Detail Pricing

S

shelshel

New member
I'd like to know if there are any professional detailer that just charge by the hour. I know most do package pricing and your package deals take in to account how much you want per/hour but I met someone the other day that just charges by the hour. They felt if they ran into something that ended up taking more time they should be compensated for it. This way they're not rushing through a detail and they're providing the customer with high quality work.



What are everyone's thoughts? It kind of made me think because I never really thought about doing a detail this way. It seems to make sense. No package deals. The customer tells them exactly what they want and it's done.



This detailer is always busy too.
 
id say that would be the way id like to charge but most people want to know what it will cost be for u do the job unless money is no issue to them
 
I estimate how long it will take and quote from that. Sometimes I get done quicker, sometimes not. It evens out for me.
 
Treatment man said:
id say that would be the way id like to charge but most people want to know what it will cost be for u do the job unless money is no issue to them
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I agree. I can't see myself thinking that I'm going to pay $200 then find out the actual bill is going to be $500 just because the guy is slow. If a detailer did that to me I'd lose it on him.



A good professional should go over the car first and be able to spot any problems spots. A professional should also know if he can fix those spots and how long it will take to fix those spots and adjust his price accordingly BEFORE giving the price to the customer.
 
I agree with what everyone posted. That being said, what's the hourly breakdown some of you are try to achieve.
 
Then to be competitive as a professional detailer you need to buy products inexpensively and in bulk which probably wouldn't include alot of these products that people recommend in these forums.



So if this is true can it be said that the less expensive products work just as well?
 
shelshel said:
Then to be competitive as a professional detailer you need to buy products inexpensively and in bulk which probably wouldn't include alot of these products that people recommend in these forums.



So if this is true can it be said that the less expensive products work just as well?
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For the most part, if you are only detailing 2-3 cars a day, you won't save much buying bulk 'assembly line' detailer products. Honestly, even with enthusiast level products your cost of materials per vehicle is still pretty low.
 
Scottwax said:
...even with enthusiast level products your cost of materials per vehicle is still pretty low.
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Agreed. We serviced about 115 ($6000+) cars in the month of May and only spent about $300 on autopian type products...(qew, meguair's, 1Z, clearkote, EO, IG, too just name a few). If you use your products correctly, you'll be surprised how long a bottle of tire shine for example can last.:up
 
YouGottaBeLeaf said:


A good professional should go over the car first and be able to spot any problems spots. A professional should also know if he can fix those spots and how long it will take to fix those spots and adjust his price accordingly BEFORE giving the price to the customer.
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:up

come up with a base price and adjust accordingly to the conditions.

look at it from the customers viewpoint...would you want that done to you???



Just my $.02

"J"
 
shelshel said:
I'd like to know if there are any professional detailer that just charge by the hour. I know most do package pricing and your package deals take in to account how much you want per/hour but I met someone the other day that just charges by the hour. They felt if they ran into something that ended up taking more time they should be compensated for it. This way they're not rushing through a detail and they're providing the customer with high quality work.



What are everyone's thoughts? It kind of made me think because I never really thought about doing a detail this way. It seems to make sense. No package deals. The customer tells them exactly what they want and it's done.



This detailer is always busy too.
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From the detailer's standpoint, charging by the hour and leaving it open sounds like a wonderful thing. Never again will you have to spend more than your package deals say, etc. However, from the customer's standpoint, they normally want to know how much the detailing will cost before you start. This is not to say that you can't look the car over and come up with an diffeent estimated package price due to 'special circumstances' but at least the customer will again have the price before you start.



In the end, the customer will want to know before you start. With experience, some jobs you may run over, on some you will make quick work of it and it will even out in the end.
 
shelshel said:
Then to be competitive as a professional detailer you need to buy products inexpensively and in bulk which probably wouldn't include alot of these products that people recommend in these forums.



So if this is true can it be said that the less expensive products work just as well?
Click to expand...



It cost me about $3-4 to do each vehicle...
 
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