I need help is 80 dollars good for exterior detail ?

I charge 100+ for any type of paint correction. But that's because I'm a weekend warrior. I have no overhead. Now for a professional shop to charge so low makes no sense. I'd ask to see some of his work.
 
$80 is my basic wash clay and slow speed polish. The paint will be shiney and protected but not much correction.
 
Are this prices right?

Wash and Wax $30
Wash/Clay and wax $45
Wash/Wax, one step polish and wax $75 for car and more for a SUV or truck? This would only take light swirls out.
 
HardLineDetail said:
Are this prices right?

Wash and Wax $30
Wash/Clay and wax $45
Wash/Wax, one step polish and wax $75 for car and more for a SUV or truck? This would only take light swirls out.
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Well, you'd have to be moving very fast to make $30 per hour at those prices. Think how long it takes to go panel by panel, correctly, doing a one step polish.

It's possible to move that fast, but you'd be missing A LOT
 
Ask to see pictures and look at cars thats already had been finished. That should give you an idea.
 
$80 sounds low but its doable depending on the detailer. I did a pre-spring special here in Seattle for a wash, clay, polish, glaze and seal for $100 for hatchbacks and coupes.
 
Ask to go by the shop and see a car he completed in person in the sunlight-photos can be deceiving!

Also if he is charging 80 bucks total and you subtract 5 dollars for materials he is only earning 75 dollars total for his labor-what do you think he earns per hour??? You do the math and see how much time he will be working on your car (and figure an hour just for the wash)!

I would guess he earns 30 dollars per hour so he is planning to work on your car for 2 1/2 hours or less. I am sure he can do the wash/clay/glaze/wax in that time but it most certainly will not include swirl removal. The glaze may hide them for a while until it washes off.

If you want professional work be prepared to pay accordingly. How much do you require to earn per hour when doing a physically taxing job? Good, experienced labor is not cheap! For good quality products, an experienced worker, taking the time to do a test spot to determine what works, taping and cleaning up takes a lot of time and money.
 
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Ya my wash/wax starts at $65 and my paint correction prices start at $275.
 
As a small guy doing it part time, I charge 80.00 for a interior,wash,clay,and a aio.:dunno:
 
phillycobra said:
As a small guy doing it part time, I charge 80.00 for a interior,wash,clay,and a aio.:dunno:
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Dont sell your self short.
I do this as a hobby when people recommened them to me. For a 1 step or AIO I still get about $125-$150. Interior just gets vaccum and wipe down. If they want a full interior job its an extra $50-$60

My first paid detail was a 2006 Chevy Impala two step polish. Took me 10hrs for $80. Never making that mistake again
 
I'm just afraid to charge people more than they can and they will say no lol. And i only have brands like menzerna polishes and and high end stuff, so should i be charging way more? I have spent about 4k in the last 2 months in AG. You can see the stuff in the thread where u show what u got from AG.
 
HardLineDetail said:
I'm just afraid to charge people more than they can and they will say no lol. And i only have brands like menzerna polishes and and high end stuff, so should i be charging way more? I have spent about 4k in the last 2 months in AG. You can see the stuff in the thread where u show what u got from AG.
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4K?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
HardLineDetail said:
I'm just afraid to charge people more than they can and they will say no lol. And i only have brands like menzerna polishes and and high end stuff, so should i be charging way more? I have spent about 4k in the last 2 months in AG. You can see the stuff in the thread where u show what u got from AG.
Click to expand...

Remember is easier to lower your prices than raise them. So start at a reasonable price and lower it a little if you really have to. Supplies is not cheap and you have to value your time also

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
 
I stay near $175 for exterior only with 1 step and sealant. Give or take a few depending on vehicle of course.

80... Not good matey.
 
thanks guys ill take it to a professional detail shop charing $125 exterior. power wash, clay , polish , wax and another wash.
 
Wow that´s very cheap!!! even for the competition here in Mexico!!!
Check good, sounds to good to be truth!!!
 
I believe it could depend a lot in location to. Just like all other things bigger cities higher prices. Example what is the price of gas or a pack of cigarettes in a place like ny? Last i heard gas was over $4 and cigarettes were around $10 a pack. I live in a tiny town gas now is $3.09 a pack of cigarettes are under $4.
I'm the highest price detailer any where near here. The next to highest place is almost half of what i charge.

For a full detail and aio on a mid sized car I get $100 to $150 depending on how dirty it is.
For a car like yours to do just the out side and remove light swirl marks I've done similar for as little as $75 and it usually takes me 4 to 5 hours depending on if my wife is helping me like she does a lot.

$25 to $30 an hour here! That's crazy! My dad's cousin has owned a mechanic shop for 15+ years now and he don't charge that.
I feel if i made $10 an hour I did pretty good considering people around here working at corporations retire any where from $10 to $12 an hour if they are lucky.

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