How much are you guys charging for Cquartz/Opti-coat or any other super sealants?

Flannigan said:
You guys aren't listening. I understand not selling somehting at cost, if you get a discount on it. But why should you be able to mark it up IF THE CUSTOMER CAN GO BUY IT THEMSELVE FOR CHEAPER! It's not like you are buying the product from OPT for $30 and marking it up to MSRP. You are buying it for MSRP and marking it up even higher...
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now you dont know what it is being bought for by everyone. some of these guys here have very good contacts with these product compnays and get a special "reseller" or "whole seller" price. so some maybe getting it at a discounted price. you are just assuming everyone is paying the price you see
 
RTexasF said:
They can also wash and wax the car themselves or get on Autogeek and buy anything that you can. What does that have to do with anything? I can mow my own yard but there are times I pay someone to do it. It is service and convenience you are selling not a frikken car wash and wax. You are missing the entire point here.
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It has everything to do with it. I'm not arguing additional labor. I charge more to do it too since it takes longer. But I would never even dream of marking up the price of the product ON TOP of charging more in labor than it actually takes.

The only reason people are getting upset is because this is a detailing forum. If I made a thread about a dealership charging more than MSRP for parts and more than book time to do a job everyone would freak out and call them scammers. Take a step back and think about it, this isn't any different.
 
If you wish to wholesale your services then best of luck to you succeeding.

I'm out of this discussion, you all enjoy.
 
Flannigan said:
But why should you be able to mark it up IF THE CUSTOMER CAN GO BUY IT THEMSELVE FOR CHEAPER!
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Sure they can go buy it themselves, but will they know what to do with it? There's a learning curve involved AND you have to remember that you're not only using the $60 coating product, you're also using consumables and additional preparatory steps to get the surface ready to accept the coating.

It's not like you are buying the product from OPT for $30 and marking it up to MSRP. You are buying it for MSRP and marking it up even higher...
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Again... it's because of the specialized knowledge and extra prep necessary to use the coating product correctly.


Regardless, it sounds like you might benefit from taking a few business and economics classes....
 
Flannigan what do you charge for a full complete detail? i am talking full 2 step buff job interior, engine cleaning, the whole 9 yards? and how long does it take you to do it?
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Sure they can go buy it themselves, but will they know what to do with it? There's a learning curve involved AND you have to remember that you're not only using the $60 coating product, you're also using consumables and additional preparatory steps to get the surface ready to accept the coating.



Again... it's because of the specialized knowledge and extra prep necessary to use the coating product correctly.


Regardless, it sounds like you might benefit from taking a few business and economics classes....
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I'm not saying they would use it themselves. I'm saying they would buy it and give it to you. There is no more indepth prep than a regular sealant. Clean the area with PowerClean then get to work. How is that different than doing an IPA wipe down before sealing? Would you charge more if a customer brought you a pot of Swissvax that they bought for their car? I don't think so...

detailgod said:
Flannigan what do you charge for a full complete detail? i am talking full 2 step buff job interior, engine cleaning, the whole 9 yards? and how long does it take you to do it?
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I charge $50 an hour. And when I quote a price I'm pretty accurate, BUT if it takes me less time I deduct from my original estimate.
 
detailgod said:
so with this comment here that you made i am just guessing you believe the price you pay for everything is the price the store you bought it from pays? this is the samething. we pay so x amount for a product and then we charge more to our customers for the product, our time, our knowledge and skills. now dont say this does not take skill or knowledge cause if that was the case then none of us would have customers.
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I agree. I charge anywhere from $200-375 for a permanent paint protection service with no complaints whatsoever from customers. Its actually a pretty good deal for the customer when you think about it. The coating is much harder than traditional clear coats and offers protection second to none as far as sealants go. This is a great investment especially when a customer has spent $40k or more on a car though I've applied opticoat to $1500 cars also. People also need to consider that it does take some skill to apply this stuff correctly and if there are "high spots" then you must have the tools to fix it. I know damn well 99% of my clients don't own a da or rotary so there's no way any of them would even consider to apply such a professional product. This is where a lot of my reasoning comes into play for my prices.
 
Flannigan said:
I'm not saying they would use it themselves. I'm saying they would buy it and give it to you. There is no more indepth prep than a regular sealant. Clean the area with PowerClean then get to work. How is that different than doing an IPA wipe down before sealing? Would you charge more if a customer brought you a pot of Swissvax that they bought for their car? I don't think so...
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Flannigan said:
I'm not saying they would use it themselves. I'm saying they would buy it and give it to you. There is no more indepth prep than a regular sealant. Clean the area with PowerClean then get to work. How is that different than doing an IPA wipe down before sealing? Would you charge more if a customer brought you a pot of Swissvax that they bought for their car? I don't think so...


I charge $50 an hour. And when I quote a price I'm pretty accurate, BUT if it takes me less time I deduct from my original estimate.
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i know of guys that charge $75 an hour so they can say you are price gouging and ripping them off. which is what you are implying that the customer is getting ripped off buy marking up product and labor. you set your price for what you see is fair for you and the others srt theirs for what is fair for them. and once again i will metion that MSRP is only a suggested price to sell product at it is not written in stone. the stores in the end set the price to fit their needs(profit goal) since you brought up dealerships do you think it is fair dealerships charge $125+/hour for labor but a mechanic shop will charge $75/hour for labor? same "product" different prices
 
detailgod said:
i know of guys that charge $75 an hour so they can say you are price gouging and ripping them off. which is what you are implying that the customer is getting ripped off buy marking up product and labor. you set your price for what you see is fair for you and the others srt theirs for what is fair for them. and once again i will metion that MSRP is only a suggested price to sell product at it is not written in stone. the stores in the end set the price to fit their needs(profit goal) since you brought up dealerships do you think it is fair dealerships charge $125+/hour for labor but a mechanic shop will charge $75/hour for labor? same "product" different prices
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Why would someone charging $75 say I'm riping them off at $50?

Also a dealership charges more becuase they are back by the manufacturer. They have speciallized tool and information that aftermarket shops don't have. I worked at dealerships in Service for a long time, so that analogy doesn't work here.

You can charge what you want hourly, thats fine, but to raise the price of the product itself isn't right.
 
Flannigan said:
Thats really mature. I'm so glad that you took the time to post that in this thread. I may not agree with everyone, but I'm surly not insulting anyone. Thanks for adding NOTHING to this thread.
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Hey, you're the one berating people for running profitable businesses and explaining to you why the world works the way it does. :nomore:
 
It's not gouging someone to set a price for something. They can go elsewhere or do it themsleves if they don't like your price.

Business: Charge as much as you can for something provided demand is high enough that enough people will pay that price. Generalizing I know and cases and products and services all vary but this is a normal concept.
 
Flannigan said:
Why would someone charging $75 say I'm riping them off at $50?

Also a dealership charges more becuase they are back by the manufacturer. They have speciallized tool and information that aftermarket shops don't have. I worked at dealerships in Service for a long time, so that analogy doesn't work here.

You can charge what you want hourly, thats fine, but to raise the price of the product itself isn't right.
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i also have worked in dealerships for a number of years (right around 15) that is where i started detailing at as well as a mechanic for awhile. the 4 dealerships i have been at all of them needed a special tool they did not have but one of the mechanics had one of their own at home. so you say it is ok for dealerships to charge more in labor (which is being used as the product in this case) cause they have manufacturer backing them up and specialty tools right? well replace manufacture bacing and speacialty tools with skill and knowledge and that is why the price is higher when we apply the product. and for you ripping them off it is cause you are offering same service for alot cheaper price so you get the money and not them. there for "stealing" money from them.
 
CEE DOG said:
It's not gouging someone to set a price for something. They can go elsewhere or do it themsleves if they don't like your price.

Business: Charge as much as you can for something provided demand is high enough that enough people will pay that price. Generalizing I know and cases and products and services all vary but this is a normal concept.
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and that is the point everyone is trying to make to him. i said gouging to try to use his thought process to explain
 
Well since everyone that has chimed in disagrees with you it might be worth re-evaluating your stand on this. You are the only one that's correct and all others are wrong? I think not. Many of these folks are savy businessmen that have been at it for many years. They learned long ago to never leave money on the table. I'm out..... best of luck in all future endevours.
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Hey, you're the one berating people for running profitable businesses and explaining to you why the world works the way it does. :nomore:
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Thanks Charlie...that's also the impression I got!

@ Flannigan:

-Which of the Opti-Coatings [Opti-Gard (offered only to professionals); Opti-Coat 2.0 ( offered to anyone with the cash to pay for it)] are you applying?
-Do you educate your customer that:
1. Opti-Gard has a life-time warranty on new vehicles if applied within 30 days; five (5) years on used vehicles? {This is an up-sell}
2. Proper washing/drying techniques still must be employed and that you are The Detailer for that weekly/bi-weekly/monthly ritual. {This an up-sell}
3. Yearly "inspections" to ensure protection and if needed... polishing/corrections/re-application {This is an up-sell}

Can, or does your clients have this info and abilities with these, or other, coating products?

IMHO...Your short-selling your skill/expertise, along with, to be frank about it, business closing marketing tactics.

I think Flash Gordon summed it up quite nicely the other day in responding to another AGO member and what they charge their clients (and I paraphrase):

"Keep charging those prices and pretty soon you'll be rich like me" :D

Just a couple of observations/thoughts. :)

Bob
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Hey, you're the one berating people for running profitable businesses and explaining to you why the world works the way it does. :nomore:
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I'm glad you are such an expert on the workings of the world. Thanks for setting me straight :dblthumb2:

RTexasF said:
Well since everyone that has chimed in disagrees with you it might be worth re-evaluating your stand on this. You are the only one that's correct and all others are wrong? I think not. Many of these folks are savy businessmen that have been at it for many years. They learned long ago to never leave money on the table. I'm out..... best of luck in all future endevours.
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Just because something is popular doesn't mean it's right.

Obviously my point is not getting across. No need for me to keep saying the same thing over and over again. Feel free to charge customers whatever you want, and I will continue to do what I feel is right. BTW I am plenty profitable in my detailing business, so that is not something I worry about.
 
there you go if your making money and not losing it then your doing ok. everyone here has there own opinion and way of running there business. All i know is that 95% of my clients are wealth ppl that dont want to get out and do there own vehicle and dont mind paying for a service. as long as there happy with the results there fine. and what i charge my clients someone here might think its to low or to high. there are just way to many variables in this biz and i think if you can sleep at night bc u know u did an honest job then good for you.
but as far as the thread gos i dont offer theses options yet but there was just way to much arguing going on here so i had to chime in lol
 
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