Should I thoroughly clean a customer's rims in a $20 regular wash?

Calendyr said:
So let them fight over scraps.

Design your packages around quality service. Not quick, half-done work.


My basic exterior detail is 99,99$. That's for a detailed wash, and I don't wash wheel barrels at that price.

Doing good work takes time and quality products. I am mobile, so if I have to drive 20-30 mins to get to someone's house, it's better be worth my time.

If you have a fixed location, then it's more complicated because you have fixes expenses, so you need to have buisiness coming it. I could not help you with that I have not
tried to run a fixed location detail shop. If you are mobile, then as I said, focus on quality. Do 1 car per day, have packages that takes you 4 to 10 hours to do and charge accordingly. My average job is 300$. Most days I detail I make more than that. And here were have a car wash at every street corner. But the kind of clients you want don't go to car washes, and they might actually be scared of your 20$ "Detail" because they know what that means.
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For me I would drive 20 to 30 mins to someone's house, then take 40mins to up to an hour and a half for a wash. I was over working myself and doing exactly that, 19 or 20 an hour not including expenses. I'll try your business module see how it works, if I at least one car a day and slowly work myself up through referrals
 
You are way undercharging yourself. Your competitor's are charging that same rate and probably doing a poor job. You should distance yourself from your competitors to the point where you will stand out and get noticed. Expenses in Southern California are higher than many other places in the country. Your time, your materials and your dedication are worth more than $20.
 
$20 is the going rate for a hand wash and vacuum here in S.GA. Nothing special just a clean car no wax. Not my prices, this is for the guys on the corners with fixed operations. I don’t know how they survive.
 
If your price is low it will scare away people that pay for quality work. Quality will be from your hands but you must sell your quality first with your mouth(marketing) and image.
 
Calendyr said:
Design your packages around quality service. Not quick, half-done work.


My basic exterior detail is 99,99$. That's for a detailed wash, and I don't wash wheel barrels at that price.
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No offense, but the above statement sounds a bit contradicting. For example just the fact that it has the word “detail” involved, and I don’t even get my wheels & tires properly cleaned? I pay $100 bucks and can’t even get that as part of my “exterior detail” from my detailer? Ouch.

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IIRC, you put together those videos for your website for your customers to look at right? You had 1 video where we suggested editing down the time spent on the wheel cleaning part... And that’s not even included for $100 dollar “exterior detail”? I guess if it works for you...
 
JICs Auto Detail said:
Lately I've been wondering if I'm over working myself for $20. I wash the vehicle, clean rims thoroughly of brake dust and road grime, dress tires, wipe down interior and if center console is dirty I clean it, windows in and out, and a thorough vacumm the car as well. I do the same for trucks and SUV's but for $30. Can you guys give me any tips of what I should and shouldn't do for that amount of money?
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You cant even buy a decent microfiber for 20, Should be 75 minimum don't give it away. Even the laser wash is close to 20 and it's not even a person doing it
 
I’ll PM some info that hopefully may help a little.

Feel free to PM me back if you have any questions.
 
JICs Auto Detail said:
DMW what would you do for that price or how high would you put it to make it fair for me? I live in southern california
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The job you're doing is $40.

If you're in SoCal and you're getting out of your vehicle for $20, you're doing it wrong. You need to revamp your services and get rid of that $20 special because that is not only a money loser it brings the rest of the industry down. We have ONE customer that was our very first monthly maintenance customer. We wash four cars for her for $100. She never tips either, one of literally five people that we've ever done a job for that doesn't tip. All four cars are small and typically two of them are clean, but I still hate doing it and can't wait to kick her for whatever reason. I can't imagine doing anything for $20.
 
And I can't stress this strongly enough as I go back to it in almost every post about business. If you want the high end customers, you have to look and act high end. You have to look and act like a professional. Take a picture of your setup and how you show up to a customer's house and I'll tell you what you're doing wrong. If you want to get $50 for a basic wash, you don't show up to a customer's house looking like a guy that just found a bunch of detail supplies on the side of the road trying to make a quick $20. If you show up looking like a professional, people will expect that they have to pay a professional rate for your services.
 
sudsmobile said:
The job you're doing is $40.

If you're in SoCal and you're getting out of your vehicle for $20, you're doing it wrong. You need to revamp your services and get rid of that $20 special because that is not only a money loser it brings the rest of the industry down. We have ONE customer that was our very first monthly maintenance customer. We wash four cars for her for $100. She never tips either, one of literally five people that we've ever done a job for that doesn't tip. All four cars are small and typically two of them are clean, but I still hate doing it and can't wait to kick her for whatever reason. I can't imagine doing anything for $20.
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Thanks for the advice
 
sudsmobile said:
And I can't stress this strongly enough as I go back to it in almost every post about business. If you want the high end customers, you have to look and act high end. You have to look and act like a professional. Take a picture of your setup and how you show up to a customer's house and I'll tell you what you're doing wrong. If you want to get $50 for a basic wash, you don't show up to a customer's house looking like a guy that just found a bunch of detail supplies on the side of the road trying to make a quick $20. If you show up looking like a professional, people will expect that they have to pay a professional rate for your services.
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Sorry clicked dislike by accident
 
BSoares said:
How close are you to my house? For $20 I'll pay someone to wash my car instead of me spending 2 hours washing it. That price is too low for a quality wash. It's actually what one would spend in a tunnel car wash to get a bunch of swirls added.

To answer your question: You're definitely doing too much for $20.
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I think the White Glove on 30 charges that!!!!!!

Wow, I think you could easily get $50 for what you do.
 
DetailKitty said:
I think the White Glove on 30 charges that!!!!!!
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Yes, their "Ultimate" wash is $20 and the car is no where near decently clean. Even the tire shine is a joke. I've seen them detailing cars under that tent on the side. Rotary was all I saw in their hands.
 
JICs sounds like you are doing too much for that. I'm trying to figure out prices at the moment as well.

I detail on the side a lot started with family and Friends. Now the word is getting around and people are asking me to detail their cars.

I'm trying to get some structure in place so I can price details out and not just say hmmmmmm give me $80 for that.

Anyone has any good advice please let me know of PM me.
 
BSoares said:
Yes, their "Ultimate" wash is $20 and the car is no where near decently clean. Even the tire shine is a joke. I've seen them detailing cars under that tent on the side. Rotary was all I saw in their hands.
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My neighbor once asked if we owned a dealership (he always saw different cars in the driveway, aside from the fact we have 4 of our own vehicles). I told him no, I detail on the side. He then told me he takes his cars to the White Glove for "details". Ugh, I just nodded my head.
 
JIC.... seriously, I always thought MY rates were cheap. And they are! But for 20, I'll take my cars to you!

I'm in SoCal too, and would NOT do all that for 20. The cheapest I've charged was 30. For a neighbor. Rinseless wash/wax. Cleaned the tires (mostly for me, not him), vacuumed, and windows. about 3 hours spent on that one. Car was pretty dirty, and the tires took about an hour. I won't be doing that job type again!!

For a couple of co-workers, I would be okay with doing a 10 rinseless job. Paint only (and outside glass as part of the rinseless wash).

How long are you taking for those 20 jobs?
 
In my area a wash really is around 35 and covers the barebones of the exterior ie-rims and tires, wash all exterior surfaces and dry and then maybe a tire dressing. 20 dollars seems cheap and then you are going into the interior
 
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