The $39.99 detail

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imported_turbomangt

New member
Recently I had a guy ask me how much I charge for a detail, when I told him $225, he said he usually goes to turtle wax for a $39.99 detail. here is what I told him. I spend on average of 6 hours on a car, which breaks down to $40 an hour. Your $39.99 job is done is about 15 minutes, they knock out about 4 an hour, this breaks down to $160.00 an hour, where do you think the value is? I think he got it, gary
 
This seems to be a common occurence. Some (most) people just don't get it. I guess you would have to let that guy get his $40 detail then show him all the defects that still exist. Then say "I can't believe you paid $40 for that!!". :nana:
 
My aunt's dad wanted his big F250 done and he did not like my price so he took it to his neighbor kid and a week later he was ticked because the glaze washed off and the truck looked the same as it did when he took it to the kid. LOL
 
turbomangt said:
$39.99 job is done is about 15 minutes, they knock out about 4 an hour, this breaks down to $160.00 an hour, where do you think the value is?
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Gary,



The example you have shown is exactly the approach to use with people who have been exposed to $39.99 express details.
 
Hi Gary:

I am in sales and the technical term for what you did was "reduce it to the ridiculous". Good work!
 
For $39.99 I'll wash your car- vaccuum it, wipe down the windows and interior, and splatter silicone products all over it. LOL. I wouldn't call it a "detail" though..
 
You would be surprised what $25.99 can get you in a high volume detailing car wash center. one guy working on each side Sprays tire & rim cleaner on then they vacuums it real fast, goes over the dash with a static rag, cheap dash goop, fast pressure washing then hand wash it with a mitt then it goes though a air blower simi hand towel dry. For $10.00 more a wax they dump on the car and with wipe off with a large rag. On the higher end or premium detail they just use a heavy duty glaze with a rotary and dump wax on a wipe off, claying is extra
 
turbomangt said:
Recently I had a guy ask me how much I charge for a detail, when I told him $225, he said he usually goes to turtle wax for a $39.99 detail. here is what I told him. I spend on average of 6 hours on a car, which breaks down to $40 an hour. Your $39.99 job is done is about 15 minutes, they knock out about 4 an hour, this breaks down to $160.00 an hour, where do you think the value is? I think he got it, gary
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Thank you for putting it so succinctly - I don't run into the issue very often (most of my work comes from referrals), but when I do, you've helped me with my "pitch."



Not 5 minutes ago at the coffee shop I noticed a cheap-looking detailing flyer up on the community board...I'll have to admit I got ticket when read it. First, he claimed to be the best - highly doubtful, in fact, San Diego seems to be void of good detailers. Secondly, he had "complete" detail listed at $120 (of course, this only includes interior cleaning plus a hand wax)...but it is because of coooks like this guy that people question paying $250-$400 for a true complete when know of a guy who will do it for half that. I hate low ballers...just rub me the wrong way, and they discredit our profession with bad work and improper pricing!
 
Super said:
You would be surprised what $25.99 can get you in a high volume detailing car wash center. one guy working on each side Sprays tire & rim cleaner on then they vacuums it real fast, goes over the dash with a static rag, cheap dash goop, fast pressure washing then hand wash it with a mitt then it goes though a air blower simi hand towel dry. For $10.00 more a wax they dump on the car and with wipe off with a large rag. On the higher end or premium detail they just use a heavy duty glaze with a rotary and dump wax on a wipe off, claying is extra
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I've had people bring me vehicles that were just detailed at the car wash where they had sprayed the dressing on so think (interior) that there was a 1/8" puddles in the cup holders and other reservoirs - literally.
 
There are 2 places near me that sells $39.00 waxes. One sprays your car with a express wax and runs it through a machine like a soft car wash without the water. The other uses Turtle platinum liquid , wiped on let dry and wipe off. They both give you a premium car wash which includes the wash, windows, vaccum, tire dressing and door jams. You get what you pay for and if you have a almost new car , a 30.00 job mite be fine. But a detail it is not, its simply a wash and wax. Its for the guy or girl thats to old , to tired ,or to busy to smear on some Nufinish, and still wants a clean car.
 
Around my neck of the woods, those cheap wannabe detail deals are killing me also. I was talking to someone who was interested in my services (very wealthy - owns a manufacturing business) and wanted to know how much it would be to wash his vehicle weekly. I went on to tell him it will be $30.00 for a weekly wash for a regular size vehicle (the same type of full service wash we all do here), and he remarked "I didn't need my car detailed every week, just washed." :geez
 
Honestly, those who are only interested in a cheapie 39.99 wax job aren't our target market anyway. There are so many people out their willing to pay for quality work it is debatable if it is even worth the effort trying to convince price shoppers that quality costs.
 
Full vs express. Although there is crossover between the two, I think they are two different markets with different customers. Both have pros and cons. A fair amount of the crossover probably comes from customers that had a bad experience.

The blame for that bad experience which sometimes may be customer expectation, rests largely on the detailer. If done right both will produce happy detailers and happy customers.
 
Scottwax said:
Honestly, those who are only interested in a cheapie 39.99 wax job aren't our target market anyway. There are so many people out their willing to pay for quality work it is debatable if it is even worth the effort trying to convince price shoppers that quality costs.
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Very true.....



Some people get "converted" after seeing a nice job...some will never get it though. Just like anything nice though...hell alot of people don't notice that they juse got BAD body work after a fender bender. "Really...so my passenger door WASN'T a matte finish from the factory?" hehehe





CHRIS
 
I don't even know where to start. A little bit of this :hairpull and a whole lot of that :grrr .



Unlike alot of other places i make more money with less headaches off dealer work. Because they have had or seen the alternative.



Private people now get the $ per hour and how many hours it takes.



I have enough customers that are willing to pay and their word of mouth to friends is more than enough right now.



It took many years to get to this point and it feels good. :woot2:
 
I'm a customer and I agree, some people just don't get it...

Anyone who has detailed their own car knows all the time and effort that goes into doing

it correctly. The $39.99 customer is probably a person who doesn't think of their vehicle

as anymore then transportation...

I don't mind paying an "expert detailer" $200 or $300. Their 6 hours of work calculates

into 10 or 12 hours if I were to do it myself... and the sad part is I probably wouldn't do

as good a job as you.

I say don't waist your time worrying about the "Walmart Shoppers", they won't appreciate

your skills and or talents...
 
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