How do you approach a PREMIUM dealership?
- Thread starter danforz
- Start date
AMDin93103
I like cheese.
I'd approach the dealership with unquestionable confidence in your work and explain to them how your services may benefit their establishment in a way that no other detailers could. Your pricing should be relative to the type of services you are providing. I would focus on a delivery prep to make sure the vehicle is in premium shape before the purchaser receives it. You could also have a small package of documents that the dealership can include with any other purchase paperwork allowing the client to follow up with you for future care.
imported_JoshVette
New member
Danforz said:
Not ever doing a Lambo, but understanding how to be delicate with soft clears and such, I would use only new wash mitts, very clean materials, the best sealents, soft nonaggresive clays and the best leather conditioners and take my time on each vehicle and charge roughly $150 starting for all that with only 1 shot of the sealent and add $20 per extra coatings explaining how much durability will be with each extra coat.
Probably take a good 2 1/2 hours per car, maybe a little longer on some of the bigger Bentleys.
AMDin93103
I like cheese.
Danforz said:
Charge what your services warrant. Raise your prices when you see fit; not per job or client. . . when the work you are doing is valued at more than what you were previously charging. If you charge $100 to wash and seal a sedan at this dealer, you should charge a bill to wash and wax your existing clients E350. I pass on a higher rate to a client when the work I am performing is more intense than what I typically provide. Therefor, I regularly charge a client based on my overhead costs with the addition of my percentage of profit but when I start compounding a single stage '69 MB, I factor in the sweat involved. That is very subjective.
Assuming you have calculated your overhead (insurance, licensing and product), you should know what it is you need to charge. No one detailers' rates are going to be the same; similar maybe. The best person to consult would be your Bookkeeper while considering the rates of the nearest competition, performance and geographically speaking.
Provide a better service at rates that meet their value. If the persons feel your offering will benefit them, you will have yourself a client.
Honestly to tell you the truth unless you have extensive experience with High end cars i wouldnt even bother... chances are they have very good detailers already and unless you can provide maybe a client list with high end cars or take a dirty car from them and make it look brand new than i think they will tell you that they are all set just my opinion from working on high end cars and doing a little work for very high end dealership
AMDin93103
I like cheese.
I believe it's better to try and fail than to never try at all. The better you prepare yourself, the more likely your are to succeed. M2¢
imported_JoshVette
New member
AMDin93103 said:
You never know what may happen.....
Worst they can tell you is no.
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
1 car per month isn't going to pay the bills, but every little bit counts. Take every last piece of business you can get. See if the dealer will allow you to contact the new owner of each vehicle they sell to see if you can maintain them.
Disclaimer: I'm not a pro detailer.
You gotta try for it; somebody's doing it, why not you?
Years ago when I was starting a custom finishing business, I approached the owners of a business that could provide referrals. I offered to paint a piece of their merchandise at no charge to show them what I could do. The matriarch was supposed to take it home when I was finished. They loved the piece and instead kept it in their showroom for years, sending me dozens of jobs. Would it make sense for you to offer them a free detail on the dirtiest car they've got? Or one that arrived with some swirls or marring?
If you could get a dealership to at least keep you in mind for customer referrals, I would think that would be a lucrative branch of business. Perhaps you could include a printed "booklet" on car care along with a couple of 2-4 oz. bottles of the products you used on the dealership's cars in a ziplock bag that's in the glove box or that the dealership gives out at the time of delivery. To carry that a step further, you might make up a car care kit, package it nicely with the Dealership's name and sell it to the dealer for your cost. People love getting free stuff! They've just spent six figures on a car and they still get excited over a free key fob or overnight bag, etc. Some of those buyers are going to love taking care of their own car, but most will probably want to hand it over to someone, and there's your name plastered all over the inside of their care kit...?
You gotta try for it; somebody's doing it, why not you?
Years ago when I was starting a custom finishing business, I approached the owners of a business that could provide referrals. I offered to paint a piece of their merchandise at no charge to show them what I could do. The matriarch was supposed to take it home when I was finished. They loved the piece and instead kept it in their showroom for years, sending me dozens of jobs. Would it make sense for you to offer them a free detail on the dirtiest car they've got? Or one that arrived with some swirls or marring?
If you could get a dealership to at least keep you in mind for customer referrals, I would think that would be a lucrative branch of business. Perhaps you could include a printed "booklet" on car care along with a couple of 2-4 oz. bottles of the products you used on the dealership's cars in a ziplock bag that's in the glove box or that the dealership gives out at the time of delivery. To carry that a step further, you might make up a car care kit, package it nicely with the Dealership's name and sell it to the dealer for your cost. People love getting free stuff! They've just spent six figures on a car and they still get excited over a free key fob or overnight bag, etc. Some of those buyers are going to love taking care of their own car, but most will probably want to hand it over to someone, and there's your name plastered all over the inside of their care kit...?
AMDin93103
I like cheese.
Danforz said:
. . . what are yours? Did you connect with the dealer yet?
Superior Shine
New member
If you have insurance be prepared for your insurance co to drop you like a bad habit or rasie your cost.
It happen to me. My first company dropped me, no questions asked. The second charges me nearly twice as much. I now pay almost $3000 a year with a $2500 deductable.
It happen to me. My first company dropped me, no questions asked. The second charges me nearly twice as much. I now pay almost $3000 a year with a $2500 deductable.