Drywash - A day in the life of B & B Tennessee

Spicy McHaggis said:
Yeah I don't usually throw pads away after one use, so that helps keep costs down. Lol

I don't work of ferraris everyday by any means, but people with honda civics generally wont pay that kind of money lol. Most of those type of jobs are on bmws, mercedes, audi etc. And not all my jobs are that much. Im doing a one step on a vette this weekend (exterior only, no interior) for $350. I should knock it out in 7 or 8 hours and still stay close to $50/hour

Im not saying this to brag, just saying you should charge what you're worth. That's all.
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Ok - that isn't nearly as far off as what I was thinking..... I would charge about a hundred less - and that is still higher than most in my area. Thats good stuff man - sounds like your part time gig is bringing home some good return :dblthumb2:
 
Spicy's numbers sound about right, and like he mentioned he is doing it part time so he doesnt have to worry as much about getting the other 3-4 days filled up with smaller jobs. At least that is my interpetation.

But 50$ an hour for paint correction jobs sound about right. If that means over $1000 well thats what it means. Definitely not unheard of.
 
This really makes me want to tell the next person that asks me for a "3 step" a super high price for around here..... I'll toss out a 1,000 price tag and see what happens - hell why not lol...... I'll let you guys know how it goes lol!
 
LuxuryMobile said:
Spicy's numbers sound about right, and like he mentioned he is doing it part time so he doesnt have to worry as much about getting the other 3-4 days filled up with smaller jobs. At least that is my interpetation.

But 50$ an hour for paint correction jobs sound about right. If that means over $1000 well thats what it means. Definitely not unheard of.
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You're right! Not having to stay busy everyday does help! Thanks!

B&B Tennessee said:
This really makes me want to tell the next person that asks me for a "3 step" a super high price for around here..... I'll toss out a 1,000 price tag and see what happens - hell why not lol...... I'll let you guys know how it goes lol!
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Do it! The worst they can say is no... :props:
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Pics from the other day - forgot I snapped..... just another drywash - and full interior, but I was rushing and didnt snap pics of it.


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Do you use the waterless wash on the wheels too?
 
Matt said:
Do you use the waterless wash on the wheels too?
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Sometimes I will on the wheels - I think I did on these, sometimes just a foaming glass cleaner works well and gets the job done, sometimes an APC works well.... depends on the wheels..... the tires I use degreaser/MF - let dry then dress.
 
Well - hadn't brought the camera in a while..... But did today finally - so here are todays pics of Drywash method. Took some close ups for non-marring proof, not that it would change anyones minds lol!!!

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Spicy McHaggis said:
Yeah I don't usually throw pads away after one use, so that helps keep costs down. Lol

I don't work of ferraris everyday by any means, but people with honda civics generally wont pay that kind of money lol. Most of those type of jobs are on bmws, mercedes, audi etc. And not all my jobs are that much. Im doing a one step on a vette this weekend (exterior only, no interior) for $350. I should knock it out in 7 or 8 hours and still stay close to $50/hour

Im not saying this to brag, just saying you should charge what you're worth. That's all.
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Might just be me...but $350 for just a one step polish sounds really high. Maybe it's my area or something...but nobody would pay that around here, ha.

It's obviously different for part timers cause they don't have to necessarily worry as much about being competitive in pricing. But for a shop, it's tough for customers to swallow that price. Especially for a small vehicle like a vette.

Then again, I wouldn't spend 7-8 hours doing that. I could bust that out in 3 hours without a doubt and I would get around $200-$250. So I guess it still balances out. Why does a one step take 7-8 hours? That's your whole day!
 
Kristopher1129 said:
Might just be me...but $350 for just a one step polish sounds really high. Maybe it's my area or something...but nobody would pay that around here, ha.

It's obviously different for part timers cause they don't have to necessarily worry as much about being competitive in pricing. But for a shop, it's tough for customers to swallow that price. Especially for a small vehicle like a vette.

Then again, I wouldn't spend 7-8 hours doing that. I could bust that out in 3 hours without a doubt and I would get around $200-$250. So I guess it still balances out. Why does a one step take 7-8 hours? That's your whole day!
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Wow, talk about a delayed reponse. My customers pay that kind of money because they know I won't rush through a job and knock it out in 2 or 3 hours. That's insane. There is no way to properly clean the wheels, tires, wheel wells, wash the car, clay the car, dry, tape off trim, polish, wash, wax, dress the tire, seal the wheels, dress the trim, and clean the glass in 2 or 3 hours. If you do it in that short amount of time there is no way you are doing it right. I'd rather spend more time on a car and make sure it's perfect instead of rushing through as many as possible.
 
To each his own. If you're doing this full-time you can't afford to take a whole day on one car. When I do my truck, it takes me 12 to 14 hours.

But I'm not getting paid to do my own truck...

I do other cars in 4 to 5 and still get good results. People dont want me to have their cars all day and I don't get paid by the hour.
 
Spicy McHaggis said:
Wow, talk about a delayed reponse. My customers pay that kind of money because they know I won't rush through a job and knock it out in 2 or 3 hours. That's insane. There is no way to properly clean the wheels, tires, wheel wells, wash the car, clay the car, dry, tape off trim, polish, wash, wax, dress the tire, seal the wheels, dress the trim, and clean the glass in 2 or 3 hours. If you do it in that short amount of time there is no way you are doing it right. I'd rather spend more time on a car and make sure it's perfect instead of rushing through as many as possible.
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I only saw that post cause it was reposted due to a response.

You don't need to spend all day on a vehicle in order to do it correctly. I've been doing this for 10 years. So it's safe to say I have more than a system down. It's more like a ritual. You can be quick, and thorough and still do things correctly. Just cause you spend 8 hours, and I spend 3...doesn't mean you do a better job than me.

Plus most the steps you listed above are quick things. Dressing takes me not even 5 minutes. Trim takes probably 5-10 minutes tops. All the cleaning of wheels, rims, paint etc. is obviously done during prep which takes me about 20-30 minutes. I just think you are glorifying what you're doing.

The things that take the most time is just the clay, polishing of paint and rims, and sealant. Everything else you can fly right through it no problem. I think it just breaks down to your system, tools, products (how well you work with them), and your work ethic.

I would spend 3 hours tops on an exterior like that and put it up against anybody elses work any day. I don't have customers emailing, calling, and stopping in my shop multiple times a day cause I'm not good at what I do...that's all I know. :dblthumb2:
 
Kristopher1129 said:
I only saw that post cause it was reposted due to a response.

You don't need to spend all day on a vehicle in order to do it correctly. I've been doing this for 10 years. So it's safe to say I have more than a system down. It's more like a ritual. You can be quick, and thorough and still do things correctly. Just cause you spend 8 hours, and I spend 3...doesn't mean you do a better job than me.

Plus most the steps you listed above are quick things. Dressing takes me not even 5 minutes. Trim takes probably 5-10 minutes tops. All the cleaning of wheels, rims, paint etc. is obviously done during prep which takes me about 20-30 minutes. I just think you are glorifying what you're doing.

The things that take the most time is just the clay, polishing of paint and rims, and sealant. Everything else you can fly right through it no problem. I think it just breaks down to your system, tools, products (how well you work with them), and your work ethic.

I would spend 3 hours tops on an exterior like that and put it up against anybody elses work any day. I don't have customers emailing, calling, and stopping in my shop multiple times a day cause I'm not good at what I do...that's all I know. :dblthumb2:
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I would venture a guess that my customers are more discrimination than some. They know what they want, and know they can get it from me.

I'm not glorifying what I do, I'm simply saying you CANT do a proper correction, even a one step, in three hours. You are cutting corners somewhere, and that's all there is to it.

Claying alone can take over an hour on a car with a lot of contaminants, that means you are washing, polishing, and sealing in two hours....keep thinking you are doing it right...I'll continue to do it my way, and know at the end of the day I did my best one every vehicle I touch.

You can continue to do your production detailing, that's fine by me. I've got no problem with that, but don't try to insult me by saying you can do it faster, because I can assure you customers, good customers, will wait for good work.
 
Kaleb G. said:
To each his own. If you're doing this full-time you can't afford to take a whole day on one car. When I do my truck, it takes me 12 to 14 hours.

But I'm not getting paid to do my own truck...

I do other cars in 4 to 5 and still get good results. People dont want me to have their cars all day and I don't get paid by the hour.
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If I did a one step five days a week for 8 hours a day with a few correction thrown in I could make over $100k a year just detailing. I'm not sure how you don't think I can afford to take a whole day on a vehicle.

Also since I do this part time I've had customers leave me their vehicles for over a week no problem, so they obviously don't have a problem with that.

If people know they are getting quality work, they don't mind paying and going out of their way for it.
 
Spicy McHaggis said:
I would venture a guess that my customers are more discrimination than some. They know what they want, and know they can get it from me.

I'm not glorifying what I do, I'm simply saying you CANT do a proper correction, even a one step, in three hours. You are cutting corners somewhere, and that's all there is to it.

Claying alone can take over an hour on a car with a lot of contaminants, that means you are washing, polishing, and sealing in two hours....keep thinking you are doing it right...I'll continue to do it my way, and know at the end of the day I did my best one every vehicle I touch.

You can continue to do your production detailing, that's fine by me. I've got no problem with that, but don't try to insult me by saying you can do it faster, because I can assure you customers, good customers, will wait for good work.
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I wasn't trying to insult you. I apologize if it came across that way. You stated that I wasn't doing it correctly...which I obviously responded in defense for my work. If you took that as an insult...then sorry. But I will defend my work...period.

I don't cut corners, OR do "production work". I have different levels of service. If someone comes in for a one step correction...there's nothing "production" about it. I spend whatever time I have to, to get it right within the boundaries of a one step. Just so happens...it never takes 8 hours. That's not a knock on you for taking that long. It's just a fact for me.

Of course claying can take an hour or more with LOTS of contaminants. But if it's taking you an hour and a half to clay...there's an abnormal amount of contaminants there. So to just assume it's going to take over an hour to clay is excessive to me...in fact, I would charge more for that. Statements like that are what I was referring to by saying glorified. You can't tell me it takes that long to clay ALL the time.

So, I'll just bow out of this conversation regardless of your response out of respect to the forum. I don't want this to turn into some kind of heated argument. I'm in no way trying to look down on you...I'm just defending my work. I just simply asked why it takes you 8 hours for a one step. You took that negatively and told me "there's no way you're doing it correctly". So I obviously had to speak.

Also, just cause I do multiple cars a day...doesn't mean my work is "production". That just sounds like a cop out way of trying to say my work is lack luster. Which I find to be laughable. Because I know what my shop puts out for quality, and I know what we're about. I don't expect you to know too...but I do expect you to not jump to conclusions about my work, and my level of quality. Cheers my friend. :cheers:
 
Multiple cars a day is production work. In fact it might be the exact definition of production detailing.

I'm sure your cars look really good and the clients are happy, but I can assure you something is getting missed, or not done thoroughly when you bang out a one step polish in 3 hours.
 
Spicy McHaggis said:
If I did a one step five days a week for 8 hours a day with a few correction thrown in I could make over $100k a year just detailing. I'm not sure how you don't think I can afford to take a whole day on a vehicle.

Also since I do this part time I've had customers leave me their vehicles for over a week no problem, so they obviously don't have a problem with that.

If people know they are getting quality work, they don't mind paying and going out of their way for it.
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I wasn't trying to be confrontational at all, but people that try to read into the emotions or sincerity of someones text response on a public forum tend to always be on the defense for some reason.

I was actually attempting to say that there is no definite time frame that someone has to take to complete a full detail. Someone that takes 3 hours to do a detail can get the same results as someone that takes 10. Instead of asking how Kris can get great results in a fraction of the time it takes you to finish a detail, you instantly disrespected his work. Saying that "...something is getting missed, or not done thoroughly when you bang out a one step polish in 3 hours," is not really necessary.

I'm not defending Kris... I've never had a conversation with him or even seen any of his work. I just don't understand how it's so easy for someone to downgrade and disrespect another member.

To the original OP, I'm looking forward to giving the drywash a test run.
 
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