Hack 'n Swirl for some extra cash

And the above pic is why I just don't deal with paint. Lot more involved than I am capable of managing. Can swing a frighteningly lovely interior, tho. :)
 
I have been doing the same amount of work the past 15 or twenty years. I have a car wash behind my house or the next block over. They do quick details for 65.00 bucks ....after they F---um up. My service is there to correct it....for my normal exterior fee of 175.00 compound is 40.00 dollars more. I will do some correcting in the NORMAL fee of 175.00. If you cant pay the 175.00....I take the day off and drive my convertible. Dont worry there are plenty of folks who want it QUALITY.
 
You cant do all the cars....but the ones you do can be superb. Go to BenLeonereviews. From google "Ben Leone Reviews" its all about reputation in this business. If you have a superior reputation....YOUR CLIENTS WILL FIND YOU! Good luck my friends and always do superior work and dont give the work away! Giving hard labor away makes me cry. I dont do it any more. I stopped about 28 years ago. Paintxpert.
 
great way to put it. I couldnt read the whole thing without pissin myself because i went undercover at Brothers detail center(huge competitor last summer, until they couldnt pay the rent) and this is exactly what happened to every car that came in.

1 Pure acid was used to clean wheels.



2 Flippin powerwashed all interior components(yes even the radio, ac vents, and even the windows)



I even remember one truck that came in.... The fuc*ing owner of the shop didnt even wash the damn thing and went to town with the milwalkee buffer, high speed,wool pad, and 3m compound (that was the detail $120)



I cant believe these theives actually get away with this stuff. It just makes me sick that I have no buisness on a given saturday and see hack shops loaded.



As much as I care about my customers cars, they dont understand the process that i go trough, it eve turns some off as i spend 20+ + hours on a car.



I guess life's a learning expierience ;}
 
Thanks for bumping this thread and opening my eyes. Today most people want a car that runs GREAT and looks good. Now the looks good would be where the compromise comes in because many people want there car to run and pass inspection...



A local detailer told me $200 to do my car which I thought was fair but when I asked him what he used I was a bit scared. He replied with "Over the counter Meguiars" now Meguiars has a professional line and he seems to be a pro so why not use that?!?!?!?!?



I have to admit I want my car running perfect and looking just as perfect but I don't have the knowledge or resources to do so. But I know I won't fall for such a cheap deal. And really just inform people not to go to these people and have them visit a touch less car wash. So long they do that and the "Pat down drying technique" with some wax there car should be OK but not $10,000 detailer charge perfect. But I must also admit I try my best and still can't come close to a Autopian finish on my best day. But you guy are the best and only true detailing forum out there so we all have a big voice.



By the way the main post in this topic scared me a lot, Honestly I felt sick.



Thank you all for your help!!! :)
 
nushine31223 said:
great way to put it. I couldnt read the whole thing without pissin myself because i went undercover at Brothers detail center(huge competitor last summer, until they couldnt pay the rent) and this is exactly what happened to every car that came in.

1 Pure acid was used to clean wheels.



2 Flippin powerwashed all interior components(yes even the radio, ac vents, and even the windows)



I even remember one truck that came in.... The fuc*ing owner of the shop didnt even wash the damn thing and went to town with the milwalkee buffer, high speed,wool pad, and 3m compound (that was the detail $120)
Click to expand...





I'm not making this stuff up.



I used to work at a hack shop where we probably did everything on that list.



I could tell you some stories about that place that would give you nightmares.



I've come to realize, though, that I'll have to agree with John on this one. It's unfortunate, but the more cars they butcher, the more work there is for me :)
 
Funny, but there is absolutely a market for a service that can be done in an hour or so. Only, it would be done the correct way by a properly trained team and priced at $60 or so.
 
I changed all my pricing around because of the market as well. I used to have a set price on a detail because I expect high work for a reasonable price, but people always told me a charged too much. Well now that I changed my pricing and level of work I have 75% more business... I try to educate people what a detail is so I can sell them more and make more money.. But before I was just cutting down my details to actually get business at one point. I have just a basic wash dry and really basic interior cleaning starting at like $50 and than I have other packages that include clay bar and a polish that go up to $300 than I have my paint correction details that I charge by the hour
 
What amazes me is that people will take months thinking about what kind of car to get, weeks looking for the "one" with all the options and color they want, days bartering over a couple hundred bucks and then spend upwards of $50,000 or more on their perfect vehicle, (Men and Women alike). Only to squeeze into that closest spot at the mall or drive 10 miles out of their way to go to the $2.50 car wash. Now these people call you crazy or worse for parking far away, or taking up 2 spots at the farthest space from a stores entrance. (Done only to protect your car against the moron who opens their door with the same force needed to propel the Space Shuttle into orbit.)



They are also offended when you ask them not to let their kids scrape their handle bars against your car or you ask them to not rub, put anything on top of or lean against your perfectly maintained vehicle.



Now if you were to go into this same person's home and put your cold drink on their $2000.00 wood table (leaving a water ring), or walk on their brand new carpet with dirty shoes the woman of the house would have your butt. On the flip side of this go up to some guy's flat screen and put a big scratch in it, big enough that every time light hits it at the right angle he notices it or when watching certain movies it looks bigger than it really is. What might be the outcome of that? A seriously bruised friendship to say the least! Probably much worse.



So how is it that when we get upset about the way people treat our cars, which costs 10, 20, 50 times more than those items, we are jerks, we don't understand that kids are just that way, etc.........



I guess the moral of the story is people just need to respect other people's wishes in regards to their property regardless of what it may be!!!!!!



One last thought. If "IT'S JUST A CAR" then why do those same people spend all that time getting a car/truck/suv that they really like? If it's just a car than go pick up the cheapest car that fits your needs with no regards to color or coolness factor or how you'll look in it and buy it. I mean "IT'S JUST A CAR"
 
What amazes me is that people will take months thinking about what kind of car to get, weeks looking for the "one" with all the options and color they want, days bartering over a couple hundred bucks and then spend upwards of $50,000 or more on their perfect vehicle, (Men and Women alike). Only to squeeze into that closest spot at the mall or drive 10 miles out of their way to go to the $2.50 car wash. Now these people call you crazy or worse for parking far away, or taking up 2 spots at the farthest space from a store's entrance. (Done only to protect your car against the moron who opens their door with the same force needed to propel the Space Shuttle into orbit.)



They are also offended when you ask them not to let their kids scrape their handle bars against your car or you ask them to not rub, put anything on top of or lean against your perfectly maintained vehicle.



Now if you were to go into this same person's home and put your cold drink on their $2000.00 wood table (leaving a water ring), or walk on their brand new carpet with dirty shoes what would you think the lady of the house would say?



On the flip side of this go up to some guy's flat screen and put a big scratch in it. Big enough that every time light hits it at the right angle he notices it or when watching certain movies it looks bigger than it really is. What might be the outcome of that? A seriously bruised friendship to say the least! Probably much worse.



So how is it that when we get upset about the way people treat our cars, which costs 10, 20, 50 times more than those items, we are jerks, we don't understand that kids are just that way, etc.........



I guess the moral of the story is people just need to respect other people's wishes in regards to their property regardless of what it may be!!!!!!



One last thought. If "IT'S JUST A CAR" then why do these same people spend all that time getting a car/truck/suv that they really like? If it's just a car, than go pick up the cheapest car that fits your needs with no regards to color or coolness factor or how you'll look in it and buy it. I mean "IT'S JUST A CAR"
 
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