did my first car for money today, client wasnt too thrilled

[Crazy Amos]

I wouldn't worry about it too much man. Another job will come along that you can apply the things you learned from this one.

I think it looked good.

 

[jhallhall]

to each his own i guess i like shiny too, but not greasy.

Shiny is good sometimes. Greasy, not so good lol

 

[ride5150]

I wouldn't worry about it too much man. Another job will come along that you can apply the things you learned from this one.

I think it looked good.

yeah thanks, i just really wanted him to refer me to some friends. eh oh well, ill manage

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Unless the paint is in bad shape, light colored cars are very hard to make a discernible difference.

 

[sal329]

What kind of waxes or sealants do you have?

 

[ballfan4141]

I will not even dress the dash because when you do it collects so much dirt and dust that to me really looks dirty after a day. I know people who want that cheap, greasy shine but that does more harm than good.

 

[MDetail]

One of the first things I had noticed on that car was the large spots of missing paint on the passenger side front bumper. Things like that are going to detract from the look of the car (not your fault). Sometimes just knowing what waxes work with certain color paints could be very helpful as well.

 

[prisonerofcs]

I'm one of the car guy clients who has high expectations. The pros posting are right, if someone does a good job detailing my car I'll say thanks. If they own their own business I will pay them. If they are employed by someone else I will tip them well (my mom's a waitress and I was raised on tips, so I tip well)

But for owner/operators the only real way someone would know if I was truly satisfied is if I come back.

I think its very smart to go over everything with the client before hand to make sure his expectations are realistic. In my line of work I always make sure that the client and I are on the same page.

From what I saw you did a hell of a lot for $100. If that was a black car it would have definitely been more noticeable. Around here headlight restoration starts at $75, and I can't guess what wet sanding costs.

 

[ride5150]

What kind of waxes or sealants do you have?

One of the first things I had noticed on that car was the large spots of missing paint on the passenger side front bumper. Things like that are going to detract from the look of the car (not your fault). Sometimes just knowing what waxes work with certain color paints could be very helpful as well.

thanks for the advice :xyxthumbs:

the only sealnt i have is poliseal, it is what ive been using for everything. once i get a nice client base ill buy more color-specific waxes, but for now this is all.

yeah those rock chips really messed up the look of the car, i cant polish missing paint

I'm one of the car guy clients who has high expectations. The pros posting are right, if someone does a good job detailing my car I'll say thanks. If they own their own business I will pay them. If they are employed by someone else I will tip them well (my mom's a waitress and I was raised on tips, so I tip well)

But for owner/operators the only real way someone would know if I was truly satisfied is if I come back.

I think its very smart to go over everything with the client before hand to make sure his expectations are realistic. In my line of work I always make sure that the client and I are on the same page.

From what I saw you did a hell of a lot for $100. If that was a black car it would have definitely been more noticeable. Around here headlight restoration starts at $75, and I can't guess what wet sanding costs.

yeah it really was a steal, but people who don't know about detailing really are unappreciative and dont know what honestly goes into the detailing process. i truly wish i had gone over the entire car with him, i wouldve shown him scratches that he prolly didnt even know were there. then showed him that they were all taken out. im sure that it looks the same to him as it did before, and thats what kind of got to me.

personally i dont know if hell come back, he washes his car himself, maybe ill see him in a few months after the wax wears off

right now i really need to focus on advertising, sitting at home is starting to get to me i want some work

 

[maximus20895]

Same here. I'm starting up and I'm just sitting here waiting for clients. It's getting to me as well. Argh!

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Same here. I'm starting up and I'm just sitting here waiting for clients. It's getting to me as well. Argh!

You're probably not going to get many clients if you just sit around and wait for them to fall into your lap. If you want a successful business to grow, get out there and make it happen!

 

[maximus20895]

Yea! I just printed out 500 flyers and I'm going to hand them out Monday I believe! I've also been placing ads online as well as joining some groups!

 

[sal329]

I would def get more sealants and waxes. If you topped the Z with a coat or 2 of Opti Seal it would have had a lil more pop, even pick up some Duragloss 111 locally at Napa or Carquest

 

[CrownKote]

I've done a clients car before and he had some concerns with how the interior looked, mainly the dash... Turns out he likes the cheap shiny look of armor all and I use a natural shine dressing lol and he drives a sl550!!!!

Those types of clients are the ones that think that Armor All is the only product out there because they have not been educated beyond what they see on TV or in stores...

Like Flash said, some people are just wired that way, if you got a "looks good" that's the compliment. The important thing is, when other people tell him how good his car looks, he says that you did a good job for him. And then there are people who are never satisfied with anything that costs them money, even if they are too lazy or unable to do it themselves.

You know the amount of work and time you put in, and if you're satisfied that you gave him his money's worth, don't worry about it. If the customer comes back, or sends a referral, that's a compliment.

See this post: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/36836-zanny-bimmer-wagon.html

This was one of those guys...

thanks for all the responses, im not sure if he wasnt thrilled, i just feel like he was expecting more. his front bumper had a ton of rock chips, when i was going over the car i DID tell him they werent gonna come out and the front bumper needs to be repainted. he said "its okay, do what you can do." there was nothing i could do tho, and i think he was expecting the front bumper to come out looking new. there was also a scratch on the side mirror he showed me that was literally 1/8 of an inch into the plastic, i also told him it wasnt going to come out.

i took out almost all scratches (or made it to the point were its not visible) on the entire car except for the front bumper, but i think he was most concerned about the front bumper.

when he came out he said "oh the scratches didnt come out?" i said no, theyre rock chips and the bumper needs to be repainted. right there i shouldve shown him the rest of the car, showed him that there are literally 1 or 2 scratches on the entire car and i wasnt sleeping during the 5 hrs i had the car.

i did ask him if he liked it, he said yes its shiny...lol he asked me what i put on the convertible top, i told him 303 fabric protectant and that now instead of soaking up water, the water will bead of the fabric top, that they use it on aircraft etc.

my main concern is that the car doesnt look DRASTICALLY better than it was before, and i dont want the guy to be thinking i cheated him out of $100, and in turn to not recommend me to any of his friends.

eh, im not sure what to do. maybe he does like what i did and just isnt enthusiastic.

This sounds almost exactly like the Bimmer guy referenced in the above link...

I wouldn't worry about it too much man. Another job will come along that you can apply the things you learned from this one.

I think it looked good.

I thought it looked real good too!

thanks for the advice :xyxthumbs:

the only sealnt i have is poliseal, it is what ive been using for everything. once i get a nice client base ill buy more color-specific waxes, but for now this is all.

yeah those rock chips really messed up the look of the car, i cant polish missing paint




yeah it really was a steal, but people who don't know about detailing really are unappreciative and dont know what honestly goes into the detailing process. i truly wish i had gone over the entire car with him, i wouldve shown him scratches that he prolly didnt even know were there. then showed him that they were all taken out. im sure that it looks the same to him as it did before, and thats what kind of got to me.

personally i dont know if hell come back, he washes his car himself, maybe ill see him in a few months after the wax wears off

right now i really need to focus on advertising, sitting at home is starting to get to me i want some work

If you look at the price you charged you made about $12.00 an hour! for something like what you did I would charge about $400.00

 

[tuscarora dave]

You're probably not going to get many clients if you just sit around and wait for them to fall into your lap. If you want a successful business to grow, get out there and make it happen!

I thought the same thing when I read that comment.

Same here. I'm starting up and I'm just sitting here waiting for clients. It's getting to me as well. Argh!

Over the next few details you do try getting a few money shot photos on each job. 50/50 photos coupled with a before and after photo work well as money shot photos.

Invest in some ink cartridges and glossy 8"X10" photo paper and print these money shots and place them into a 3 ring binder with document protectors. You may want to have a copy of your proof of liability insurance page right in front of the book. Show it to everyone that you come in contact with on a daily basis and after explaining what you do and showing them the photos, hand them a business card and tell them you're currently offering 15% off of all detailing services.

If you want clients this will bring them. Fliers just end up in the trash.

 

[ride5150]

Same here. I'm starting up and I'm just sitting here waiting for clients. It's getting to me as well. Argh!

yeah im just plain tired of sitting lol, tommorrow im going to get an ad in a newspaper, and go hand out fliers, ill also do my friends moms car for free or really cheap. she is a doctor and probably knows a lot of people with nice cars

Those types of clients are the ones that think that Armor All is the only product out there because they have not been educated beyond what they see on TV or in stores...



See this post: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/36836-zanny-bimmer-wagon.html

This was one of those guys...



This sounds almost exactly like the Bimmer guy referenced in the above link...



I thought it looked real good too!



If you look at the price you charged you made about $12.00 an hour! for something like what you did I would charge about $400.00

wow, what a jackass, dont get into a shouting-fest with people like this man, its not worth it to get all angry over some idiot.

did you go over the entire car beforehand? im definately going to start doing this, so they know EXACTLY what to expect when its done.

the guy i dealt with was really nice, i talked to him the other day actually, he didnt complain or anything, i think he was just expecting what is impossible. its kind of my fault too for not oging over the car with him, that way he wouldve seen the difference.

well it took me about 5hrs to do and i was taking pictures in the meantime, i charged him $100 so its more like $20/hr i just did a one-step polish/seal with poliseal, im not sure if it was worth $400 haha.

I thought the same thing when I read that comment.


Over the next few details you do try getting a few money shot photos on each job. 50/50 photos coupled with a before and after photo work well as money shot photos.

Invest in some ink cartridges and glossy 8"X10" photo paper and print these money shots and place them into a 3 ring binder with document protectors. You may want to have a copy of your proof of liability insurance page right in front of the book. Show it to everyone that you come in contact with on a daily basis and after explaining what you do and showing them the photos, hand them a business card and tell them you're currently offering 15% off of all detailing services.

If you want clients this will bring them. Fliers just end up in the trash.

i need to start taking some 50/50 shots, and yeah a nice binder would definately be a benefit, thats a really good idea.

you do this to everyone you meet during the day?

 

[maximus20895]

I thought the same thing when I read that comment.


Over the next few details you do try getting a few money shot photos on each job. 50/50 photos coupled with a before and after photo work well as money shot photos.

Invest in some ink cartridges and glossy 8"X10" photo paper and print these money shots and place them into a 3 ring binder with document protectors. You may want to have a copy of your proof of liability insurance page right in front of the book. Show it to everyone that you come in contact with on a daily basis and after explaining what you do and showing them the photos, hand them a business card and tell them you're currently offering 15% off of all detailing services.

If you want clients this will bring them. Fliers just end up in the trash.

Thanks for the tip rops:

 

[Flash Gordon]

You're probably not going to get many clients if you just sit around and wait for them to fall into your lap. If you want a successful business to grow, get out there and make it happen!

Now you tell me :doh:

Should I reconnect my phone line too?!?!?!?

 

[ride5150]

Now you tell me :doh:

Should I reconnect my phone line too?!?!?!?

i wouldnt, most detailers are contacted by smoke signal and carrier pigeon anyways.

 

[CrownKote]

yeah im just plain tired of sitting lol, tommorrow im going to get an ad in a newspaper, and go hand out fliers, ill also do my friends moms car for free or really cheap. she is a doctor and probably knows a lot of people with nice cars
I wouldn't waste money on a newspaper ad unless it is proven successful! I would do some craigslist ads... Fliers can be good but honestly as said above usually they end up in the trash unfortunately... Doing the friend's moms car is a great idea but remember nice cars are not all that detailing is about... take a look at this thread of mine and tell me if it is a nice car (even for it's day lol) http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/36502-1983-ford-tempo-make-over.html Those are the money makers!


wow, what a jackass, dont get into a shouting-fest with people like this man, its not worth it to get all angry over some idiot.
Nor do I... He had to of been impressed to some extent as I gained a customer from it! lol...
did you go over the entire car beforehand? im definately going to start doing this, so they know EXACTLY what to expect when its done.
ALWAYS! I make notes then bring them inside and go over what their expectations are then we usually go back to the car and look at their expectations and I give them the reality of their expectations and we go from there... I have only had one person walk out on me when I bring them into reality... I tend to under promise and over deliver

the guy i dealt with was really nice, i talked to him the other day actually, he didnt complain or anything, i think he was just expecting what is impossible. its kind of my fault too for not oging over the car with him, that way he wouldve seen the difference.
All to common in our little niche of the world... but learn and move to the next... I have a feeling he will be back to have you do more work for him...

well it took me about 5hrs to do and i was taking pictures in the meantime, i charged him $100 so its more like $20/hr i just did a one-step polish/seal with poliseal, im not sure if it was worth $400 haha.
You are only worth what you make yourself worth... Meaning that if you discount yourself and keep discounting yourself you will always be "worth" less than if you look at yourself in a humble but assertive way... I don't gloat that I am the best detailer but I know that I can do dang good and my client list says that!

If you look at the cost of supplies and think about the time you need to take to clean things like your pads and micro fibers then if you were mobile etc you made much less than $20.00 an hour... You have to look at everything if you are going to be in business for yourself... I charge that for an interior clean and dress, carpets extracted and scotchgaurded, leather cleaning and conditioning, exterior ONR wash, wheel cleaning and coating, tire cleaning and coating, claying, 1 step buff, glass cleaning, and seal/wax (their choice)... The total for each car in product breaks down to about $30-40.00 then I have overhead of about $100.00 per car (shop lease, electricity, advertising etc) then it takes me about 6hours to do the job I am at about $42.00 an hour which is respectable but things can take longer... I try to be between $20-50.00 an hour...

I have entered my thoughts into the quote...