Brenton
aka PEI Detail
I have a shop in PEI, and have been working at getting dealers as clients for paint renewal and reconditioning--they just laugh when I suggest they pay me $25/hr to detail the inside of a car. Most dealers pay $7-$9/hr for their detailer, and do a glaze on their cars in the parking lot. There are two dealers in town with career detailers, and one other with a whole shop.
But I have gained some as clients on the dark coloured cars that look bad, and will gain more this spring (dealers still aren't even washing their cars!). It is a hack industry here, a depressed economy, and every $ counts.
One of my clients is Honda. They had a good detailer for interior, but they were buying light coloured cars or cars with good finish because he didn't have the stuff. So they enlisted me for a car or two/month during non-winter. Even the big dealers only move 20-30 used cars/month here.
Well, their detailer got promoted to parts and hasn't looked back. The new guy works like a horse, but hasn't got the "eye" for detail yet. And there is a new guy managing used cars. He calls me and says, "This is probably something I shouldn't ask, but do you have any resumes on file? I need a detailer I can pay $10/hour who can work with my detailer, manage him, do paint work, and see some customers."
"Woah," I said, "That's hard to find. If someone like that comes in my door, I'm not sharing him."
Buddy laughed, and we bantered about the general state of the universe, and detailing in particular.
I realized he was stuck. His guy had been on the job 4 mos and wasn't getting it. So I offered a solution.
"Why don't you pay me to train your detailer?" I said. "I'll train him on getting the "eye," and basic paint work. You can still send me your more difficult cases, but it'll get this guy on the go."
He was thrilled, and said up an appointment for today. I told him I'd charge $35 an hour, $10/hr more than my shop time ($5 more than paint specialty cases), and he didn't blink. Plus, the kid can help with my work when it comes in, but I don't bill unless it slows me down.
So, did I shoot myself in the foot? I figured the guy would get his detailer anyway, so not helping wouldn't do anything. I was glad the used manager with whom I've never spoken called me first, and I figure this makes a good relationship. It'll also get me some more paint work, I hope.
Or am I delusional? (well, i'm typically delusional, but in this situation, I mean)
Thanx, Brenton
But I have gained some as clients on the dark coloured cars that look bad, and will gain more this spring (dealers still aren't even washing their cars!). It is a hack industry here, a depressed economy, and every $ counts.
One of my clients is Honda. They had a good detailer for interior, but they were buying light coloured cars or cars with good finish because he didn't have the stuff. So they enlisted me for a car or two/month during non-winter. Even the big dealers only move 20-30 used cars/month here.
Well, their detailer got promoted to parts and hasn't looked back. The new guy works like a horse, but hasn't got the "eye" for detail yet. And there is a new guy managing used cars. He calls me and says, "This is probably something I shouldn't ask, but do you have any resumes on file? I need a detailer I can pay $10/hour who can work with my detailer, manage him, do paint work, and see some customers."
"Woah," I said, "That's hard to find. If someone like that comes in my door, I'm not sharing him."
Buddy laughed, and we bantered about the general state of the universe, and detailing in particular.
I realized he was stuck. His guy had been on the job 4 mos and wasn't getting it. So I offered a solution.
"Why don't you pay me to train your detailer?" I said. "I'll train him on getting the "eye," and basic paint work. You can still send me your more difficult cases, but it'll get this guy on the go."
He was thrilled, and said up an appointment for today. I told him I'd charge $35 an hour, $10/hr more than my shop time ($5 more than paint specialty cases), and he didn't blink. Plus, the kid can help with my work when it comes in, but I don't bill unless it slows me down.
So, did I shoot myself in the foot? I figured the guy would get his detailer anyway, so not helping wouldn't do anything. I was glad the used manager with whom I've never spoken called me first, and I figure this makes a good relationship. It'll also get me some more paint work, I hope.
Or am I delusional? (well, i'm typically delusional, but in this situation, I mean)
Thanx, Brenton
