Met my competition today

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So as I am gearing up to become an LLC and have a small business on the side, I have met my competition in the area.

Today I took my kid to get his hair cut. The barber which I found out owns about 20 cars, classics mostly. His Mercedes was being dropped off by his detailer he said as he stepped out for a few mins so my ears opened up and I got a little zealous. I kept my cool though. He walked back in with the guy and handed him $200. The detailer said he wants to do his Audi when he gets a chance. I keyed in on that right there.

I listened to him talk this guy up saying he puts the best shine on a car, he doesn't miss a single inch, he even clays my car. Essentially this guy is the best detailer in my area. I'm thinking oh yeah? Challenge accepted. So after my son was finished and I left, I told him to give me a crack at his Audi and I'd do it for cheaper than his detailer if he gives me an opportunity. He agreed and I walked out. I see the Mercedes, so what do I do? Just some visual notes as I walk past it. The car wasn't very shiny, there was wax on it. Paint was cleaned well. The wheels looked terrible, like they were completely neglected. Wheel wells were filthy too. Finally the chrome on a few parts of the car had handprints all over them.

I wonder how people can enjoy success while doing subpar work? I know I can do better work than him and I don't want to steal clients but I want to establish myself and when a barber talks you up, that equals more customers so I went for it. I get to do his A6 in two weeks.
 
Just don't get over confident. The other detailer is obviously very established and has clients that are satisfied with his work, even if it is not complete autogeek standards. Also consider this, is $200 worth doing a complete Autogeek style detail? Maybe the barber is simple getting what he is paying for and nothing more.

Just another point of view.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using AG Online
 
VP Mark said:
Just don't get over confident. The other detailer is obviously very established and has clients that are satisfied with his work, even if it is not complete autogeek standards. Also consider this, is $200 worth doing a complete Autogeek style detail? Maybe the barber is simple getting what he is paying for and nothing more.

Just another point of view.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using AG Online
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:iagree: Never under sell your self just to get a job! Because a lot of times you pay for it in the end.
 
VP Mark said:
Just don't get over confident. The other detailer is obviously very established and has clients that are satisfied with his work, even if it is not complete autogeek standards. Also consider this, is $200 worth doing a complete Autogeek style detail? Maybe the barber is simple getting what he is paying for and nothing more.

Just another point of view.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using AG Online
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Very true. I respect a different point of view

I don't think I'm being overconfident. I'll rephrase though, I could do better than what I saw presented. 200 is probably above what someone would pay for something standard minus correction. 150 would be the the norm in my area for a wash clay and wax. 200 isn't worth an autogeek style detail, I can tell you that much. 350 would be a decent amount for that kind of attention.

I shouldn't talk down another detailers work either so I apologize to the community for that. I just saw neglect in the guys work that would be standard operating procedure for most of us to handle. I think I may cancel on the Audi and keep on earning clients on my own merit instead of undercutting another guy. The more I think about it, it was a jerk move
 
dog eat dog world... haha

I wouldn't have cut the guys throat in price.. just hand him a card and tell him I'd like to show him my work sometime.

Don't cancel the job, may be worse to do that.
 
HD.Detailing said:
dog eat dog world... haha



I wouldn't have cut the guys throat in price.. just hand him a card and tell him I'd like to show him my work sometime.



Don't cancel the job, may be worse to do that.
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Ha! I started thinking about the community here and how everyone is nice and helpful and felt a little guilt
 
What you meant to say was you sniped your competiton today LOL!!! Did you intorduce yourself as his competiton and tell him you were going to cut his n*ts off? Heheheh sorry but it is what it is.
 
A2D Signature said:
Very true. I respect a different point of view

I don't think I'm being overconfident. I'll rephrase though, I could do better than what I saw presented. 200 is probably above what someone would pay for something standard minus correction. 150 would be the the norm in my area for a wash clay and wax. 200 isn't worth an autogeek style detail, I can tell you that much. 350 would be a decent amount for that kind of attention.

I shouldn't talk down another detailers work either so I apologize to the community for that. I just saw neglect in the guys work that would be standard operating procedure for most of us to handle. I think I may cancel on the Audi and keep on earning clients on my own merit instead of undercutting another guy. The more I think about it, it was a jerk move
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Do the job and move on to bigger and brighter things. That's why he called your competition, you gotta grow a pair and take the bull by the horns. Charge what you want especially if its a customer that has 20 potential jobs

sent from Yakima valley washington
 
HD.Detailing said:
dog eat dog world... haha

I wouldn't have cut the guys throat in price.. just hand him a card and tell him I'd like to show him my work sometime.

Don't cancel the job, may be worse to do that.
Click to expand...

Bingo, then prove yourself!
 
A2D Signature said:
Very true. I respect a different point of view

I don't think I'm being overconfident. I'll rephrase though, I could do better than what I saw presented. 200 is probably above what someone would pay for something standard minus correction. 150 would be the the norm in my area for a wash clay and wax. 200 isn't worth an autogeek style detail, I can tell you that much. 350 would be a decent amount for that kind of attention.

I shouldn't talk down another detailers work either so I apologize to the community for that. I just saw neglect in the guys work that would be standard operating procedure for most of us to handle. I think I may cancel on the Audi and keep on earning clients on my own merit instead of undercutting another guy. The more I think about it, it was a jerk move
Click to expand...

Whoa there, don't be too hard on yourself. Competition is what it is, and it's always good to compare your work to others. My main point is that this other detailer is well established and that the work you saw may simply be an example of what the client was paying for.

If I were you I would do some more market research on your competition, even go so far as to call them and ask about pricing, process, ect. As a potential client, of course.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using AG Online
 
I think I would overdo the first job for this guy, though. Like you said he owns 20 cars and a barber shop to spread word... Give him a nice 1 step and show him how all his work could be done. Then tell him your regular price for that work but that you wanted to show him how his cars could actually look...
 
EVOlved said:
I think I would overdo the first job for this guy, though. Like you said he owns 20 cars and a barber shop to spread word... Give him a nice 1 step and show him how all his work could be done. Then tell him your regular price for that work but that you wanted to show him how his cars could actually look...
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That's called a bait and switch in my business, a real great way to lose customers.
Do the work he paid for and continue to give him the same results. That would be like him cutting your hair the first time then you come back and he stops and you have half a haircut. You say WTH? He says well the first time I did your hair cut it was to show you my work, it's another $10.00 this time if you want me to finish.
 
custmsprty said:
That's called a bait and switch in my business, a real great way to lose customers.
Do the work he paid for and continue to give him the same results. That would be like him cutting your hair the first time then you come back and he stops and you have half a haircut. You say WTH? He says well the first time I did your hair cut it was to show you my work, it's another $10.00 this time if you want me to finish.
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It would be that in my business as well but I don't think in this instance I would call it that at all. I think it is an honest businessman trying to earn the business of a potentially good client in showing him the error in his ways (that is if the gentleman in question actually stated he is paying for the best by the other entity in question).

I think it would all warrant an open conversation with the said party and trying to speak with words first obviously to see if that level is even what the client is looking for otherwise it is all wasted effort. And if he is not looking for that level then obviously I would not waste the extra effort.. Business to me is about being upfront open and honest with the client. I was by no means telling him to just dive in and do it, but instead let him know before hand if that is what he is looking for let him see. You could even do just his hood or one door, just as a showcase..
 
I think the OP did well. He saw an opportunity, he swooped in. It's called competition. It's not unfair, and it's not underhanded. He was ballsy and earned himself a shot, and if he does better work for the same price, he gets the business.

However, we are all missing the main point here. This barber owns 20 cars. We should all quit detailing and become barbers.
 
chet31 said:
I think the OP did well. He saw an opportunity, he swooped in. It's called competition. It's not unfair, and it's not underhanded. He was ballsy and earned himself a shot, and if he does better work for the same price, he gets the business.

However, we are all missing the main point here. This barber owns 20 cars. We should all quit detailing and become barbers.
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Thanks!

He has owned the shop here for about 20 years. Place is always packed for him. He has to be making over 6 figures cutting hair. It's crazy man!
 
chet31 said:
However, we are all missing the main point here. This barber owns 20 cars. We should all quit detailing and become barbers.
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You beat me to it, after reading all the responses I just kept thinking damn this barber has 20 cars and most classics? lol
 
chet31 said:
I think the OP did well. He saw an opportunity, he swooped in. It's called competition. It's not unfair, and it's not underhanded. He was ballsy and earned himself a shot, and if he does better work for the same price, he gets the business.

However, we are all missing the main point here. This barber owns 20 cars. We should all quit detailing and become barbers.
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Wish I could ;), pretty sure I would lose passion for that in about a day.
 
Hey its a dog eat dog world man. If it gets your shoe in I say go for it. Educate the guy on what separates you from the other detailer.
 
brondondolon said:
Hey its a dog eat dog world man. If it gets your shoe in I say go for it. Educate the guy on what separates you from the other detailer.
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That is exactly what I intend on doing. With the mental notes I made, I can explain to him what I did different from his guy and why it sets me apart.
 
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