Dont really know how much to charge

I don't want to start a price war. I will very likelly end up charging the same as other places to start with. And I will give discounts on a regular basis until I am booked all the time.
 
Watch out giving discounts. Once you give someone a discount they will wait it every time or will wait until you discount again before buying. Also, high end people have issues with discounts. They assume if you are discounting your business is not doing well or you are not worth the money.

If I were you the only discounts should be "new business opening" or "one time only" type discounts

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
 
Calendyr said:
That is true Tundra. I have to start analysing what the other detailers are charging. Not a lot are mobile though, and many are more of a car wash than true detailing service. I went to the websites of all the guys showing up when I did a Google search. Most don't have prices on their websites. I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Will have to call around to get some prices.
Click to expand...

Without a quality web site that is easy to navigate, clearly lists pictures, prices, and brief explanations you are dead in the water. No one is going to call for prices, they want to see it. Also, Google and Bing marketing services are very useful when you start out. They do make a difference and it's a small investment.

A lot of the guys here critiqued and pointed out things on my web site. Granted, web sites are what I do for a real living, but if you find the right person they can make you a killer web site too.
 
VP Mark said:
Watch out giving discounts. Once you give someone a discount they will wait it every time or will wait until you discount again before buying. Also, high end people have issues with discounts. They assume if you are discounting your business is not doing well or you are not worth the money.

If I were you the only discounts should be "new business opening" or "one time only" type discounts

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
Click to expand...

Discounts are a huge mistake and should be reserved only for very special clients. I have a client who owns a Cobra Jet and a Shelby GT mustang. He has around $100k in his Cobra. It's a super unique car.

I give him a very special deal, because he is at every show in town, talking about me and handing out cards. I've reaped the rewards of giving him a discount BIG TIME!

Don't give something for nothing. Never seem desperate. It will hurt your reputation.

I have a friend who owns a Porsche and is part of the local Porsche club in town. I did a paint correction for a very low price and I maintain his car for coffee and beer. Needless to say it's paid itself off.

I also trade with other business owners quite a bit. I like coffee and know a couple guys with coffee shops. . .I'm never short on coffee.

I've also traded with photographers. Great deal!
 
TundraPower said:
Without a quality web site that is easy to navigate, clearly lists pictures, prices, and brief explanations you are dead in the water. No one is going to call for prices, they want to see it. Also, Google and Bing marketing services are very useful when you start out. They do make a difference and it's a small investment.

A lot of the guys here critiqued and pointed out things on my web site. Granted, web sites are what I do for a real living, but if you find the right person they can make you a killer web site too.
Click to expand...

I am redesigning my website and expanding it. It's taking for ever. I have about 20 more pages to do at roughly 2 hours per page... sigh

If you do webdesign for a living, I have one question for you: What wysiwyg web design software would you recommand? I use Frontpage and I love that software to death but it's old and doesn't support HTML5. That is not so bad for the stuff I do but I would really like to have semi-transparent layers and everything I have tried did not work (Gifs with transparency, png with transparency, adding 0.5 to the html color code, etc).

I looked for a replacement but everything seems inferior to Frontpage. I think Muse might be a good option but I don't think it's available for PC. I have tried Dreamweaver 10 years ago and hate it, it's the total opposite of intuitive. So, what's a good software right now? I don't know.
 
Calendyr said:
I am redesigning my website and expanding it. It's taking for ever. I have about 20 more pages to do at roughly 2 hours per page... sigh

If you do webdesign for a living, I have one question for you: What wysiwyg web design software would you recommand? I use Frontpage and I love that software to death but it's old and doesn't support HTML5. That is not so bad for the stuff I do but I would really like to have semi-transparent layers and everything I have tried did not work (Gifs with transparency, png with transparency, adding 0.5 to the html color code, etc).

I looked for a replacement but everything seems inferior to Frontpage. I think Muse might be a good option but I don't think it's available for PC. I have tried Dreamweaver 10 years ago and hate it, it's the total opposite of intuitive. So, what's a good software right now? I don't know.
Click to expand...

I use the entire Adobe suite for web sites like mine. I think it is magnificent, but there is a learning curve, like everything else. I use other tools for site that are less "eye candy" and more business logic. Wordpress is ok as well. Transparency is best controlled with CSS. Maybe you should consider purchasing a web site template and work from that? Lots of them out there.
 
statusdetailing said:
Discounts are a huge mistake and should be reserved only for very special clients.
.....
Don't give something for nothing. Never seem desperate. It will hurt your reputation.
Click to expand...

:iagree:

I never give discounts. This is business not personal. I do however give certain vehicles "extra attention" and their owners free samples and supplies. :xyxthumbs:
 
Ah ah!!! I found a way to do transparency very easilly without any coding ;) Took me a while but I finaly did it ;)

Just a simple 4 pixel by 4 pixel image with half of the pixels off in a gif file with transparency activated and voila ;)
 
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