how to handle weekly customer/spending to much money?

Q

quamen

New member
I have had this one customer who has been with me since i started my own business for the past 4 years now. Most of you know i attend college and im graduatiing this year, so i love the money detailing makes me while going through school. The customer Im dealiing with has 3 black cars that i do weekly washes on/wiping down the inside. He recently started giving me 250-300 per week which i think is a little to much money. I left money behind one day, and he called very angry and upset and said never do that again. I always make sure his cars look their best, but i still feel he is spending to much money on me washing these cars. What should i do, because i feel like im taking advantage of him? I told him it would normally be like 45 a car, but he says that is to cheap. most of the time to, im only doing 2 of the cars, cause one car is kept in the garage which he really never drives. Somtimes i will wash one car and he will give me 600 dollars on numerous occassions, and i feel awkward taking this amount of money. I belive the guy has a pretty good cash flow, but his cars are actually quite common. 2 avalanches (one he gave to his unce so now he has 1), a small mercedes benz and a corvertte.
 
As long as you are doing the best work possble for him and he is happy, then its all good. Just make sure that you always take care of him.
 
Wow that's some customer! Very strange :eek:



I see nothing ethically wrong with you taking the money. I mean you explained it too him and he still insist on over paying, so I don't know. Unless there is something illegal going on here and he's laundering money through you :)
 
I understand dilemma you are in. Considering he insists there is nothing you can do. What you can do though is provide an extra value back. Don't do just wash. Do some paint cleaning, polishing, whatever. Use nothing but best on exterior and interior for him. Invest few extra hours and some extra dollars for that special touch for such special customers.
 
He must value the services you provide and is paying you what he feels your services are worth.



I agree with giving him freebies..



I actually have a very generous customer (not as generous as yours) and he also gets insulted when i tell him he's paying me too much.. I tried to give him money back and he has since begun to pay by checks,
 
Is it just the basic wash? Are you serious? Wow. Hey look, don't worry this is karma paying you back for something I'm sure you deserve. He must love the quality of your work, and good on you.
 
if you made the point that he is over paying you (very cool of you being honest!) and he still insist on paying you that much still, then accept it. he obviously trusts you, just make sure to treat his cars like gold (which i'm sure you do), like the way you take care of your own...
 
There are some very generous, very wealthy people in this world. Some of 'em tip waitresses, others tip their housekeepers, this one tips his detailer. Sounds like everybody involved oughta be happy.



And FWIW, I know a few high-net-worth folks who drive very average vehicles, so I wouldn't read anything into his choices there.
 
Its obvious your customer values your service very much . Don't sell yourself short . I could see if you handed him a bill for $300 for those services and he freaked out but he knew your prices up front . You've been doing business with him for 4 years so that should tell you a few things .

A: He loves your work . B: He doesn't care about the price . & C: He's very generous when it comes to tipping ( he knows your price per car for a wash) so consider the extra your tip.



Continue to treat him right and thank God you have a customer like that. Rest easy my friend .:chuckle:
 
He obvioulsy appreciates your good work and wants to show his gratitude.

You've made it known to him that he's overpaying you and he's made it known to you that's what he wants to do.

Just accept it. Count your blessings.

You're not doing anything wrong.



If it really makes you feel that bad then pick a charity or a friend in need and do the same.



Josh
 
SpoiledMan said:
If you feel *that* bad about it let him go but GIVE HIM MY NUMBER BEFORE YOU DO!:D;)
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you beat me to the punch line!

i would just do a few extra things to the cars that he would appreciate.

sooner or later you find that some vehicles are under quoted so it really would balance out in the long run.
 
themightytimmah said:
Someone probably helped him out in college, so now that he's well off, he's paying it forward.
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I think Timmah has this nailed.



My wife and I had a friend in financial straits, it was a choice of having Christmas or losing her home.



Between the firehouse, the fire academy, detailing and my wife's job, we had a very good year. We bought gifts for her kids and even bought their Christmas tree.



Paying it forward is a great feeling! :woot2:
 
I detailed all through college and continued to expand my biz after as well. I had a couple customers like this. They placed a very high value on finding someone offering the quality that I did.



In lieu of being compensated so well, I took it upon myself to add the value to the service I felt was reasonable. Maybe a leather clean/condition one week or add an extra polish step to the next full service etc etc.



Many good detailers under value themselves/ their service. Keep up the good work, let your customers know you appreciate it (and show them in your work) and it will open doors for you and your business.
 
Accumulator said:
There are some very generous, very wealthy people in this world. Some of 'em tip waitresses, others tip their housekeepers, this one tips his detailer. Sounds like everybody involved oughta be happy.
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110% agreed.



When detailing is no longer "spending cash" while in school but is rather paying your mortgage and putting food on your table you'll then understand just how wonderful and valuable a client like that is.



Make his cars perfect, ALWAYS make him happy, take the money and move on.
 
I can comprehend your guilt feeling but, according to you, you have been upfront about the fella spending too much. Assuming that: he understands that & still gives you excess........go with the flow! As many have mentioned give a little bit more each and every time! Take what you would normally charge and use it. Take the excess and put it away in whatever form you think will serve you well in the future. A hundred or so a week in a HSBC account at 5+% will grow quickly. Ride this train as long as you are able without taking advantage of anyone.
 
Just seems very generous to me. Although I don't get stuff like that I did get $45 in a tip for 2 washes from a weekly customer recently. Usually get something but not that much. As long as he doesn't ask you to wax his shifter you should be fine.
 
these are just basic washes on the vehicles. I do whatever to make them look the best all the time,which they do. he does this routine right through the winter even though it will snow, i bring them to my buddies shop. Thanks for the replies on thsi topic.
 
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