Little help with my new buisness

surferman802003

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So a little background on me. I am a soldier who is stationed in germany. When I got here I noticed that there were no other detailers or even a good old fashion car wash. Just a booth to spray your car down with a pressure washer when you put a quarter in. I have always done my own car and friends cars. I was told that I should open a buisness. So I did and was the only detailer in about 100 km. Since then 3 other detailers have poped up. Now I am not a conceided person but I know my work is better than these other guys. My prices are higher than all the others but I pride myself on using better products and much better work. Do you guys thing my prices are good? My base clients are other soldiers. Usually officers and well off enlisted. Any help or advice would be awesome and I would love to here from some other buisness owners. I do this part time on the weekend and do about 4 cars a weekend. usually 2-3 a day. Please check out my facebook page. (sorry if i took someone elses name for the buisness. It was easy to set up. I dont mean to step on any toes)

Kevin's Auto Care (Perfect Auto Detailing) | Facebook
 
Welcome to AG and thank you for your service to this great nation.

Sight unseen (when providing a high quality of work) it is hard to price a job where it is fair for both parties. It really depends on the demographics of the area that you are working in. It seems to me that your prices are in the ball park though for high quality detailing work.
It's good that you have created a little wiggle room with your pricing.

There will be a small percentage of folks willing to pay for high quality work as most have no idea how hard this work really is or what all can be involved in the highest quality of auto detailing.

Have you been working steady? Are you getting referrals? If you can answer yes to both of those questions then you are working in the right direction and it will grow with time. If you are doing superior work and the other three are just doing real quick not so superior work, you don't really have to be so concerned with competing with them on pricing.

Just explain to your potential clientele that you simply offer a higher tier of service than what they do and realize that you simply serve a different market than what they do.

When people around here (central Pennsylvania) mention other local detailers and refer to them as my competitors, I simply tell them that I have no competition in this area and then try to explain to them why their work can't hold a candle to my work and why my prices are higher and if they choose the other guy, they simply aren't in the market that I serve. However some do convert in time.

Take every opportunity to market why your prices are higher and how your work is superior. An example of seizing such opportunities is this thread that I had created not too long ago.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/40472-repairing-other-guy-s-work.html

It isn't to bash the other guy, (your character will carry you far in this industry) but rather to simply show the difference between your work and the work of the inexperienced. Always use the fact that you are a seasoned expert in your field, if you can really say that truthfully when marketing your services.

People understand that low pay and high turnover rate go hand in hand, so when I am talking with a perspective client I always try to point out the fact, that the quick service car care centers generally have a high turnover rate and that there is usually a lot of inexperience working at such places, then tell them that I am the owner of the business and what I have achieved in the way of experience and expertise. This usually gets them either asking more questions or they just jump on board with me and book the appointment.

I hope this helps. TD
 
Thanks Dave. Yea ive been busy and getting alot of referrals. I have an incitive plan that if a prior customer gets 5 people to come to me and get a detail they get a free wash, clay, wax. and depending on how many after that they get more stuff. Its funny that you talk about fixing others work. In the last 2 months i have had a total of 10 people call me after they picked up there cars from the "other guys" and wanted to know how much to fix it. I try to make sure that the customer knows I want to do the best job and instead of asking how much they are willing to pay I ask what they want there car to look like after a detail. Ive had people say everything from "clean" to "better than new."
Another quick question did you get a chance to look at the pictures? what do you think of my work? Ive seen you around and i know you do really good work so your opinion would mean alot to me. Thanks again
 
Thanks Dave.
Another quick question did you get a chance to look at the pictures? what do you think of my work? Ive seen you around and i know you do really good work so your opinion would mean alot to me. Thanks again

You're welcome Kevin and thank you for noticing my work. I took some time this morning to view all of your photos. It looks to me that you are doing very very nice detailing work. This especially shows in the sun reflection shots on the black Subaru. The difference on the King Ranch is amazing. Some serious correction work there. Your interiors look second to none as well. You keep doing work like this and you'll have no problem keeping busy. Keep up the great work Kevin and keep posting to this forum as well.
 
I can't believe no other members have posted to this thread. I guess they're all wrapped up in the SEMA threads. Again, thanks for your service to this great country. I have the right to sit here and say what I want and the freedom to grow in what ever direction I choose to and guys like you and all the other soldiers that have fought and died to allow us these freedoms need to be thanked. God Bless America.
 
Lol i know. I was hoping more people would comment. Thanks alot for the kind words on my work. Probably going to upload to show and shine for the king ranch
 
Those cars look awesome- and you're obviously busy- so I don't see any issues with your prices...
 
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