Sick of The Price Shoppers

zippymbr

zippymbr

New member
First off I enjoy this site and have learned alot. In the last 8 months it seems I get 10-15 PM's a month through Autopia of people price shopping. I am getting to the point that I do not want to answer any PM's anymore. I get very few of these shoppers as customers, and I know that my prices are very competitive. I talk with the other local detailers here in the area who I met through Autopia and they all get the same junk. The latest guy wanted a full detail in and out for $125! :shocked . He then contacted 2 other detailers who I talk to often. I mean do these people thing that we never talk to each other? They told him what I told him. I am sick of my time being wasted. OK rant off :hairpull
 
Interesting. Most of the PMs I get from Autopians are not price shoppers. It could have to do with the particular market you are in. Here in NOVA the per capita income is very high, and so is the cost of living. People seem to expect paying a premium price for professional services. I do get price shoppers, but usually it is from some other sources other than Autopia.
 
Especially where you live toyotaguy looks like you live in a high end area. Very strong market in orange county! I hear ya on the 12 dollars an hour definately not worth it.
 
I live in a high income area. I am finding that if you do not have a retail location here these people do not let go of the cash.
 
zippymbr said:
I live in a high income area. I am finding that if you do not have a retail location here these people do not let go of the cash.
Click to expand...



I agree with you there. It is like the quality of service you are providing means little, in comparision to the building that you are in. I understand facility presentation, but what about the quality of work provided. The local carwash in my area has a nice area to do their details in, but they put the car through their carwash and swirl up the vehicle. To add insult to injury, instead of correcting the paint, they then use fillers and a cheap wax and charge anywhere from $150.00 to $300.00. The customer then glady pays this amount.



How do you educate these people? :nixweiss
 
It's hard to educate someone who falls victim to advertising and someone who looks for convenience. I live in a high income area as well and my best advertising are those places. I offer to pick up vehicles at a clients home or office and do it in my garage or will do it in their's. People that generally go to car washes don't care about their vehicle anyway, and they are the people who are tire kickers!
 
If I sense I am being price shopped I tell them right off the bat that my services may not be for them... I really don't have time to waste with price shoppers.



I treat my customers and their vehicles like royalty, and to them it is priceless... Hell I even get holiday cards from some of my customers



I really do hand pick my customers, BUT I can afford the luxury in doing so since this is not my only source of income.



I feel for you guys that have to deal with price shoppers!!!
 
When you guys get calls from the phone book for a detail, do they assume a detail just invovles a 30 minute wash and wax and therefore only want to pay $30-50 or do some realize it will take you 4-6 hours to do a full detail and still assume you will only charge $50?



My assumption is that it is the former. When people ask what I use on my car, they are assuming a simple wash and a nice wax is all I do. When they start hearing things like clay, compound, AIO, glaze, immediately I get a very confused look.
 
I would suspect any Autopian price shopper would be someone who hasn't done any reading on the board and really has no idea what is involved with a proper detail. Probably just registered to find a detailer and didn't bother to actually research what true detailing is.
 
howareb said:
...It is like the quality of service you are providing means little, in comparision to the building that you are in. I understand facility presentation, but what about the quality of work provided. ...
Click to expand...
We have a number of mobile guys here who do very high-end work for very high-end customers. What’s important is the image you project.



For some, the initial impression does come from their building. For others, it’s their rig. In the end, it will always come down to you, how you come across and how you treat people. Be a class-act and people will respond.





howareb said:
...How do you educate these people? :nixweiss
Click to expand...
You can only educate people that want to be educated. Tell everyone that your service is all about quality, care and craftsmanship.



If they’re open to information, you can explain in more depth.



Don’t even bother dealing with somebody with a closed mind who’s fixated only on price. Politely decline and move on.



Put your energy into finding and retaining customers who care about quality.





PC.
 
It's all part of the business.

I had a customer come in earlier this week wanting to sell his vehicle and wanted it detailed. He showed up an hour before I was closing shop and wondered if I could squeeze it in. "How long does it take? Half hour... hour?"



I took a look at his Pathfinder and told him it would take between 4-5 hours and quoted a price. He looked very surprised! "Maybe I'll just get the interior done. That's a little expensive." I explained to him what was all involved, the process and chemicals used, and validated the price of the detail. He made an appointment for the next week after being educated about proper detailing.



I have always said to people... "Put a potential customer in front of me and I can sell them my services." You have to be able to sell yourself and it will get you your business.

Though I agree... some people just are not open to listening. Read those people right away and don't waste your time with them.
 
I usually ask what the CHEAPER detailer is charging and what he is doing and then explain the differences and why the price increase, making sure to note the considerable differences in teh end result



most dont know what a compound vs. polish really is, or a sealant wax vs. a carnuba wax
 
Scottwax said:
I would suspect any Autopian price shopper would be someone who hasn't done any reading on the board and really has no idea what is involved with a proper detail. Probably just registered to find a detailer and didn't bother to actually research what true detailing is.
Click to expand...



How true that is.







I always explain to a customer on the process of doing a detail and show them pictures too and they still don't get it. But when they look at my ride and want the same high shine, i go over the same thing i just told them about. Sometimes i get a job to do and sometimes i don't. But most are looking for that 39.00 job and all i say is have a great day.
 
well if you are getting low price shoppers from your yellow page ad I would suggest having a bigger Ad with more detailed descriptions.
 
I'm getting shopped from people who like Scottwax described. If I can get to meet the customer or talk to them on the phone I usually get the job. It seems alot of people just want to email and PM back and forth.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top