My detailing packages - advice needed!

Don't focus on the price right now. If you're happy busting hump leanring the skills and someone gives you a nice Ben franklyn at the end of the day so be it. Once you get the skill set and the loyal customer base then you can worry about price setting. No one starts out at the top regardless what anyone wants you to beleive. WE've all had to earn our chops to get to the price levels we're all at. Offer your service's at a price that makes people say "yea I'll try ya out" right now.
 
OK. Well I still feel like my prices are reasonable. $60 wash/int, $90 wash/int/wax, $140 for everything. I would try someone out at that price but thats just me.



Question: do people normally tip you for a job well done? I know I shouldn't expect it but it sure would be nice!
 
Alright cool. I think this thread got me a little distracted on pricing. To me, I don't really care if I charge less for now since I'm really looking to up my experience and skill level while building a loyal (probably small) customer base.



Like you said Jake, nothing happens over night and I'm not expecting it to.



Great information nonetheless.
 
jmkiang said:
^ I see. Well in my full ad, I posted something along the lines of this:







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.



thats the worst way to do things...
 
^ Yeah well, I'm on here to learn.



I have upped my prices all around and took out that statement.



Got another hit last night so I guess my prices are still reasonable!
 
^ Haha well, as long as the package / process is legit, who cares about the name? :)



Changed to "Premium Package"... hows that?
 
jmkiang said:
OK. Well I still feel like my prices are reasonable. $60 wash/int, $90 wash/int/wax, $140 for everything. I would try someone out at that price but thats just me.



Question: do people normally tip you for a job well done? I know I shouldn't expect it but it sure would be nice!



I've found that about ~60% of my clients tip me, which to this day surprises me. I'm pretty chatty and superficially pleasant, so maybe that has something to do with it :chuckle:



Anyways, a quick word about prices: don't try to attract people with low prices--it likely won't work, and you're only hurting yourself not only short term, but in the long run as well. The reason is that because there is always going to be someone out there offering a complete-ultimate-super-duper-detail for 20 bucks, and you don't want to compete with him.
 
^ Haha "superficially pleasant"... I'm good at that!



Alright... good advice again. Whats your opinion about my pricing? I have no pics of my work yet.
 
UGGG.... I've said it before on here and I'll say it a 1000 times. Prices are extreamly specific to your own location. Just because some detailer in "High rent area "A" can snatch $500 for a wash and wax dosen't mean pro detailer in "Slumdogs B" can do the same. It gets soooo annoying always reading "Hey man you need to up your price... you killing yourself... blah blah blah.." You guys have no idea whatsoever of his current market or his current skill level. He could be dead sqaure in the middle of an area where the average median income is $25,000/yr or less. Lots more of those areas in this nation that the uber nice rich areas. I'm glad alot of you guys can demand hundred and hundreds of dollars for even the most basic of details. But it dosen't mean everyone can and it dosen't mean anyone is cutting themselves short. If he lives in high dollar area has years under his belt and is just a top notch detailer and only charging those prices then yea he's hurting himself. However if ANY of those are not true then I think he's pricing himself just fine. It's not about where you start. It's about where you end up. As long as you don't lower your prices to snake others business. And consitentaly raise you're pricing as your skills go up then you're just fine to start wherever you want. But if you're in an area where most of the detailers are asking $100 for a full detail and you're coming in demanding $250. then you had better had a darn good reason as to why you're so much better than everyone else around you. If you're not better than them yet.... well you see where I'm going with this.
 
Way too cheap. But I'm not familiar with your area. No one out here-at least no one who is any good-offers any service below $75. When you consider your setup and breakdown times, you will probably be making less than minimum wage. Is that really worth it?
 
Jakerooni said:
UGGG.... I've said it before on here and I'll say it a 1000 times. Prices are extreamly specific to your own location. Just because some detailer in "High rent area "A" can snatch $500 for a wash and wax dosen't mean pro detailer in "Slumdogs B" can do the same. It gets soooo annoying always reading "Hey man you need to up your price... you killing yourself... blah blah blah.." You guys have no idea whatsoever of his current market or his current skill level. He could be dead sqaure in the middle of an area where the average median income is $25,000/yr or less. Lots more of those areas in this nation that the uber nice rich areas. I'm glad alot of you guys can demand hundred and hundreds of dollars for even the most basic of details. But it dosen't mean everyone can and it dosen't mean anyone is cutting themselves short. If he lives in high dollar area has years under his belt and is just a top notch detailer and only charging those prices then yea he's hurting himself. However if ANY of those are not true then I think he's pricing himself just fine. It's not about where you start. It's about where you end up. As long as you don't lower your prices to snake others business. And consitentaly raise you're pricing as your skills go up then you're just fine to start wherever you want. But if you're in an area where most of the detailers are asking $100 for a full detail and you're coming in demanding $250. then you had better had a darn good reason as to why you're so much better than everyone else around you. If you're not better than them yet.... well you see where I'm going with this.



I'm doubting that any professional detailer would consider his target market to be household grossing less than 25k. If that's the case in his neighborhood, his business will probably not take off. Let's face it, detailing is a luxury for people with money.
 
All advise / suggestions / criticism is much appreciated. I left my ego at the door when I signed up :)



I have taken many of your suggestions into consideration already.



I actually live in a pretty nice suburb of Chicago... lots of nice neighborhoods to visit.



Like Jake said, I'll up my price as my skill level increases.
 
I think the best way to do that is to not be so descriptive . Just give a basic price for a service,and show the price of add on services. That way it's not as confusing to the customer. Alot of the time they don't even know what you're talking about. You would be surprised at how many people don't know what claying is! Keep it Simple!
 
Jakerooni said:
UGGG.... I've said it before on here and I'll say it a 1000 times. Prices are extreamly specific to your own location. Just because some detailer in "High rent area "A" can snatch $500 for a wash and wax dosen't mean pro detailer in "Slumdogs B" can do the same. It gets soooo annoying always reading "Hey man you need to up your price... you killing yourself... blah blah blah.." You guys have no idea whatsoever of his current market or his current skill level. He could be dead sqaure in the middle of an area where the average median income is $25,000/yr or less. Lots more of those areas in this nation that the uber nice rich areas. I'm glad alot of you guys can demand hundred and hundreds of dollars for even the most basic of details. But it dosen't mean everyone can and it dosen't mean anyone is cutting themselves short. If he lives in high dollar area has years under his belt and is just a top notch detailer and only charging those prices then yea he's hurting himself. However if ANY of those are not true then I think he's pricing himself just fine. It's not about where you start. It's about where you end up. As long as you don't lower your prices to snake others business. And consitentaly raise you're pricing as your skills go up then you're just fine to start wherever you want. But if you're in an area where most of the detailers are asking $100 for a full detail and you're coming in demanding $250. then you had better had a darn good reason as to why you're so much better than everyone else around you. If you're not better than them yet.... well you see where I'm going with this.



Good Post! Jakerooni! :bigups
 
jmkiang said:
Anyone have any comments regarding the "wax stripping" part?



i WOULD DROP THE WORD STRIP, IT SOUNDS HARSH FOR A CUSTOMERS PRIMO CAR. rEMOVE ALL OLD POLISH, SEALANT OR WAX. cREATE A SURFACE WHERE MY PREMIUM -- WILL ADHERE TO YOU PAINT FOR LONG LASTING DURABILITY AND GLOSS PROTECTION.
 
I would substitute Megs Hyper Dressing for the #303. It's cheaper and looks better. Cutting your costs w/o cutting quality will increase your profits.



Jim
 
Showroom Shine said:
I think the best way to do that is to not be so descriptive . Just give a basic price for a service,and show the price of add on services. That way it's not as confusing to the customer. Alot of the time they don't even know what you're talking about. You would be surprised at how many people don't know what claying is! Keep it Simple!

Point taken. I'll try to skim more fat tonight.

JSFM35X said:
i WOULD DROP THE WORD STRIP, IT SOUNDS HARSH FOR A CUSTOMERS PRIMO CAR. rEMOVE ALL OLD POLISH, SEALANT OR WAX. cREATE A SURFACE WHERE MY PREMIUM -- WILL ADHERE TO YOU PAINT FOR LONG LASTING DURABILITY AND GLOSS PROTECTION.

Good point. Nice verbage too!

jaymz said:
I would substitute Megs Hyper Dressing for the #303. It's cheaper and looks better. Cutting your costs w/o cutting quality will increase your profits.



Jim

Makes sense. I guess I could save the 303 for my car and friend's cars.



Crappy weather in IL has pushed my appointments back! :(
 
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