600 and the other is £400 .... its worth paying an extra £200 to be sure they will be ultra careful.

Everyone knows quality and care take time! The only shortcut is the expensive one in the long run.
Penny pinching will come back and bite you in the ass!

If a potential client wants an 8 hour job done for the price of a 5 hour job. IMO its time to find another client.

 

[Belo]

I'm not detailing for money here and have had 0 experience with a car costing more than $60K, so for whatever its worth, here's my opinion of what everyone is saying.

IF you come in with a Ferrari, classic car, kitted out hummer or whatever high end, or intricate merchandise, the bill will be more. Its not the pricey car upcharge; the job is just different.

It will take longer time, it will take more tools, and it will take specialized labor.

Be realistic, if a Ferrari owner came in and said they want your $100 (or $150, or whatever the number) quick buff and spay wax special, you would say no, thats a quick and easy job for a Toyota Camry where the owner just wants it clean and a bit shiner than before. And if he insisted, yeah thats what I want... you really shouldn't take the job because you won't be able to do the job to your standards, there is a ton of liability there, and it isn't going to come out nice.


I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't see anything wrong with telling the guy flat out, that the job you need to do on a Camry is different than the job you need to do on a Ferrari. The expectations, work involved, tools involved and people involved etc. Also as a guy that understands business, I think you're crazy if you're nto charging a higher rate on specialty work. Your time doing specialty work getting the car to 99% on a Ferrari is worth significantly more than bringing the Camry to 85-90%

i'd argue that a smaller porche coupe is easier than any suv, truck or van with all the plastic and just sheer size.