contract workers from hell!!!

Donavin629

Donavin629

New member
whats up everyone.. listen I dunno if anyone does this stuff but I wanted to get someone elses opinion.

I only work on the detailing section of my business but contact other work out like dent repair.. leather and vynil repair and windshield repair.. I want to bring more services on as well cause my customers like that I have so much to offer.



Only thing is dealing with these contract workers to call my customers back in a timely matter. .. or treat them as well I do.. I have fired so many guys already cause of poor customer service.. they may do great work but if you don’t take care of my customer that’s making my image look bad.. not theirs cause the customer is going through me to get the job done. Not them… im about to say screw it and get trained on everything.. but I know that takes time.



Im currently looking into the paintless dent repair and im trying to find a good way to learn.. I would rather do an apprentice then spend like 6000 bucks for a 3 weeks course. I know some of those courses just run you through the training and just toss you out into the field.. I don’t want that.. I would like to take my time and learn the right way but it seems like the only training out there are 2 to 3 week courses… anyway just looking for some opinions on this matter.
 
Some of those skills, like pdr, are an artform of sorts and require a lot of time to practice and hone your skill - they're not something you'll learn in 3weeks and be a master at. I'd stick with detailing and finding quality contractors - they're out there.
 
Why not arrange it so that YOU are the one who takes the customer's car to get the service done, and they pay you directly. That way your customer, never has to interact with the contractor. If that is not possible, you have to build a better relationship with the contractor; make it clear that if you continue to steer business their way, customer service has to be great.
 
You can't be a master at everything.... But, with that said, I would personally go and get PDR training. Take the 2 / 3 week course (not sure how much it is there, but I've found places for about $1500), and then go work part time at a PDR company. If the owners are nice folks, even tell them you're only there to get experience after training. The pay might suck, but you might just get to work and learn alongside a real expert.
 
i dunno looking at PDR profits compared to detailing profits..its crazy how much these guys are making and i have to contract that work out.. i think it would be easier for me and my customers if when i detail their car i then can spot the dents and pitch the sale to fix right on the spot. .increasing my sales by a huge amount.. especially during hail season... thats why im focusing on the dent repair as well .. hell after dent repair window fixin is next.. relying on others is hard to do when its your own business .. im protective of my biz and my customers
 
I normally make suggestions on services the car could use once I'm complete with the car. Some people are interested and ready to get the stuff done, so I give them contact information for my network of 'approved' shops (body, window tint, paintless dent, ect...). These shops must meet my standards. I use them on my personal vehicle first, and if they can pass with that, then I start sending people to them. There are a couple shops that I regularly trade with, so I'll let the shop run up a large debit with me, then I'll go pick up the cars and bring to the shop. I get to charge the customer, so I get paid for the 'trade'. Works well for me. I don't subcontract, because you run into the issues you mentioned. The businesses don't operate like I do, so it starts to reflect badly on me.
 
you can't take on everything yourself. At best you'll be able to half *** everything and be a true master of nothing. You just need to find guys that take their business as seriously as you do.
 
donavin629 said:
i dunno looking at PDR profits compared to detailing profits..its crazy how much these guys are making and i have to contract that work out.. i think it would be easier for me and my customers if when i detail their car i then can spot the dents and pitch the sale to fix right on the spot. .increasing my sales by a huge amount.. especially during hail season... thats why im focusing on the dent repair as well .. hell after dent repair window fixin is next.. relying on others is hard to do when its your own business .. im protective of my biz and my customers
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I have to agree with you on PDR, I'm seriously considering getting trained in it and starting to offer it. That said, I'll be the only one within 1500 miles who will be doing PDR, so I kind of have no choice if I want to get into that market. Windshield repair and interior leather / vinyl repair I'd leave outsourced, there isn't that much money in that (at least in my market there isn't).
 
As someone who is in the industry, I would rank them from easiest to hardest as:

Windshield repair

leather repair

paint touch up

PDR



In 1998, I spent more money than I want to think about trying to learn PDR. I went for two weeks to a place in Kansas and knew enough to be dangerous. Six months later, I went to another place in California for two weeks. I was better, but I was still not competitive. The owner told me that new employees get three months of training before being let out on their own. I believe Dent Wizard is roughly the same. If you want to do it, then I would suggest trying to apprentice with someone.
 
Quality Leather said:
As someone who is in the industry, I would rank them from easiest to hardest as:

Windshield repair

leather repair

paint touch up

PDR



In 1998, I spent more money than I want to think about trying to learn PDR. I went for two weeks to a place in Kansas and knew enough to be dangerous. Six months later, I went to another place in California for two weeks. I was better, but I was still not competitive. The owner told me that new employees get three months of training before being let out on their own. I believe Dent Wizard is roughly the same. If you want to do it, then I would suggest trying to apprentice with someone.
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yeah but how do you get someone to give you an apprentice position? cause why would they want to train someone? it would be just more competition for them ..im trying to barter with a guy now for some training.. example free detailing for customers who get hail damage through me.
 
donavin629 said:
yeah but how do you get someone to give you an apprentice position? cause why would they want to train someone? it would be just more competition for them ..im trying to barter with a guy now for some training.. example free detailing for customers who get hail damage through me.
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Simple... Hand them a boat load of cash. One guy I checked with said he would train me for $10,000 cash up front. The next guy I looked at said that was a steal because he charges $20,000 up front for PDR training. And that really seems to be the general going price for quality training.
 
From what I understand, PDR is as much of an art as it is a learned, honed skill. It takes time to perfect your technique, but you also have to have a natural aptitude for it. That said, I'd love to try and learn it, and I don't think aprenticing at a shop is absolutely required (although I will agree that that's the way to go, if you can).
 
Why not find somebody in the PDR field that you admire from both an ethical and talent perspective and partner with them. You send your clients needing PDR work to him and he sends his clients wanting detailing work to you :nixweiss
 
donavin629 said:
yeah but how do you get someone to give you an apprentice position? cause why would they want to train someone? it would be just more competition for them ..im trying to barter with a guy now for some training.. example free detailing for customers who get hail damage through me.
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Easy, most of them know how difficult it is, and how long it takes to be good. My PDR guy said it took him 5 years before he was comfortable working on the most expensive cars; he has been at it for 10. I would much rather contract it out, and know it is being done right, than offer something I am not skilled at.
 
brwill2005 said:
Easy, most of them know how difficult it is, and how long it takes to be good. My PDR guy said it took him 5 years before he was comfortable working on the most expensive cars; he has been at it for 10. I would much rather contract it out, and know it is being done right, than offer something I am not skilled at.
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I totally understand where you're coming from, but I have a question. Was there a time when you were not a skilled detailer ? I mean heck, we could all open up electrical contracting companies and just contract out the work without knowing anything about electrical, play the "middle man" and make a killing.... I don't mean to come off rude, but I'm sure nearly all of us had zero detailing skills when we started, but we learned and got better and better at it. I don't see why any other service, PDR or otherwise, should be treated so differently.
 
PDR is much more of a skill, and harder to learn IMO. I could teach anyone who is half way smart, and willing to learn, my detailing process in a short amount of time.
 
brwill2005 said:
PDR is much more of a skill, and harder to learn IMO. I could teach anyone who is half way smart, and willing to learn, my detailing process in a short amount of time.
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Alrighty, fair enough opinion. As I'm seriously considering PDR training in the near future, it's good to know what others think / have experienced.
 
WAS said:
Alrighty, fair enough opinion. As I'm seriously considering PDR training in the near future, it's good to know what others think / have experienced.
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I am basing this on what I know about PDR, and what the PDR guys have told me. Believe me, I would love to know this skill, however, I am probably not willing to spend several years learning it.
 
WAS said:
Alrighty, fair enough opinion. As I'm seriously considering PDR training in the near future, it's good to know what others think / have experienced.
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I bring someone in to my shop to do the work. His work is incredible to be honest. After seeing him work and asking him questions it does not seem like its quite as simple as you may think. Personally I thought about giving it a go until I saw him work. I understand the process completely the only issue is the experience of knowing when, where, and how hard to push. If you want to learn how do it I can not think of any reason you can not. Just expect it to take some effort.
 
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