Mike how do you "word" to the potential customers the difference between production detailing and show car detailing? I understand the reasoning as noted in your first post to match to the customers demands so you're not doing a full paint correction on some daily driver that is going to go through a coin operated car wash next week. Yet all I can think was kinda from the customers view of "well what exactly am I getting if you have XYZ higher better package" almost like you're downgrading the production detail? Does that make sense?
A couple of quick comments because we have a hot offline project today...
First, because if you're on this forum then
you either know or you need to learn that most people don't know the difference between a squirrel and swirls. Most people just want a clean car, that means, shiny paint, (not swirl-free paint), a clean interior, clear glass and black tires and trim.
The difference between a swirl and squirrel
It's
your job to educate them on your packages and part of that will always include explaining at least a LITTLE BIT about car paint. Mostly the fact that while modern clear coats are harder than traditional single stage paints and the practical difference is modern clear coats don't oxidize like single stage paints but instead they are prone to swirls and scratches.
Then if the car in question is a daily driver UNLESS the customer is going to
change the way they've been taking care of the car the best package for them is Package A where you're going to wash, clay and use a one-step cleaner/wax. If the car is more important to them and they are willing to,
A: Let you wash it for them on a "Maintenance Program"
B: Take ownership of the washing process
C: Run the car through a touchless wash
Unless one of the above is going to happen then it's not really a good service to give their car a show car finish because it's just going to become filled with swirls again.
Make sense?
Second, if you have
Renny's book on starting a detail business read my comments on
page 125.
That's why I wrote my VIF the way I did.
It helps you to educate the customer. It helps you to explain what REALITY is in the car detailing world. Keep in mind, any competitor that doesn't hang out on a forum like this and doesn't have a copy of my VIF isn't going to be able to educate your potential customer to the degree you can and after making your sales pitch to a potential customer and walking them through the VIF IF the customer goes anywhere else they are either going to be sorely let down by the sales pitch from your competition and come running back to you or they were never a good candidate for a lifetime customer for you in the first place.
Make sense?
This is what I explain on page 125 of Renny's book.
If you don't have a copy of my VIF then get a copy, study it and start using it. It has educational information for the customer on the last few pages and even a plug for my how-to book because my how-to book will show your customer how to wash and care for their car AFTER you've worked your magic.
Mike Phillips VIF or Vehicle Inspection Form
Or if you're lucky, your customer will ask to be put on your
"Maintenance Program" and their's a "Call for Action" for this in my VIF also.
The most successful detailers that I know that do this full time have a
Maintenance Program that is full. That means most of their time is spent taking care of established customers and they bill them monthly. This way they have steady and reliable income at the beginning of each month to pay their bills and run their business.
If you don't have a copy of my book or Renny's book then get both of them and read them from cover to cover and you'll instantly know more than most of your competition.
Detailing How-To Book and Detailing How-To E-book by Mike Phillips
Here's a shot of the paperback and the e-book on an Ipad...
Here's the link to get them both at a discount...
Detail Book Combo Package
Hope that helps...
