War against Glass

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imported_Ronin

New member
Wow....I just got a quote for an exterior detail (Wash, polish, seal, ect....make the paint look "new"). This quote was from a reputable shop, one listed on Ron Ketcham's company's web site so I would trust them. Around $250 maybe a little more. :eek: Is this industry standard? What do you guys think? I guess I never realized how expensive the pros are. I was inquiring beacuse I don't feel like giving my new car "the treatment" in the freezing cold. I am quite capable, just not willing to brave the temp :( . But for $250-$300 I'll just buy a PC and wait until March :D
 
It depends on the condition of the paint, wheels, wheel covers, tires, wheel wells, trim.... If it is all in good condition, I'd charge about $100, however if it required any buffing with machine I'd easily charge $120 to $180. Also depends on the size of the car.



I know one detail shop around here charges $250 for a complete detail, flat fee no matter what.
 
Pay an autopian to do it, they'll help you our for surely a more reasonable price, not to mention they might do a better job and use better quality products.
 
That sounds like a lot to me for an exterior detail. For that money, I would remove swirls, preclean, clay, and apply a few coats of sealer.....and even then I wouldn't charge that much unless I was only using the highest quality products. What are they going to use on your paint?
 
I paid to have my wife's car polished before I was really into detailing like I am now. Just for the polish alone they charged me $90 bucks. I watched them do it. They just used a PC and did the exact same thing I would do if I had a garage. I can't imagine what they would have charged me if I told them to give it the works. Claying takes time. Prep takes time. All the little details together could easily add up to 250 bucks based on what they charged for a simple polish. That was one of the reasons I got into the business. There are people that gladly pay to have it done because they either don't know how or they don't have time but value the service. It is a good business. You just have to be in the right climate to really make bank off of it. (thus my eminent move to Dallas)
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Ronin [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Wow....I just got a quote for an exterior detail (Wash, polish, seal, ect....make the paint look "new"). This quote was from a reputable shop, one listed on Ron Ketcham's company's web site so I would trust them. Around $250 maybe a little more. :eek: Is this industry standard? What do you guys think? I guess I never realized how expensive the pros are. I was inquiring beacuse I don't feel like giving my new car "the treatment" in the freezing cold. I am quite capable, just not willing to brave the temp :( . But for $250-$300 I'll just buy a PC and wait until March :D [/b]</blockquote>
That price is in the ballpark. You have to remember these businesses have mega overhead and that is all built into the price. A private mobile detailer could do the job for $120-$150 exterior only, because of the lack of other expenses. Also remember you get what you pay for, if this shop carries the highest rating as a business then the detailers are top notch and the work will be gauranteed. I'm sure you could find a shop with a lower rating and pay much less but do you want to 17yr olds ruining your paint. :eek:
 
The detailer said it would be around $250, maybe more to make the exterior paint "look like new". This would be washing, polishing out swirls, sealing with a polymer ect...whatever was required to get the paint in "like new" condition. This would include the wheels, the full exterior of the car (black trim, ect.). He also said they have prepped many cars for Concours events.



He was hesitant to tell me what products they used, only that he has not found anything better in years. I didn't push him as I probably won't take my car in. If I did use his service I would insist that he divulge the products he intended to use.



He was a very nice man and gave best wishes to Ron K. If I had $300 to blow I might just do it, but I just can't part with $300 for a job I could probably do almost as well myself. Any Autopians intersted in getting paid to help detail my ride? I'm in the Washington DC metro area. :)
 
Ronin,



One thing that struck me a little funny was that he told you they prepped cars for Concours events. I know many people who compete at those types events, and I can't think of one off hand that goes to a pro detailer. Most of those guys have so much $$$ invested in those cars they won't let anyone near them, they only feel comfortable doing the work themselves. Can you imagine a "pro" detailer making a mistake on a Concours car.....:eek: that sends shivers up my spine.



I am sure they are a good place if Ron recommended them, but that price seems kind of high for something you could do yourself.
 
I'm sure they are very reputable and do good work, especailly if Ron gave them the OK. But like you said, I could produce similar results for a lot less. Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait until it gets warm. :(
 
If a professional will not tell you what type of products he's going to use on YOUR car, then drive away. I'm putting together a mobile detailing business and I'm going to have "full disclosure" for my customers! My products are listed right on the flyer I have. Not only that, they can look inside my van at my nice equipment and how I'm keeping my tools up and so on. They can also see the gallon jugs of product. I have nothing to hide and plus I like the fact that my competitors are using junk.



Bottom line: If you spend money for service, you should be treated like you were at Nordstroms!



Bottom line, in this day and age, customer service should be #1 when paying top dollar.



That price is fair if they are going to do the interior as well.
 
I guess someone forgot a little piece of advice I gave regarding this shop.



They have a photo book of the concurs cars they have done and still do.



The fellow who is the owner, has a daughter, Gina, who you should have talked to.



You should have asked to see the photo book and the references they have.



You would not believe what they have done and do until you saw these.



The owner is a man of his early 60's and still does somethings the old fashioned way, but also uses some of the newer techniques to obtain perfection.



They strive for prefection!



The products they use are what they have found, in the 20 plus years of business that obtains the results they strive for.



Don't ever think that they are not quality.



They do not use all our products, just those that they are comfortable with and find to be superior at the present to others.



Each few months, they find, after some serious comparsion, based on numerous vehicles, another of our products they add to the everyday mix.



On their shelves in the shop is probably 20+ brands of various products. Some they never use, some the use for a special concern, others they use on most every detail.



Bottom line, in your area, there is no one better, maybe close, but doubtful, and I have personally visited most of the better detail shops in the D.C. area.



No one on this forum, outside of perhaps me, has the years of experience and the track record of successful detailing, on vehicles from SUV's, to classics to show cars, to concurs vehicles, that this shop has.



What those do here for detailing is not what these people do, or nothing like they know, no bull!



Ketch

:up
 
Plus some of others of our products, but they use, as stated, several brands, ones that the old man is comfortable with.



The daughter uses more of our stuff when she is in charge of the vehicle.



The use a lot of the ETR, the Odor Terminator, the Finishing Wax, the OEM, some compound, Omni on certain vehicles,etc



Ketch:up
 
That's high , if your talking standards in pricing considering prices have been where they are now for almost 20 years. That is really in the realm of mobile homes pricing and private jet services. Now those huys are really truly busy. They can keep their prices down so I wonder why cant he do the same for your 2 year old car.



Ryan
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Ryan [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>That's high , if your talking standards in pricing considering prices have been where they are now for almost 20 years. That is really in the realm of mobile homes pricing and private jet services. Now those huys are really truly busy. They can keep their prices down so I wonder why cant he do the same for your 2 year old car.

Ryan [/b]</blockquote>
What prices have been the same for 20yrs? I hope you are not refering to the auto refinishing industry.

Mobile homes are pressure washed and brushed clean. I wasn't aware that they neutralized any acids, removed any particulates out of the surface, compounded the paint with a rotary buffer, polshed the surface with a rotary and a DA and finally sealed the perfect finish with a sealent that will last for up to a year. Last time I checked Aluminum didn't rust.

The price reflects the professionals opinion of what it would cost to bring the vehicle's finish back to perfect condition. The customer is paying for his/her experience, the more experience the higher the price.

The master detailer I trained with gets $500Cdn/car $650Cdn/Suv that translates to $300/400US and he is a mobile detailer with little overhead. I'm sure his touch is similar to the few pro's Ron refers to at this shop. Guys like this can do anything to a vehicles finish,20,30,40yrs experience will do that for you. Go Figure?

This is also a no Spam Zone,show a little respect.
 
I recently looked into buying part of a detailing business in a small town about 15 minutes outside of Omaha. The owner is about 40 years old and has been detailing cars his entire life. He built his beautiful new shop about 2 years ago and it's all top notch. He charges close to $300 for a full detail w/buffing etc. Of course, he also does less expensive details for different situations. He's in rock solid with the Mercedes and Lexus dealers in the area and has 7 employees plus he does just as many cars as his workers, and works evenings and weekends just to keep up. His shop spends 5-6 hours on a full job and the results just knock you out when you see them. I declined to buy into the business because, being older, I really didn't think I could phyically keep up with the pace. The bottom line is, pro detailers earn their money and, having owned my own business for 18 years, I know that from the outside, everyone thinks they can do it faster and cheaper. When you factor in all the costs involved, you'd be surprised to know that a heck of a lot of business owners make lot less money than you think and work a helluva lot harder for it.
 
Certainly no offense was intended. I was just expressing my surprise at the cost. My car's paint is in very good condition and would not need a lot of work, hence my surprise at the $250-300 price. But, like I mentioned before, I am sure they do top notch work. My automatic defense just went up a little when the old man was hesitant to disclose the products that would be used, that's all. I am not saying that he is not justified in charging $300, or that his work is not good. If Ron K. says he is good, that is a pretty good indicator to me!



My medium of communication was the phone, as I can not make a drive all the way to his shop just to check out his photo album.





All I was saying is that I am not willing to pay $300. That's all. No offense intended. :) I don't think anything but good things about the shop. They appear to be a real class act.:up
 
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