For those who Detail Professionaly.........

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ryukin2000

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I used my PC for the first time last night with the Meguiars 105/205 and all got done in the 3 hours i had was the hood and front fenders. i didn't realize how much time and patience it took. i was getting tired of it and i still had to seal it. So for those who do this professionally, i give huge amounts of respect to. i would not be able to do this day in and day out. i don't even want to imagine doing a 3 step polish let alone a 2 step. you guys/gals definitely earn your money!!
 
Its a shame that most customers don't realize how much work we put into their cars. I got a call the other day and figured what the heck I'm gonna make this guy a deal. He turned down a full detail on his full size pick up for $100. He thought it was too much...
 
Dubbin1 said:
Its a shame that most customers don't realize how much work we put into their cars. I got a call the other day and figured what the heck I'm gonna make this guy a deal. He turned down a full detail on his full size pick up for $100. He thought it was too much...
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wow. that is a steal. i think its not enough.
 
Dubbin1 said:
Its a shame that most customers don't realize how much work we put into their cars. I got a call the other day and figured what the heck I'm gonna make this guy a deal. He turned down a full detail on his full size pick up for $100. He thought it was too much...
Click to expand...
I am in agreement 100%
 
Dubbin1 said:
Its a shame that most customers don't realize how much work we put into their cars. I got a call the other day and figured what the heck I'm gonna make this guy a deal. He turned down a full detail on his full size pick up for $100. He thought it was too much...
Click to expand...

That's ridiculous! I charge $130 for a full wash, wax, and interior detail. And if I'm cutting someone a really good deal or if it's a friend I charge $100. But it also usually takes me 4-5 hours to do that type of detail.

I started polishing my truck with a 3 step process. I was out there for 5 hours, took me about an hour to get my process down, and then the rest of the time to do the hood and drivers side fender. I did the tailgate the next day an that took me an hour and half. I'm still not finished and don't know when I'm going to have time to finish.
 
ryukin2000 said:
I used my PC for the first time last night with the Meguiars 105/205 and all got done in the 3 hours i had was the hood and front fenders. i didn't realize how much time and patience it took. i was getting tired of it and i still had to seal it. So for those who do this professionally, i give huge amounts of respect to. i would not be able to do this day in and day out. i don't even want to imagine doing a 3 step polish let alone a 2 step. you guys/gals definitely earn your money!!
Click to expand...

was that 3 hours in Canadian time or US? i kid, i kid.

you'll notice that it'll go A LOT faster as you develop your habits. even with a DA, you'll realize what products and combination of pads and speeds will work the fastest for each process and type of clear. you'll be able to do what you just did in a fraction of the time. it's not a case where you become ignorant or sloppy, you just refine your technique and tools.
 
Read some of Mike's stuff. Most folks won't care that you took 16 hours to buff out swirls & scratches, they want a shiny car & shiny tires. If you detail for yourself, don't know what to tell you. My cars take me hours & I enjoy every minute of it. And as Builthatch correctly observed, the more you do it, the faster you get. I took the better part of 20 hours to detail a BMW. The guy was out for 3 weeks and I used most of it, just to learn. So, initially take it as a learning experience. If you're serious about detailing, you will get better- faster, but at the end of the day quality is better than speed.
 
Its a shame that most customers don't realize how much work we put into their cars.

I agree! I'm in the construction business & I shock people every day when I quote a job because they just don't realize what's involved when doing the job they want.
 
Yes, It is unbelievable how many people think we are way too expensive.

I had a previous customer think that $600 was way to much for a complete 3 stage detail with full interior, engine and some wet sanding done. On a black car.

It took me about 16 hours to complete, and I felt I was probably on the cheaper side.

What really hurts is when they then run it through an auto wash 2 weeks later....
 
The best clients we have had have been the ones who already own a PC and a bunch of polishes and stuff, have worked on their car and like to work on their car, but just can't handle the amount of time it takes. When they call us they know exactly what their goals are for the car. While we are there they are involved the whole time with us, asking questions, learning, and seeing what can be achieved with the proper tools and expertise of a pro.

Recently we did a 20 man-hour job for a gentleman who had spent countless hours detailing the car before we got there. While we were there doing his car, he and his son were polishing out his son's car. At the end of the day they were spent tired. We still had 4 hours to go, and a 2 hour drive back. Not only was he impressed we could do such a great job, but that we could do it day after day. He tipped us generously on what was an already large bill, and was glad his son, just finishing high school, felt what a day's work can be.
 
I feel your guys pain. NOTHING irritates me more than some ignorant prick that bashes your prices (LOW PRICES) because some other hack offers to "detail" their car for 50 bucks "inside and out."

They just dont get it. I HATE when car washers call their work "detailing." Heck I hate when they even call themselves car washers and use a single dirty mitt and single bucket for the whole car, and start with the wheels first!
:dblthumb2:
 
ryukin2000 said:
I used my PC for the first time last night with the Meguiars 105/205 and all got done in the 3 hours i had was the hood and front fenders. i didn't realize how much time and patience it took. i was getting tired of it and i still had to seal it. So for those who do this professionally, i give huge amounts of respect to. i would not be able to do this day in and day out. i don't even want to imagine doing a 3 step polish let alone a 2 step. you guys/gals definitely earn your money!!
Click to expand...

Now just imagine doing the same without the benifit of machines.
icon9.gif
 
ryukin2000 said:
I used my PC for the first time last night with the Meguiars 105/205 and all got done in the 3 hours i had was the hood and front fenders. i didn't realize how much time and patience it took. i was getting tired of it and i still had to seal it. So for those who do this professionally, i give huge amounts of respect to. i would not be able to do this day in and day out. i don't even want to imagine doing a 3 step polish let alone a 2 step. you guys/gals definitely earn your money!!
Click to expand...

I have had numerous customers & friends ask me how I am able to continue to do this type of work everyday & not want to throw in the towel at the end of each day/week.

My answer is this:

To be very good with every aspect of auto detailing you have to have an inner passion of the art ........ and it is an art.

A passionate detail tech will be the one who will vacuum til there is nothing left but carpet AND then do a final vacuum at the end of the detail so that everything looks fresh & untouched. The same detailer will be the one to study each pass of the buffer and really watch the imperfections either reveal themselves or disappear. However, the person who can do this type of work each day while dealing with different types & levels of vehicles AND still look at each one with a sense of pride & accomplishment IS the person who loves the work and doesn't consider it to be anything else than rewarding (and profitable!).

There's a reason I continue to enjoy each day in this business and the above is "me" to a "T". You either love it or hate it ............ thankfully there are enough who hate it to keep me busy. :dblthumb2:
 
I felt the same way when I first started real detailing and paint correction. As far as the paint correction is concerned, through the willingness to spend the money and time in trying different products, buying the best machines and reading a lot on these forums, I have been able to cut my time in half. The biggest time saving thing was learning to be proficient with a rotary polisher which in itself cost me lots of time and money in mistakes. The learning curve was a bit difficult but now through that curve things go much faster. Picking up a Flex 3401 VRG was a big time savings too.

Hang in there and read a lot and don't be afraid to try new things and it will get easier. Even if I am working on my own cars in my own driveway, my time is worth something. I think a lot of driveway detailers shoot themselves in the foot in thinking they can't justify paying $300 for a Flex polisher. The price difference considering the value I put on my time, is paid for in detailing just one car.
 
Dubbin1 said:
Its a shame that most customers don't realize how much work we put into their cars. I got a call the other day and figured what the heck I'm gonna make this guy a deal. He turned down a full detail on his full size pick up for $100. He thought it was too much...
Click to expand...

Thats is a steel. I chrage way more then that for a truck lol
 
jlb85 said:
The best clients we have had have been the ones who already own a PC and a bunch of polishes and stuff, have worked on their car and like to work on their car, but just can't handle the amount of time it takes. When they call us they know exactly what their goals are for the car. While we are there they are involved the whole time with us, asking questions, learning, and seeing what can be achieved with the proper tools and expertise of a pro.

Recently we did a 20 man-hour job for a gentleman who had spent countless hours detailing the car before we got there. While we were there doing his car, he and his son were polishing out his son's car. At the end of the day they were spent tired. We still had 4 hours to go, and a 2 hour drive back. Not only was he impressed we could do such a great job, but that we could do it day after day. He tipped us generously on what was an already large bill, and was glad his son, just finishing high school, felt what a day's work can be.
Click to expand...



LOL, did the following apply? :D

$60/hr if you do it...or $80/hr if you do it and they watch?
 
LOL Rasky! :laughing:

I think the rate should go up to when they want to watch AND talk and especially if they want to know all your detailing trade secrets too !:rolleyes:
 
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