No...no...don't misunderstand me. I don't disagree with anything you've stated. Rather, I just thought it had already been stated by other posters and I thought I'd add to it. Lots of research and things to consider...and it's area specific. By that I mean, not even on a regional level, but real world local levels...town to town.
Unless you're providing a niche service that caters to certain "car guys" here in farm country you'll likely starve to death. Not really, but you get my point. Lots of people doing detail work in my area for cheap rates. Most may know of detailing forums, but that's about a far as it goes, and their knowledge shows it. I'm a firm believer in what Mr. Phillips says about the best detailers hanging out on forums, participating in the giving and sharing of knowledge and new technology. However, the locals cheap rates put a hurt on a guy like me who's wanting to bring more knowledge and skill to the table. Those guys, though, they are catering to "their" customers who want just shiny...which is most people. This forces me to set myself apart somehow, and find a niche market.
It didn't take long for the word to get out on my level of work, just a few cars. It also didn't take long for the word to get out that I was much too cheap...especially considering after spending as high as 22 hours on a Denali (which didn't incliude polishing of any kind at the owners wishes) and only making $4.75 an hour. I put the brakes on that...I have to if I'm to help provide for my family. I've backed up, and have quit taking more work at this time. I'm working on my own projects for the time being, gaining valuable experience while collecting some great photo's.
I'm studying, researching, and planning on making a fresh start in the spring and I'm going to have some impressive photo's to showcase my work. I'm making plans on a menu and a few other things and come spring time I'm going to target what I think is my niche market using the connections that I have. Then, it'll be "this" price or I'm walking away from it and as Mr. Phillips would say...I'm going to let some other detailer have that blessing. It's just that simple.
I've already turned down a boat detail where the guy wanted me to blast off what was left of the clear gel-coat and he wanted me to try and brind some shine to the bare flake. It was peeling like a snake. I'm not even going to waste the pads and products on it...let the guy up town have it. I don't want it.
One thing I've learned is that people will take advantage of you if you let them. Also, any labor work that involves, knowledge along with hustle is worth a minimum of $20 bucks an hour, and I don't care what it is.
Construction work is very laborous and strenuous work. While I don't think general detailing offers the same level of strenuous work (minus sanding or working by hand), as in lifting and lugging at things...at least for me...what it lacks on those levels can be made up with by speed in certain aspects of detailing...with hustle. If you don't bump it up to that level through additional speed and hustle, then I don't think you're working hard enough to increase your profits, at least for production type detailing.
These pro's out there telling people (us) on forums that we're doing a disservice to them and to ourselves by being too cheap. Well...I think they're right provided you educate yourself and continue to do so while staying on top of new technology and technique. There are other aspects of detailing where I think some pro's are ripping people off, but that's another topic for another day (not even going to go there now...and may never on a public forum). Continuing education is a must to survive...I don't care what field it is.
From what I've learned, read about and observed about this industry...it's not a necessity for folks to detail...given for some it may be, like people who use their cars for business which is and can be a calling card...but the majority of lay people just looking to spruce up their ride, it isn't a necessity. To me, that means those lay people have money to pay for new cars, and they'll likely have money to have them maintained if they don't do it themselves. It's these people who often want to drive the best cars and have them maintained but don't want to pay for it and don't care about educating themselves to do it. The only option then is to pay a hack, or a true pro or a hobbiest who hangs out on a forum and shares information. All too often most go with the hack, at least once...which is usually their first experience and last experience with any detailer. Education...education...education. Did I say, "EDUCATION?"
Mr. Phillips and others are right. Who's going to educate a potential customer except those of us who stay on top of continuing education from like minded pro's and hobbiests? It's our job to educate the customer in any way, and by any means that we can. This is how we seperate ourselves from hacks.
I know the above is a tremendous amount of hoopla to some of you, especially coming from a newbie. However, I try my best to digest what I take in from various hobbiests and pro's on these forums and the books these pro's write. My viewpoint may eventually change from the above, but for now that's my take on things. It is, what it is...for now.
