How much are you guys charging for Cquartz/Opti-coat or any other super sealants?
- Thread starter anson89
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Personally I charge different for cquarts and opticoat since they both do different things. OC is permanent where CQ is good for up to 2 years. That being said I charge for the price of the product plus an extra 2 hours of labor for CQ and a little more for OC since I usually go over it with a spray wax to give the slick feel at the end.
Thats insane to me. It does take longer than waxing/sealing, but not THAT much longer...
The point is not how long application takes but how long the the application lasts. You need to market this product correctly, not based on how you feel about the use of it but the end results for the customer. Ask your customer if they enjoy waxing their car, chances are the answer is no because you are detailing it. Sell them on the fact that they don't have to wax their car for X amount of time. Time is money.
The product on costs $60 and takes an hour, if that, to apply. I guess I just can't gouge a customer like that...
Sure it lasts for a lot longer than a regular wax or sealant but the price is the price. I could understand if the product was more expensive, but it's not. I don't see why applying a coating should pay more in labor than buffing...it just doesn't make sense to me.
You're not gouging them, you're selling them a product that requires no waxing and very little effort on their part. It's called making up for lost profit from traditional waxing that would be required up to 6 times a year and providing better protection. But hey, if you like to give stuff away then more power to you.
If you are upset about losing profit on additional waxings don't set the service. just because you aren't going to make as much money doesn't mean you can pass that on to the customer. The product cost $60, thats what it's worth plus the labor. If it was worth more, it would cost you more to buy.
Y2KSVT
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- Jul 27, 2010
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You can't look at it based only on your labor costs. Look at almost any product that varies in price. Tires for instance. Two identically sized tires can vary GREATLY in price, not because of the labor, but what the tire provides you. Both tires go through very similar building processes, but one may last you 60k miles while the other only lasts 30k miles. One may be a very aggressive tire while the other is just mediocre. They both have the same amount of rubber, but one costs $100 while the other is at $300.
I'd certainly pay more for a lawn mower that I knew would last me 15 years, than to pay just a little less for something that might only last me three years. Both mowers have approximately the same amount of materials built into them, and both took roughly the same amount of time to build, but one is of much better quality.
Now with that said, I'd certainly charge more for something that's going to last the customer two years, or for the life of their vehicle, more than I would a wax that lasts a month. Otherwise there's very little benefit to offering a standard sealant application, other than it costs a little bit less for the product.
Mark
And allow me to add this, say you charge $45 for a wash and wax and the customer comes back twice a year for 3 years, now you're at $270. You put more work into those 6 wash and wax sessions than you would for a 1 time application of the coating. What if the customer is a repeat customer for 5 years? Now you're at $450 for a traditional wash and wax performed twice a year. Now who's getting gouged?
*Please note this conversation is not intended to be taken in a hateful tone, just providing some basic scenarios to reflect upon.
*Please note this conversation is not intended to be taken in a hateful tone, just providing some basic scenarios to reflect upon.
You are comparing apples to oranges. If a tire cost an installer more he can charge more, but the manufacturer also charges the installer more. That makes sense. If OC cost $100 then of course make sure to charge accordingly. But it doesn't.
Thats like saying just because you use Powerlock you are going to charge more than if you use Soveran because it lasts longer. That doesn't make any sense at all. your prices should be based on the cost of your supplies plus your labor. It's not fair to up charge the customer just because they don't know any better.
How would you feel if you customer found out how much you were paying for OC? I don't think they would be very happy to find out that it only cost $60 and you charged them $300 and it only took an hour or two longer...
No one is getting gouged in that scenario. the customer is paying for the work that you are doing. I have no problem with that. But just because you can't make as much money off your customer with this coating doesn't mean you can charge them out the a$$ for it. Thats shady IMO.And allow me to add this, say you charge $45 for a wash and wax and the customer comes back twice a year for 3 years, now you're at $270. You put more work into those 6 wash and wax sessions than you would for a 1 time application of the coating. What if the customer is a repeat customer for 5 years? Now you're at $450 for a traditional wash and wax performed twice a year. Now who's getting gouged?
*Please note this conversation is not intended to be taken in a hateful tone, just providing some basic scenarios to reflect upon.
StephenK
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- Jul 23, 2006
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so with this comment here that you made i am just guessing you believe the price you pay for everything is the price the store you bought it from pays? this is the samething. we pay so x amount for a product and then we charge more to our customers for the product, our time, our knowledge and skills. now dont say this does not take skill or knowledge cause if that was the case then none of us would have customers.
No, I'm not a moron. However I don't expect to go into Target and be charged $100 for something that has an MSRP of $50. I understand that resellers get discounts, but that doesn't give them the right to mark the price up even more. Whats to stop a customer from buying the OC themselves and giving it to you to apply for them? It's not like you are getting some super deal on it and then marking it up to MSRP. You are talking about marking it up over MSRP, what the customer could buy it for themselves!
I understand that it takes time and skill to apply OC and CQ. It also takes time and skill to buff a car to perfection, and I don't see people charging $200/hour to do that very often.
Why don't you tell that to Nike or Puma who charge $100+ for shoes that probably cost like $20 to make? The price is set by the market, not by the cost of supplies and labor.
But you can't go anywhere else and buy nikes for cheaper. Here the customer could go purchase the product themselves.
RTexasF
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- Jun 2, 2006
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Why would you sell something at cost? That's just not the way business works friend. Is the grocery store selling you your groceries at cost? Of course not they would close down soon after opening. If the product costs $60 then you mark it up. Add the labor to that and you have gross profit, without which you will be closing your doors. You are not being realistic about this, not at all. It doesn't mean you have to pull their pants down but a premium service with premium benefits to the customer demands a premium price. It's simple business, nothing more nothing less.
You guys aren't listening. I understand not selling somehting at cost, if you get a discount on it. But why should you be able to mark it up IF THE CUSTOMER CAN GO BUY IT THEMSELVE FOR CHEAPER! It's not like you are buying the product from OPT for $30 and marking it up to MSRP. You are buying it for MSRP and marking it up even higher...
StephenK
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- Jul 23, 2006
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target set the price at $50 therefore that is what people will pay for that product. detailers, mechanics, body shops etc..... set their prices as they see fit for them.
just remember MSRP mean Maufacture Suggested Retail Price. in other words that is what the manufacture is suggesting the product is sold for but the stores can set their own prices. and something Target is selling for $50 they more than likely paid $10 for at the most. that is a 500% mark up. and there is no labor in it for them.
RTexasF
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- Jun 2, 2006
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They can also wash and wax the car themselves or get on Autogeek and buy anything that you can. What does that have to do with anything? I can mow my own yard but there are times I pay someone to do it. It is service and convenience you are selling not a frikken car wash and wax. You are missing the entire point here.
Let's say you sold me on a clean up/detail for $200 and another guy had exactly the same products along with the same service for $250. He explains that he can guarantee that my car will not need waxing but only washing for two years and that's why it costs more. Guess what? You're fired! He's charging me more for the same thing but explained why I was paying a premium. It was worth it to me so he's working and you're not. Do as you please but you are missing the boat by not charging more for a premium service.
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