Detail than rain, customers???'s

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'03 CTD

New member
I was wondering how yall handle a detail and then it rains that night or next day? I have 5 deatils I have had to put off this week due to the monsoon conditions here. I guess Im wondering how you handle the questions customers ask. Around here the "Wash Tub" will rewash their car if it rains the next day, how do yall handle this? Thanks,Dave.
 
I guarantee that if it rains on their car after a detail, it will get wet.



Usually if it rains on a customer's car right after I finish, next time I'll do something extra for them, like clean their mats. Seems to make them happy.



Not much we can do about the weather, it has been raining several times a week here in Dallas since the end of April with no end in sight. Well, actually, the end has been in sight but the next day, they revise the forecast and formerly expected sunny days now have rain forecast. I am down over $5000 since the end of April vs last year. The car wash my brother takes his work van to says 4 fellow franchise owners have already shut down during this stretch. It has been absolutely relentless. I have lost the middle of the week 10 out last 14 weeks. :hairpull
 
Dave,

I only had one person change there appointment this week with me.

I'm in San Antonio as well. I detailed an S500 yesterday and it was raining when the Lady picked up the car. I told her that I was sorry that it was raining and that if she wanted

me to repair some other dents on her car I would wash it for free. She said that it was alright and not to worry.



If it's a full detail and I need the work I will offer a wash exterior only if it rains that day.
 
My clients understand that nobody has control of the weather and when it rains your car will get wet just like during pollen season when all cars, people and critters will turn a greenish-yellow inside and outside with a haze or tree sap which seems year round. We live here and like it so we put up with what Mother Nature gives us.



Like right now we are in a horrible drought…all the grass is crunchy, the flowers and trees are droopy, people on the lakes with boats bottoming out on sand bars. So we complain and go with the flow. It has to rain sometime…we hope.



One highlight of this drought is that the bird bath attracts all kinds of outdoor critters; I clean and have to re-fill it twice a day. The birds stack up in the trees waiting their turns for a drink or a shower and shake. Pictures are plentiful.
 
I've offered some of my weekly customers a rewash if the car gets messed up because of the rain. I don't recall any ever calling me though. I've been asked before if I have a rain guarantee. I tell them the rain won't hurt it much just don't drive in it. I've done details before when there was a good chance of rain. I offer to clean it again if the rain messes things up but none have taken me up on it.
 
Dent's & Details said:
If it's a full detail and I need the work I will offer a wash exterior only if it rains that day.
Click to expand...



Problem for me is I am losing my weekly wash customers. Completely pointless for them to get their car washed in the morning if it will rain on them before they even leave work. That is about 40% of my business most weeks. :wall
 
Cool thanks for the reply and information. I have put off several, I guess Ill call em and get going again. Just needed to know what some of yall's exp's. have been. I just didnt feel that is was good for buisness if I did a detail then 30 minute later is was time to grab youre horse and *** then head for the arc. :D
 
Scott believe me I feel your pain, just a few hours south I see the same damn thing. I am starting to wonder if it is ever going to be sunny and dry again.

Usually if the customer asks I tell them the truth. I watch the news everynight and what I see is what I tell them. On days that there is a small chance pushing them away like 20 or 30% I will give them a wash and an app of OS for the price of just a wash. If its more than 30% I will tell them and they always say thank you for your honesty and to call them after the rain. I know that it might not be the best business thing to do but I gain a lot of trust from previous and new clients.
 
We usually offer a free wash at a later day, or if the customer doesnt need to pick up the car we just keep it in the shop until the weather clears up.
 
I gave a customer a 10% discount today for not cancelling. By the time I finished, there was a torrential downpour that isn't letting up.



Just checked the 10 day forecast....10 more $%$*@ days of rain. I better update my resume, I can't go through this for another month. By the end of June, I'll be down more than $6000 since the end of April against last year. :(
 
I feel yall's pain. Been pouring here in Central Texas like a SOB. I need to become a canoe sales man! I was out of work Monday, Tuesday I was able to get a few hours in on a fleet wash before the sky opened up, today, I lost almost $500 on a big weekly fleet contract, Tomorrow, it looks like rain again, another big weekly fleet wash down the tube. Hopefully, Friday will look better, but I doubt it. Leaving state on Friday evening, so that's a downer...



A wasted week due to rain.



If it rains within 24 hours of me finishing, I will re wash the exterior only. Only on details, not regular washes.
 
if it rains that day i always give them a full wash dress and vac at their conveince people are very happy with that
 
I'm not a professional detailer but just a thought: apply Aquapel to the windshields? You can promote it as a rainy day special (also a safety feature) in addition to the future wash offers. If I drive highways everyday in the rainy season, I'd sure appreciate that in addition to having a nice clean interior from a fresh detail!
 
zingyginger said:
I'm not a professional detailer but just a thought: apply Aquapel to the windshields? You can promote it as a rainy day special (also a safety feature) in addition to the future wash offers. If I drive highways everyday in the rainy season, I'd sure appreciate that in addition to having a nice clean interior from a fresh detail!
Click to expand...



You'd have to charge too much for just an Aquapel application to make it worth the drive. Besides, I use Clearkote's Quikshine on glass and it does a pretty good job repelling water as it is. Not sure Aquapel would make enough of a difference on my weekly regular's cars for it to be worth the cost to them.



It isn't supposed to be raining in Texas now, it is nearly July! I've lived here on and off for 30 years now and have never seen it like this. 2+ solid months of rain, at least 4 days of rain each week since the end of April. :wall :hairpull
 
Sorry to hear about all the rain in TX. How does Clearkote's Quikshine compare to Aquapel? How about KAIO?



And have you folks seen this Aquapel vs RainX weblog about a video (links below)?

Rain-X versus PPG Aquapel: Grudge Match - Autoblog

http://www.jwardell.com/mini/media/06/aquapel.mp4



Our rainy season has passed but this video made me want to try Aquapel and look forward to rain! :grinno:



Before discovering Autopia, I would have paid anyone who could have helped me see through my old car's foggy windshield when driving in the rain, especially at night. There was haze built up and even new wipers would skip/chatter. This may be an opportunity for new customers.
 
Having your own business it tough. Especially when it is this kind of work or anything that has to dow with being outside. I haven't had a problem with the weather here. It hasn't really rained in forever. Not my town anyway. My problem is actually getting the work. Everyone seems to take their cars to someone else to get that "$25 complete detail" What gets me about it is that the people that charge so little can't even pay their bills. My father (retired) works with a pest control place and the people are behind 6 months on payment. It seems like someone would get the point that "If I can't even pay my bills...maybe I'm not charging enough" I put about 75 business cards out at my college but haven't heard anything. Maybe I'm just wasting my time trying. I may get to do an F-350 dually tomorrow. I gave a quote of $100 to wash, wax, clean the leather and the rest of the interior. The problem is that most of the details that I have gotten have been from family or family's friends. Not that it is a bad thing because money is money but I just can't seem to get anything else.
 
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