Opti Seal for high volume details - Lower Quarter Panel Only?

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bunkeroo26

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I am focusing on quick high volume work for dealers.

If I Opti Seal the entire vehicle, I have just lost further

changes to clean their car as it will be good for months.

Optimally, I would like to get called one a month to do an

entire lot of cards at a dealership.


My thoughts went on how to protect my job.


What if I only Opti sealed the lower body of the car or truck?

The top part would still need wanted and waxed, and the bottom would

stay cleaner and protected from rocks and such.


Is there anything that I am not factoring in?

Would it look bad to have the bottom sealed?
 
Factor in .. if its a dealer .. aren't they selling the car and you won't see it again anyway ..  And if your applying the Paint Protection scam for them that is an impulse sale and you'll never see them again anyway.   I have never seen dealers get entire lots done ..


 


 Their objective is to move cars .. not have them sit for months.
 
Jess, you haven't seen it before because no one has developed a

sound business plan where dealers want to get their lot done.

Many of these dealers here have cars sit for months, not uncommon.


Of course THEIR objective is to move cars.

My objective is to make them pretty. If the first not sell ND I make them

stay pretty, then I have cut into possible profits. I don't want to do their cars

to a level where they don't have to call me for 4 months.


Sure, I'd this was a personal customer, I would give the best to them, but

for a dealer, I am doing these quick and earning by volume.

My service is going to be something that they can get for EVERY car monthly.

We are talking 7 bucks a car for Hand Wash and Wax. Opti Seal is less than a dollar

Per car if product for full car, so about 30 cents for lower quarter.

I would theorize that could coat bottom paint in 10 minutes.

These numbers mean that I can Opti Seal for a low price like 5 or 10.


My structure is this:

Wash N wax - paint only - 7 per car

Trucks and Vans are same price, we just don't touch roof.

Windows and Tires - 1 dollar per car


Notice I touch zero trim or gaskets. This can be added on for 1buck per.


Most places are going to do paint only. At 7 bucks per car, I have

established a nice profit margin. I work in groups of 3. If the group

averages a car done every 6 minutes, my employees make 20 an hour.

I also believe that a 3 minute car is possible, earning 40 an hour.


This is without extras like seals or coating of intakes added in.

The extras will provide huge profits.


If I have one team of 3 people averaging a car every 6 minutes,

then I earn 10 an hour off them. If I have 3 teams averaging 6 mins,

then I am earning 30 an hour as management.


I must determine the time for clay and polish and also

for Poliseal as adding these in bulk will skyrocket my profits.
 
Not every paint protectant is a scam.

I am sorry that you feel this way, but there are ways

that you can provide great service to your customers.


If this is a field that you want to be in, do you really want to view

everything as a scam when it comes to protection?


Also, personally, I do not appreciate that you assume my services would

be a scam.
 
If you would have posted this info originally you might have gotten a different response . You came off as a kid trying to work out a deal with a dealer. I don't view everything as a scam .. So don't judge me that way... And yes a lot of those paint protection schemes they sell at the dealer at the time of purchase are scams .. Have you ever seen anyone ever be successful making a claim? Or being fully informed of what upkeep is required. You know the story if you have been around a while.
 
Myself... I' d use an AIO .. Most will give 4 weeks .. Sealants etc won't protect against rocks . I also read this as your not doing any of it right now by the use of the word "if" as much as you do. I have a very experienced team of 2people and there is no way we can wash/ dry a car in 30 min. Never mind 6 min. , never mind wash/wax.



Myself before you come up with a costing plan you should get the "team" together and a few of the neighbors cars and see if you can do 4 cars in a 1/2 hour. Might be possible if you just plan on hosing them down and using a brush in a pail and air drying them.


This sounds like a plan for the famous dealer installed swirls.
 
Jess, stop trying to evaluate my business.

You have insulted me several times in your replies

and none of them are warrented.


Please respond to my question about opti seal,

and stop assuming that i am an idiot.


Judge not lest ye be judged. You said every paint protection

that i would put on was a scam. Then you tell menot to judge you.

Grow up, treat others with respect.


I don't care if you have 2thousand or 20 thousabd posts.

You do not talk to others like that.


Now please act like an adult and a business man, please.


The question is about opti seal on lower quarter panel,

it is not the "Jess please preach how everything I am doing is wrong" thread.


Do people appreciate your pomposness?
 
I'm not insulting you .. if you read my reply in post #2 above it clearly states " IF" your applying the Paint Protection Scam.. I didn't say you were applying the Scam ....The scam is in the warranty and protection people think they are getting.   No where did I say "every paint protection you or anyone puts on was a scam" nor did I say "every" type of paint protection was a scam .. There is thousands of quality detailers out there that put out great lasting work using quality products that help paint protection. Even Turtle Wax is better protection than none. .


 


 


 As for growing up .. you asked ... I gave honest input.   You have implied you haven't done this business plan yet .. all I said was we can't properly wash a car in 30 minutes with 2 people with over 50 years combined experience. Operative word from a detailers perspective is "properly" .


 


 My answer to your Opti-seal question is no .. I don't think it makes sense from a business point of view. I don't think you can effectively apply it in 10 minutes. Nor will it protect the car from rock damage.


 


  The only idiots are the ones that don't ask the questions.    Just because the answers you get aren't the ones you want doesn't mean someone is implying your an idiot.
 
I can't imagine a dealer is going to spend money again beyond a wash to wax a car again. I think you grossly overestimate how much they care about what's on their lot. What they are willing to pay should be a good indication. Shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to completely Opti-Seal an entire car and cost is way less than you've estimated. I get 60-70 vehicles per 8 oz bottle of OS. And if you apply it to the whole car, the washes should be easier and quicker for you. 
 
Thanks for the input Scott.

We are in a very Sandy environment here, only a few miles

From the beach, which is why I would like to keep my

options open on being able to rewash vehicles.

Even if they wanted me to wash their lot every 2 months,

Do you think that full Opti Seal would cut down on my lot business?



I agree with you that I overestimated the cost of Opti Seal, it also sounds as if

I estimated the time needed incorrectly. With 60 full cars to a bottle

and the ability to coat at least 3 cars an hour, I can easily price this

to where I profit, even if I do not get the rewashes because they are clean.

This adds value to my service and would make my work look better.


Scott, I have heard you say that you ONR then Opti cost. Do you always

Clay the car before Opti coat? What would you think of Opti seal

right after ONR? Would this create bonding problems? Since I am not

needing something to stay for 6 months, is this an alternative?


I like to work bulk discounts. I would charge 12 for Opti Seal and drop

the price to 10 bucks if they are having more than 20 cars done at a time.

Feasable? Any inherent problems?



Jess? I do value your input. I was just a bit upset at how you were questing every facet

of my thinking rather than what the thread was asking. I have this planned

out pretty well. Everyone that I talk toyD sa that this is impossible,

Which irks me but drives me at the same time.


Jess, as a dealer, would you pay 8 bucks a vehicle for hand wash and wax?

Then, what price point would you pay to seal in the vehicle for 3 months,

which will also help to keep the cars cleaner. If 12 bucks, f that would make 20

dollars in order for your car to look gorgeous for a couple months.

Not if you think this is workable, but is it affordable to dealers?


I believe yes, because they are paying a guy with power washer and

shamois 4 bucks per car. I realize that i am doing a difficult thing,

by going against people's perceptions.


Let me show some math. If I have a group of 3 people averaging 6 minutes

a car, then they are earning 20 an hour, and I am getting 10 an hour just

setting up the service and products. If I have 3 teams working 6 minutes, then

I am earning 30 an hour doing nothing. Even if you feel 6 is unattainable, 12 is easy,

and that is a respectable 10 an hour for entry level labor. As the teams get efficient,

I firmly believe that 3 minutes is reachable. Remember, we are talking paint only and

With the GDWM, is simple. With 3 teams of 3 minute washers, they would each be earning

40 an hour with new earning 60 an hour for management. These are the numbers that

attract me. I want the business of all of the local dealerships.


At my price point, I would have little competition of comparable quality.


I really start raking in when they add on interior Wipe downs.

If this transitions into me doing while details, so be it.

However, right now I am focusing on volume.
 
I guess my question is have you ever actually done what your talking about to see if it can be done? I have washed my own cars for years and as a business done it too .. I don't think you can wash /dry/wax a car in 6 minutes with 3 people. Even at home here where I have virtually no setup time and a leaf blower it takes me 40 minutes to properly wash/dry the car. 25 min with 2 experienced people.


 


  As a dealer ... sure I'd love to pay $8 for a wash & wax as long as the wax wasn't something mixed in with the wash water. The other thing as a dealer I would be concerned with is with a $8 wash is what my cars are going to look like after a couple washes. Are you using good wash mitts? What are you drying with? In a sandy environment rinsing is the key so your not rubbing sand in the paint when drying .. A few bad washes and their cars are a mess. They know this .. There is a lot more to properly washing a car than can be done in 6 minutes. And as far as the Opti-Seal goes if its like any other sealant or wax its going to like a nice dry surface to be applied to . Can you provide that in 6 minutes?


 


  Now you say you live a few miles from the beach .. the cars aren't going to stay clean between washes that are 2 months apart. So the dealer is looking at a higher frequency. Even in my area which isn't too bad lot cars need washed nearly weekly.


 


 


   All your postings use the word "if" which tells me you haven't done this yet ... I would suggest before you finish costing and offering this service that you round up a bunch of cars and see if you can do it. And not just 1 car ... a mornings worth. Guys can go like hell on one car but after 10 cars ... they will slow.   There would be nothing worse than offering this service to me as a dealer and failing because theory and reality are 2 different things. 


 


 JMTC
 
Personally, I wouldn't get involved with dealers unless you have a crew to handle it so you can knock out cars quickly. If you are doing this as a one person operation you won't make squat. 
 
Jess, I am using the Gary Dean Wash Method.

I did it today with little problem. As you are talking

leaf blower and everything, you just not are on the same

page as what I am offering.


I must definitely am offering a wax in my wash method.

There is no other way that I would be able to at 8 bucks.


Scott, this is definitely something that I will have crews doing.

This will happen eventually as I train people that I view as capable.


If I can get 6 minute teams, then I will be earning 10 an hour.

If I am a person on the 6 minutes team, then it is 20 for work

And 10 per hour management.


Right now I am in process of testing on smaller dealerships

To see if it is feasable for larger dealerships. Even the money that

I will be saving them on water should be attractive.


Scott, this is also a way for me to get foot in door with people

so that they pay me for paint correction and Interior details.

I view the coating (Opti coat/guard) add the breadwinner,

but managing this service for a dealer will keep me employed.


Perhaps my price is low. I should really be starting at 10 a car

for paint only. I will know in a few weeks how it is all working.

Just a few days is not enough evaluation.
 
Gary Dean using what media ? Didn't his method use a whack of towels per car. You have this many towels?The one you did today using that method .. Did you get it done in 18 minutes? No offence ... But wax added to wash water , none that I have ever seen do any more than an agent to create beading.. No real protection. Much like the "wax" cycle at the spray wash. Also if your using something like ONR etc. if you add some form of wax your changing the chemistry of the product and possibly altering its lubricity or encapsulating properties.


Its really hard to comment on something when all the info isn't there , this is the first you mentioned your wash method but i did sort of figure it out from other threads ... Anyway. Hope it works out.
 
Getting into the business with low prices being your selling point is not the way to go. You simply cannot make a living at this if you don't average at least $30 an hour. Remember, you have to provide your own health insurance, business insurance, taxes, all your products, transportation, etc. Plus with low prices, all you will attract is tote the note used car dealers (who generally aren't the quickest to pay) and cheap people with crappy cars. This business would get really old really quick if you are detailing Dodge Sebrings and minivans that are trashed out. Because if you are low priced, that's who you will get for customers. 


 


And used car dealers (most new car dealers have their own people) aren't interested in paint correction or coatings. You are more likely to find those people at a local country club or golf course. Talk to the management there, see if they'd be interested in offering their members detailing services. You want to make money, you go where the money is. And it isn't at used car lots. 
 
Scott I love the country club and golf course suggestions.


T of r business model is not my end goal, more a means to the method.

Point is that new dealers need a method to maintain their lot

while retaining quality and low cost point. I will be selling this full method

to the new dealer, for their current employees to start using.


Also many employers are switching to contractors because of health care.


I will always be doing Hourly details, and this is a training and management play.




Jess, I use only one wash MF per vehicle. Again, there is no need

to evaluate my entire process, as I have it figured out pretty well


I do think that Opti Seal can fit into a budget method for dealerships,

as it is low cost, has a high work time, and is more than 60 times

cheaper per vehicle than opti coat. Plus, if I get set up as a distributor

then I can increase the profit margin even more.


I don't want to be the one washing cars cheap, but I can surely show

others how. Right now a 4 million dollar dealership is paying fora power

washer and dirty shamois. It is my intention to change this, and profit as

their salesmen have better margins because of better products.


This is my way into dealership to show that I have the method and expertise.

Ultimately, I only want to be doing warrantied Opti guard.
 
30 bucks an hour.

I hope to charge this eventually, but right now I am at 20.

This is pretty good for my area. I do realize that I shouldn't worry

about other people's prices, but that is the only thing customers compare,

until they see the quality.


Unfortunately I have not been building my portfolio as I should have been.

This price point allows me to build some relationships, get some great pics,

and eventually demand a higher wage. Selling coatings is going to expand my

price point drastically.


One big customer base that I am growing is the motorcycle clubs.

Just a few satisfied customers will lead to dozens more.

If you have seen the Marlon Brando movie called "wild ones"

the club that I hope to service is the one portrayed there.


While country clubs will have more expensive vehicles, I would

contend that certain cycles are more expensive per square foot of paint.

While the tight spaces will bring unique challenges, I am optimistic.


I recently found out that Opti Seal is temperature tolerant, which means

that I can add it to mufflers, exhausts and other hot surfaces.

Does anyone Opti Seal engines? I would imagine that it would be tough

to get surface perfectly clean for bond.



Scott, did I understand a previous post by you (different thread)

to have said that your most popular package is ONR plus OC?

Is it enough to ONR first? I thought that a clay would be needed.

I would love to hear of your experiences with this, as it could

speed things up for me.
 
One towel doesn't equal the Gary Dean method.. Adding some form of wax to your wash media isn' t "Hand Washing & Waxing " a car .. , your story and objectives have changed from the start.


I think your trying to get us to help you convince yourself this is a good plan ... I'm sorry.. Personally I think its a fail. You don't want us/me to evaluate your process because if we do you don't like seeing the faults. I even asked if you have tested this to see if you could constantly do 6 minute washes with a team of 3 and you never replied .. I was giving you a chance to prove us wrong.


Now you can call me ignorant and pompous and what ever you like but I think one of the reasons others aren't chiming in is because they see where its going and they have nothing constructive to add.


This isn't even really a detailing subject as such , most of us here don't consider a bastardized 6 minute wash with a wax emulsion additive detailing.


You may want to try focusing one one objective and perfecting it before you branch out. You seem to be going 6 directions at once .


Have a good evening
 
This thread was about Opti Seal. You are being rude. This is definitely detailing, and I apologize if your preconceptions do not mesh with what I am doing.


Please reread where I said a modified GDWM.


Do not insult me or my marketing. Neither was asked for.
 
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