Can I get some input guys

imported_wagsjr

New member
So I've been having some struggles getting new business. People love the work I do but my pricing may be too high in this economy. So I called around to get prices and the competition is charging 100 for cars and 125 for full size suv and pickup. And that's bumper to bumper. Full in and out.



Now as far as the service provided it's terrible. One step buff. **** left in the cracks in the interiors. But people continue to go back. 1 guy and like 3 kids in the shop doing 4 cars a day.



When I do cars I spend maybe a day on them and get more bucks but not near the volume.



So do I cut the quality of service to get them out the door and lower prices to save time. It seems people don't really care as long as it looks better then when it came in and most don't have the eye we do for it I guess.
 
You may just need to find different avenues for getting more high end services. I recommend to constantly communicate with high end dealership service departments. Get in good with them and you'll get plenty of referrals. They also see a lot of people every day.
 
This is just from my experience in this business so far. I think it heavily depends on the demographics of your area. I was seeing the same problem in my area, nobody wants to spend the $, especially since I'm new in town. So now instead of doing one "deluxe" detail per day, I hired a guy and am focusing on doing 3 - 5 Express Details and/or quick one-steps per day. I charge $99 and up for Express, $175 and up for one-steps. It's been much easier to find customers for this type of service than all out, all day detailing. Hiring someone to help me means I can do more cars at the same high quality I was doing before, and doing more cars = more money to grow the business and pay my guy. Right now my goal is to hire another person to do these details and then I can concentrate on doing the high end details (the reason I got into this business in the first place) myself while I run the business, and try to get more high end details. Sometimes you need to go where the money and the clients are and give up doing the high end stuff for a while while until you can gain those types of clients which can take some time. As people get to know me as the higher end shop in the area, I will eventually become the go to shop for high end work, but while I build that credibility, I'm focusing more on high quality volume to pay the bills. Maybe this type of approach could help you out as well.
 
What area of the country do you live in? What are the demographics in that area? These types of things will effect who your target market is. Once you determine your target market, you can better position your product and market it. What are the benefits of your particular service and your unique selling position? Answer those questions, and you can design an effective marketing plan. If you do not have a good marketing plant, it will be very tough to market a service such as auto detailing.
 
I'm in northeast pa Bro. My target market was that 30 to 50 crowd who is very conscious of their vehicle. Takes care of their investment. But I may have to aim for the market that would rather pay less to have their car look just ok.
 
ExplicitDetails said:
This is just from my experience in this business so far. I think it heavily depends on the demographics of your area. I was seeing the same problem in my area, nobody wants to spend the $, especially since I'm new in town. So now instead of doing one "deluxe" detail per day, I hired a guy and am focusing on doing 3 - 5 Express Details and/or quick one-steps per day. I charge $99 and up for Express, $175 and up for one-steps. It's been much easier to find customers for this type of service than all out, all day detailing. Hiring someone to help me means I can do more cars at the same high quality I was doing before, and doing more cars = more money to grow the business and pay my guy. Right now my goal is to hire another person to do these details and then I can concentrate on doing the high end details (the reason I got into this business in the first place) myself while I run the business, and try to get more high end details. Sometimes you need to go where the money and the clients are and give up doing the high end stuff for a while while until you can gain those types of clients which can take some time. As people get to know me as the higher end shop in the area, I will eventually become the go to shop for high end work, but while I build that credibility, I'm focusing more on high quality volume to pay the bills. Maybe this type of approach could help you out as well.

I'll +1 to this entire post, Explicit is absolutely correct. Sometimes the market changes, and you need to change with it.
 
Explicit might give you two avenues...



1. Hire 2 guys and coach them on express details...no real correction: vac, extract, wash, clay, seal, or one-steps. Get a menu for pricing at what works for you. Maybe have 2 teams and work them each half a day since volume can tire employees to the point of leaving.



2. Have a "detailed by owner" type thing where those that wish for the correction, get you detailing and pay the $$$$.



I had a similar exp. last week. I quoted an interior for a Yukon that was pretty bad (vomit) at $210 max working with an employee. She almost fell over and told me that a local car wash quoted her $130 IN AND OUT! I told her that I will pay the $130 because I want to see what they are doing for that price. My guess is that they would up-sell the crap out of her once she was there. It was simply not humanly possible. Anyway, we figured it to $140 when said and done and we spent 2 hrs. hustling and it was fine, but I could have worked another hour. Yeah, it happens. However, if you "bow" to the pressure, then you become the shop that does $100 full details and you'll get those customers who like to detail their car once per year and they are often horrendous. I can't stand dirty cars that really need work. I look at the customer and think, "If you live this way, there's no way I can do what you want for $$." I would rather get $150 all day for a 2 hr. detail on cars that are in decent shape because they look great when done and I can do 2-3 per day and not break a sweat. One 5 hr. detail and my body feels like it's back in high school doing 2x per day football practices.
 
Explicit...Just hired a nice kid. We start talking and he says..."Yeah, I like detailing and have some experience." Figuring that could mean anything..."What exactly do you mean, 'experience'?" He shows me his car- not a line, scratch, nothing- perfect. He opens the trunk where he has a new Flex rotary with polishes and foam pads- not a cheap item for a photography student!



We have worked together for 2 weeks and it's awesome! I can hand him anything- steamer, clay, etc. I'm still maintaining my hourly "need" and he is getting paid very, very well for his work. I hope it continues, but having an employee like this makes my job much easier and fun!



Rob
 
WAS said:
I'll +1 to this entire post, Explicit is absolutely correct. Sometimes the market changes, and you need to change with it.



Doing the same thing, but under two different business names!!!! That way my good, high end, business name isnt associated with an express business which offers NO polishing!!! The Express business will be administered by me, but operated by someone else and paid for on a piece work basis - 10 bucks per car wash, 25 per wash and wax, 50 per full detail, etc. Anything that people want polished and clayed, well that gets refered to ENVIOUS DETAILING, and definitely not the other way around otherwise whats the point of two businesses
 
WCD said:
Explicit...Just hired a nice kid. We start talking and he says..."Yeah, I like detailing and have some experience." Figuring that could mean anything..."What exactly do you mean, 'experience'?" He shows me his car- not a line, scratch, nothing- perfect. He opens the trunk where he has a new Flex rotary with polishes and foam pads- not a cheap item for a photography student!



We have worked together for 2 weeks and it's awesome! I can hand him anything- steamer, clay, etc. I'm still maintaining my hourly "need" and he is getting paid very, very well for his work. I hope it continues, but having an employee like this makes my job much easier and fun!



Rob



Thats awesome ROB, I am still looking for someone like that!!!!
 
WCD said:
Explicit...Just hired a nice kid. We start talking and he says..."Yeah, I like detailing and have some experience." Figuring that could mean anything..."What exactly do you mean, 'experience'?" He shows me his car- not a line, scratch, nothing- perfect. He opens the trunk where he has a new Flex rotary with polishes and foam pads- not a cheap item for a photography student!



We have worked together for 2 weeks and it's awesome! I can hand him anything- steamer, clay, etc. I'm still maintaining my hourly "need" and he is getting paid very, very well for his work. I hope it continues, but having an employee like this makes my job much easier and fun!



Rob



That's awesome, I also hired a younger guy about 6 weeks ago who had run a small detailing business out of his parent's garage. No experience with correction or machine polishing but he has a very solid foundation of basic detailing so no bad habits to break and very willing to learn more. Within a couple days we had a routine down and are now banging out very high quality express details very quickly. I will be training him on the PC soon for dealer one-steps. It is much more fun and easier working with someone like that. Good luck with your guy!
 
toyotaguy said:
Doing the same thing, but under two different business names!!!! That way my good, high end, business name isnt associated with an express business which offers NO polishing!!! The Express business will be administered by me, but operated by someone else and paid for on a piece work basis - 10 bucks per car wash, 25 per wash and wax, 50 per full detail, etc. Anything that people want polished and clayed, well that gets refered to ENVIOUS DETAILING, and definitely not the other way around otherwise whats the point of two businesses

Looks forward to hearing more about it as it gets fired up there Eric !
 
My "full-detailing jobs" are done during the day.

I don't entertain any car washes at all, and strictly no simple jobs.

This is my core business.





In the evenings, when the average lower-income, non-critical "office worker" finishes work, and hv a bit of time for a very simple job while they hv a drink and food nearby, I do the "quickie, simple, no correction jobs" handled by another group of staff. Mostly teens who are detailing enthusiasts, and a few retirees (living nearby) who also love detailing and want some "exercise" by washing cars properly (2 bucket sys) and proper vaccuming. These people have mastered the basics and they'll use the Flex and PC.





No problems at all:tongue2:
 
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