"Detailing" vs. "$25 Hand Wash"

I

imported_smprince1

New member
People always ask me "Why should I pay you that much to detail my car when I can go down the street and just as good a hand wash for less than half that price?" My answer is that I contend that auto details performed by Autopians are just better at (you guessed it) the "details".



This lady wanted her 2005 Solara "just cleaned up" and didn't want to pay for any paint correction. So, she got my basic detail package (just chemical/oxidation cleaner and LSP, no swirl removal,etc.) which I believe is still better than the quickie $25 hand wash down the street.



BTW....she was so impressed by the way her car looked she gladly wrote a check when I told her the amount. She even mentioned bringing in back every month to keep it looking so great. She was also impressed that I offered/applied a fabric protection treatment to her convertible top since the car wash down the street didn't offer that service.



So sell your services as "more than a car wash" and your customers might just agree.









Solara_Driver_Front_Wheel_Aft_Before.jpg


Solara_Driver_Front_Wheel_Aft_After.jpg






Solara_Pass_Rear_Wheel_Before.jpg


Solara_Pass_Rear_Wheel_Aft.jpg






Solara_Driver_Handle_Before.jpg


Solara_Driver_Handle_After.jpg






Solara_Pass_Mirror_Before.jpg


Solara_Pass_Mirror_After.jpg








Solara_Hood.jpg


Solara_Hood_Pass.jpg


Solara_Pass_Side.jpg
 
Nice for a super quickie



What chem/ox cleaner and lsp?







smprince1 said:
People always ask me "Why should I pay you that much to detail my car when I can go down the street and just as good a hand wash for less than half that price?" My answer is that I contend that auto details performed by Autopians are just better at (you guessed it) the "details".



This lady wanted her 2005 Solara "just cleaned up" and didn't want to pay for any paint correction. So, she got my basic detail package (just chemical/oxidation cleaner and LSP, no swirl removal,etc.) which I believe is still better than the quickie $25 hand wash down the street.



BTW....she was so impressed by the way her car looked she gladly wrote a check when I told her the amount. She even mentioned bringing in back every month to keep it looking so great. She was also impressed that I offered/applied a fabric protection treatment to her convertible top since the car wash down the street didn't offer that service.



So sell your services as "more than a car wash" and your customers might just agree.
Click to expand...
 
MotorCity said:
Nice for a super quickie



What chem/ox cleaner and lsp?
Click to expand...



Prime applied via PC/LC white/speed 4 and then AJT.



But for white I've found the biggest WOW is to really spend your time on the cleaning portion.

I used PB's Bug Squash and Tarminator where appropriate, and then clayed. That was the biggest before/after change. After a thorough cleaning a quick polish via PC took probably 20-30 minutes.
 
I have that problem around here alot. I did get a call from a guy that just bought a brand new truck and suv and I'm going to detail them tomorrow. I actually talked to the guy on the phone for about 10 minutes and explained some of the things that I do when I clean one up. Finally I get someone that actually wants things done right instead of settling for that $25 swirl wash.
 
Now that is the way to establish your business! Once you get a few former cheapies to pop for even a quick detail, they are going to see the difference they get for more money. Pretty soon, they can't live without you detailing their cars regularly, plus they will be bragging to their friends how great your detailing is.



Really nice work, very wet looking paint. :)
 
Car looks nice. The customer of the car is typical of most of the customers I've cleaned cars for. Those getting details just want it cleaned up and shine some. Someone mentioned the $25 swirl wash. Price and quality don't always go hand in hand. A good car washer or detailer will do quality safe work regardless of the package the customer chooses or the amount of money they spend. A lousy detailer or car washer will do crappy work regardless of the money they get paid.
 
PhaRO said:
A good car washer or detailer will do quality safe work regardless of the package the customer chooses or the amount of money they spend.
Click to expand...



One problem I have is fighting the urge to do more than what has been paid for .... for example I hate leaving a car with swirls/blemishes even when the customer doesn't want that done. But, I am learning to do just that even though it is hard for me.... :ignore
 
smprince1 said:
One problem I have is fighting the urge to do more than what has been paid for .... for example I hate leaving a car with swirls/blemishes even when the customer doesn't want that done. But, I am learning to do just that even though it is hard for me.... :ignore
Click to expand...



Ditto on that one.....it just doesn't seem right to not finish it out. I'll be honest......on my vehicles I spend alot more time than I should doing nit picky detail work.
 
awesome work..... I bet she was very pleased.....I would have been.



I know you said 20-30 minutes for the polish, but about how long did the entire job take?
 
shelpdoggSVT said:
awesome work..... I bet she was very pleased.....I would have been.



I know you said 20-30 minutes for the polish, but about how long did the entire job take?
Click to expand...



Here is what this car got in my basic exterior detail package:



Wheels/tires hand cleaned with brushes

(this alone probably took 30 minutes)



Pre-treat with PB's Bug Squash

Hand washing Megs Gold Class

Rinse

Tarminator where needed

Claying

Wash to remove residue

Dry

(this probably took 75 minutes due to the extent of the bugs, tar, etc.)



Wipe down door jams

Clean glass

Apply tire dressing

(this probably took 20 minutes)



Prime applied via PC

(this probably took 30 minutes, add 5 more to apply AJT)



Apply 303 Fabric Guard to convertible top

(this probably took 20 minutes)



A few little details here and there to get all the nooks/crannies, etc.



So....probably around 3 hours just for the exterior.



I'm not the fastest, but I try to be thorough.
 
Excellent work my friend. That would have taken me much longer. For some reason, I am very slow.....not sure if I spend too much time being picky, but I need to pick up speed for sure.



Again....nice work.
 
That's a lot of work for $25, hats off to you, she got a steal!!!!





smprince1 said:
Here is what this car got in my basic exterior detail package:



Wheels/tires hand cleaned with brushes

(this alone probably took 30 minutes)



Pre-treat with PB's Bug Squash

Hand washing Megs Gold Class

Rinse

Tarminator where needed

Claying

Wash to remove residue

Dry

(this probably took 75 minutes due to the extent of the bugs, tar, etc.)



Wipe down door jams

Clean glass

Apply tire dressing

(this probably took 20 minutes)



Prime applied via PC

(this probably took 30 minutes, add 5 more to apply AJT)



Apply 303 Fabric Guard to convertible top

(this probably took 20 minutes)



A few little details here and there to get all the nooks/crannies, etc.



So....probably around 3 hours just for the exterior.



I'm not the fastest, but I try to be thorough.
Click to expand...
 
I hate when people try to compare the "$25 hand wash" to a detail... its so hard to explain to them all the things that a detail involves when they don't even grasp the basic concepts... but it is nice when they see the end result and are blown away.
 
What are you guys talking about? He charges more than $25. Are you even reading the post?



Good job btw. It would have taken me much more than 3 hours to do what you did. But i'm slow like that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top