Need to stop with set prices

RTexasF said:
Since you mostly do wash & vac do you REALLY think those same people will now pay you double or triple for the same thing they paid 30 bucks for last month? Raise your prices a bit and learn to work more efficiently. If a simple wash & vac takes more than two hours then you are your worst enemy. Work smart and draw the line on what you do for the money involved. Buy chemicals in larger quantities so your per ounce cost drops.
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I never said im going to double or triple anything, simply raising it up a little. And no it doesnt take me more than two hours for a simple wash and vac....
 
Most people believe that is not big deal be able to wash/and or detail a car. They wil pay a plumber or other Mechanic over $100 an hour because they believe that there is a real talent and or skill to those trades and that anyone can wash or detail a car.

You need to be able to demonstrate the difference between your work and the car wash or the guy down that block. People like to think that they are going value for their hard earned dollara

Thus,you need to be able to show them that they are getting their money's worth.

It would be a good idea if you could a show a sample of your. Your own car always needs to look GREAT.

Otherwise people will think that you are an outwork constrution worker doing detailing until his trade opens up and work is just not worth money you deserve .

I am a retired CPA and know just a little bit about business.
 
I think taking pictures are necessary. I have done a good amount of professional work. And never took any pictures. People just say "oh ok" when I tell them what I do.

But now with pictures I have documented evidence of my work So now I show people swirl marks correction/before and after etc... , but I am barely doing this, but it's a start.

Then you can explain why. Your doing True Detailing not just a quick wash for $5.99 down the street and it can help you charge accordingly.
 
What I tell and give an example to those picky coustomer´s that think they know everything. but how we charge is too much??

I told them, When you go to a mechanic shop. and ask for an Oil change, that´s what you get. No more.
He´s gonna charge you just for that service. anything extra is extra $$$

same with my service, A exterior hand wash, that´s all you get. any dressing,wheel cleaner & spray detailer for the chrome, I will charge you extra.

with the mechanic´s people understand and Pay the rate. Why with Our type of service, a lot of people think we deserve less!!!! Hell no!!
I charge my job´s, if somebody else charge way less, that´s their problem period!!!!
 
hernandez.art13 said:
Interior seems something that I am going to have to truly learn. Ugh... I hate doing interior work, even quick washes, I love paint correction however.
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LOL every detailer has come to this very conclusion at some point in there life. I started in the body shop where all we ever cared about was the outside, I barley had to do more than a vac, or a wipe down with a shammy to remove bondo dust to any interior. Then I moved into a dealership production, and service setting. People care so much less about the exterior of there car than the interior.
 
VAS said:
LOL every detailer has come to this very conclusion at some point in there life. I started in the body shop where all we ever cared about was the outside, I barley had to do more than a vac, or a wipe down with a shammy to remove bondo dust to any interior. Then I moved into a dealership production, and service setting. People care so much less about the exterior of there car than the interior.
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I know!!! Lol (being humorous btw)

I still don't get why? Lol I like seeing a car nice and "shiny" (corrected paint ect.)

But it's true, if a bird poops on my car as a detailer. I am just like dang bird...

However...
2 days ago i heard a "snap" I turn around while driving and see my 10 year old kid opening up a Crunch bar.

I told him "boy... put that away" he said "why?" I said "Cos I said so" hahaha

I even have rules in my car, if I am drinking something then he can drink something too.
I just don't drink anything lol

I feel bad sometimes but that's how my Dad was to me lol, he'll understand when he owns a car
 
Definitely buy some gallons of cleaners. That's your best way to cut your cost down. Especially for wheel cleaners. But a good APC or degreaser and dilute it a little for cleaning wheels. Work up a cost sheet of what you use and how much it costs you to buy it. Then figure out what you want for an hourly rate (I probably wouldn't go over $15/hr since its on the side) and add it up. I'm on the middle of reworking my prices now beings that I just kinda threw them together one day. I'm wanting to really narrow it down to a more justifiable breakdown for myself anyway. Add it up what you should get out of a job, throw a friend and family discount in there if you want to, I did and set it that way. I've done both of my in-laws vehicles or $100 each after a discount for a wash, clay, minor spot correction, polish and sealant. Thy thought it was a little high but they're also a little on the cheap side and have that disability to not really see quality. I told them you get what you pay for and I was giving them a discount from what it should be. They understood it. I have a friend that I'm doing a car for and doing the same thing with a little smaller discount and getting $150 for it and he didn't think twice. Some people just get it and se people just need a little reassurance. Pictures are way better than words too.
 
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