Craigslist detailing adds

crash93ssei

crash93ssei

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Found these on my local craigslist

Auto+Boat High End Detailing Lowest Price/Best Value/Top-Notch Work

Auto Detailing

I sent them both an email asking about what products they use for polishing and waxing. I also asked them for some before and after pics of their work. I then said that I own a 2005 Grand Prix that I am looking to get detailed.

One says a full detail for $40???? wow, I am charging WAY WAY too much then LOL!!

I can't wait for their replies!
 
Interesting reads.

I started to look at the craigslist ads in the DC area and I was amazed at the variations on the same add by the same company.
 
LMAO @ the full detail. I think he is talking about peddle bikes.
 
Some of those Craigslist ads are just funny
 
Got a reply from one of them

Hello Ryan,
I do have some pictures but they are not digital, I will have to get
them scanned. I use mostly Griots Garage Products (google them,
awesome stuff) and Zanos brand stuff. Both are top tier products. I
have been doing this for quite a while and do not sacrifice quality.
Thanks for contacting me and I will work on scanning those pictures.
Click to expand...

That was from the one that didn't list any prices. I haven't really heard much about the Griots Garage stuff, but what I have heard they don't seem too bad. I am going to send him another email and ask how long it takes him and also some info on pricing.

The one I am really waiting for is the one that can do a full detail for $40!
 
crash93ssei said:
Got a reply from one of them



That was from the one that didn't list any prices. I haven't really heard much about the Griots Garage stuff, but what I have heard they don't seem too bad. I am going to send him another email and ask how long it takes him and also some info on pricing.

The one I am really waiting for is the one that can do a full detail for $40!
Click to expand...

There are allot of so called detailers here in Kentucky ( Lexington) that are on Craig's List posting full details for $30.00 and $40.00......pardon me, but this pisses me off........most of them dont even know what a 2 bucket wash system is.......so I have to explain to potential customers whythey should pay triple the amout by using my services.....its a customer education proccess.
 
I have thought about posting an add on CL for my services and basically say that if you want a top shelf job, come see me, but if you want the lowest prices and a hack job, go see them.

I won't do that yet though mainly because I already have so many cars lined up to do right now I don't even know what to do LOL My wife will be done with her classes in two weeks then my detailing starts up for the season! So far, word of mouth and a good reputation has gotten me more work then I would have ever thought of with only doing this for one year now. I am hoping that between my 40+ hour work week and everything else on my platter right now that I can get two to three cars done each week. We will see though :)
 
Crash, that is awesome of you to be in such good circumstances when so many others are losing their jobs and are clueless as to what to do for themselves or their families. Of course, it helps that we are all car and truck enthusiasts here which is why I study (lurk) on these threads so enthusiastically. Anyway, your comment is inspiring. And keep up the good work!
 
Turtle wax wipe down=full detail in their opinion. Just like those stupidors like wax daddy...Now if they only knew a guy named Paul Dalton...
 
You know what they say if you pay peanuts you get a monkey!!!!!!

Pat.
 
bunyz06rabbitt said:
Crash, that is awesome of you to be in such good circumstances when so many others are losing their jobs and are clueless as to what to do for themselves or their families. Of course, it helps that we are all car and truck enthusiasts here which is why I study (lurk) on these threads so enthusiastically. Anyway, your comment is inspiring. And keep up the good work!
Click to expand...


Honestly not sure what you are trying to say here? Some of it sounds like a compliment, but at the same time it sounds sarcastic...

Anyways, I am not doing this to rip on other people trying to feed their families, I am just curious to see what other "detailers" in my area do as far as quality of work, pricing, etc.
 
crash93ssei said:
I have thought about posting an add on CL for my services and basically say that if you want a top shelf job, come see me, but if you want the lowest prices and a hack job, go see them.
Click to expand...

I post an AD on CL every so often and occasionally mention that sort of thing. I however offer quick type details, hence my business name.What I cant stand are the guys who pretend to be what they're not. I often get calls from people asking if I can make it look like it came from the showroom. I always tell them I'll get it as close I can but direct them to other , higher end, detailers who offer those services. I would go into that type of detailing myself but there is no market for it in my area. It's pretty much a lot of retirees looking for a good deal.

Plus I find it to be a joke that these guys cant seem to post pictures or create websites. What kind of business mentality is that.

Here's a look at my ad:

Affordable Mobile Auto Detailing - Starting at just $10!
 
We run an ad on Craigslist every third day or so, and it has paid off quite a few times since we started it. We run a simple paragraph stating the essentials, then direct them to our website.

Craigslist has all sorts of traffic, and I want my business to be known by all sorts.
 
Well, the one guy seems like he might know his stuff

As far as buffing goes I use 3M Perfect-it 3 compund and polish as
well as the accompanying compund and polish pads. The charge for a
2005 Grand Prix would be $105.00. That is washed, compounded,
polished, washed, waxed. In that order, which is a great deal, other
places are north of $200.00. I have done several black cars and
haven't screwed one up yet:) Let me know whats up.

Chris
Click to expand...

I never got a reply from the other guy.
 
Most Craigslist "Detailers" are really just carwashers. There's a difference. Too bad most people don't know. So when I'm talking to people about pricing, their eyes get wide when I tell them how much. But 9 times out of 10 these people are confusing a car wash with a full detail. The 10th person is just a cheapo.
 
$105 to clean, compound and polish a mid-size car. I would say thats a full days job. So take off the price of the supplies and you make what $90. $11 bucks an hour for quality paint correction not deducting overhead costs, I don't think so. I am going to bet on quick wash, and a good hiding glaze with maybe a cheap wax and out it goes. 3 hrs tops and results will disappear after a couple of washes. Maybe if you were selling the car it might be worth it. Not for me though. I would rather spend the $105 on product and do it myself.

Pat.
 
This can be a very lucrative business to those of us who are willing to put out the time and effort that it takes to give not just good service but great service. And even then, you'll run across the schemers, the scammers and the lowballers. Even the people that run away come payment time. But that is a rare occasion indeed. Many people don't have a clue what detailing is or even entails. Nor do they have an appreciation for the hours of practice, the skill and craftsmanship, the knowledge or even the muscle involved in the actual service. Which is why this forum and community is something I find very important in my life.
 
crash93ssei said:
Honestly not sure what you are trying to say here? Some of it sounds like a compliment, but at the same time it sounds sarcastic...

Anyways, I am not doing this to rip on other people trying to feed their families, I am just curious to see what other "detailers" in my area do as far as quality of work, pricing, etc.
Click to expand...

I have looked at Craigslist ads too and curious about work, pricing, etc. From what I see $25 to $35/hr is the typical price range for most mobile detailers around here for wash / wax jobs. A few do show pictures and several have decent looking set ups.

Like any service industry, the better guys tend to charge more but it does not mean all the cheaper guys do bad work either. I suspect many of these guys are getting incremental cash to make ends meet (probably not paying taxes, insurance, etc). They know they are competing against the local car wash or car wash at the local gas station for those who do not see much value in a good hand wash.

I can say that some ads are just crude one liners with misspelled words and poor grammar. The better ones invest some time to include a nice graphic.

It is funny that few ever mention why personal detailing is better than going to the swirl em up car wash. They never seem to educate and assume people know all about detailing. You have to educate people first and then sell them...you cannot just say you do detailing.

It is like life insurance..many people see ads for life insurance but never buy it. It takes a salesman to educate them on the importance of it and then convince them they have a need.
 
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