Price for detail

I found this on another website but the gist of the message is the same:

"Ever since I raised all my other prices a few years ago, I have been a lot more busy and with much higher quality vehicles. I still do not understand why some of (detailers) have such LOW prices, then they complain that they have no work and when they do they are on junky cars. Since I raised my prices, I have been way more busy and work on much nicer cars. If the detailer has a low self esteem of themselves, the customer with a nice BMW, for example, can see that first thing, and will go elsewhere. If they want to be a professional,...then be one!"

The moral of the story is charge a fair price for your work. If a customer balks at a rate you feel is reasonable, move on. It's harder to start out at a low rate and "work your way up". Good luck.
 
I am just starting out and to get my prices adjusted to market value I asked like 3 or 4 different shops for quotes on my 3 vehicles seperately in multiple of their packages. That way I could see what they were offering and at what price. And then I simply aimed my prices towards the middle-upper end of the spectrum. I also asked around on the forums aswell and that helped. Take that all with a grain of salt though as I am still starting myself aswell and have minimal experience.
 
I don't think there's anything wrong with starting out like this and offering your first customer a nice low price. Here's the trick.

Treat this job like it was a $500 job and take your time, be meticulous.

As stated above, when the customer picks it up, tell him that this was a special 'break-in price' that you can't offer him again, but that you will always do the same quality work. Let him know you welcome any referrals he can bring you and that you appreciate his business. If you did good work, he'll understand and odds are he'll refer lots of people your way.

If I were you, I would let him know that for a couple weeks, you'll be offering a break-in price of $150-160 to all new customers, but that after that, your prices will return to 'normal'. Come up with some kind of flyer that outlines your "Normal rates" and set them as advised by the pros here. This way, he will likely refer all his buddies so they can get your special starter price, and then you'll get to keep them as regular clients at full price in the future.

Just my $.02
 
Ok so another customer contacted me today asking for a detail on a toyota sienna(van) I decided to use mikes Vehicle inspection forms and for 1 package 1 exterior and 1 package 1 interior I quoted him at $250 to me this sounds more reasonable! Comments?concerns?View attachment 33793View attachment 33794
 
It is a bit low but you will learn. Mathematically you need to earn money for shop basics, supplies, and your labor. On a hammered dirty suv I could probably get away with 180-250 without even touching a da in my area. I did a jeep for my friend too, did I get paid, very little, but after he drove to somewhere else, a person was shocked at how nice it looked. Its just like contracting or remodeling, work shows and as henry ford says. Quality is doing a good job when nobody is around.
 
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...

Once you quoted the price you have to live with it. I've been in commissioned sales for 25 years, you can always come down but you can never renegotiate up.
 
Just did my first truck today. I washed, waxed, cleaned the windows and dressed the trim, tires, wells and plastics on the exterior all for $115.
 
I told him he was getting a special price. I plan on charging more but for my first customers, they are all getting "break-in" prices.
 
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