My detailing packages - advice needed!

J

jmkiang

New member
I've decided to supplement my full time salary with some side detailing on the weekends! Now, I'm not professional but I'm not a complete noob either :)



To start off my "business", I've thrown together some packages with products that I use on my own car. My method for cost was based on $20/hour all inclusive... tip appreciated ;)



Anyway, here they are. PLEASE feel free to comment/criticize. I would hate to mess up my own car and/or a customer's car!



Interior - $20 (~1 hour)

- Vacuum

- Clean carpet/mats with Duragloss Fabric/Carpet cleaner

- Wipe down interior trim with 303 Aerospace Protectant

- Clean leather seats with Four Star Ultimate Leather Cleaner Gel spray

- Condition leather seats with Zaino Z-10



Base – Interior +$20 (~2 hours)

- Wash car with Optimum Car Wash and Eurow sheep skin mitt

- Dry car with waffle weave towel and apply Eagle One NanoWax spray wax

- Wipe down door jambs with microfiber towels and spray wax

- Clean glass with Duragloss Glass Cleaner

- Apply Black Wow to plastic trim

- Clean wheels with Four Star Ultimate Wheel Cleaner Gel or Duragloss All Wheel Cleaner using a Carrand Sheepskin wand and Zymol wheel detailing brushes

- Dress tires

- Polish exhaust tips with Eagle One Nevr-Dull



Wax – Base +$20 (~3 hours)

- Apply Zaino Z-2 Show Car Polish (lighter color paint) or Z-5 Show Car Polish (darker color paint)

- Buff off with microfiber towels

- Apply Zaino Z-6 Ultra Clean Gloss Enhancer spray



Complete Overhaul – Base +$60 (~4-5 hours)

- Strip existing/leftover wax on paint Is this neccesary with ZPC? Should I do the "dawn" method?

- Clay if necessary with Zaino Z-18 ClayBar

- Use a Porter Cable 7424 and Zaino Z-PC Fusion Dual Action Cleaner Swirl Remover to clean and remove minor swirling / cobwebbing / paint defects

- Buff off with microfiber towels

- Apply Zaino Z-2 Show Car Polish (lighter color paint) or Z-5 Show Car Polish (darker color paint) by hand

- Buff off with microfiber towels

- Apply Zaino Z-6 Ultra Clean Gloss Enhancer spray and buff with a microfiber towel
Click to expand...



I think my time estimation is a little off for the "complete overhaul" package but we'll see!



I just casually threw this up on Craigslist the beginning of this week and have already gotten 3 cars interested! Theres also a couple coworkers and members on my car forum that might be interested as well.



I'd like to reiterate that I am no PRO (probably obvious when looking thru my packages) but then again, I don't charge people for PRO work. I am very meticulous and anal so I feel like I'd do a good job.



Thanks for reading :)



Jason
 
mmm The pricing as you have it listed is rather confusing. You also need to note that times are just a rough approximation. And most will have different prices based on size of vehicle. ( a vibe shouldn't cost the same as a suburban). Also I would note that you use "such and such product lines" and not list the products in the packages. 99% of the time people don't care what products you're using they just want a nice clean car. Same with the PC. You're being too specific for most of the people reading the ad out there. It's not harmful but it's not really needed. I've never had a customer ask if I use a Dewalt or a Makita. They ask "Are you going to buff it out?" I think it would just clean the ad up a bit better. Outside of that charge what you want.... Take as long as you need to... and have fun with it.
 
^ Thanks. Actually thats not my entire ad... just the packages.



I mentioned that prices may vary depending on the size/condition of the vehicle.



Anyway, good advice. I figured being a little more detailed would attract a certain type of car owner. I will take your advice and list the products separately.



I'll also fix up the pricing... ie. $20, $40, $60 and $100 instead of the +$20 bs.



Thanks!
 
How's this?



Interior Package - $20 (~1 hour)

- Thorough vacuuming

- Clean carpet/mats

- Wipe down and protect interior trim

- Clean and condition leather seats



Base Package (includes Interior Package) $40 (~2 hours)

- Wash car with sheep skin mitt

- Dry car with waffle weave towel

- Wipe down door jambs

- Clean glass

- Condition exterior plastic trim

- Clean wheels and dress tires

- Polish exhaust tips



Wax Package (includes Interior & Base Packages) $60 (~3 hours)

- Apply high quality show car wax

- Apply a “Gloss Enhancer� spray



Complete Overhaul Package (includes Interior & Base Packages) $100 (~5 hours)

- Strip existing/leftover wax on paint

- Clay if necessary

- Clean and remove minor swirling / cobwebbing / paint defects

- Apply high quality show car wax

- Apply a “Gloss Enhancer� spray
Click to expand...
 
Pro or not it sounds like your customers cars are going to look good. I wouldnt sell yourself short on the complete package, thats just too cheap unless its family or a good friend. Dont sell yourself on cheap prices but instead on quality work at a decent price.
 
^ I see. Well in my full ad, I posted something along the lines of this:



These prices are introductory or "first time" prices!! As you can see, they are pretty damn low... take advantage of these prices while they last! Once I am more established and have references, these prices will go up!



Expect a price increase in a couple months but they will still be below what other people charge and I can almost guarantee my products are better quality.
Click to expand...



I want to offer my services at a lower price to begin with. Once people recognize that I do good, detailed work, I will up them a bit.
 
Seems WAY too cheap overall.



Factor in time for getting there, setting up, perhaps the estimate that you made a separate tip there to make, unseen trouble spots that take extra time, etc, etc, etc...



Prices that low could potentially scare people off by making it seem that your services are low-grade.



:nixweiss
 
^ True.



What would you guys recommend then?



Maybe $25 interior, $50 wash/interior, $80 wash/int/wax, $120 for the complete package?
 
Setting low prices has the ability to attract customers that aren't "honest" or could be "price shopping". Everyone loves low prices, but with low prices come customers that aren't the best in the world. I would rather have a few loyal customers than several price shopping types that once my prices have to go up (gas increases, wax/polish gets more expensive) they run/complain and try to nickle and dime me back down.



It all comes down to location, location, location. given that and what your local market will support.
 
bwalker25 said:
Setting low prices has the ability to attract customers that aren't "honest" or could be "price shopping". Everyone loves low prices, but with low prices come customers that aren't the best in the world..
Click to expand...



this sums up the whole situation
 
bwalker25 said:
Setting low prices has the ability to attract customers that aren't "honest" or could be "price shopping". Everyone loves low prices, but with low prices come customers that aren't the best in the world. I would rather have a few loyal customers than several price shopping types that once my prices have to go up (gas increases, wax/polish gets more expensive) they run/complain and try to nickle and dime me back down.



It all comes down to location, location, location. given that and what your local market will support.
Click to expand...



well said..
 
leave out the products AND the type of product. Don't describe the type of tool or chemical you're goin gt use in te menu BUT mention in a summary that you use only the finest chemicals, plushest MF towels, technologically advanced sealants/waxes etc etc...



And I think you're selling yourself short on the prices. Jack it up by 20% to cover the cost of these high end products thata you have to buy.
 
Thanks everyone for your advice!



I agree... I am looking for repeat customers but at the same time, since I'm just starting off, I'll take those "price hunters" too! I guess I'm still in that stage where I'm excited to work on anyone's car.. just to see the results.



Thanks again
 
well its always been said that a happy worker will work for far less than an unhappy worker.



in other words



you can pay a worker less if he loves doing what he is doing, however you can't pay a worker enough if he hates his job. If you love what you do, and you are fine with your margins then go for it. I just know from experience and others here do as well, if you sell your self short and attract the "wrong" type of customers you will have a long road ahead of you.



But continue to love what you are doing and you shouldn't have a problem. Good Luck
 
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