urgent opninions needed!!

Dans Detailing

Dans Detailing

Dan's Detailing
I got a call today to give a quote for "polishing" a large leasing companys fleet. They only have 2-3 detailing companies who they are getting quotes from and I want to be competitive. I know the money won't be great , but its work all season long, which is great in the Midwest!

ZFor washing, cleanign the interiors and polishing the cab, what do you guys think is a fair price per vehicle? Should I enter into a contract for a certain price or charge per vehicle?

These polishes will be a first time polish and then maintenance after that.

Not sure where to start..
 
a per vehicle basis pricing, remember its maintenenace and not enthusiast level quality, how often will you be servicing the fleet? how many people will be working with you( if any) What kind of vehicles are we talking here(SUV,P/U,Sedan...etc)?How many units?
 
Well upon talking to the correct person now, I found out that these are brand new trucks comign to the fleet and they want each 50 gallon side gas tank polished, thats it. I am gogin to try and upsell the paint protection package to them, but I got the 24 truck contract for $75 each truck. Mind you this is only polishign the tanks and I figure an hour each tank, two hours per truck.

Its a littlw low, but all 24 trucks will be there so I can move from one to the next.
 
doesn't sound to bad , I'm sure after the third or fourth tank you'll have a system worked out, your right once your in there you can try to get the maintenance account.
 
When I bid for contracts, I bid based on bookings that must be done in Jan-Feb or August. That way I can have 25%, 50% or even 100% of the work done in my off season. In the summer I can always hire a kid to vacuum. In the winter in my area there are seasonal workers always looking for a few $$$, including a good friend of mine who is trained.
That's just me, but I'm a shop guy.
It allows me to bid at a lower dollar figure.

But always make sure you have all the specs for the job, because if you underbid (say bid at 2.75 hours at 75% rate) and it is a big job (like 4 hours), you are working at 1/2 price.
 
DKKNE said:
... I figure an hour each tank, two hours per truck.

Its a littlw low, but all 24 trucks will be there so I can move from one to the next.
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IMHO -- this seams like a mis-guided estimate on the amount of time to polish the tanks. My hats off to ya though if you can do each tank in an hour. The last one I did took 4hrs/tank (I thought I'd be done with them both in 5-6).

You might wanna rethink your estimate. Also keep in mind that the lowest bid many times doesn't get the contract -- it is common that those with the lowest bids might not be the most experienced with the type of work they are bidding, or they might have bid it so low that they might not be able to fulfill the contract.

Just my opinion, based upon my experiences -- whatever happens, best of luck on getting the contract. :)
 
dr_detail said:
IMHO -- this seams like a mis-guided estimate on the amount of time to polish the tanks. My hats off to ya though if you can do each tank in an hour. The last one I did took 4hrs/tank (I thought I'd be done with them both in 5-6).

You might wanna rethink your estimate. Also keep in mind that the lowest bid many times doesn't get the contract -- it is common that those with the lowest bids might not be the most experienced with the type of work they are bidding, or they might have bid it so low that they might not be able to fulfill the contract.

Just my opinion, based upon my experiences -- whatever happens, best of luck on getting the contract. :)
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I agree, the lowest doesn't always get the bid, and I had some insight on who bid the project too and I know what they bid. I was right in the middle of the other two bids. Looks like I got the contract too, I got a call this morning.

As far as polishing, I hope you are wrong or this will be one big learning expereince for me. I am a very efficient detailer so within the first 2-3 tanks I will have a system down that works for me and has the tanks gleeming as well. You very well my have an " I told you so" on this one:)
 
If the tanks are new and they were factory sealed(plastic coating), then they should not take too long to bring up. If these trucks have been sitting in a storage facility for an extended time exposed to the elements you may have underestimated by a bit, but they still should come out ok. Either way, you have a foot in the door and when it comes to renew the contract you will have an edge and also an idea of what it will take :)
 
I did my first two tanks last night, about 45 minutes each. They polish up very very easy. The tanks are already polished up somewhat after they are made, and a quick polish for me
 
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