Interesting Question on Pricing...

basswood

basswood

Atlanta
I did not want to hijack xtreme717's thread on pricing but it piqued my interest.

I've been on this forum for only a short time and ALL of you have been extremely helpful and totally giving of your expertise. For that I can never thank you enough.

Someone once asked me "how much money do you make?" My response was "if you"ll forgive me for not answering that question, I will certainly pardon you for even asking it."

I am just currently an enthusiast. Mine is a 2014 Lexus RX350 and hers is an ebony 2007 Jaguar XK Coupe. I have learned enough from your expertise generosity to have each of them in excellent condition. That black Jag is a nightmare!

As I am retired and in the last couple of years have found a passion for car
care, I am moving into the detailing arena. Yes, I have done some friends cars gratis to get some basic experience and I have also charged some other friends to do their cars.

If you've read this far, you need help.

The title of this missive is pricing. Anyone can go to any of your websites and determine what you charge.

In the short time I've been playing with our and a few others cars I've found that when you amortize the cost of product, it is minimal. So, now you have overhead and labor. I think that the labor tab is where the profit is made. After having done a few ten hour corrections, this dumba** has the utmost respect for what you professionals do for a living.

I understand that demographics and target audience is crucial to pricing. While I am merely a small start up, my target is the full service customer from word of mouth.

You're still reading? You are a total loss.

I have seen no reason that $75.00 per hour is out of line. The folks that I have quoted this to have been very receptive. Now, I will never be a Jean-Claude or a Todd Cooperider but that's not a bad level to aspire to.

What say you? Target practice is now open but keep in mind that I am a member of the NRA.

Warmest regards to all,
Tom
 
Market plays such a key part of this. I think $75/hr in CA is probably going to be a lot easier than, say Mississippi. Then there are always those people who drive Lambos and want a full detail for $100 in any market.
 
Tom -
Long time, no hear..

Looks like you have been been enjoying what some of us have/had been doing for a living..
This is great !!

I'm thinking whatever the Market will bear in your target area will have to be at least the Baseline from where one would start thinking about, when pricing..

Does your experience and skillset match your pricing ?

Will you be working alone ?

How long do you estimate it will take you and your Team, to completely go through a
vehicle that has not been Detailed in years, front to back ?

10 hours ? 20 Hours ? 20+ hours ?

Equipment wise - it takes a few thousand to get all the things that will make this work easier and get the best results, in my experience..

I'm of the persuasion, that Detailers who crank them out for a living have had more Lean times than the normal 8-5 job, because we dont always have work, we have to sometimes sacrifice a little bit here and there for the future and hope we will get it back then..

Some break into the higher levels of exotic car Detailing and all the attendant good and bad of that place, and having done some of those exotics, I can tell you personally, it takes a lot more work and absolute discipline and attention to Detail, to achieve the desired results and not have anything go wrong, etc..

The rest of us who bang out or banged out car-after-car-for-years, and after paying for all the Overhead, Supplies, Rent, Insurance, etc., and gave away hours of our time just because, can say that if it were not for the Love of doing this, we would probably be better off financially doing something else.. :)

When I was living in WA., I was averaging between 65-75 vehicles a year, doing it alone, all year long..
Winter was harder of course, to do things, and sometimes I would be shut down for a week or two..

Are you going to just Detail when you want and not Detail full time ?

Good to hear from you again, Tom !
Dan F
 
Thanks guys. All valid points that I or anyone need to consider.

I've been here all along...just have had nothing remotely intelligent to add.

We all know the phrase " tis sometimes better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool..." :)

Best to all,
Tom
 
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