DaC
New member
- Aug 11, 2011
- 855
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i never ask why they go with my service. 99% of my clients meet me prior any detail so i guess that makes them decide.
most of the people here are hobbyist , i don`t have the 30 minutes time to explain to every single 10$ wish detail why my prices are like that. last time when i was compared with another detailer it was an $150 difference not $20, i was chosen to do the job and i got a second car from same client.
u right about the education part, as someone said before publishing the prices save your time and your client time, by seeing your work he decide if the price is worth it.
I wasn't really addressing a hobbyist, I was thinking more full timers trying to build their businesses. Most consumers are not that we'll educated in the finer points. You may not sell them on that call but when they look at what the cheaper guy did and didn't do, you have a chance at the next service. You only get that if they know what to look for. If you are trying to build your business and have so many phone calls that you do not have two minutes to chase away the $10 guy, then maybe you should hire someone to answer the phone.
Back in my younger days I worked with tradesmen in developing their sales skills. Most thought of a slick, lying, manipulative, guy as a salesman. Nothing could be further from the truth. The best salespeople educated customers about their products and developed trust. I remember a coworker ten years ago think I was crazy to spend hundreds of dollars having my car detailed when he spent $40 (with tip) at his local war wash. I repeated to him what I was told by a guy who took my call and taught me was the difference. I showed him the differences, and he booked an appointment for a real service. He wouldn't have ever called a pro.
I am a little passionate about sales and marketing so I am sorry if I come off so preachy.
And you really should ask why you got the job. That way you know to keep doing it, plus it usually is a nice compliment which is the nice part of sales. Hearing no is the worst and why some people try to avoid that by only talking with people who have been pre-sold. But if you aren't mailing out reminders to customers, asking for referrals, keeping notes on every customer, you are missing business. How would you like to be the company that shoots out an email to a customer and reminds him his wife's birthday is next month and if he's going to take her out for a nice dinner, his car ought to look up to that special night. Or emailing a photo of him standing there after his last service and asking if his ride still looks that great. Put that emotion right back on him.
Getting down off the soapbox, sorry y'all
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I find the type of client I cater to does their homework online long before they even contact me as most of them are car enthusiasts. 99% of my business is still, and has always been word of mouth. Most who contact me know what to expect before they even see my website. My Webpage is very basic, not even finished actually, and it has no search engine optimization on anything like that. The main reason I created my web page was so that I didn't have to be burdened with taking calls and/or emailing out my price list all the time. I have a full time career during the week and detail on the weekends and spare time is not something I have a lot of. When a client contacts me they only questions they really have are what package should I go with and the rest inquire on the permanent coatings. Here is an example of the type of emails I get....
> Hi Chad,
>
> I have viewed your web site (very nice) and noticed your packages section stating the Base package removes small swirls and scratches. My question is what is considered small?
>
> I have a Hyundai Genesis 4.6L and have the dealer installed swirls and a few scratches on the car, which is 3 years old, and not driven in the winter. Basically, I'm looking to have everything done in the Base package, but I want to ensure that price covers the swirls etc. Just trying to get an idea how much I'm really going to spend. If you would like me to send pictures of what I'm talking about please let me know. I have Cc'd my personal email also, so in your reply please "reply to all."
>
> Thanks Chad!
After inspection of his car and seeing the condition he ended up going with a higher level package that would take out his level of defects and I'm actually doing a 3rd car for this client tomorrow.
So IME I can explain the difference between what I do and what the cheaper high volume shops do until I'm blue in the face. I've simply found over the last 20+ years that clients who shop around looking for the best prince are not looking for the type of services I offer, nor are they willing to pay for it....so why waste my valuable time?
Just my $.02
Rasky
Guys, I want you to know that this topic has been very informative... it's like a light in the dark on these type of matter... we can draw 2 ways of thinking here, IMO both are right, you just need to choose what fits better the business model you want to work on.
Great posts... keep it on :dblthumb2: :dblthumb2:
Rasky, I'd like to say your website is beautiful... very simple and elegant! If I knew how to do it, I'd do mine like yours too.
On topic: I'm not a pro but I definitively would choose the "Show prices and work online. Don't like it ? Not my problem!"
Truth be told, I also defend that you have to educate your client, that's why I'm planning tons of writing in a sister blog of mine yet to come. And completely link that to my portfolio website....
If the client do cares to read it, he'll for sure understand my work ..... if not... well.... he most probably isn't looking for quality, but for $$$$ cheap. Although I'm far from being as experienced as guys like Rasky or Cosmin, I'm not that bad either and sure above production work standard.
I'm starting very slowly on this business as I'm still coursing civil engineering, so I just don't have the time I wished to go full time.....
So back on topic, I'm running both ideas:
- I Have my site, I'll list prices and show my work there. If the person thinks it's too much..... beat it!
- But I'll also start working as 3rd party on a car wash for 1 or 2 days half period a week, working at his price, and of course, meeting my work to the payment. But these will never gonna show on my website.... it's two different stuff. I realized if people want to pay $$$ cheap for my work.... what d'hell if I am to do that I'd rather work somewhere else, not putting my name on the work, and do that just for the quick money itself.
To sum up: If you're plaining to go to garage queen cars, don't low ball yourself and show your work and prices online.
If you need money, create a different website, different name and phone number and work on a lower price...... this way you'll shoot for both sides at once and meet both public demand..... when you're finally ready, you can choose one what fits better to you.
