Using customers electricity and water supply

tuscarora dave said:
I've thought about mounting an additional poly gas tank under the passenger side of my van, complete with filler neck and gas cap, but to contain water, plumbed to the rear bumper for doing wheel wells tires etc. and do the rest of the car rinseless.

That would trip people out if they saw me filling that tank up with a garden hose.
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Hey Dave, here you go,lol
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5DBpzoKIMo]Pressurized Running Water on Jeep Wrangler JK - YouTube[/video]
 
Do not want to offend anyone here, I ask my household question as if I were MOBILE Coming to you, my wife says not an issue of using our water or electric/godson said lower rate for use of home utilities, I said mobile means mobile, (unless emergency) If you offer mobile oil change,with exception of filter and oil the tech should have his OWN TOOLS, as should a mobile brake guy, My brake guy comes I buy pads, he supplies tools and all other normal needed items. My job had a transformer hit by lighting caught fire, months later contractors came to install new transformer (Permanently) they had their own HONDA EU2000i inverter generator, they did use building electric but if power went out they had their own backup.
I would prefer to have my own items so if anything happened I would not feel out of place or responsible to repair or replace, as many said ONR (example) and to fit a car they sale water tanks from as small as 15 gallons I believe and you can buy an inverter (NPower Portable Digital Inverter — 1500 Watts | Modified Sinewave| Northern Tool + Equipment) for less than $300.00. I purchased my tank (35 gallons) last week and was able to bring it home in my back seat with room to spare, but I will not be using my vehicle as a rig (Hopefully)
 
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I think this is a matter of opinion. If you're just starting out and on a budget why not use the customer's water and electric? If you're remodeling your home and have a contractor doing it are you going to make them bring their own generator to power their tools? Unlikely. Of course they are going to bring the tools and material but it seems petty and counter-productive to deny power and water. I think newer businesses such as myself and others aspire to one day be 100% fully mobile with a contained water source and electric but in the meantime I see no reason not to ask a customer to use their utilities. Especially if you're using the 2 bucket method or rinseless washes. The water you need is minimal. And if you deliver with a quality product they're going to forget all about it. To imply that one would not look professional because they need he customers' water and electric is IMO not accurate.
 
I am not a detailer. Just a guy that likes to keep his cars looking there best.

If I hired a mobile detailer, I wouldn't be suprised if they asked to use my utilities. Other trades use my utilities all the time.

I'm paying for their skill, knowledge, tools, and materials. It would not be ok for them to ask to use something from my detailing cabinet! That's unprofessional!
 
I have been doing this for years - I have YET to ONCE encounter even the slightest hiccup or objection on any level to using electricity and water at a client's home. They are so thrilled to have an on-site service by a competant company, and are 99% of the time referrals, things go as smooth as silk. From maintenance details on daily drivers to personal collection details on hundreds of thousands of dollars in custom and historic vehicles, electric and water is a nominal and microscopic concern of every customer I've worked with over the years. That's our experience at least. We create relationships and provide meaningful feedback and are used to interfacing with affluent clientele, so maybe that is relevant, but if a client is concerned or hung up on some water usage and a few amps of power to vaccuum or polish, they are going to be a needless headache and you should reject the commission.
 
mrclean said:
there's no need to take anything personal here.
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Nothing taken personal at all. That would be silly.. All I meant is that our ambitions and demographic opportunities could be quite different.

I've got enough going on to be taking stuff personal on discussion forums. Anyone who has ever met or spoken to me on the phone surely knows I'm not one to get personal. I suppose I may have worded my reply a little hurriedly.
 
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