What would you do

Cruzscarwash

Cruzscarwash

New member
Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Messages
2,425
Reaction score
0
Well I have not had a customer in 2 weeks. Not even a call. I have seen a flood of $20 "detailers" in my area, I've counted up to 6 now.
Some customers I've even seen use them and comment how great the car looks and gold of a job the person did inside AND out for $20. Thing is I haven had any new customers and the ones I did have whos paint I corrected are going there now.

Of course a basic wash will look great after your paint has been corrected they are doing the easy part. So now I'm not sure if I should drop my rates from making $60 a hr down to the idk, say $30 to try and stay in the game or just keep waiting for the one higher end car( not many in my area). What would you guys do? I've not been this long without a car in over a year and it's starting to worry me

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
 
How fast will they trash those corrected vehicles?

Wash & shine is a lot different than a real "detail". It may take time for your old customers to figure it out, but most will.
 
you should carry a led light and flash it on the paint and then show them they get what they pay for and also mention that they are damaging the paint every time they touch it which will require more paint to be removed sooner than later...
 
I'm sure they will be it's a struggle in the meantime. Or they are skilled and are just under valuing themselves.. idk

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
 
Cruzscarwash said:
I'm sure they will be it's a struggle in the meantime. Or they are skilled and are just under valuing themselves.. idk

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Undervaluing...?

20.00
wash wax and inside ??

Even a 20.00 wash dry and inside is what the scratch and shine gets, so they will trash the cars just as fast......
 
Is this a full time gig for you? What city/state? Just curious.

I do this part time as a fun hobby side deal and all of my customers come from referrals. Car clubs, groups, networking, etc. Don't be afraid to ask for referrals and offer a finders fee. I give$25 and $50 visa cards depending on what level of detail my referral brings me.

Network, network, network. In the evenings I'm all over message boards and groups, especially local ones. I get brought in by 1 or 2 members to provide me as a reference. So for example the local FJ club....my customer with the one I just did got me in there. I picked up a referral from him and now those two members were kind enough after me asking to support my lead-in. Most of the groups have minor sponsorship fees per year. The local F-body, mustang and others for me are stand-by's as I get lots of leads.

Don't be bashful on your pricing. I tend to be a bit lower than most of the places that are larger and have local shops/locations but then it's just me out of my home. Keep a good portfolio online or that you can provide a link to. I also get written follow up from my customers as reference letters to.

Hope some of these ideas pan out.
 
Can you try to seek more business in other ways? Go door-to-door in subdivisions, lawyer's offices, banks - whatever is in your area. Drop off business cards. If you're mobile, set up shop in a parking lot with high visibility and take a long time with a detail (even if it's just a friend or family member's car).

As far as going down on your prices, I think that's something you have to evaluate yourself - how strong your need is, whether it will end up being profitable.

Just some ideas. Good luck to you!
 
Cruzscarwash said:
I'm sure they will be it's a struggle in the meantime. Or they are skilled and are just under valuing themselves.. idk

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
This is why I tell new comers all the time about washing cars.Those people don't care about loyalty and it's the ole mighty dollar over quality.I say start marketing like crazy or start in the next town closest.
 
ronkh57 said:
Undervaluing...?

20.00
wash wax and inside ??

Even a 20.00 wash dry and inside is what the scratch and shine gets, so they will trash the cars just as fast......
Click to expand...
Yes as in maybe MAYBE the detailer is highly skilled and is doing everything right and worth more but doesn't know the business side of things so is undervaluing himself.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
 
LydiaGP said:
Can you try to seek more business in other ways? Go door-to-door in subdivisions, lawyer's offices, banks - whatever is in your area. Drop off business cards. If you're mobile, set up shop in a parking lot with high visibility and take a long time with a detail (even if it's just a friend or family member's car).

As far as going down on your prices, I think that's something you have to evaluate yourself - how strong your need is, whether it will end up being profitable.

Just some ideas. Good luck to you!
Click to expand...
There is one lawyer and no doctors in the area. The nearest town is 45 mins away. The best thing going is rite aid and McDonald's

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
 
So just ran into a customer of one of the $20 detailers. He drives a ss trailer blazer, had it fully corrected (it looked flawless, I couldn't find any swirls or scratches with my pocket light. And the owner said he only paid $60.. FML he also said the guy had the car for 5.5 hrs

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
 
I know your current position is very frustrating, but as others have mentioned, over time, the other detailer will either raise his prices (he would be insane not too) or his work will diminish with time. So you may have some return clients over time.... OR he just took your area and will maintain that.

a 45 minute commute may be what it takes to start, but think about where your clients live/ work if you are mobile. You may end up having several high end clients in your area/ between you and the next town you could service.

The best advice/ education i have ever received was,
"when you face objection, when your plan doesnt work, when you are down, assess the situation and create the solution!"

There are some great detailers and business men/ women on this forum that are committed to helping others, dont lose your mind just yet, weather the storm! :xyxthumbs::buffing:
 
Sometimes they will lie about how much they paid for the job. I watched a man wash,interior,wax,etc..... for four hours at one of my landscaping jobs and asked how much he charges. He charged $30.00 and I confirmed with the lady who owned the car. It was a 1 year old black Infinity 4 door and came out nice. The man in his forties made his own wax that looked like bacon grease and even had debris in it that looked like bacon. I asked how he could work so cheap and he told me he had four kids and a criminal record and wanted to pay his bills without going back to prison. He said some days he makes $180.00-$200.00 if he can hustle up more work. He purposely worked slow on the $30.00 job in hopes of another resident asking to do theirs.He got a black ford crew-cab and made $40.00 in 3 hours. Have not seen him since. That lady now pays $40.00 for her washes and no wax done by two guys who are trashing her paint with a grout sponge and old rags to dry? Do you have mouths to feed and no savings? if so do what ever necessary to feed them legally. If not go knock on some doors until you have enough work and build your client base up. There were many good suggestions in this thread for you to try. Whatever you decide good luck!
 
wing commander said:
Sometimes they will lie about how much they paid for the job. I watched a man wash,interior,wax,etc..... for four hours at one of my landscaping jobs and asked how much he charges. He charged $30.00 and I confirmed with the lady who owned the car. It was a 1 year old black Infinity 4 door and came out nice. The man in his forties made his own wax that looked like bacon grease and even had debris in it that looked like bacon. I asked how he could work so cheap and he told me he had four kids and a criminal record and wanted to pay his bills without going back to prison. He said some days he makes $180.00-$200.00 if he can hustle up more work. He purposely worked slow on the $30.00 job in hopes of another resident asking to do theirs.He got a black ford crew-cab and made $40.00 in 3 hours. Have not seen him since. That lady now pays $40.00 for her washes and no wax done by two guys who are trashing her paint with a grout sponge and old rags to dry? Do you have mouths to feed and no savings? if so do what ever necessary to feed them legally. If not go knock on some doors until you have enough work and build your client base up. There were many good suggestions in this thread for you to try. Whatever you decide good luck!
Click to expand...

Reading this makes me think... I hope there aren't any detailers getting harassed by snoopy tree huggers phoning the cops to try and cite them for not conserving water.

I understand it's a big issue in California, but there's no way it's justified to see any detailers out there who are simply trying to earn an honest living and working hard at it get cited and see their earnings get put to a halt because of a costly fine.

God bless all the detailers out there who take pride in their work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Eldorado2k said:
Reading this makes me think... I hope there aren't any detailers getting harassed by snoopy tree huggers phoning the cops to try and cite them for not conserving water.

I understand it's a big issue in California, but there's no way it's justified to see any detailers out there who are simply trying to earn an honest living and working hard at it get cited and see their earnings get put to a halt because of a costly fine.

God bless all the detailers out there who take pride in their work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Yeah, I've been warned about water usage twice! The biggest was at a home that was part of an HOA. I've even almost been stopped for doing waterless washes

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
 
How long have you been in business and where are you located?

What are you currently doing for advertising?
 
2 years, Mojave desert and fb, face to face at car shows and race tracks and local car forums

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top