Mobile Detailers...

Beccia

New member
or anyone with fleet vehicles or vehicles advertising your business - I would assume, if using your vehicle for advertising purposes, would it be safe to assume that your vehicle would be well maintained, both mechanically and in appearance?



I ask mostly due to my commute home from work, i passed a rickety white van with rust spots, dirty interior, and spewing smoke from the exhaust, advertising for mobile 'detailing services'. I am not a business owner or professional detailer, but i do strive to uphold proper vehicle appearance care.



I do not recall the name of the company, nor the website/number as it was gone by the next traffic light, nor do I know the quality of work, but that first impression turned me off.



Please shed some light on this subject, as I would assume a 'professional appearance' extends to company vehicles.
 
Don't tell Eric, but I envy his setup! This is how a mobile van should look!



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^ So True!



Please, more discussion. How important is the professional image when it comes to your vehicles?



Have there been success stories where you gained business just from your vehicle?



Have there been horror stories of lost clients because of vehicle appearance? what were the lessons learned?
 
I totally agree that a clean vehicle is important. That said, sometimes the last thing I want to do after detailing all day is clean my own vehicle. Of course, my car dirty looks far better than the average car. My business comes primarily from referrals and my work speaks for itself. First impressions are everything and I usually at least wash my car when going to meet someone for the first time to assess their vehicle.



Why someone would use a detailer with a van like you described is beyond me. It's kind of like hiring a personal trainer who is 100 pounds overweight.
 
Nth Degree said:
I totally agree that a clean vehicle is important. That said, sometimes the last thing I want to do after detailing all day is clean my own vehicle. Of course, my car dirty looks far better than the average car. My business comes primarily from referrals and my work speaks for itself. First impressions are everything and I usually at least wash my car when going to meet someone for the first time to assess their vehicle.



Why someone would use a detailer with a van like you described is beyond me. It's kind of like hiring a personal trainer who is 100 pounds overweight.



I agree on the personal trainer analogy. BTW great save on the Lexus interior turnaround you posted.. and no, i don't mean that everytime you pack up from a detail you give your vehicle a good one-step and sealant, but keeping it maintained i would think would be a positive towards customer impressions. Thank you for your input
 
Distinguish yourself from the competition; always ensure you look more like a "business" than just someone who cleans cars. Selling your service to an audience - it follows then, that if the salesman doesn't look the part, he can expect the door to be slammed in his face. Perception is reality from the customer's point of view. A clean and well presented work vehicle, wearing a polo shirt and dark colour khaki pants or shorts; gives people confidence in you and your business; which is the main reason most people choose to purchase your services.
 
TOGWT said:
Distinguish yourself from the competition; always ensure you look more like a "business" than just someone who cleans cars. Selling your service to an audience - it follows then, that if the salesman doesn't look the part, he can expect the door to be slammed in his face. Perception is reality from the customer's point of view. A clean and well presented work vehicle, wearing a polo shirt and dark colour khaki pants or shorts; gives people confidence in you and your business; which is the main reason most people choose to purchase your services.



That is a very good statement, and one that has been present in other forum threads as well. When dealing with manufacturer's sales reps in my line of work, the ones that take that extra minute in the morning to button up their appearance and polish their presentations are the reps that get the best reception - the ones that follow it up with quality products and service to us/our clients are the ones that get the business.
 
I agree with everything posted. I use a 95 GMC safari van and even though it has a little rust I certainly try to keep it clean as possible. Especially when visiting potential new clients in a neighborhood. Since it's just used when working, it stays pretty clean. I polish it in the spring and fall and wash and spray wax throughout the summer when time permits.
 
I keep my car clean, but since it is a metallic gold (Desert Mist Metallic according to Honda), even when it is dirty it still looks pretty good. I think it is important that you show up in a vehicle that looks good cosmetically.
 
"If a detailers car is clean, you aint making money" -Barry Theal





I guess this is how Todd Helme make so much money?



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Well here's mine.......

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I believe I MUST keep mine clean no matter what. It's all about the image. Believe me, if someone see a speck of dirt on my "mobile office", they will be commenting.
 
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