Low Ballers!!!!!!!!!!

Anybody try to wholesale cars or broker deals to and from your clients?



I recently contacted a local self procalimed high-end detailer to introduce him to this business angle. Being a little on the rough side in my approach, I told him he could continue to break his back working in cold weather and water for $90 in profit or he could make $2000 for a few phone calls to his clients. He was receptive, I dont expect it to turn into a deal per month due to the limited time I have to push and train him to hunt, but I am sure it will generate a few dollars for both of us. If you are cleaning a guys Porsche and he wants out of it, why not buy it from him right there. He is already a sold client. Or at a minimum tell him you have a buyer for it and get cracking on the phone trying to dump it and grab a few $$$ for yourself.



Everyone has an agenda:

My agenda is to get an inside line on a high end used car for myself. I'd rather buy if direct than take a few trips to Manheim and hope I come home lucky.



I HOPE this guys agenda is to make a few extra $$$. I'll front the cash and expertise on the cars he finds if I can make enough dough.



Believe me, after being in the retail car business for 90% of my life, this is MUCH EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

You need to have a crystal ball that will tell you the following:

What is it worth today, in 30 days, in 60 days?

Was it treated well?

Is it the right color?

Is it the right transmission?

Is that a repainted fender and door or am I crazy?

Whats that smell from the engine?

Is that cold A/C or is it just 21 degrees outside?

Does it need a timing belt?

How long will it take to sell?

How many people want this car and where are they?

How much can I profit?

How much does it cost to fix that?

A new one leases for what?

There are how many for sale at the dealership in town for how much?
 
There are always going to be those lowballers that offer "identical" services at a more affordable rate. These are snakes and they will say whatever it takes to get jobs, they will always be here charging a lot less than a respected outfit and never really amounting to anything because of it. It's sad really.
 
No worries. The only image you need to be concerned with is the image you create for your own detailing business. And the only reason new clients are not calling is simply because you have not given them a good reason to discover what it is you have to offer.
 
ajbarnes said:
my problem is those that are not calling due to THE POOR IMAGE LOW BALLER'S ARE SETTING IN THIS INDUSTRY.



Image in a nutshell is an assumption of your company, so when you consistently have a bunch of low baller's running out here with a poor image, it puts a bad mark on the entire industry.
Click to expand...



No worries. The only image you need to be concerned with is the image you create for your own detailing business. And the only reason new clients are not calling is simply because you have not given them a good reason to discover what it is you have to offer.
 
mirrorfinishman said:
Everything you do other than the actual detailing will make you have a much easier time of selling your detailing services to new clients.



Think about it. Do you really want to attract the type of person who price shops? or would you perfer aiming your marketing efforts directly at those potential clients who are truely willing and able to pay the higher prices normally charged for honest professional detailing services?
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Exactly! People who look on craiglist for detailers are looking for a cheap detail. People who want a proper detail aren't going to read that guy's ad and say "OMG! I bet he does awesome work. I better schedule him right away to detail my Ferrari!".



Detailing at our level is reputation driven, not price driven.
 
I deal with it all the time in my own business, I do Commercial financing and large Business acquisitions, expansions, Venture Cap etc. I have fee agreements signed that are legally protected and binding, if some schmuko comes along and says he'll do it for a fraction of my fee (which usually the desperate schmucks couldn't structure a transaction at all and just try to get an upfront non-refundable fee since their desperate) when I'm halfway through the deal or close to closing...once in awhile a client will consider it b/c I deal with large transaction numbers, I just politely tell them if thats their choice I'll see you in court and still collect the fee even if they go elsewhere.



You'll always have the people that are morons and don't understand the work invovled, and this carries over to detailing, sure somebody will tell them they'll detail the car for 50 bucks...you charge more, but you also clay and polish the paint and protect with a good lsp, clean and condition the leather and trim etc. If they don't get that, don't waste your time.



Heck in my own biz I'll have people call back that initially wouldn't agree in the beginning only to find out they've been jerked around by others and come back to me, but at that point I'm too busy and won't waste my time and tell them to go elsewhere...may sound cocky but I don't have time to waste with these deals.
 
Craigslist is possibly our best marketing resource. It costs us nothing and books lots of work. Sometimes I have to pull the ad because we can't keep up.



Here's how we succeeded on Craigslist. We post a logo. Hacks have no logo. We post 9 before photos: trashed cars, dirty leather, skin on the turn signals, stained carpets, and tar and road tar on the paint. The photos are large and high res. We post 9 after photos that demonstrate our ability to correct those issues. Hacks don't: clean the gear shift, clean between seats, clean headliners, clean trunk jambs, clean kick plates, scrub the pedals clean, clean all buttons, levers, and switches. It's clear, after scrolling through 18 large photos, that our service goes well beyond hack work and is worth the extra money. Our prices (which are high) are posted clearly and no one calls to haggle.



The Internet--because it's visual--gives you a chance to separate yourself from hacks. Show pictures of work that hacks can't offer and you'll get pro prices and plenty of it.
 
AppliedColors said:
Craigslist is possibly our best marketing resource. It costs us nothing and books lots of work. Sometimes I have to pull the ad because we can't keep up.



Here's how we succeeded on Craigslist. We post a logo. Hacks have no logo. We post 9 before photos: trashed cars, dirty leather, skin on the turn signals, stained carpets, and tar and road tar on the paint. The photos are large and high res. We post 9 after photos that demonstrate our ability to correct those issues. Hacks don't: clean the gear shift, clean between seats, clean headliners, clean trunk jambs, clean kick plates, scrub the pedals clean, clean all buttons, levers, and switches. It's clear, after scrolling through 18 large photos, that our service goes well beyond hack work and is worth the extra money. Our prices (which are high) are posted clearly and no one calls to haggle.



The Internet--because it's visual--gives you a chance to separate yourself from hacks. Show pictures of work that hacks can't offer and you'll get pro prices and plenty of it.
Click to expand...



That sounds like a great idea. Would you mind posting an example of one of your ads?
 
AppliedColors said:
Craigslist is possibly our best marketing resource. It costs us nothing and books lots of work. Sometimes I have to pull the ad because we can't keep up.



Here's how we succeeded on Craigslist. We post a logo. Hacks have no logo. We post 9 before photos: trashed cars, dirty leather, skin on the turn signals, stained carpets, and tar and road tar on the paint. The photos are large and high res. We post 9 after photos that demonstrate our ability to correct those issues. Hacks don't: clean the gear shift, clean between seats, clean headliners, clean trunk jambs, clean kick plates, scrub the pedals clean, clean all buttons, levers, and switches. It's clear, after scrolling through 18 large photos, that our service goes well beyond hack work and is worth the extra money. Our prices (which are high) are posted clearly and no one calls to haggle.



The Internet--because it's visual--gives you a chance to separate yourself from hacks. Show pictures of work that hacks can't offer and you'll get pro prices and plenty of it.
Click to expand...



Stop!

You are telling us that the business for Applied Colors is so busy from a single free Craigslist ad that you have to pull the ad because you cant keep up with the sales? How can you be too busy to take someones money? You need help?



Is the ad to buy the Applied Colors painting tools or is the as for Aplied Colors to perform labor? From what your post reads, it sounds like you are selling interior detailing.



I havent had any luck with Craigslist as a seller or a buyer.
 
jsatek said:
Stop!

You are telling us that the business for Applied Colors is so busy from a single free Craigslist ad that you have to pull the ad because you cant keep up with the sales? How can you be too busy to take someones money? You need help?



Is the ad to buy the Applied Colors painting tools or is the as for Aplied Colors to perform labor? From what your post reads, it sounds like you are selling interior detailing.



I havent had any luck with Craigslist as a seller or a buyer.
Click to expand...



I own a three person reconditioning shop as well as Applied Colors. We don't promote Applied Colors on CL, but have had great results promoting the reconditioning shop.



I'll PM you a link to the ad. You'll see that there's plenty of exterior detailing in the ad as well.
 
jsatek said:
Stop!

You are telling us that the business for Applied Colors is so busy from a single free Craigslist ad that you have to pull the ad because you cant keep up with the sales? How can you be too busy to take someones money? You need help?



Is the ad to buy the Applied Colors painting tools or is the as for Aplied Colors to perform labor? From what your post reads, it sounds like you are selling interior detailing.



I havent had any luck with Craigslist as a seller or a buyer.
Click to expand...



Check your private messages.
 
AppliedColors said:
I own a three person reconditioning shop as well as Applied Colors. We don't promote Applied Colors on CL, but have had great results promoting the reconditioning shop.



I'll PM you a link to the ad. You'll see that there's plenty of exterior detailing in the ad as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Good info. Most dont have luck on Craigslist. I set up a thread to see where and who is doing what with it. Maybe its the approach, maybe the region.
 
I had a mixed bag of luck on CL at first. Then i followed applied colors route. It worked excellent. My problem is now every time i post a CL add the hacks flag it down and the CL mods take it down.



Shrug.
 
Scottwax said:
Exactly! People who look on craiglist for detailers are looking for a cheap detail. People who want a proper detail aren't going to read that guy's ad and say "OMG! I bet he does awesome work. I better schedule him right away to detail my Ferrari!".



Detailing at our level is reputation driven, not price driven.
Click to expand...



This is exactly the point. Detailers who sell based on the quality of their work and not the quality of their marketing are driven almost 100% by word of mouth from satisfied customers.



I know that most of the top detailers on this forum simply put themselves out there let their work speak for them.



Let your work dictate its own price rather than your competition.
 
AppliedColors said:
Craigslist is possibly our best marketing resource. It costs us nothing and books lots of work. Sometimes I have to pull the ad because we can't keep up.



Here's how we succeeded on Craigslist. We post a logo. Hacks have no logo. We post 9 before photos: trashed cars, dirty leather, skin on the turn signals, stained carpets, and tar and road tar on the paint. The photos are large and high res. We post 9 after photos that demonstrate our ability to correct those issues. Hacks don't: clean the gear shift, clean between seats, clean headliners, clean trunk jambs, clean kick plates, scrub the pedals clean, clean all buttons, levers, and switches. It's clear, after scrolling through 18 large photos, that our service goes well beyond hack work and is worth the extra money. Our prices (which are high) are posted clearly and no one calls to haggle.



The Internet--because it's visual--gives you a chance to separate yourself from hacks. Show pictures of work that hacks can't offer and you'll get pro prices and plenty of it.
Click to expand...



Sounds like it works, but it definitely isn't a given. I've done the same things you've just described... before/after photos in high-res to show what I can do, post a logo so it has the "img" next the ad title to draw more interest, from catchy titles to plain old generic ones... it doesn't really matter. Granted, these types of ads have drawn more interest (if you can call it that), but it all amounts to the same thing... lots of emails, of which I return promptly with very involved and friendly responses, and about 1 out of 10 people that actually respond back again... of which say they want to set something up but never do.



Don't get me wrong, I've had some good stuff come from CL but not as of lately at all. CL is for bargain hunters. Detailing is not a bargain hunter sport. I've learned that trying to gain business by advertising on CL is like putting a Ferrari dealership in the projects. A lot of interest, but no one that will actually follow through.



(Keep in mind that CL is obviously very much area-related, so luck will change depending on your area)
 
BuffMe said:
Granted, these types of ads have drawn more interest (if you can call it that), but it all amounts to the same thing... lots of emails, of which I return promptly with very involved and friendly responses, and about 1 out of 10 people that actually respond back again... of which say they want to set something up but never do.
Click to expand...



I think one of the problems a lot of detailers have is not providing a direct route for customers. When you go in and buy a car, everything is already set out. The customer does not have to worry about anything because it is taken care of. All they have to worry about is whether they would like to go through with it.



So, if a customer wants a detail, there should be a road for them to follow. Link to your website, show them how they can pay - guide them along the way. Make it easy.



Take care of your customers.
 
Found this on craigslist this evening:







Date: 2008-02-16, 8:34PM CST





Do u have a car that needs detailing? We can provide you with auto detailing for only $19. Please let us be of service to you. Thank you.
 
ajnavo61490 said:
Found this on craigslist this evening:







Date: 2008-02-16, 8:34PM CST





Do u have a car that needs detailing? We can provide you with auto detailing for only $19. Please let us be of service to you. Thank you.
Click to expand...



The counter to that is also advertise on craigslist and tell them what you would do. You can use a negative statement about "ask what others do for their price"....
 
ajnavo61490 said:
Found this on craigslist this evening:







Date: 2008-02-16, 8:34PM CST





Do u have a car that needs detailing? We can provide you with auto detailing for only $19. Please let us be of service to you. Thank you.
Click to expand...





I don't think of those guys as the "low ballers". I think low ballers often have decent knowledge of products and procedures, but they hold the industry down by pretending to do high quality work for a few hundred bucks. So when we have a handful of these guys operating and telling their clients that the job he did was equal to anyone in the area, that's very detrimental to the growth of our niche industry.
 
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