Help With Bulk Detailing

[todd@bsaw]

Sounds like you're in over your head on the dealer account, but it's always your best option to talk directly with the man in charge at the dealership and be straight up with him. You really appreciate the steady work and atmosphere at the dealership, but are having to turn down higher paying jobs to continue offering them that service. You have no other choice than to either charge more for your recon work (or do less) or drop the account entirely. If you have a good working relationship with them, they may be willing to work with you on pricing or process.



It sounds to me like you are doing a LOT more than you need to for the money. If that is what the dealer is expecting, then you need to ask for more money. Put yourself in the dealer's shoes for a minute. If you were risking losing your detailer sub-contractor because you aren't paying him enough, would you rather pay a little more for the work or have to find a new detailer to take care of all the recon work? Given how you view the "other" detailers around this may be an easy scenario for you.

 

[EBPcivicsi]

Sounds like you're in over your head on the dealer account, but it's always your best option to talk directly with the man in charge at the dealership and be straight up with him. You really appreciate the steady work and atmosphere at the dealership, but are having to turn down higher paying jobs to continue offering them that service. You have no other choice than to either charge more for your recon work (or do less) or drop the account entirely. If you have a good working relationship with them, they may be willing to work with you on pricing or process.



It sounds to me like you are doing a LOT more than you need to for the money. If that is what the dealer is expecting, then you need to ask for more money. Put yourself in the dealer's shoes for a minute. If you were risking losing your detailer sub-contractor because you aren't paying him enough, would you rather pay a little more for the work or have to find a new detailer to take care of all the recon work? Given how you view the "other" detailers around this may be an easy scenario for you.

Yeah, these guys that I work with a contractors within a large dealership--they pay individually. They would probably be willing to pay the differnce.



My problem with doing less is that I have to change my system, essentially this means "untrain" my guys. It's not a dealbreaker, but could be a potential PITA.



I do like the work, but I am in business to turm profit, not charity.

 

[todd@bsaw]

Yeah, when you learn to detail the "autopian" way, there tends to be a stigma or at least a feeling of inadequacy when doing wholesale work. However, you have to come to the realization sometime that not everybody cares or expects that quality of work. This is true especially when it comes to wholesale.



By the way, I don't bother to blow dry or even clean jams until I already have the doors open and am working on the interior. Then I just moisten it with the steamer and wipe down..

 

[vtec92civic]

nice to see that i'm not the only one who is benefiting from this thread. I think there is a lot to be learned and a lot of very good information here for everyone.

 

[Driven Auto Detail]

Yeah, these guys that I work with a contractors within a large dealership--they pay individually. They would probably be willing to pay the differnce.



My problem with doing less is that I have to change my system, essentially this means "untrain" my guys. It's not a dealbreaker, but could be a potential PITA.



I do like the work, but I am in business to turm profit, not charity.

Excellent point, Joe. I completely agree.

 

[tssdetailing]

I feel as though we are pretty efficient. I just can't see how a detail (wholesale recon) on a trade-in can be done in 2 hours.

I'm with you there. I guess it's like Todd said, we have high standards and it's difficult to lower them to meet the standards of the dealer. I mean, really what do they want? Surely no spots on the carpet or dash. I can't imagine effectively using a polisher for less than 2 hours alone!



This weekend I did a simple job, clean the interior and wash/wax the exterior on what i would call a typical trade in car (it was a retail gig and the guy was looking to sell his civic privately, just wanted it cleaned up nice). I guess I over killed the interior, b/c I scrubbed every panel with DP total, then spot treated, shampooed and extracted the carpets and seats since everything was cloth. That alone took me 3 hours. Moved on to the exterior-ONR, clayed ONR'd again then waxed. Another 3 hours there. I'm either that slow or that meticulous! And to me, this was a simple job but it took 6 damn hours...no way I could validate making $100 putting 6 hours into a dealer car.