Pricing

[Mayur]

Im know this question came up before hand but doesnt pricing vary by area?

Ive checked out a couple detailers in the area and they charge $125-$135 for a car. Heres the service they offer.
-Machine buff (remove light swrils(extremely light)) and wax
-Clean wheels
-Polish chrome pieces
-Dress tires


They can acomplish all of this in 2 hours...at least thats what they say. I didnt read anything about clay but they did say that the cleaner does polish as well. So Im assuming they use something like #80 which has cleaning and polishing attributes. One detailer charges $30 extra for dark colored cars lol.

Where should I price my service?

-Wash
-Clay
-#83 (if needed)
-#80
-#7
-#21
-#26 (if client wants to go extra step further)
-NXT polish wheels and chrome
-Dress tires

I found one detailer removing most swirls and polishing etc etc for $250 around here.

[TrufflePig]

Re: Pricing

$250 sounds about right.

personally i'd take that 250, add 100 bucks, invest in a G-100 and some quaility product, the DVD on PC USE for SHOW CAR SHINE and do it yourself.

well worth it.

all it takes is two hours. sounds like they might be using. 125 doens't sound to bad but i'm not sure what to compare it with since i live in Canada. but that's probably cheap for over here.

wash --- clay --- m66 --- nxt or something else.

not sure though totally. maybe even just colour-x. who knows what some shops do. that's why i avoid them.


why go 7 - 21 - 26.

just go wash - clay - m80 - m83 - 7 - nxt - 21. that's my liking anyways. personal choice you gotta remember that.

[Mayur]

Re: Pricing

$250 sounds about right.

personally i'd take that 250, add 100 bucks, invest in a G-100 and some quaility product, the DVD on PC USE for SHOW CAR SHINE and do it yourself.

well worth it.

all it takes is two hours. sounds like they might be using. 125 doens't sound to bad but i'm not sure what to compare it with since i live in Canada. but that's probably cheap for over here.

wash --- clay --- m66 --- nxt or something else.

not sure though totally. maybe even just colour-x. who knows what some shops do. that's why i avoid them.


why go 7 - 21 - 26.

just go wash - clay - m80 - m83 - 7 - nxt - 21. that's my liking anyways. personal choice you gotta remember that.

Shouldnt 83 come before 80 because 83 is more harsher? Also I already got a PC. You have to be high on something to try and detail professionally by hand lol. If I was going to detail then I wouldnt cheap out. Id make sure Id do a good job because Im doing it more as a hobby/experience plus make a few extra bucks to feed my hobby to do my own cars as well as just some extra spending money. May need it for college this fall

[TrufflePig]

Re: Pricing

Shouldnt 83 come before 80 because 83 is more harsher? Also I already got a PC. You have to be high on something to try and detail professionally by hand lol. If I was going to detail then I wouldnt cheap out. Id make sure Id do a good job because Im doing it more as a hobby/experience plus make a few extra bucks to feed my hobby to do my own cars as well as just some extra spending money. May need it for college this fall

Meguiar's has this saying: "Use the least aggressive product first..."

so that's why you use M80 first. because if you use M83 first, the more aggressive of the two, how do you know M80 won't work. so you go least aggressive, if that doens't work then you bump it up.

and some people detail all by hand so don't be surprised. they can get some sick results.

Bronco Extreme Makeover

1986 Ford Bronco II - Extreme Makeover

[BlueZero]

Re: Pricing

Just to clear it up. You should try the least aggressive product first in your test spot. When you do the car you want to use the least aggressive product last. So if you wanted to use #83 and #80, use the #80 after the #83. On darker colors and softer clear, the #83 may leave behind micro marring or hazing. Hope that helps and good luck with you business.

[soonercivic]

Re: Pricing

What would the cost of a full detail.

Wash
Clay
83(if needed)
80
7
NXT

and vacuum and clean the interior?

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Pricing

What would the cost of a full detail.

Wash
Clay
83(if needed)
80
7
NXT

and vacuum and clean the interior?

I charge anywhere from $200-$250 for something like that. Full interior detail also. Not just a vacuum.

[soonercivic]

Re: Pricing

I charge anywhere from $200-$250 for something like that. Full interior detail also. Not just a vacuum.

Thats what I mean. Great, thanks!

[johnyB]

Re: Pricing

I think most of you guys are looking at high volume shop prices at my shop if they want a wash and wax thts what they will get if the want a perfect finish and if it can be done then so be it. Not all cars a suited to have a show room finish and you can throw turms like 83 or nxt times 2 or whatever but the bottom line is if you want to be a pro youll need to know what it will take to get what your client wants.

[jarred767]

Re: Pricing

Originally posted by johnnyb
I think most of you guys are looking at high volume shop prices at my shop if they want a wash and wax thts what they will get if the want a perfect finish and if it can be done then so be it. Not all cars a suited to have a show room finish and you can throw turms like 83 or nxt times 2 or whatever but the bottom line is if you want to be a pro youll need to know what it will take to get what your client wants.

This is true, a lot of customers don't want you to do all the extra stuff. I wish they would, because it means you can give them better results and charge more, but most people just want their car clean and looking sharp. I find I definitely go through M66 more than anything. I will try to sell stuff to customers (extras, a coat of M26 on top, clay the car first...) but if its someone's daily driver they just want it to look good, then that's what you gotta do for them. Gotta make sure your doing what the customer wants.

[soonercivic]

Re: Pricing

This is true, a lot of customers don't want you to do all the extra stuff. I wish they would, because it means you can give them better results and charge more, but most people just want their car clean and looking sharp. I find I definitely go through M66 more than anything. I will try to sell stuff to customers (extras, a coat of M26 on top, clay the car first...) but if its someone's daily driver they just want it to look good, then that's what you gotta do for them. Gotta make sure your doing what the customer wants.

True, however the key to selling add-ons is to inform the customer of what they are missing and the possible reprocussions down the road, especially if they intend to have the vehicle for a long period of time. There will always be those people who have the "cheaper is better" attitude, but there are just as many people who have the "if its expensive then it must be good" attitude. Those are the ones to find.

[johnyB]

Re: Pricing

Good point sc and im sure jarred knows to upsale and teach the benas of proper detailing when he can, i sure do, but id hate for somone to think we go to a customers and say this that and this will cost u a preset amount and we have a preset way to do the job and or think these higher volume places do **** jobs because there not doing a 7 step process.

[soonercivic]

Re: Pricing

Oh im sure he does know what he is doing. The red carpet car wash around here charges $56 for their "detailing service" which consists of a "hand washing", drying, and interior vacuum. You gotta tailor your service, thats one thing about being a professional as opposed to a hobbyist. Always give the customer what they want, however there is nothing wrong with influencing what they want because both parties will be happy in the end.

[HagFan]

Re: Pricing

[FONT='Times New Roman']Just from what I

[jarred767]

Re: Pricing

Originally posted by soonercivic
True, however the key to selling add-ons is to inform the customer of what they are missing and the possible reprocussions down the road, especially if they intend to have the vehicle for a long period of time. There will always be those people who have the "cheaper is better" attitude, but there are just as many people who have the "if its expensive then it must be good" attitude. Those are the ones to find.

I completely agree, i wasn't exactly clear in what I was saying i guess. I offer the upsells to customers and tell them benefits and stuff, i might have come off the wrong way because lately I've had a lot of new customers only interested in wash and wax and that's it. Anyone have any fresh new ideas in finding those customers with the "if it's expensive then it must be good" attitude?