Client cancelled detail (first cancellation professionally)

Lustrous Detail

Lustrous Detail

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I feel heart broken. Client found someone cheaper. I'm curious to know who this cheaper guy is. I quoted $140 for an in and out detail. Outside was gonna be Clayed and sealed. Semi full interior detail. Can anyone comfort me? :(

This was for a 2005 Toyota Highlander
 
That's super reasonable there is almost always someone cheaper or willing to under cut to get business. Don't take it personally.


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Lustrous Detail said:
I feel heart broken. Client found someone cheaper. I'm curious to know who this cheaper guy is. I quoted $140 for an in and out detail. Outside was gonna be Clayed and sealed. Semi full interior detail. Can anyone comfort me? :(

This was for a 2005 Toyota Highlander
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Sorry about that. The person could be a a hack or work well below the usual norm. I don't know, you could send a professional looking card asking if they were satisfied and you would be willing to do work for them and discuss their possible apprehension concern the previous business. I don't know, it's feeler type situation. Good luck.

Peace,

Darrin
 
You will learn to let it go eventually. Cancellations are just part of business. Don't take it personally. Everyone "knows a guy" if you will.....

-note 4 powered by T-Mobile
 
At a buck forty and they found a cheaper deal I say wave bye bye. I have not done this car yet " a sports car " exterior only customer says do it here, no I'm not Mobil I don't do this for a living thanks any way. Then the phone rings " I want to do it" ok I will set something up and you can drop it off. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow.
 
Wow that is very unexpensive for an interior and exterior, if someone wants to do it for less, I would not worry about it.

Not sure how much time you spend on that package but for me, interior rarelly take less than 4 hours and exterior around 2. I would charge at least 240$ for that. Guy who undercut you must either work for pennies or is not doing a good job... or both.
 
If it was someone looking for deal and they had highlander, in my experience you didn't want the job anyway (no offense to those of you that own highlanders if there's any one here).

It was probably filthy with kid junk, dog hair, and food spills. Outside probably hadn't been washed in at least 6 months and never been detailed. Then once you were done they would have all of the sudden become obsessed with every minor detail and it would have been a pain for you. Now someone else gets to deal with them :D

Hope that helps a bit :xyxthumbs:
 
Lustrous Detail said:
I feel heart broken. Client found someone cheaper. I'm curious to know who this cheaper guy is. I quoted $140 for an in and out detail. Outside was gonna be Clayed and sealed. Semi full interior detail. Can anyone comfort me? :(

This was for a 2005 Toyota Highlander
Click to expand...

Let it go and remember this:

A barber charged $15.00 for a haircut, a cheaper national chain opened up across the street, put a banner up and said $8.95 haircuts.

The barber put up a banner the next day "we fix $8.95 hair cuts"

I'm in and have been in a highly competitive business for 25 years. Competitors cut my prices all the time. Focus on what separates you from them, and never bash them, out sell them. Salesmanship is a big part of running any business. Share with your customers what differentiates you from them and why your worth a little more $$. If they go to the competition they go, chances are they will be back. And if they come back be humble and laugh inside because you won. And raise their price 15%! I'm only kidding on that part.
 
Wow, $140 is a bargain. Don't compromise on your bottom line. If they are happy with the cheaper guy, then they weren't your customer base in the first place. If they come to you to fix it up to AG standards, then you'll have a customer for life.

Glad you are over it.
 
If I got $5 for everyone who canceled on me, or who were gun ho on getting a detail but I never heard from again. I'd almost be able to retire without even having to work :D
 
quebert said:
If I got $5 for everyone who canceled on me, or who were gun ho on getting a detail but I never heard from again. I'd almost be able to retire without even having to work :D
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:xyxthumbs: :whs:
 
go the other way

dont lower your rates to compete with him

In fact, do the opposite. Sell the customer on things you would do, and he wont!


I took a few sales training classes (not for detailing) but they will all say the same thing.


If someone is cheaper, stick with your price and sell the customer on the service, expertise, things you do that the cheaper guy wont/dont know how!

People want to see the value, make your "detailing package" a better value by providing what other dont.


I think you will find yourself selling more jobs, and raising your rates even with the cheaper guy down the road.
 
My prices are as follows for Wash/Clay/Seal (no polish)
$100-Car
$110-Mid size/small suv
$120-Truck/Large suv
I usually start my quick interior's at $75 bucks. But at this point i only do vacuming/wipe down/windows as i don't have an extractor nor the time to get into stains. As it's only a hobbie i try n keep it as cheap as possible but still want to make a small profit. I've had friends turn me down and call my prices rediculous and can't expect anyone to pay them. Yeah to an extent it's kinda hard to take at first, but after a while you just realize that it's not worth your time to fuss over, if they want a half #@% detail then so be it.
 
You need to decide upon which clientele YOU are marketing and catering to.

Someone STILL shopping on a cheap price such as yours likely isn't someone you would want as a customer in the long run. They'll always look for the cheapest and settle for what they get.

Your pricing will allow for you to bring out the clientele you want as a long term customer. Your pricing is likely not going to bring in the more reasonable and detail "savvy" customer. People who are shopping price are usually looking for a one time detail, don't understand what a true detail service entails and likely won't be a repeat customer in the long run whether they love the work or not.

The discerning client wants to know they've chosen the right person to care for their vehicle, regardless of price.

Know your target clientele and then build your service to cater to them. Leave the bottom feeders to the guy that outbid you.
 
tpr1634 said:
At a buck forty and they found a cheaper deal I say wave bye bye. I have not done this car yet " a sports car " exterior only customer says do it here, no I'm not Mobil I don't do this for a living thanks any way. Then the phone rings " I want to do it" ok I will set something up and you can drop it off. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow.
Click to expand...

I agree, I just washed, surface prepped and re-washed and then waxed my DD SUV and I'm wiped lol. I'm not a pro detailer but I'd never do all this plus the inside for 140, no got dang way :D
 
The Inside is really a killer. When I am done doing the Inside of a car I am usually pretty tired. 4+ hours of twisting yourself in unatural positions, scrubbing like crazy, doing aerobic movements, will take a toll ;)

But it's so empowering when you are done and the car looks amazing. interiors are usually great before/after moments here in Canada when you start with a dirty car with salt in the carpet and end up with a car that looks like new ;)
 
I don't ever dwell on a customer canceling. That customer most likely wouldn't appreciate the work anyways. As a Detailer, we clean areas in interiors they will never even see or know exist. I enjoy the customer that appreciates the work and the extra effort that goes into my work. I also work in a fairly busy shop, so when one goes there is another waiting. I guess if you are on your own, losing work can be tough.
 
I have a customer cancel on a paint coating he said he could get it do cheaper else where. I said ok that's fine. I saw the man a week latter and he said he did not like the paint coatings and did not know what the big hype was on them. When i looked at his car it was never paint corrected, swirls and scratches every where. I told him that it should have been polished first to remove the defects first that it should be done. He just looked at me with a sad face. I told him he need to take it back and have them fix it or get his money back. He was not happy. LOL
 
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