"But he's Cheaper!!!" What do you do?

I just had the "cheaper" experience hit me yesterday. The BMW dealer sold a Black X5 4.4i (not detailed...just a sell thru vehicle) and the owner wanted it detailed, so he recommended me.

Now, this owner is of Middle Eastern heritage and instantly tried to offer me 1/2 of what I quoted. I've spent time in Saudi and visited the Suq's many times...that is the norm, so I knew what I was up against as a sales challenge.

My first comment was: sure, there are lots of people doing details for $ XX, but, do you trust them? Have you had other expensive cars done by them? With me, you are getting my background at the dealer you bought the X5 from (trust) and the extensive knowledge of BMW paint (other expensive cars).

My final sales approach was for him to ask how long the cheaper details will take (call the detailer and ask). He apparently did before my conversation with him and said 2-4 hours for a detail. Then, I dropped my usual: my detailing is typically 1.5 days....I wonder what the difference is? He couldn't give a good answer and accepted my price.

Toto
 
sparkie said:
What the?:eek: I thought you was my buddy, I'm upset know:mad:... I guess I need to take you off my buddy list....


Just going on with you Little Al....LOL....:D:buffing:
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dengood1 said:
that cut me real deep:(
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Ok boys, I owe you an apology. I'm sorry, I was caught up in the moment and responded too quickly.:o
I should have said that I would trust all of the extremely talented, knowledgeable and accomplished detailers (Geeks) on this board with my truck.

Now to keep this on topic...Jose is not getting anywhere near my truck!:D
 
We all know every village has an idiot! Expert Village is a whole village of Idiots! LOL! I love the interior cleaning with tire foam video! Thats my favorite~

Just show your clients these video's that will sell your services for you! Just ask them if they want Jose washing their car or you ha..ha..!
 
I always say the old cliche - "good is rarely cheap, cheap is rarely good." Another technique is to ask them if they bought the cheapest/least expensive house they saw when buying a home. Then make the comparison that their automobile is the second most expensive thing they will ever buy next to their home, and it should be treated as such. Then you can whip out a portfolio, and ask them to compare to the cheap detailer. Chances are he doesn't even have one!

If you can't win them over with the above, they are better off going to the cheaper detailer or thru a swirl-o-matic. You don't want them as your customer if they don't truly appreciate the differences between your higher quality services and products.

Pete
 
AL417 said:
Ok boys, I owe you an apology. I'm sorry, I was caught up in the moment and responded too quickly.:o
I should have said that I would trust all of the extremely talented, knowledgeable and accomplished detailers (Geeks) on this board with my truck.

Now to keep this on topic...Jose is not getting anywhere near my truck!:D
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:goodpost: I'm all better now. Thank you for clearing that up. Like you said lets get back on topic...And yes a guy said I was high and he also said he can go to town and get a full detail for 35 bucks. I told him he better jump on that...:D
 
thank you for reminding me of one of my bad habits
appling wax with a circular motion
 
I state my prices and if the prospect acts alarmed I will explain the difference in my approach as compared to the status qou

If after that they even so much question my price again I PASS on the job... I simply tell them that the service I offer is not in line with what they are looking for.. I take it as a great chance for me to weed out the customers I do not want..

I do not rely on detailing as my main source of income so passing up on work is not an issue for me
 
HAN said:
I always say the old cliche - "good is rarely cheap, cheap is rarely good." Another technique is to ask them if they bought the cheapest/least expensive house they saw when buying a home. Then make the comparison that their automobile is the second most expensive thing they will ever buy next to their home, and it should be treated as such.

Pete
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I actually used that line last week. The guy told me, " a house is an investment. a car is not an investment"

oh well
 
MotorCity Honda said:
I state my prices and if the prospect acts alarmed I will explain the difference in my approach as compared to the status qou

If after that they even so much question my price again I PASS on the job... I simply tell them that the service I offer is not in line with what they are looking for.. I take it as a great chance for me to weed out the customers I do not want..

I do not rely on detailing as my main source of income so passing up on work is not an issue for me
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Gotta agree with Motor here. Detailing is my second job and mainly a passion for me so if I miss out on ten jobs that wanted "cheaper" service to get one job that appreciates a quality detail, im that much closer to building a higher end clientèle and weeding out all the "Wow, thats expensive! ABC Scratch, Marr and Swirl will do it for $20 bucks cheaper" guys.

I was actually asked the other day if I would cut down on my quality and use cheaper products so I could give him/her a better price. I politely told him/her that their patronage wasn't wanted here.
 
How to Wax a Car - MonkeySee

Ok I said I would not do this but since you boys started it I have to share this one.... just please check out his microfiber towels he is using on a Bentley.
 
Meghan said:
How to Wax a Car - MonkeySee

Ok I said I would not do this but since you boys started it I have to share this one.... just please check out his microfiber towels he is using on a Bentley.
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There is an after life for politicians who have not had a successful attempt at public office..:D

looks like its catching on:

Hillary's Boat Harbour
Perth, Western Australia 6000
Australia


On Topic...Thanks for posting hot cakes :D
 
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djrazr said:
I actually used that line last week. The guy told me, " a house is an investment. a car is not an investment"

oh well
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BS that depends on the car, grab an old Muscle car or just a solid classic and that is an investment.
 
Meghan said:
How to Wax a Car - MonkeySee

Ok I said I would not do this but since you boys started it I have to share this one.... just please check out his microfiber towels he is using on a Bentley.
Click to expand...


I just spent the last 10-15 minutes watching this guys videos. This is 10-15 minutes of my life that I won't get back. This guy is 25 years of experienced hacking. I'm amazed what what this guy says and does in these videos. Are the vast majority of detailers like this? I can't believe a high-end dealership is allowing such garbage work to be done on cars like that. Every time I see video's like this, I feel much better about my services and pricing.
 
mrfjsw294 said:
Gotta agree with Motor here. Detailing is my second job and mainly a passion for me so if I miss out on ten jobs that wanted "cheaper" service to get one job that appreciates a quality detail, im that much closer to building a higher end clientèle and weeding out all the "Wow, thats expensive! ABC Scratch, Marr and Swirl will do it for $20 bucks cheaper" guys.

I was actually asked the other day if I would cut down on my quality and use cheaper products so I could give him/her a better price. I politely told him/her that their patronage wasn't wanted here.
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WHAT.. someone agrees with me..WILL SOMEONE PINCH ME:D
 
Add me to the list that agree's with you as well MC. I've gotten a couple calls this week that I could tell were price shoppers. I could also tell that their vehicles were most likely a disaster. I politely told them that I wouldn't be able to help them out for the prices they were getting from other shops.

I feel that if I were to discount my prices, I'd have to discount my quality of service, which is something I am not willing to do.
 
mshu7 said:
Add me to the list that agree's with you as well MC. I've gotten a couple calls this week that I could tell were price shoppers. I could also tell that their vehicles were most likely a disaster. I politely told them that I wouldn't be able to help them out for the prices they were getting from other shops.

I feel that if I were to discount my prices, I'd have to discount my quality of service, which is something I am not willing to do.
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And this is your primary gig:applause:!!!!
:righton:
 
Your only hurting yourself if you lower your standards to get a deal. Odds are that you can't satisfy a cheapskate to begin with. Your much better off dealing with people who will drive away with the feeling of value in their purchase. If your hacking away at cars like that guy in the vid w/ 25yrs of experience of swirling cars, you aren't creating value for the customer. It's amazing he's convinced people that his work is worth them paying him, not vice-verse.
If you see someone wants a cheap price, all you can do is explain why your service is better for their vehicle, will last longer, and will create value. Bottom line.
If you can't explain your service then you need more thought into it.
Market research is your friend. Just because your researching doesn't mean it has to be your car. Chip in and have a friend get their car detailed at the competitions place and go with them to study their process. Finding out how they tick gives you a much better explanation to the customer when comparing your services.
Don't struggle to hold onto cheapskates. If they don't want to pay for value, they don't get it.
 
I have the same problem here in Cyprus.Most "detailers" (if i can call them like this) have very low prices.The problem is that customers cannot see the difference between of just applying some compound or polish with a rotary polisher(sometimes with a modified grinder-YES THEY USE THEM A LOT) that fill the car holograms and hide them with a wax or glaze until the next car wash, and of the real detailing work that gives to the car what really needed to.I had that experience on my own car before i find out the magic world of detailing.When i bought it it was full of holograms because of bad rotary polishing.When i took it back to the dealer to repair it,he done the job in 30 minutes : ).A rotary polisher,a compound,and a paste wax.The results were worst than before.I tried to take it to another "professional" and i had the same results.So i decided to fix it by my self and also make detailing my job.
Because of that situation (customers cannot see the difference,low prices) i am planning to take some customers that they are happy to give more money for their very expensive cars (social problems ) just for the show,just for doing something different from other people(oh those social problems ).Why you don,t try this?
 
Monkey See was doing a car that didnt need any more work then he gave it. What else would some of you guys do - soak the carpets, buff a car that didnt need it. The object is the final result.
 
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