Question for mobile detailiers......

S

SoCal Mobile

New member
How many of you are the so called "Jack of all trades" meaning, you guys do any and everything related to mobile services. Windshield Repair, Dent Repair, Interior Repair, Window Tint, Rim Repair... I've tried to add some of these services but have found at times it takes away from what we do best, Detail Cars. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the the bigger pay days. But there is a part of me that says Master one thing and let the other masters do what they do. So year after year I'll add a service, then I take it off.



Do you find it's easier to just farm work out to those who have mastered their craft and take a kickback from them or would you rather do it yourself???
 
The time to learn to do any of those things well only takes me away from doing what I do well. I agree, farm it out. Get a good working relationship with the best of each in the area and use it to your advantage.
 
I have been restoring and prepping vehicles since 95 for concours

events. I can say being too diversified is a whole bigger expense equipment and product wise. I make more on details than restoration because an inaccurate estimate can kill you. You do not know what you have until a complete tear down and without reputation an increase in cost will make an unhappy client. There are just too many variables. Many people are not willing to take the chance to see what is there then proceed.



As far as experience I weld, fabricate, engineer, bodywork, paint and final finnish. It takes many tools and a huge investment to keep up. Pick something and be great at it. Develop relationships to farm out the other. Detailing and restoration don't mix without the proper facility and tools plus employees. I have found a one man band, jack of all trades can really stress you out.
 
You often hear the phrase "Jack of all trades, master of none." That's not a reputation I want; I'd rather be the best at what I do and form strategic partnerships with people who are the best at what they do for performing additional services.



Another advantage of doing this is that you expand your own market exposure and potential customer base as well as that of the other businesses. You're out there selling their services to your customers, and they're out there selling your services to their customers. That's a big win for all involved.



That said, I do think it is helpful to gain at least a working knowledge of what is and isn't possible from the service providers you partner with so you're not telling people irreparable damage (or issues beyond the scope of a mobile tech's capabilities) can be fixed.
 
C. Charles Hahn said:
That said, I do think it is helpful to gain at least a working knowledge of what is and isn't possible from the service providers you partner with so you're not telling people irreparable damage (or issues beyond the scope of a mobile tech's capabilities) can be fixed.
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Excellent point. Overselling somebody else's capabilities can be almost as bad as overselling your own.
 
C. Charles Hahn said:
You often hear the phrase "Jack of all trades, master of none." That's not a reputation I want; I'd rather be the best at what I do and form strategic partnerships with people who are the best at what they do for performing additional services.



Another advantage of doing this is that you expand your own market exposure and potential customer base as well as that of the other businesses. You're out there selling their services to your customers, and they're out there selling your services to their customers. That's a big win for all involved.



That said, I do think it is helpful to gain at least a working knowledge of what is and isn't possible from the service providers you partner with so you're not telling people irreparable damage (or issues beyond the scope of a mobile tech's capabilities) can be fixed.
Click to expand...



Do you think that it's better to go the route of "You send me customers, and I'll send you some", or "You give me x number of dollars or percentage of each job that I send you, and I'll do the same"? when making these partnerships.
 
WhippleGT said:
Do you think that it's better to go the route of "You send me customers, and I'll send you some", or "You give me x number of dollars or percentage of each job that I send you, and I'll do the same"? when making these partnerships.
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I'd say it depends on your situation.



If you feel that there needs to be some incentive for the businesses you partner with to refer people to you (as opposed to your competitors) or you need an incentive to partner with them instead of a competitor, then having a discount arrangement is certainly a valid way to approach such a deal.



On the other hand, if you can establish yourself as providing the highest quality service in your area (or there's not much competition) and find people with a solid reputation of uncompromising quality (or the only game in town) as well, there may be less need for the use of a discount arrangement or other incentive.
 
WhippleGT said:
Do you think that it's better to go the route of "You send me customers, and I'll send you some", or "You give me x number of dollars or percentage of each job that I send you, and I'll do the same"? when making these partnerships.
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I would say neither.



While it would be ideal to have a quid pro quo that helps both businesses increase customers it will never work out equal. You don't want to get into a score keeping situation.



Getting kick-backs may seem reasonable until either your customers find out about it and wonder if you have really referred them to best or until the other company finds a way to cut you out anyway.



Look at it as what you are doing for your customers rather than what you are doing for the other business or vice-versa. You want your customers to know they are getting the highest quality work and good service. Would you prefer to send your customers to someone who does inferior work just because you are getting something out of it? Your reputation can be affected, either positively or negatively, based upon your customer's experiences with those you referred them to. Most people will return the favor if you send them a fair amount of business anyway. I say send your customers to the best you know of. If they were to research it themselves they should come to the same conclusion.
 
In an ideal world, Chris, you're absolutely right that it should be based on reputation and quality alone. That's what pretty much all of us strive for. Unfortunately some markets are just so saturated with service providers for various specialty services (and sometimes there are multiple options with a high level of skill -- think Atlanta with both Bryan and Mike/MachNU along with their shared whipping-boy, Joey) that it takes a different tactical approach for attracting and retaining top talent to partner with and although some may not like it, the reality is that money tends to speak the loudest in the business world.



It doesn't have to be about score keeping, it could just be a matter of offering something like a flat 5% discount as a professional courtesy when a fellow professional books you for one of their customers or vice-versa. Sure, it cuts into your margin some but theoretically what you'd be losing there could quickly make up for itself through increased volume of sales (if volume work is what you're after, that is). The partner business then has the choice of either up-charging the customer to your regular retail rate so they earn a profit, or they could pass the savings on to their customer ensuring you get the job instead of one of the other pros in the area getting it because the customer decided to shop around.



Yes, that goes partially against the mantra we all preach time and time again about "don't compete on price" but really, it isn't such a bad thing if done responsibly and within reason purely as a reaction to the market forces in play. Such arrangements can also always be re-evaluated and rejected if they turn out not to be lucrative.



Lots of different strategies, lots of different business goals.... what a low-volume operator looking for the highest of high end paint correction jobs will do to market himself is far different than what a volume operator catering to the average Joe who only occasionally springs for more than a wash and wax will do.
 
As detailers aren't we already sort of a "jack of all trades?" Paint correction, sealant application, washing, carpet cleaning, dash cleaning+protecting, wheel/aluminum polishing, engine cleaning and detailing. All of these things are very different from one another yet fall under the scope of "detailing." What would be wrong with learning another skill and applying it



I don't understand how knowing how to tint or repair a windshield would detract from your craft. I restore headlights as well as detail, does that make me less of a detailer?
 
brownbob06 said:
As detailers aren't we already sort of a "jack of all trades?" Paint correction, sealant application, washing, carpet cleaning, dash cleaning+protecting, wheel/aluminum polishing, engine cleaning and detailing. All of these things are very different from one another yet fall under the scope of "detailing." What would be wrong with learning another skill and applying it



I don't understand how knowing how to tint or repair a windshield would detract from your craft. I restore headlights as well as detail, does that make me less of a detailer?
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There is nothing wrong with knowing how and having the ability to do a variety of services such as film installation, paint, body work, PDR, etc. But in reality one person is not likely to be the best in the area in all of them. There is likely going to be someone who can do it better or faster or more efficiently. As the OP stated, sticking with what you specialize in will likely be your best bet from a business standpoint. A large volume shop might pull off the variety, but for those working alone or with a small crew it probably would detract from the focus. Of course the smaller the market and less competition would likely improve the viability.
 
The problem with that is that if everyone waited until they were the absolute best or most efficient at doing something even if only in their area there would be one business in every area for each thing. If you're good at doing something,( even if you're not the most efficient) it is profitable and you're willing to stand behind it it would be good business sense to offer it to your customers.



Unless of course you're so busy with what you already offer that you don't have time to add an extra service.



That, however, is looking at it from a business standpoint.
 
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