Coastal Eddie
Ambivalent
Run!!!
Do you guys ever turn down work?
- Thread starter civcklr
- Start date
Yes I turn down work. Vehicles in really bad shape get turned down. Although I am able to do the work, it is not the type of work I like to do. I also have a fixed price which works fine for me but doesn't allow me extra time to bring the dead back to life. There are exceptions though when the money isn't the most important part of the transaction. For instance I do not clean conversion or cargo vans. I have no desire to stand on anything bigger than my step stool. I do have two customers that spend a lot of money each year. Both also own conversion vans. I clean them without complaint every time they ask. In the OP situation, I would check out the vehicle and if I thought it was going to be a problem to do the vehicle then I'd just tell them that I couldn't do what the vehicle needed for that price. Odds are though that I'd end up doing the vehicle as I would have blocked off the time. I'd figure how much time I would spend and let them know what they could expect. One thing that I have noticed is many people aren't looking for perfection. The just want the damn thing to be clean and shine a little. Those that let their cars go to pot generally will let them go again.
Even though in my area I am not high priced, I too get people that tell me they can get it done cheaper. I tell them if you have someone that can do the vehicle cheaper and are happy then give them a shot.
Even though in my area I am not high priced, I too get people that tell me they can get it done cheaper. I tell them if you have someone that can do the vehicle cheaper and are happy then give them a shot.
joe.p
New member
So did you decide to take the job?civcklr said:Yea, Thanks guys. The good thing is that I did tell her I would have to see the car before I could commit to the $70.00, so Ill stop by in the morning and take a look, then Ill try to feel her out a bit and see if she is interested in having it done right instead of taking it to the drive through place. The only reason I budged in the first place is the guy who sent her my way is the lender Ill be using to start my fixed location.
Well guys, I checked out the car, and it was bad, save-able, but very bad. I was super friendly ( as usual :t ) I explained to her that the car would need much more then a quick $70.00 rush job due to the heavily oxidized paint. She said "I thought it would be more then you wanted to take on for that price" and said she was going with the $45.00 drive through place, and however it turned out would at least be better then it was now. Sooooo the cool thing about this fiasco is that she scheduled me next week to shampoo the carpet in her newer car. 
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SA Detailer
New member
CharlesW said:
Being in this succesfull business 7 years, I have learned it is the opposite.
Beemerboy
Just One More Coat
SA Detailer said:
I've been in the sales field for 25 years and currently a sales trainer....What Charles said about unhappy customers is 100% true....Word of mouth is one of the best ways to get your business going.
maximv1
New member
SA Detailer said:
working in car dealerships for 12 years i can GUARENTEE this statment is wrong.
Brenton
aka PEI Detail
In my community, word of mouth is better than TV ads, and it cuts both ways--good workers do well eventually; bad workers eek out forever. And everyone knows, and there is no way to recover from badness.
Unfortunately, it is also an economically depressed community, or beginning a recession anyway, so 10 people isn't enough.
Unfortunately, it is also an economically depressed community, or beginning a recession anyway, so 10 people isn't enough.
jaybs02
New member
civcklr, I'm glad to hear that even the customer, thought that it was too much work for the price, and that you still have work from her.
As beemer and many others pointed out, good business practices go far with people, and that includes standing by what you say, even if you do take a loss.
Charles said
Backing out on a job after you have said you would do it would be bad news
JMHO
"J"
As beemer and many others pointed out, good business practices go far with people, and that includes standing by what you say, even if you do take a loss.
Charles said
Thats right along with "good news travels, bad news travels fast"
Backing out on a job after you have said you would do it would be bad news
JMHO
"J"
Hi I have been in business 20 yrs and I turn work down all the time. I also am not interested in bringing the dead back to life, luckily most of the vehicles I get called for are no more than 3 or 4 years old. I also work pretty much from a fixed price list but being that all my work is booked over the phone I state that the price may go up if the vehicle needs extra work ( tree sap, over spray, oxidation etc. ) although I rarely do raise my quoted price. If someone calls me with a much older vehicle I have a detailer in my area that pretty much specializes in these types of jobs and I refer them to him and usually he sends me a finders fee for getting him the job. Glad it worked out for you in the long run.
I have turned down work. I need the money but if its not worth it I'm not doing it anymore. I agree that if you said you would do it then I would do it. I have gave quotes on cars for a special I was offering at the time and if they came back I would still give them that price. I had a guy that called and wanted his 66 Mustang buffed. I gave him a really good deal and he said he would call back. I didn't hear from him for about 3 months. But I remembered the call because of the car and I told him he could have the price I gave him before. He was happy. I got the job. Done deal. Now I had a customer xxxxx and whine about a price on a full detail. He wanted it for nothing. I told him there was no way in hell I was doing it for the price he wanted to pay. He came up. I said no. He wanted done the next week and said are you busy that week. I said no. So he came up a little more. I said I will do it for this price (I bit higher then his last offer) if he was coming next week. He agreed and then didn't call the next week. If he does come back he will only be getting that car done for FULL price and full price only. Or I will turn that down.
But anyway. If you did say you would do it for $70 I think you should do it. Now if you still told her that the price could be higher after you see it then go look at it. If its way to much to do for $70 then tell her what you will do it for. If she doesn't like that then tell her what you can do for her for that $70. If she still isn't happy I would just let her go get the $45 job.
James
But anyway. If you did say you would do it for $70 I think you should do it. Now if you still told her that the price could be higher after you see it then go look at it. If its way to much to do for $70 then tell her what you will do it for. If she doesn't like that then tell her what you can do for her for that $70. If she still isn't happy I would just let her go get the $45 job.
James
C. Charles Hahn
CCH Auto Appearance, LLC
Personally, I NEVER take a job if the customer balks at the price I quote them. I just say "I'm sorry I couldn't help you, but if you can get a better deal elsewhere, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of it."
The way I look at it, I put entirely too much work into the vehicles I detail, to be short changed. When I do a detail, the vehicle comes out show ready, or as close as possible. Other "pro" detailers in my area do what it takes to make the customer happy, despite the presence of still obvious defects. AKA, cheap, shoddy work.
The way I look at it, I put entirely too much work into the vehicles I detail, to be short changed. When I do a detail, the vehicle comes out show ready, or as close as possible. Other "pro" detailers in my area do what it takes to make the customer happy, despite the presence of still obvious defects. AKA, cheap, shoddy work.
Bob
New member
I do all the time. However, to me detailing is just side work. I turn work down for several reasons....I don't have the time, I know the people and they will be a pain in the butt no matter how perfect the work, and so on.
NavArch
Just trying to catch up..
Excellent! You seemed to have approached the customer with a smile and good attitude, and it paid off. And - the customer turned out NOT to be someone wanting too much for too little.
Favorable word of mouth and networking will increase your business. A glance thru the yellow pages will reveal a lot of entries for mobile detailing services. Most potential customers won't know one from another. So, a suggestion from one of your previous customers will go a long way.
Favorable word of mouth and networking will increase your business. A glance thru the yellow pages will reveal a lot of entries for mobile detailing services. Most potential customers won't know one from another. So, a suggestion from one of your previous customers will go a long way.
Absolutely!! Of course you have to believe in your product, first. Even after going over the entire detailing process, you will have customers say ' too much' or 'i can get it done for x$ down the street'- in which I have a couple of responses prepared. My favorite being:
" Sir/Mam, I am sure, like myself, you have gone to Applebees or Rubys for a hamburger?"
Typically the answer is yes. If they say no, just tell them to bear with you on the story and that you think they will get the point
"Why did we go to Applebees for a hamburger and pay $10 when we could could have gone to McDonalds and pay $1!?"
"Obviously there is a difference in quality and service. Much as there is in my detailing package. The risk is yours, too take, by going elsewhere."
"I understand that you feel my prices are too high;however, I have put much effort into offering superior service/value and can not compromise my product by lowering my fees. I will apologize once for my price but will never apologize for the quality of my finished product"
In a nutshell, I am telling them--- YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR
You will also notice I used "we" in my story, it takes out the confrontation and shows that you can relate to their initial sticker shock
I have had occassions when a customer was referred to me and insisted that he wanted me to do his car but wouldn't/couldn't pay my price. He was absolutely adamant that I come down on my price. I would not budge, I know what my service is worth and after about the third request for a lower price, I started raising the price. That threw him for a loop. You should have seen his face. I offered him one last chance to accept my initial price or I was going to continue to raise my price. He promptly took it and has been a loyal customer since.
" Sir/Mam, I am sure, like myself, you have gone to Applebees or Rubys for a hamburger?"
Typically the answer is yes. If they say no, just tell them to bear with you on the story and that you think they will get the point
"Why did we go to Applebees for a hamburger and pay $10 when we could could have gone to McDonalds and pay $1!?"
"Obviously there is a difference in quality and service. Much as there is in my detailing package. The risk is yours, too take, by going elsewhere."
"I understand that you feel my prices are too high;however, I have put much effort into offering superior service/value and can not compromise my product by lowering my fees. I will apologize once for my price but will never apologize for the quality of my finished product"
In a nutshell, I am telling them--- YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR
You will also notice I used "we" in my story, it takes out the confrontation and shows that you can relate to their initial sticker shock
I have had occassions when a customer was referred to me and insisted that he wanted me to do his car but wouldn't/couldn't pay my price. He was absolutely adamant that I come down on my price. I would not budge, I know what my service is worth and after about the third request for a lower price, I started raising the price. That threw him for a loop. You should have seen his face. I offered him one last chance to accept my initial price or I was going to continue to raise my price. He promptly took it and has been a loyal customer since.