Price for detail

Breese147

Breese147

New member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Messages
452
Reaction score
0
Customer has an Infiniti Qx56 large SUV and we agreed on this

Exterior

Detail wash
Decontaminate paint
High quality Wax
Spot scratch removal
Rain x on windows
Dress tires

Interior

Vacuum
Dash wipedown
Seats leather wipe down

Floor mats vacuum/spot removal
Apply interior protectant

I told him This price $130 I feel like I should have gone higher but being it's my first paying detail and I'm not a professional by no means.
 
Haha ideally I would probably charge around 200$. But since it's my first detail and first customer I don't want to blow it
 
That's when you ask them what are they willing to pay or what do they think is reasonable. I know I've made extra money on jobs like pressure washing driveways by doing that.
 
Woa that was a steal!! You need to pay yourself more. Figure at least a minimum of $40 to $75 per hour depending the area and demographics you live in.

$130 is way too low!! That should have been at least $200 - $250
 
Yeah. 10% of the price should be in supplies. So find out the supply cost and multiply it times 10.
 
Breese147 said:
Haha ideally I would probably charge around 200$. But since it's my first detail and first customer I don't want to blow it
Click to expand...

Just because it's your first customer, doesn't mean you give them a free detail. Even $200 would be cheap for all that work, especially a huge SUV as such. For $130, I'd be suspect of a hack job than a quality detail. You don't want that label.
 
Ok I will talk to the customer about possibly raising the price. I was figuring around $20 per hour but it looks like I can raise that now:)
 
Not sure where you are, but you are about $250 too low.
 
$130 is solid considering he's not polishing the whole car or shampooing at all. Also, this his first paying job!

Ever heard of paying your dues? We're not fixing cars guys ... We're cleaning them.
 
That's waaaay too cheap, make sure you let him know when your done that you gave him a "special" price and you appreciate referrals but can't repeat that price again.

Also, are you doing this by hand or machine?
 
Also, you can't just call the customer and raise the price lol. That's rediculous! If you already quoted a price, you have to stick by it.
 
Breese147 said:
Ok I will talk to the customer about possibly raising the price. I was figuring around $20 per hour but it looks like I can raise that now:)
Click to expand...

You’ve made a commitment to do this work for $130.00 and that’s the amount of money you should receive for the job. If you try to bargain for a higher price now your customer may walk away. You’re the detailer so you set the price and you don’t ask the customer what he can afford to pay. You shouldn’t expect to charge as much as an experienced detailer but you can adjust your prices upward as you gain valuable experience.
 
wash, clay, clean wheels, dress tires 1.5 hrs

Spot scratch polishing .5 hrs

Wax and rain x .5 hrs

Vacuum, wipe seats and plastic, protectant,
spot clean carpet 1 hr

Clean Windows and touch up .5 hrs

4 hrs = over $30 an hour for a first payed job, while working at a decent pace.

Not bad at all IMO. At most I might charge like $200, assuming the interior isn't filthy and there aren't a dozen scratches to spot polish. You guys that can charge $300 for a job like that and can get work on a daily basis are impressive honestly.
 
By machine the only real machine part though will be attempting to remove the 2 scratches and application of wax. Decon will be by hand
 
You're about to learn a lesson. Pricing details at the start is extremely difficult simply because you don't have enough experience. I still struggle on occasion almost 3 years in. Ask questions and really look the vehicle over before giving a price. It also helps to quote a range just in case you run into something you have a cushion.

I would do a quick wash, clay, seal for $150.

Interior wipedown/steam clean surfaces, doors, console, etc. Shampoo Mats. Vacuum. Windows. $150-200 depending on condition.

Takes ~6 hours depending on how efficient you work and what tools you have.
 
I'm in small town kansas and I was way cheaper starting out, took me a little bit to adjust pricing to profit. So $130 is probably just fine try to be efficient though
 
Paul Mitchell said:
You’ve made a commitment to do this work for $130.00 and that’s the amount of money you should receive for the job. If you try to bargain for a higher price now your customer may walk away. You’re the detailer so you set the price and you don’t ask the customer what he can afford to pay. You shouldn’t expect to charge as much as an experienced detailer but you can adjust your prices upward as you gain valuable experience.
Click to expand...


I agree, stick to the price you gave him.
Good chance he'd walk as said.

If you feel good about the price you gave him so he it , your the one doing the work.
In time you'll see it's worth much more.

Good luck.
 
Now that you have committed a price. Stick to it. Do not bother much. Tell the customer at when they come to pick the car that this was a one time special price.

Around 200 bucks would have been a ideal ballpark for what you are doing on that behemoth
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top