Pricing Blues

C

classydetail

New member
whats up guys,,, i have been running my detail shop for a couple years now at a small independent highend dealership... I was managing a detail shop at a mercedes benz dealership before I started my own thing.... and these guys came to me because they like my work... i was getting ready to go mobile either way at the time so I already had everything I needed.. they told me to give them a price list, so i did so, and a couple week later I was runnin my own shop there.... my problem is that times have changed in that couple years.. chemical prices have gone up, as well as everything else accept for my prices... and the reason for that is that they already think my prices are high(but in fact they are lower than anyone else in the area, that goes into the detail i do) I would be able to deal with that fact because they keep me so busy, but lately everything has been slow and they can find nothing better to do than to pick apart everything.. I have always had to deal with picky people at other dealership i have worked at but they are just being rediculous.. I already spend 5-6 hrs on a full detail, if I were to make them any cleaner (if possible) i would have to take more time and more time means more money that they dont want to pay.. I am currently in the process of starting a mobile unit, but i would also like to keep this account because its good money , but dont know about it because of the pickyness.. normal pickyness is one thing, but this is not normal and it pisses me off to where I dont even want to be there anymore



ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREAT :getdown



Do you think that retail would be better for me than wholesale?
 
Maybe that is what they want in the long run is for you to drop them so they can go to a cheaper place, figuring if they pick enough on you ,you will say hey enough is enough go find another place.One other thing to do is set up a meeting and try to iron things out and see why they are beng so pickey in the first place.
 
Sounds simple enough- tell them that the work you provide is already worth more than the price they pay. If they want better results, you will need more time and more money.



They say no, you say bye.
 
Lumadar said:
Sounds simple enough- tell them that the work you provide is already worth more than the price they pay. If they want better results, you will need more time and more money.



They say no, you say bye.
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Im thinking along the same lines, might be time for a move
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Change brings about fear in a good amount of people - especially when it comes to money. One of the biggest problems in the detailing industry is not charging enough for what you do. You are just like any other industry and need to charge an acceptable hourly rate to cover your expenses. I learned this long ago especially when it comes to dealerships. I was doing CRAZY amounts of work (I think we did almost $40000 of dealer work in June 2001) but wasn't making any money on it. We were actually subsidizing the low paying dealer work with our profitable retail jobs. I was apprehensive to change but we did and it was the best thing we ever did. It wasn't without its growing pains but as we transitioned from doing so much dealer work we were able to focus on doing more profitable retail work and growing that part of the business. In the end, we are still doing lot's of work with dealers and being paid over 50% more than we were back in 2001 and no one has complained a bit. You have to be confident in what you are charging and back it up with results. If you can do that they won't complain. If they do, move on and find someone that will pay you what the job is worth.
 
Take a car to the competitor you believe they want to use, present the results as your work and see what they have to say. Show them the receipt (if the nitpicking goes as expected.)
 
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