cars that are abused somewhat and then they want it detailed?

Q

quamen

New member
I usually deal with mosly new cars when detailing, and they are very clean for the majority of them. Lately I have gotten a couple of vehicles where they have been abused for a long time, and then the customers decide to get the detail done. Do you guys turn away they customers or try to talk them down to a one step on the outside? I say this because some of these vehicles there really not dented up, but alot of deeper nicks and scrathes that wil not come out with a wool pad and cutting compound. Alot of rock chips along the bottom and usually the inside is kinda beat up to.



Im asking casue today I got another vehicle like that. The customer is a friend of mine and he wants to sell the vehicles. It was ridden without floormats for a long long time and some stains wont come out, even with a hot water extractor. The outside is white but has some nice dings and deeper scrathes, and the wheels on the front wont polish out good cause the brake dust has litereally eaten some of the clear or protective finish and they are damaged.



I guess im just not used to these situations and dont know how to handle them well. I get cars with really bad swirling that need heavy compounding etc, but the bodies are good and insides turn out link mint because they have at least been somewhat maintain: As in vaccums and washes. I get annoyed cause I know that I could spend so many hours and the vehicle will look better,but not perfect. The one im working on rightt now has a 150k almost.
 
I think the best way to proceed is to explain explicitly what the results of the detail will be. For example make sure you explain that rock chips, deep scratches, dings, etc. will not be eliminated. Chances are you will remove/improve some belmishes which could be a plus to the customer over just getting some wax.
 
You need to be upfront with the customers about what can and cannot be correct through detailing. They need to understand that years of neglect can't be completely undone and if they are expecting their car to look factory new that it can't be accomplished. Maybe you will get lucky and they will decide not to waste their money on a car destined for the auction and tote the note lots.



I've turned down cars that were really nasty.
 
LOL!! These are the only types of cars that I seem to get. I just let them know up front what to expect, then charge accordingly.
 
I agree with the rest. I have had many like this. I just tell them what to expect and thats fine. If they expect more then what is even possible after I finish talking to them I will turn the job down. Most just tell me to do my best.



James
 
I've detailed several abused cars like the one you described.. Each one was owned by a person who NEVER even washed the car and was getting ready to sell it.



They were brutally filthy.



I simply told them "I'll do the best I can, but no guarantees."



In every case, they were thrilled with the results. They were so accustomed to seeing the car completely trashed, that it looked like new to them!



Here's a question - - - Why would you drive a car for it's entire life and never lift a finger to clean it until the day you sell it? :hm
 
Luster said:
Here's a question - - - Why would you drive a car for it's entire life and never lift a finger to clean it until the day you sell it? :hm
Click to expand...



I often wonder the same thing. You would think they would like to drive around in a clean car (especially if they have had the car since new) rather than trash it, think of selling it and then decide to get it cleaned up. Then they probably say "I wonder why I didn't do that earlier".



Duh....
 
Luster said:
Here's a question - - - Why would you drive a car for it's entire life and never lift a finger to clean it until the day you sell it? :hm
Click to expand...



Yeah really!! The cost involved in just washing the car is minimal especially if you do it yourself.
 
It the Avarage as I call it when you take a new car and you use it everyday and it just gets dirtier and dirtier you don't notice it because you compare it to yesterday not last year or new.. we do that because we care and also because we get paid to clean.
 
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