Unintentional Marathon Detail

Concours.John

Concours.John

Auto Detail & Restoration
Just finished delivering and getting back home from the shop 10:45 AM from a full nasty correction and detail. I was supposed to get the car Tuesday morning 10AM. It arrived late Wed. 2pm-7pm car washed, clayed, engine, interior done. Sand was in all the cracks that was cleaned out.

I was informed later it needed delivered by 9AM this morning. So 7:30 yesterday I started the correction to lsp process and finishing details. Black Mercedes ceramic with a full side repaint a while back. It was taken back repeatedly to fix the swirls and scratches. They just wooled and glazed each time the Whole car. Needless to say I could only keep "nibbling" down the flaws to keep my risk down and this paint was hard and full of d/a pig tails, swirls, and sand scratches.:yikes:

So my 7:30am Thursday ended after writing the bill and a quick shower then delivery once back at the shop at 9:45am this morning. At least since I didnt have a ride back I was able to bring back another car to do vs. a cab.

The client did not get billed for all the hours last night . I took regular breaks to keep my focus and follow my checklist for finalizing the car.

Anyone else been put in this position? I'm not complaining I do this for clients on rare occasions. Just curious of other stories of going out for clients.

Im going to bed.
 
Yeah, sounds like how my next couple weeks are going to be. Got a C5 coming in late next Tuesday that needs to be done by early on Thursday so it can go down to Bloomington GOLD. What's worse is they're calling for possible rain, which may put even more of a damper on things since I can't wash or detail the engine bay indoors. We'll see how it goes.

Then the following week I am packing all my stuff up and heading to Grand Rapids to work on another 'vette -- I'll be putting about 20 hours into that one in the space of about a day and a half as well. All I can hope for is no rain that week and no extremely high temps since I won't have air conditioning like I've got here in my own shop.
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Yeah, sounds like how my next couple weeks are going to be. Got a C5 coming in late next Tuesday that needs to be done by early on Thursday so it can go down to Bloomington GOLD. What's worse is they're calling for possible rain, which may put even more of a damper on things since I can't wash or detail the engine bay indoors. We'll see how it goes.

Then the following week I am packing all my stuff up and heading to Grand Rapids to work on another 'vette -- I'll be putting about 20 hours into that one in the space of about a day and a half as well. All I can hope for is no rain that week and no extremely high temps since I won't have air conditioning like I've got here in my own shop.
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Bloomington Gold is huge at my dealership; Its none stop vettes that are getting ready for the event: along with the dealership heading to it. Its also true the weather doesn't look good for this coming week. Weather dot com shows my area under rain all week long (at least some chance of rain everyday), but who knowing this crazy Illinois weather it may turn out to by 90 and humid.

Best of luck and prayers for warm weather to you!
 
DealerDetailer said:
Bloomington Gold is huge at my dealership; Its none stop vettes that are getting ready for the event: along with the dealership heading to it. Its also true the weather doesn't look good for this coming week. Weather dot com shows my area under rain all week long (at least some chance of rain everyday), but who knowing this crazy Illinois weather it may turn out to by 90 and humid.

Best of luck and prayers for warm weather to you!
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Thanks! Best of luck to you as well... must be murder having to work on a bunch of 'vettes :yay
 
It was my first time on the infinity hard clear - started 10 am saturday morning and finished 9 am sunday. 2 people! 37 man hours, charged client for 30. Promised no more than 15 hours initially :D:D:D
 
tdekany said:
It was my first time on the infinity hard clear - started 10 am saturday morning and finished 9 am sunday. 2 people! 37 man hours, charged client for 30. Promised no more than 15 hours initially :D:D:D
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I think that is what adds a little stress when the hours keep going. Its just a fact if you never turn out bad work and sometimes give a little the first time, it goes a long way. I always let my clients know the difference in true time and billed time. It has been great on retention and the next time the bill is never questioned.
Corrections are about money but without a solid foundation of trust with a new client, its hard to bill fully for the unforseen the first time. People expect a concrete estimate. There are things that can't be known (ie: panels harder from an unnoticeable at first repaint, than others).
 
Concours.John said:
I think that is what adds a little stress when the hours keep going. Its just a fact if you never turn out bad work and sometimes give a little the first time, it goes a long way. I always let my clients know the difference in true time and billed time. It has been great on retention and the next time the bill is never questioned.
Corrections are about money but without a solid foundation of trust with a new client, its hard to bill fully for the unforseen the first time. People expect a concrete estimate. There are things that can't be known (ie: panels harder from an unnoticeable at first repaint, than others).
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He had no problem with the amount as during the detail I kept him updated to a point. After 10pm I stopped calling.

That reminds me:

I worked on an m3 late last year that took me 68 hours over 10 days. I have never worked on paint like that. Jerez Black, 1 year old and I still don't know how it was butchered up so bad + the hardest paint you can't ever imagine.

Charged him for 50 hours, and he still gave me a big tip.

I never ever want to go through another experience like that. It wasn't fun.
 
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