Discout on 5 full details? I say no, customers are cheap!

Q

quamen

New member
I was detailing a x5 a while back and a guy pulls up in this nice M3. It was his neighbor and he liked the job I was doing and wanted his vehicles done. I told him sure, and now about 2 months later he calls me and says he wants about 5 vehicles done. There all newer vehicles M3, X90, Denali,2500 gmc pickup, and a 77 showcar. They ask for a deal since he is bringing me that many, but he seems offended that I dont give deals. Im so booked with work I hate to lose any work, but at the same time dont want to make my dollar per hour drop. To detail all of these the quote would be about 900 bucks. Do you guys gives deals on situations like this? The customer can afford all these nice vehicles, but wants to pay like a flat rate for all of them.
 
If you are mobile, and you are doing all 5 in one spot, doesn't that help you out? If the guy knows that, I'm not surprised he's asking for some sort of discount. If you figure your travel time between details, and setup/breakdown, doing 5 in one location has got to allow you to cut him a break without diluting your hourly rate...unless you really want to [/I]increase your hourly rate that way. It's ultimately up to you, but if you have more work than you can handle, I'd say it's a seller's market, and you shouldn't be giving any discounts...discounts are for when you are not busy.
 
$900 for 5 full details seems like a pretty low price anyhow. Especially with a full size SUV and a full size pick up. I'd say nearly $500 of that price is probably wrapped up in those two vehicles alone. I wouldn't offer a discount at this point, plus you said you're already booked. Just to play the devil's advocate though, those are some pretty nice vehicles and could turn out some great referrals for the future. Got to keep filling that "pipe line", so giving a small discount now might turn into big $$ in the future. Throw in a $50 discount and maybe fabric protection packages or something. Costs you less than a couple of bucks and makes both customers feel like they're getting a deal. Just tell them it is a one-time deal and any future business would be a retail prices. Just a thought. Hope it works out for you.



Take care,



Matt Williams

Silver Lining Detail
 
If they are doing a few I will usually shave a few bucks off. Afterall, I didn't have to drive anywhere extra to do them. You also mentioned they were rather new so they should be easier.
 
thanks guys, After reading all the replies i see the other side. As far as pricing goes, I keep going up since Im in demand, but do provide the best results. Most details shops around me charge 100 for a car,150 for like a suv, 165 for a larger type like excursion. MY prices start at 150 for car, to 225 for a bigger truck like an excursion.
 
I'm sure you also base price on condition, so maybe once you evaluate the vehicles' conditions $900 wouldn't be too bad. For instance, the 2500 and Denali are in not-so-good condition but maybe the M3 and Showcar are in a much greater condition, with the XC90 somewhere in between. If all of the vehicles are in the worst condition, then $900 is too little. But if it's a scenario like the one above I don't see $900 being terrible, seeing as you may get referrals, etc.
 
If you feel the customer is expecting a discount-give them one. But not on these details. Make up a little certificate / coupon that is valid only in your slow month(s). They get a discount, and you get more business when you need it.
 
kompressornsc said:
If you feel the customer is expecting a discount-give them one. But not on these details. Make up a little certificate / coupon that is valid only in your slow month(s). They get a discount, and you get more business when you need it.
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That's a good idea.



If the guy gives you a fuss about it, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to do away with a $900 deal with some nice cars, so I would at least cut him a little break since you are getting 5 details in one location. Being mobile, that is our dream....more work in one spot = more profit. Even if you give him a $50 total discount, you still are making a huge profit compared to if you had to go to 5 different locations to do 1 detail each location. Gas prices are ridiculous now-a-days, and with you having a trailer I'm pretty sure you are burning it up, I know I am!! :hairpull
 
Superior Shine said:
No discount if your booked!!
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+1





, Ask the guy if the Electric company gives him a discount when he blasts the AC ? Does Sear's give him 10% off because he bought 2 extra screwdrivers. Then ask him if he works for a discount. I can't stand people like that .
 
Rollman said:
+1





, Ask the guy if the Electric company gives him a discount when he blasts the AC ? Does Sear's give him 10% off because he bought 2 extra screwdrivers. Then ask him if he works for a discount. I can't stand people like that .
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i agree when u go to wal-mart to buy your milk and u got 5 kids so u get say 5 gals. of milk does mr wally world give u a discount?? NO! there ya go. i also hate those el-cheapos!! lol
 
I usually give people who are good customers a cut. I have one lady who brings me 4 cars on a regular basis, over 600 at list price but I let it go for 500 because she's pleasant to deal with, not too picky, and I can do all 4 in two days easily, minimizing packing/unpacking time, gas costs, etc. If you think the guy is going to be a PITA, charge him through the nose. I have another client with 3 cars who I absolutely hate, and let me tell ya, she pays list and then some.
 
Superior Shine said:
No discount if your booked!!
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Agreed but I also agree with Setec that if you are doing them all in one location that does save you some time. Look at it this way, do 5 vehicles in one location and knock off $10 per vehicle or do 5 vehicles scattered around town and have to set up and break down in each area and it tends to balance out. That would apply to details though, not straight wash jobs.



EDIT-I should really learn to read the whole thread first, AJ beat me to the punch. :rofl
 
I don't want to give this customer a dicount. More work in one location or not theres a price for a reason. We do not stat on anything that we give discounts for mass work. You wouldnt go into say walmart and ask for a discount on 5 tv's at $499 because you are buying more then one are you? Same reasoning here.
 
Mazz said:
I don't want to give this customer a dicount. More work in one location or not theres a price for a reason. We do not stat on anything that we give discounts for mass work. You wouldnt go into say walmart and ask for a discount on 5 tv's at $499 because you are buying more then one are you? Same reasoning here.
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True, but if you got the right manager, you might be able to get a bulk purchase discount.



Believe me, I am one for sticking to your price in 99% of the time but if you have the opportunity to snag a possible long term client with 5 cars, what's $50 over the next 10 years of regular business? Don't ever look at a detail as a one time shot, look at it as the chance to win a lifetime of business. Obviously, you don't give a large discount but maybe tossing a small bone would pay of huge in the long run.
 
Not to derail, but last summer I was doing work at my mechanic's gas station (I am fixed location, but went mobile as a favor) and charged him my wholesale rate for one car. A few weeks later I did another car in the same manner for him, but it was in worse condition so I forewarned him it would cost more. He was okay with it, but at payment time he looks at me and goes, "I'm glad to give you the business, but c'mon, you've got to give me a deal over here!" I was taken aback and said to him, "why, do you give me a break on your labor rate?" I think I got the point across - besides, he had gotten a deal the previous week anyway.



Anyway, I have no problem giving discounts to good customers. Even if someone just brings me a second car, or refers me to 1-2 people, I will drop even just a little bit from the price, or I'll throw in a free RainX or Scotchguard treatment. Little things make a huge difference, and if you can suck it up and sacrifice a little of your profit, you might gain more in the end. The key is to do it when it is worth it and not reduce your profit by too much - always make it worth your while. However, this is not to say you should drop your prices when people snarl at them. That just makes it look like you are charging more than you think you're worth.
 
Not to derail, but last summer I was doing work at my mechanic's gas station (I am fixed location, but went mobile as a favor) and charged him my wholesale rate for one car. A few weeks later I did another car in the same manner for him, but it was in worse condition so I forewarned him it would cost more. He was okay with it, but at payment time he looks at me and goes, "I'm glad to give you the business, but c'mon, you've got to give me a deal over here!" I was taken aback and said to him, "why, do you give me a break on your labor rate?" I think I got the point across - besides, he had gotten a deal the previous week anyway.



Anyway, I have no problem giving discounts to good customers. Even if someone just brings me a second car, or refers me to 1-2 people, I will drop even just a little bit from the price, or I'll throw in a free RainX or Scotchguard treatment. Little things make a huge difference, and if you can suck it up and sacrifice a little of your profit, you might gain more in the end. The key is to do it when it is worth it and not reduce your profit by too much - always make it worth your while. However, this is not to say you should drop your prices when people snarl at them. That just makes it look like you are charging more than you think you're worth.
 
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