Working with dealerships?

This is all great info. Thanks to everyone who has chimed in!

The reason I am looking to get into dealership work is because I really want to quit my day job and get into detailing full time. I have even considered getting a job as a detailer at a dealership but I just can't bring myself to only make $10-13/hr when I can make $40+/hr doing the same work in my own business.

I never liked the idea of skipping steps like claying but the more I think about it who knows how long these cars will be sitting on the lot... They will probably need to be clayed again by the time they are sold in most cases.

Anyway, thanks again to everyone and keep the ideas coming!
 
At my shop, we turn down dealer work all the time. We do exceptional quality details for our clients and it wouldn't be fair to them for us to rush through their cars just to cater the cheap paying ones from the stealers. Besides, when the stealers return me the favor of reducing their prices by 60%, maybe I'll do the same for them...
 
Midnight1700 said:
At my shop, we turn down dealer work all the time. We do exceptional quality details for our clients and it wouldn't be fair to them for us to rush through their cars just to cater the cheap paying ones from the stealers. Besides, when the stealers return me the favor of reducing their prices by 60%, maybe I'll do the same for them...
Click to expand...

This is exactly my dilemma. I don't want to dilute the quality of my work to meet the ridiculously low prices the dealerships are asking for. I also don't want to work myself to death performing high (normal) quality work for cut-rate prices.

I have been thinking about offering some sort of tiered discount for dealerships. This way I can stick with the quality services I offer and am familiar with but can award high-volume customers with special discounts.

My ultimate goal is a convenient way to transition from part time to full time detailing... dealerships were just one way I was imagining to make that dream happen.
 
I have worked in 2 dealer environments in the past 3 years. You need to be completely honest and articulate the difference between the levels of detailing.

My interior work is always the same. Where you will lose $ is doing paint correction for free. Bring a buffer/da with pads and products and do half a hood with an AIO and correct the other half in front of them. They probably still will not have any interest in a more expensive service, but it opens the door for you when they do need more.

I work at a body shop and our main customer is a couple of big dealerships. I showed my boss what paint correction looks like compared to hack detailing. I told him to get a few cars that the dealership detailed screwed up and let me do them for free. We now have almost enough business to keep me busy full time just doing paint correction.

If you can get in that niche you will be able to get dealership work and do the type of work you want. You can do high end work with dealers. You have to put in their face how bad the work 99% of detailers produce.
 
Being brand new at this, I should probably stay quiet. However, here's some "for what it's worth" info. There are a number of reputable pressure washing companies (even more hacks) that do car lots. The good ones have DI water systems and 5+ gal per minute washers. They average about one or minutes per car with no streaks. They charge from about $2 to $5 per car.

Obviously this does not include the detailed work you are talking about and this post may be worth skipping over, but you could either sub-contract them to help speed things up or if you don't want to be associated with that kind of work, sub yourself to them until your business is fully up and running.

Also, maintenance programs are big in the pressure washing business for on-going income.
 
I worked in dealerships for the past 5 years, only 1 year as thier detailer. Ask youself why they should chose you over some other shop?? In downtown chicago prices are only $50-$65 per a car. (Baby oil and hand lotion). As a Detail shop offer Dent Removal, Minor Body Work/Paint. <<--That is where you make your extra $$$. Make sure you ask how they like interiors.. Dressing?? No Dressing?? The little diference can get you some quick/constant Money.
 
around here there are hundreds people that will do this work for a dealer or the main detail shop in town.
they'll also grab some lawnmowers and do that too.
they're mostly not from around here, well they are, but not really.
their labor is paid at a very low rate.
very difficult to compete with that.
 
I work at a dealership I make 12$ an hour and min wage is 10$ I take 6-8 hours to do a used car at work. I have a contract with the dealership next door to do a used recon in there shop after hours for 125-250 per car on an as needed basis. Usualy 3-5 a week and they take me 3-4 hours with my own set up as I have my own chemicals in my truck that work better then the dealer supplied products ... I do a full compound and glaze at subaru and shampoo ... I use a blended product that cuts well and polishes up nice (2 in1) at the next dealer and still wax and shampoo I just don't compound or wet sand .... Half the work and more pay ..... They both look good one is better obviously being compounded and not just filled in but its turn over is all they want.

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