Need Some Business Help

[hernandez.art13]

Hello Everybody :xyxthumbs:

So I was heading home from school and stopped by the store to get some stuff. So the owner of this vehicle (same as last time) asked me if I am still detailing. I told him "yes"

So he asked me to fix his paint.

(I was fresh out of class so was caught off guard)

So he asked me if I could help him out. I said "sure, lets go look at your paint" so I go and there was enough sunlight to catch the swirls left behind by who knows what. He did say he has a detailer come wash his car. In back of his work, so who knows?

I then told him, "yeah I can try and fix the swirls." He then said "sounds good, how much?" I then said "I charge $40 dollars an hour"

He then says "ok, but how many hours?"

This is where I got stumped. I replied with "well what do you want? A full correction?"

He then said "I want it fixed"

I said "well let me take pictures and We can talk more about it when I come back" had to pick up the kid for football practice, was in a rush. I'm at his practice right now

I enhanced these so you guys could see better, only had my iPhone on me. My DSLR was at home.

He's seen the work I've done thats why he keeps asking me.

I know I can tackle this car with my PC and do a good job. In the back of my head AIO, popped in my head. How do I charge for AIO? And what expectations should I explain to him that he will get?

I also could compound, swirl remover, will probably need clay etc.... But I still don't know how to charge for that. (Know how to do it, but not how many hours I should estimate it will take)

I told him "whoever is detailing your car might be giving the paint swirls" (I said the scratches and pointed them out)

So he says "well come and do it for me"

So what should have I done differently? I'm sure a lot of things. Interested in knowing how you guys would approach this. I've never had to really tackle it on my own. Body shop managers did it for me. (Now time for me to learn )

Thanks for the help everybody, feel free to ask any additional questions.

Art

 

[Pureshine]

AIO is not going to take all that out you will need to compound it. This is why I have a prices starting at so for that car a 1 step would be about $400 about and now a 2 step would be about $500 for that car.

 

[Cosmin]

He did say he has a detailer come wash his car. In back of his work, so who knows?
He then said "I want it fixed"

at that point i would say: let`s fix your detailer first so we don`t waist your money and he will destroy my work.

than i would quote as an 8-10+ h job , over what ever your h rate is and give him an estimate price. and if you think he is not sure, than offer to do a test spot so he know`s what he pays for.

 

[hernandez.art13]

Thank you PureShine. That is why I asked here and not my family, because they would have suggested I charge body shop prices.

I'll work on this when I get home and just change my hourly rate to $40 an hour. And show it to him. It will look more professional. And he'll know what he is signing up for.

 

[zmcgovern45]

For a 2 step correction, I would put that at 12-16 hours (or $480-$640 based on your rate)... make sure he knows it is an estimate and that estimates can change if you determine the car is particularly terrible or difficult once you start working.

I agree with Cosmin though, if he is unsure of what he wants, offer to do a test spot for him to show him the difference between an AIO, one-step, and two-step correction.... personally I would try to convince him for a two-step and he should agree to ditch his current detailer. If not, he will just be wasting his money having it corrected in the first place since his guy will just swirl it up again, but I guess that isn't your problem.

 

[thebamboo23]

yeahhhh.. charging $40/hr.. buuttt.. u dont know how long itll taakkee..


demonstrating a test spot should have been first thing to come to mind, then explain to him why his car is in such damage, and then tell him his detailer is no bueno

 

[hernandez.art13]

at that point i would say: let`s fix your detailer first so we don`t waist your money and he will destroy my work.

than i would quote as an 8-10+ h job , over what ever your h rate is and give him an estimate price. and if you think he is not sure, than offer to do a test spot so he know`s what he pays for.

Thank You Cosmin, I did offer a test spot. But he replied with. "I just want it to look better" and was not interested in a test spot. I'll talk to him, when I am not in a rush. Any tips on what I should talk to him about or bring up?

That would be a cool gig for me to correct his paint and be his Detailer. I only have my coupe. However I just need a faucet to connect my hose. And a socket for electricity and everything else I have

Wow posting pictures on my FaceBook has gotten people talking. Pretty exciting

 

[hernandez.art13]

Yeah, a test spot would most likely be necessary. Not only will it show him the results. It will let me evaluate the situation. And give him a proper estimate.

 

[hernandez.art13]

It's odd to me, that civilians don't know how much time and skill it takes in what we do. Not just washing a car in those $5, five minute car washes.

I will tell him a test spot is necessary for me to evaluate the paint condition.

 

[Cosmin]

people like options. so.. give him options , and steer him in the one you think will do it`s best for the money he is willing to pay

 

[hernandez.art13]

Sounds great Cosmin, I'll keep everyone updated.

Art

 

[nebojsa]

cant wait to see the finished results

 

[hernandez.art13]

Oh and I've been wanting to ask this. When do you guys charge?

It doesn't sound right if I tell him to pay me 10-13 hours of work when I am done. What if a customer decides to pin point something out and throw a fit.

Then after those 10-13 hours the customer is unwilling to pay?

Do you take a deposit? Or pay up front? Still trying to figure out this aspect of Detailing.

Thanks Again,

Art

 

[hernandez.art13]

cant wait to see the finished results

If this goes through, I'll take plenty of pictures

I'll bring this up to Meguiar's Open Garage tomorrow. Maybe the guys there will have some additional advice. Heck I'll even ask the Meguiar's guys

 

[minorc]

Oh and I've been wanting to ask this. When do you guys charge?

It doesn't sound right if I tell him to pay me 10-13 hours of work when I am done. What if a customer decides to pin point something out and throw a fit.

Then after those 10-13 hours the customer is unwilling to pay?

Do you take a deposit? Or pay up front? Still trying to figure out this aspect of Detailing.

Thanks Again,

Art

The customer and I agree upon a price and they pay it, I've never been burned " Yet ".

 

[zmcgovern45]

Oh and I've been wanting to ask this. When do you guys charge?

It doesn't sound right if I tell him to pay me 10-13 hours of work when I am done. What if a customer decides to pin point something out and throw a fit.

Then after those 10-13 hours the customer is unwilling to pay?

Do you take a deposit? Or pay up front? Still trying to figure out this aspect of Detailing.

Thanks Again,

Art

The customer signs a form that, in addition to A LOT of other things, states that they agree to pay the amount shown in the estimate at the time of pickup.

 

[hernandez.art13]

Thank you Minorc and Zmcgovern45

Will be working on these and make them apply to my business.

 

[rustytruck]

What you make an hour is the result of the price you charge divided by the amount of time you spend. If you charge someone $250 and it takes 5 hours then you make $50/hr spend 10 on that car and you are down to $25/hr. I don't like the idea of telling a customer that I charge XX amount of dollars per hr. I would guesstimate how long it should take then shoot him a fair price.

 

[zmcgovern45]

What you make an hour is the result of the price you charge divided by the amount of time you spend. If you charge someone $250 and it takes 5 hours then you make $50/hr spend 10 on that car and you are down to $25/hr. I don't like the idea of telling a customer that I charge XX amount of dollars per hr. I would guesstimate how long it should take then shoot him a fair price.

So you're saying that if you charge $200 for a one-step polish... and it takes you 5 hours for customer X and 9 hours for customer Y then that is more fair? Not at all. It is not fair to you and it is not fair to the customers. Charging at a set hourly rate makes it fair for everyone because every customer is being charged the exact same amount for your time.

I definitely don't "watch the clock" while I am working, but if I quote someone at 8 hours and after a few test spots I find that it is going to be much more difficult to produce the results they are expecting, I will call them and explain the issue and the additional time needed which results in additional cost before I proceed with the job. This way I don't end up working for a very low hourly rate, and they don't end up getting stuck with a bill much higher than expected. Does this happen often? No - very rarely actually. I believe I have only had to call one customer and have that conversation with them. It was because they brought the car to me for an inspection when it was very dirty so I could not see the true condition of the paint so I simply underestimated the amount of work that would be required.

I have never understood how people can charge "flat rates" for services and don't end up getting screwed over once and a while.

If I was a customer and I found out that someone else, who had a car that was in much worse shape than mine, paid the same amount for the same type of work I would be a little upset.

I guess that is one of the perks of running your own business though... you can decide how to run it, and not someone else.