Did I shoot myself in the foot tonight?!?!?! Let go of an opportunity

Bates Detailing

Bates Detailing

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So I get a call tonight.... a dealership wanting 350 cars "dusted off" (pressure wash and dry basically + tire shine) once a week. I told them I do everything by hand and that the very least I make per car in a fleet is $20 a car - and it takes 20 minutes a car with 3 guys. So we talked with the assumption that it wasnt going down - but I told him his used lot may be something we can talk about. Basically I told him it wasn't lucrative for me.

Then I had time to think - if I charged 2.50 a car - takes 2 minutes a car with 4 guys (1 spraying, 2 drying, 1 shining tires - and me driving the van with the air on of course lol). That would be a 12 hour day - at $875 - $400 labor - $75 products = $400 recurring guaranteed once a week.

Is this worth pursuing?!?!??! Risk is definitely increased with that many cars..... but is it worth it..... hmmmmm - whats your guys opinions?
 
Before I even think about numbers I want to make sure this is clear, you are only going to spray the vehicles down then dry them with a towel? No actual soap/wash mitt of any sort? Basically relying on the drying towel to remove dirt?
 
B&B Tennessee said:
So I get a call tonight.... a dealership wanting 350 cars "dusted off" (pressure wash and dry basically + tire shine) once a week. I told them I do everything by hand and that the very least I make per car in a fleet is $20 a car - and it takes 20 minutes a car with 3 guys. So we talked with the assumption that it wasnt going down - but I told him his used lot may be something we can talk about. Basically I told him it wasn't lucrative for me.

Then I had time to think - if I charged 2.50 a car - takes 2 minutes a car with 4 guys (1 spraying, 2 drying, 1 shining tires - and me driving the van with the air on of course lol). That would be a 12 hour day - at $875 - $400 labor - $75 products = $400 recurring guaranteed once a week.

Is this worth pursuing?!?!??! Risk is definitely increased with that many cars..... but is it worth it..... hmmmmm - whats your guys opinions?
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There's money to be made doing this. I would hardly classify it as detailing, but...

I think most these places want you there super early in the morning before customers arrive. They probally don't want their client base getting blasted with a pressure washer

Sounds like its time to hire an addtional crew
 
Doesn't sound like any type of detailing to me. You gotta consider with a volume of vehicles like that and your constricted times, that if something breaks (Pressure washer, a hose, ect) and it takes 40 min to fix...... you just lost most of your profit. Rain can really screw you up too. And how is a crew gonna keep up that pace all day?
 
Also, what happened to your traditional method? Anyway, the numbers look good for one day of work. Maybe you can make it happen with a couple dealerships? Especially used car lots :xyxthumbs: Best of luck to you Anthony :)
 
rwright said:
Before I even think about numbers I want to make sure this is clear, you are only going to spray the vehicles down then dry them with a towel? No actual soap/wash mitt of any sort? Basically relying on the drying towel to remove dirt?
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This is how most large dealerships if not all do it out here..... its just to remove pollen and very lite dirt - not detailing anything here.

Flash Gordon said:
There's money to be made doing this. I would hardly classify it as detailing, but...

I think most these places want you there super early in the morning before customers arrive. They probally don't want their client base getting blasted with a pressure washer

Sounds like its time to hire an addtional crew
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True - Im down for a night of fun - maybe lol
 
The question is this: do you think you can pursue more profitable opportunities with that 12 hours you're taking away from your "available" time for the rest of the week?
 
Dr Oldz said:
Doesn't sound like any type of detailing to me. You gotta consider with a volume of vehicles like that and your constricted times, that if something breaks (Pressure washer, a hose, ect) and it takes 40 min to fix...... you just lost most of your profit. Rain can really screw you up too. And how is a crew gonna keep up that pace all day?
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True - the most cars we have done in a day is 13 lol - but those cars were mixed with basics and full interiors and some mid grade details - 350 is a tiring number just thinking about it.

rwright said:
Also, what happened to your traditional method? Anyway, the numbers look good for one day of work. Maybe you can make it happen with a couple dealerships? Especially used car lots :xyxthumbs: Best of luck to you Anthony :)
Click to expand...

Ah - you must mean Drywash - I guess that is my traditional method - but on big jobs such as buses, RVs, and super filthy cars and/or engines I do use water method. Just seems to be my sign here at AG lol.

Im working with a used car lot now that called me and has accepted my regular prices for some reason - so the dealership thing isnt sounding so bad anymore - never pursued them, they are pursuing us!
 
rwright said:
Before I even think about numbers I want to make sure this is clear, you are only going to spray the vehicles down then dry them with a towel? No actual soap/wash mitt of any sort? Basically relying on the drying towel to remove dirt?
Click to expand...

And then new members come here asking why their new car is a swirly mess...not to mention the whole reason that there is a dealer "detailing" dept. is because all the cars on the lot are a swirly mess...

Think how much money the dealer would save if they just left the friggin' plastic on until the car was delivered...
 
B&B Tennessee said:
Ah - you must mean Drywash - I guess that is my traditional method - but on big jobs such as buses, RVs, and super filthy cars and/or engines I do use water method. Just seems to be my sign here at AG lol.

Im working with a used car lot now that called me and has accepted my regular prices for some reason - so the dealership thing isnt sounding so bad anymore - never pursued them, they are pursuing us!
Click to expand...

Right on man :righton: Go grab that cash before someone else does :)
 
B&B Tennessee said:
So I get a call tonight.... a dealership wanting 350 cars "dusted off" (pressure wash and dry basically + tire shine) once a week. I told them I do everything by hand and that the very least I make per car in a fleet is $20 a car - and it takes 20 minutes a car with 3 guys. So we talked with the assumption that it wasnt going down - but I told him his used lot may be something we can talk about. Basically I told him it wasn't lucrative for me.

Then I had time to think - if I charged 2.50 a car - takes 2 minutes a car with 4 guys (1 spraying, 2 drying, 1 shining tires - and me driving the van with the air on of course lol). That would be a 12 hour day - at $875 - $400 labor - $75 products = $400 recurring guaranteed once a week.

Is this worth pursuing?!?!??! Risk is definitely increased with that many cars..... but is it worth it..... hmmmmm - whats your guys opinions?
Click to expand...

Nothing is guaranteed.....although the $400 sounds good there are always variables that could throw that "monkeywhrench" into the mix. Most dealers won't pay that much! Most are paying cents not dollars.Good luck Anthony but I think you turning it down was a good decision....just my .02 worth.
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
The question is this: do you think you can pursue more profitable opportunities with that 12 hours you're taking away from your "available" time for the rest of the week?
Click to expand...

The most I have made in a day this past month was 800 profit in 15 hours. Ive had some good 500 to 600 dollar profit days, but his week has been about 100 to 200 a day profit..... it is fluctuating like crazy..... Id rather have consistency - which is alot to ask in this line of business - but at that amount of risk?!?!?! Risk is popping in my head more than anything honestly.
 
dad07 said:
Nothing is guaranteed.....although the $400 sounds good there are always variables that could throw that "monkeywhrench" into the mix. Most dealers won't pay that much! Most are paying cents not dollars.Good luck Anthony but I think you turning it down was a good decision....just my .02 worth.
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Im thinking that you are right..... I have "that" feeling - and "that" feeling is something maybe I shouldnt ignore.
 
B&B Tennessee said:
The most I have made in a day this past month was 800 profit in 15 hours. Ive had some good 500 to 600 dollar profit days, but his week has been about 100 to 200 a day profit..... it is fluctuating like crazy..... Id rather have consistency - which is alot to ask in this line of business - but at that amount of risk?!?!?! Risk is popping in my head more than anything honestly.
Click to expand...

Call the dude back in the morning. Tell him you thought about it over night and that you could do it if he offerd 3.75 pr car. Drop to 3.25 if needed. Tell him fuel is killing you

If you could line up 4 or 5 more dealers like this. I could see where there would be a nice profit to be made. I also think just two ppl would be all that would be needed

I saw a guy @ the MB dealer doing this one day while I was waiting on an oil change. I don't think he was even drying them off. Just blasting and moving to the next one in line
 
Flash Gordon said:
I saw a guy @ the MB dealer doing this one day while I was waiting on an oil change. I don't think he was even drying them off. Just blasting and moving to the next one in line
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That's the way to do it--distilled/DI water...blast 'em and move on.

PS All this time you're trying to make us believe you're just another detailing grunt...and there you are getting your Benz serviced at the dealer...:p
 
Flash Gordon said:
Call the dude back in the morning. Tell him you thought about it over night and that you could do it if he offerd 3.75 pr car. Drop to 3.25 if needed. Tell him fuel is killing you

If you could line up 4 or 5 more dealers like this. I could see where there would be a nice profit to be made. I also think just two ppl would be all that would be needed

I saw a guy @ the MB dealer doing this one day while I was waiting on an oil change. I don't think he was even drying them off. Just blasting and moving to the next one in line
Click to expand...

oh yeah! Leaf blowers! Forgot all about those for some reason - - - - - - not a bad idea..... the reason I said 2.50 was because the last guys that did it in the area were making 1.25 a car.... but these guys sound like they are in a bind so they may jump on it. That amount of profit would make it a go for sure I think (at 3.25).
 
B&B Tennessee said:
The most I have made in a day this past month was 800 profit in 15 hours. Ive had some good 500 to 600 dollar profit days, but his week has been about 100 to 200 a day profit..... it is fluctuating like crazy..... Id rather have consistency - which is alot to ask in this line of business - but at that amount of risk?!?!?! Risk is popping in my head more than anything honestly.
Click to expand...

Well there you go, then. If you can't calculate the risk, don't take it. If you can, and it's more than you can or want to handle, don't take it.

Or, if you can calculate the risk and it seems reasonable, go for it.
 
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