13 hour excursion detail

statusdetailing said:
I feel like this is something that just happens to every detailer at some point or another. On a good note. I'm doing a WRX STI next week. One of my favorite cars. Looking forward to it.
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Keep us posted on that next detail
Post some pics if you can..
 
At least you learned your lesson. I do lower priced details on vehicles like that often but I make sure the client knows that perfection will not be the result. If they want perfection I am more than happy to provide but the price must be pretty high.
 
I second the maintenance plan. And excursions, yukon xl's.. Etc they are huge and the owners know this. $400 is totally reasonable and I think as long as u explain your reasoning to the owner when he comes back. It's going to be alright. I know I would expect a little better job if the task is going to be spread through two days and I'm sure you will agree you can do a better job if you spread it out (fatigue sore... That's a big task for one day). Owners are dropping $125 every time they fill the truck up... (Diesel) $400 isn't asking an over the top amount
 
VP Mark said:
At least you learned your lesson. I do lower priced details on vehicles like that often but I make sure the client knows that perfection will not be the result. If they want perfection I am more than happy to provide but the price must be pretty high.
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+1
 
Look at the bright side, it's still $21 an hour.
 
statusdetailing said:
I'll try to snap some pics. I'm just doing a one step but it should look pretty nice.
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Best of luck on those details statusdetailing

And thanks for your advice last month on some interior detailing tips..I have been using your ideas with good success..Thanks

Happy Holidays
 
statusdetailing said:
:rant:I need to vent. Apparently I'm an idiot, because once again I let myself do an excursion for not enough dinero!

I charged $275 for a full detail, with a one step and engine. The money doesn't seem horrible, right? Wrong! I put 13 hours into that beast yesterday. That's with a steamer, extractor, compressed air. . .the works. I work out of a shop.

If you haven't done an exursion, they're a pain. They are absolutely a 2 day job. Don't fool yourself. Not only are they twice as big as any other car, but they have weird intricate frames under the rear passenger seats that collect kids candy and all kinds of nasty crap.

The interior was a light tan color so every single tiny stain shows up. AAAAAAh! The leather was a wreck! Had to clean it with APC+ and let it dwell for a while before scrubbing. I hate leather that is stained that bad!

I know I should have charged $400 + and did it in 2 days, but I didn't. I'm exhausted and my hands are throbbing. Ok, I'm done. Sorry guys. I had to get that off my chest.
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Jesus dude! :nomore:
When I think 'excursion' I remember when I owned my towing business. Which.... means I remember they are over NINETEEN FEET long, stand SEVEN FOOT THREE and weigh in at 7000 Lbs! Nope I'd never have agreed to that one, never, never, n-e-v-e-r. :buffing:
 
@statusdetailing.

Did you take before and after pictures of the excursion?

Would be nice to see and keep a set in your portfolio.

Ed

:autowash: :buffing:
 
Dougw4355 said:
Best of luck on those details statusdetailing

And thanks for your advice last month on some interior detailing tips..I have been using your ideas with good success..Thanks

Happy Holidays
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Glad to hear that! :xyxthumbs:
 
JonnyB said:
I feel ya I have an F250 Crew Cab Short Bed and its the same size other then the cab where my pickup box is.

I was at an Auto Parts store the other week and a guy was complementing how good my truck looked. He asked how long it takes me to do it. I told him that this past spring I did M205, PO85RD, Blacklight and took me 2 days. He starts to tell me it should only take about 20 mins.
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I could probably clean the wheels in 20 min if I hurry.
 
jpegs13 said:
Look at the bright side, it's still $21 an hour.
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That brings up a point that was on the national news last night. With unemployment at an all time high (since the great depression) people by and large are just refusing to work. There were two companies featured in the piece that have offered $12.00 Hr, no experience and will train you, give you benefits, insurance, etc. and neither had not ONE SINGLE PERSON show up. Really?!?!?! WTH? FWIW Both companies looked like machining type stuff, making parts, tech work.

That is a trade, and a trade will pay the bills for many years to come. The reason we (the US) is behind in manufacturing is because we've gotten away from teaching kids coming up how to do a trade. Everybody wants to sit at a computer all day and get rich. Tech & trade schools are making a comeback but we've already lost 100's of thousands of jobs to China, most that we'll never get back.

Look at the live feed this weekend for instance. Most everyone here on AG thinks its cool. Those guys are tradesmen! Working in a body shop, and being a "body man" are two vastly different things. In the 18 years I owned my towing business I was in thousands of shops, some good, some bad, and some that were VERY good and leaders in the field. Can't walk in off the street to the state of the art shops, but pay a few dues and hone the craft and the next thing you know it, you're making pretty darn good money for an honest days work.

So yeah, you didn't kill it with this job but you are making decent money for a days work. Next time you'll know, next time the customer will COME to you WANTING exactly what you did last time. ;) If nothing else.... call it the 'puppy dog approach'. That's what we did in sales with a product I used to sell. We would let the customer have one for free, try it for a week, then try to take it away from them. Had oveer a 90% close the sale rate that way! :)
 
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