Family/Friend Discount?

jforget1

jforget1

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For the guys that are doing this on the side, wondering if you give a discount to family and friends. Word of mouth can help me get started. I was thinking 25%

Thoughts
Joe
 
for the closest ones, ill do it if they ocver the cost of my products used( rough estimate of course)
 
For my closest ones (parents/gf) I do it for free. Just a little show of appreciation. Doesn't take too long, and I imagine I probably use 2 bucks worth of products.
 
abrcrombe said:
For my closest ones (parents/gf) I do it for free. Just a little show of appreciation. Doesn't take too long, and I imagine I probably use 2 bucks worth of products.
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I am thinking the same, Parents, Sister would do it for free, giving extended family a break.
 
I am also going to do some for my grandparents. I am not going to give them a price though. They will just give me what they seem fit. Maybe I could use that as a price point!
 
abrcrombe, I used to do the same thing. At some point down the road, though, you may want to casually work into general conversation what the going rate is for comparable service by local professionals. The reactions are surprising, especially from people who are totally unaware of the subject and work involved.
 
I definitely agree with that. I talk about it with my friends and they are amazed how people will spend that kind of money on a detail. Of course these are from middle class familes and are college students, so spending is almost limited to necessities most of the time. I think you need to find the right kind of people to be your customers.
 
Here-Here! Word of mouth is your best marketing device. As long as you are thorough and personally engaging you have a good chance. Don't fall into the trap of denigrating others' work; emphasize instead the steps and details you include without stating that they probably do not. Even as a student and post grad I found the time to detail on occasion, but that was when Aeschylus and Pythagoras were around to help pimp my chariot. Don't trust the current crop of self-named expert professionals these days. Too shabby and shoddy IMO.
 
All good advice, appreciate all the feedback, have a neighbor lined up for his vehicle, hopefully this weekend.
 
Post pics if you can! Don't forget to get the BEFORE pictures. :p
 
doing work for family/friends is a double edged sword. Nice to practice on, but they likely expect everything for free !!
 
With my mom I do it for free because let's face it she wiped my butt when I was little, but my sister and brother and anyone else has to pay my supplies and I'll do the labor for free. Neighbors I would charge but not much over my supplies since I am not a pro or anything. But mommy, she's special. :D Te amo mamacita! MUA!
 
Close relatives, I do for free.
Friends, I charge them only labor(use that to pay my supplies)
Neighbors(close one). I give them half price.
Anyothers I charge full :D
 
klnyc said:
Close relatives, I do for free.
Friends, I charge them only labor(use that to pay my supplies)
Neighbors(close one). I give them half price.
Anyothers I charge full :D
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For friends, what might you charge for a full detail compared to your regular price? Is that less than what you charge for the neighbor? Trying to figure out the best option here. Wanna make some money, but want to get good word of mouth.
 
jforget1 said:
For friends, what might you charge for a full detail compared to your regular price? Is that less than what you charge for the neighbor? Trying to figure out the best option here. Wanna make some money, but want to get good word of mouth.
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Friends, I charge them 60.00 and neighbor, I charge them 80.00.
Full detail I charge 130.00 :). Again I dont do this for living.
 
word of mouth is huge. I've never handed out a business card or given a flyer to someone about my business but yet, i'm having scheduling issues with all the people i've got lined up. i have 7 cars i see on a weekly basis for washes (i have one this afternoon @ 5 rain or shine for instance) and then i'll get another 2-3 cars every week from new people or return customers.

I started out with my parents for free. they then excitedly showed off their detailed cars to their coworkers who then had their cars detailed and then they showed their friends who showed their friends.... then i did a couple of my friends cars and then their parents saw my work and they had their cars done. then they told their friends...

it all keeps expanding without any advertising at all. do a good job and treat customers cars as your own and your business will spread quickly!
 
If it's close friends or family then all i ask for is food and beer this way it costs them a fortune and they don't ask again ;) :cheers:
 
FloridaNative said:
With my mom I do it for free because let's face it she wiped my butt when I was little, but my sister and brother and anyone else has to pay my supplies and I'll do the labor for free. Neighbors I would charge but not much over my supplies since I am not a pro or anything. But mommy, she's special. :D Te amo mamacita! MUA!
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Amen!! You gotta take care of momma!!!
 
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