Should i charge extra?

Abram86 said:
Thanks for that advice! Also I dont have much over head since I'm operating out of my garage and my products that I buy are in gallon size so I save and most will last me 3 months each. So at 15.00 per hour minimum to 20.00 average for full size I'm still seeing a profit. I hit 1000.00 in just 14 days of actual work, the rest have been off days. My expense for supplies came out to about 125.00.
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it seems your business plan is working with your expenses then. Keep it up.

I would send a vehicle to your competitor to get a feel for his products/process then.

You have nothing to lose but $40 and some time to 'reverse' anything that has been done that's not up to your standards.

Take before and afters and let us know the results of your findings.
 
Yes, charge extra. I did a interior plus wash and wax today. Charged 120 and got a 30 tip. Took 4 hr's. You are charging way to little.
 
Or, offer the next potential client that brings up the other guy as a comp, something to see the auto before and after.
 
Well I have no monthly building rent and now im using about less than .30 of product maybe .50 at the most for each wash so my profit is much higher. Check out my other threads to see lol.
Xtreme Auto
 
I used to buy and sell cars and there was nothing I hated more was some one who thinks they can talk your price down by saying "well u know I can get this for this price with this other guy" every time I heard that I cringed... It's like "then why are you here??? Go get your half a$$ed job ,or in my position car, from that guy then...

If I was in your position I simply would tell your customer that you don't do that and explain it to them in a way where they think it's bad to remove the seats and the guy under cutting u, which 9/10 times doesn't exist, is possibly doing harm.

For instance:

Customer: can you remove the seats to clean the carpets?

You: unfortunately sir/mam I dont. There is to much liability when the seats are removed. Seats need to be torqued to spec. with locktight or the like. Otherwise, in the forsaken event of an accident they aren't to spec, the person in the seat could endure life threatening injuries or worse. Luckily though I have a unique set of detailing tools to get in those hard to reach places so removal of the seats are not required and you can rest assured that your safety isn't in jeopardy.

Then ask them "have you used other detailers that remove the seats in the past?" If they say yes then I would say "wow..... I'd highly consider taking your car in to be 100% certain that they are to spec and your life isn't in jeopardy."

I doubt they will ever say that to you again.

I mean if some guy is doing a complete interior/exterior for $40 and removing the seats he deserves to get thrown under the bus. That's my opinion I mean he's taking business away from u with his $40 price take business away from him.

But if u do want to remove the seats and you are asking if you should charge more my answer is absolutely. More work cost more money. I mean if you think your hard work is only worth $60 then charge $60 personally though $60 is exterior only or interior only but that's just me.

Hope all our replies help :)

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using AG Online
 
brondondolon said:
For instance:

Customer: can you remove the seats to clean the carpets?

You: unfortunately sir/mam I dont. There is to much liability when the seats are removed. Seats need to be torqued to spec. with locktight or the like. Otherwise, in the forsaken event of an accident they aren't to spec, the person in the seat could endure life threatening injuries or worse. Luckily though I have a unique set of detailing tools to get in those hard to reach places so removal of the seats are not required and you can rest assured that your safety isn't in jeopardy.

Then ask them "have you used other detailers that remove the seats in the past?" If they say yes then I would say "wow..... I'd highly consider taking your car in to be 100% certain that they are to spec and your life isn't in jeopardy."

I doubt they will ever say that to you again.
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damn, that sounded legit! im going to have to use those lines bro! good tip :dblthumb2:
 
brondondolon said:
I used to buy and sell cars and there was nothing I hated more was some one who thinks they can talk your price down by saying "well u know I can get this for this price with this other guy" every time I heard that I cringed... It's like "then why are you here??? Go get your half a$$ed job ,or in my position car, from that guy then...

If I was in your position I simply would tell your customer that you don't do that and explain it to them in a way where they think it's bad to remove the seats and the guy under cutting u, which 9/10 times doesn't exist, is possibly doing harm.

For instance:

Customer: can you remove the seats to clean the carpets?

You: unfortunately sir/mam I dont. There is to much liability when the seats are removed. Seats need to be torqued to spec. with locktight or the like. Otherwise, in the forsaken event of an accident they aren't to spec, the person in the seat could endure life threatening injuries or worse. Luckily though I have a unique set of detailing tools to get in those hard to reach places so removal of the seats are not required and you can rest assured that your safety isn't in jeopardy.

Then ask them "have you used other detailers that remove the seats in the past?" If they say yes then I would say "wow..... I'd highly consider taking your car in to be 100% certain that they are to spec and your life isn't in jeopardy."

I doubt they will ever say that to you again.

I mean if some guy is doing a complete interior/exterior for $40 and removing the seats he deserves to get thrown under the bus. That's my opinion I mean he's taking business away from u with his $40 price take business away from him.

But if u do want to remove the seats and you are asking if you should charge more my answer is absolutely. More work cost more money. I mean if you think your hard work is only worth $60 then charge $60 personally though $60 is exterior only or interior only but that's just me.

Hope all our replies help :)

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using AG Online
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Yes thanks for that tip as it does sound professional and will make me sound like I know what im talking about lol.

Xtreme Auto
 
brondondolon is absolutely correct.

As for your other questions,...

Have you thought of going mobile? Convenience for your clients, is your $40 competition mobile?

You can become the "detail expert" in your area by doing a great job and becoming as knowledgeable as possible.
 
DaVinciAutoSpa said:
brondondolon is absolutely correct.

As for your other questions,...

Have you thought of going mobile? Convenience for your clients, is your $40 competition mobile?

You can become the "detail expert" in your area by doing a great job and becoming as knowledgeable as possible.
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My competition is not mobile. Also i want to become very knowledgeable in this area so I can be the expert. So far I know quite a bit about washing and detailing interior but I want to get really good at paint correction.

Xtreme Auto
 
1 step/ interior 375$ on a honda civic. 575$ on a Yukon. Your under cutting your self a lot. Paint correction always include a coating 800+ outside only. Don't short change your self with car wash detailer prices.
 
Abram86 said:
I charge 60.00 for a full interior and exterior detail minus paint correction and 100 for full size vehicles.
I keep getting asked if I can remove the seats and if its the same price.
I tell them I do charge extra but they change their minds. Should I charge extra or am I wrong for doing so?
And how much extra?
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I charge $90-$120 for an exterior detail, which means clay, paint cleaner, sealant, clean wheels, door jams, dress tires and any exterior trim. I don't touch the interior and that's for friends and neighbors cars as i just do it as a hobby, pick up little mad money for new tools, toys etc.

So imho $60.00 is giving it away.
 
rolop6 said:
If it's a something's small I apply it by hand. If it's something bigger I use a DA. I personally think it's faster by hand, and waste a lot less product.
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Personally I thinks it's the direct opposite. A machine is way faster than by hand, and imho you get a more even coverage and you use a lot less product. I did my entire Genesis Coupe in less than 10-15 minutes with PBL Black Diamond Sealant and if I used 1/2 oz on the entire vehicle I'd be surprised. No way I could've done that by hand and done as good a job. I'm gonna go with the Mike Phillips school of thought and say why apply by hand when a machine does it better and faster.
 
I feel that those that are able to charge upwards of $100-$200 just for a an interior or exterior job are able to do so because they've established a customer base willing to pay that price. Abram is just starting out and unfortunately may not have the luxury of charging these kind of prices right off the bat. As his business grows he may be able to raise his prices. I don't think it's fair to tell him to charge established business prices when he's not established. If he can get $60 for what he does and then I think it's better than nothing at all. And for that $60 he also gains experience and one more person maybe willing to spread the word about the quality of his work. Just my perspective.
 
Abram86 said:
How can I find out the truth about his details? I would like to find out what all he does for the 40.00 so if its not a good detailing I can at least educate my customers.
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Here's a suggestion for you, raise your price and when they say they can get it done for $40.00 tell them you fix lots of $40.00 detailing jobs :dblthumb2:
 
Matt@FourAcesMD said:
I feel that those that are able to charge upwards of $100-$200 just for a an interior or exterior job are able to do so because they've established a customer base willing to pay that price. Abram is just starting out and unfortunately may not have the luxury of charging these kind of prices right off the bat. As his business grows he may be able to raise his prices. I don't think it's fair to tell him to charge established business prices when he's not established. If he can get $60 for what he does and then I think it's better than nothing at all. And for that $60 he also gains experience and one more person maybe willing to spread the word about the quality of his work. Just my perspective.
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Thanks Matt, as I've stated before I only just began doing this in the beginning Feb of this year. I also live in a small town of 10,000 people in west Texas which most really dont care about their vehicles and are tight on money. I've mainly been doing Tahoe and Suburbans or Trucks for the 100.00 and most of the times they have multiple vehicles. That's why I operate out of my garage and why I try to keep my expenses low.


Xtreme Auto
 
Abram86 said:
I charge 60.00 for a full interior and exterior detail minus paint correction and 100 for full size vehicles. I keep getting asked if I can remove the seats and if its the same price. I tell them I do charge extra but they change their minds. Should I charge extra or am I wrong for doing so?
And how much extra?
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WAY WAY WAY underpriced all around.

Regardless, unless you really know what you're doing, do not remove seats. There can be all kinds of advanced electronics in there. Screw anything up and you'll be fixing it.....
 
For 40.00 you have to do it in 1 hr.Thats it any more you are not making money.As far as taking the seats out thats nuts.
There is a guy my me thats doing cars for 20.00 and is doing10 to 12 a day.but there are 3 of them doing the work.
He pays 175.00 a week for the place to do the work.So 1 week is just to pay the bills.That comes out to about 250.00 per week for each of them.
I cant pay my bills with that.
 
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