Wtf

luv a shine

luv a shine

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I just started my detailing biz. I have good packets set up. I charge $75 for

Wash
Inside vac
Wheels
P21s,Collinite 427...Wax/sealant
Gloss tires
Windows

My brother called ;"auto *** have hand wax for $40. You prices are to high". How are they doing it??:cry:
 
How is their work though? Anyone can charge $40 for a wash and wax, but how good of a deal is someone getting if they go to them?
 
And what about claying?
My guys can hand wash a car in 8 minutes and one guy can carnuba a car with a DA in 15 ... Remember this is all an express service and this service is $50 .. I pay each guy $4 per wash and the wax guy gets $11... Daddy makes about $35 on each car
The key here is express and they wax about one inch from the trim and windows now for details that get pulled into the bay that's a minimum $175 express with higher quality products
 
The detail you described goes for $149.99 in my shop. I think it is a little low considering all that's involved.

Don't try to compete with those guys. Build your reputation. Go to car shows and tell everyone what you do and how you do it. Take pictures of your work.

I had someone call the other day for window tint pricing. I told him our prices and his response was ZieBurt&Ernie are way lower than that. I said, I'm not sure what they charge. We aren't in competition with them. I would love to have you come into our shop and see the services we offer and the different types of films available if that would help you make your decision.

I don't remember if he came in or not; but, I was glad I said it. More for me than for him. We are a service business and we ask a higher price and people are thrilled with the results.
 
They say its megs on there sign. Ever call I get the customer says " what's your price on a wash and wax" I say $65 they say that's to expensive or never call me back.

No clay
 
A regular car was for us is $20. We make no money of it. We like to get people in the door and let them know about our other services too. They get the $20 wash and are very happy and may leave with some quick detailer or microfiber cloths. If they don't, oh well. People like to come in and talk to the detailers. They want to ask questions and see how stuff works. Being open and friendly like that gets repeat business for us.

I don't want all the customers. Just the really good customers.
 
luv a shine said:
I m going to get quick wax and move to $40.
Click to expand...

In the end it is all about time...how much an hour you get for your work - more time should equate to high level of work unless you are inefficient. If you really want to know, take a car to your competitors and see how they do it. You will learn something either way - they may be efficient or taking shortcuts.
 
I have the same thing near me... a place that charges $59 for a wash & Wax where mine is $110. I loose a lot to them, but I have seen their work and it shows the difference.

If you do quality work, the word will get out and you will get the business. Just show why you are more through your quality of work and you will be good to go!
 
I charge that for
Wash
clay
Seal
Dress all exterior trim, wheels, wells etc..
Windows
Clean interior including seats, mats, dash
Dress interior
So basically I charge $75 for a complete, thorough 8 hour detail with high quality products from autogeek here and I have people complaining that I charge way too much. This isn't something I rush through. Takes me about 8 hours to do a car and let me tell you they are usually TRASHED. They look brand new or better when I am done.
I don't know how you guys are getting people to pay these prices for a detail.
Maybe the people around my area are just plain cheap. They also don't care about maintaining their cars until it's time to sell.
Forget about paint correction. I have people wanting me to include it in my $75 charge.
 
Sounds like you need to market to better paying clients. There are two kinds of detailers. The fast, cheap, don't give a care type and the good, attention to detail, educated type. People with money know that they get what they pay for. People without money want to save every penny. (I am not condeming people without money here. It's just survival.)
 
i spoke to someone today. i told the man $40 for a wash and wax. He asked what kind of wax do i use. i said p21s or collinite 427. gave him a card. Is that to good a wax for the $40 wash,wax,vac.
 
luv a shine said:
i spoke to someone today. i told the man $40 for a wash and wax. He asked what kind of wax do i use. i said p21s or collinite 427. gave him a card. Is that to good a wax for the $40 wash,wax,vac.
Click to expand...

You are undercharging by a long shot. You are in Naples and have potential to set up a pretty well paying clientele. I come down to Naples about once a month to do a few customers' vehicles in Port Royal and Bay Colony. They have nice cars, expect great work, and pay well for a quality job.

If you advertise and show your work in some of the golf communities and beach neighborhoods your customer base will not only grow, but you will be able to take your time, do quality work and be paid accordingly.

Just for reference, I have 8 monthly customers in your area and have never made less than 300 on a trip down there after subtracting gas and overhead. Most the people who are having their cars done, don't just have 1 car and will want a wash, clay, wax, interior detail on all of them in one trip.
 
My father and brother are saying i am a rip off compaired to auto spa,....and i will never get any bizznas. How can i give the same $40 job to that cheap customer that wont pay for good work??? They think i have lost $90 to the $40 megs(down the street) wax down the street. That customer just don't know or care about the look . its what ever's cheaper.

There using Express wax. That don't last one month.
 
luv a shine said:
thats them
Click to expand...

Don't try to compete with them. You have a different type of business. Mobile detailing is about convenience and a premium service for your customer. If you look at their "detailing" it is composed of an interior cleaning, wash, and AIO with dressing everything. They start at $200 and if you want a hand wash or wheel wax it costs extra.

It is very very possible to offer a more inclusive service than that, and being mobile allows you to go to people's work or home to work on the car. It is very hard for a mobile guy to compete against a tunnel with employees speeding through cars all day. They practice volume and quality normally suffers when volume increases.

Build a business plan around marketing to higher end vehicles and more exacting customers and offer a meticulous service that can incorporate claying, multiple step polishing, premium products and more attention to detail. If you do a better job than the auto spa and other express "detailers" in your area, you can end up with a great customer base and word of mouth will take over for you.
 
ThirdgenTa said:
I charge that for
Wash
clay
Seal
Dress all exterior trim, wheels, wells etc..
Windows
Clean interior including seats, mats, dash
Dress interior
So basically I charge $75 for a complete, thorough 8 hour detail with high quality products from autogeek here and I have people complaining that I charge way too much. This isn't something I rush through. Takes me about 8 hours to do a car and let me tell you they are usually TRASHED. They look brand new or better when I am done.
I don't know how you guys are getting people to pay these prices for a detail.
Maybe the people around my area are just plain cheap. They also don't care about maintaining their cars until it's time to sell.
Forget about paint correction. I have people wanting me to include it in my $75 charge.
Click to expand...

$75 for all that work???? wow...i charge $100 for a full interior, dont even touch the paint. im not too far from aurora either. IMO all of us here should be doing "premium" detailing, not production/volume detailing. in time im sure it will bring in the higher-paying customers that are looking for quality and will pay for it. ive been repeatedly told to not low ball myself on here, and i think its good advice.

you're not a hack detailer. if someone calls and says they offer wax for much less than you, ask them what kind of wax is applied. if its spray/mixed in with the car wash, then explain the difference between what they do and what you do. tell them that spray wax doesn't provide any real protection, that you apply a sealant that beads water for up to 6 months. if they still dont want to do it, tell them to give you a call after theyre unsatisfied with the cheap places work.


just my $.02
 
For the people who want everything for pennies, let them go to those express car wash tunnel places.

And then they will either be satisfied with the speed job that was done to their car, or go to a real detailer after their car comes out looking worse with more scratches before it went in.

You are targeting a different market, people who actually care about maintaining their vehicles.
 
ThirdgenTa said:
I don't know how you guys are getting people to pay these prices for a detail.
Maybe the people around my area are just plain cheap. They also don't care about maintaining their cars until it's time to sell.
Forget about paint correction. I have people wanting me to include it in my $75 charge.
Click to expand...

You have to really educate the customer to make them understand what all a proper detail entails. Alot of the time they will refuse your education, and go with the $20 guy though

Its always amazed me how ppl would think the price should be the same for a maget infested suburban, as it would be for a single persons sports car that has been well maintained

Hang in there though. There are some who will be willing to pay, you just gotta find them

Good luck


Flash
 
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