What about your friends?

I

imported_madwax

New member
Is it just me or do (friends)? think you enjoy doing free work. I get so many people asking me to do their cars cheaper or cut rate and even for free. I explain to them this is not like giving out a shot of polish. Yourasking me to put it on too :mad:I had one come down to my shop and ask me to do a full detail on his truck for$50.00 he was getting ready to sale it. I can see maybe, if you have something in trade, but labor for free doesn't add up!
 
i know the problem i see it alot, so i tell people the price off a full detail then i give them 10-15% off depending on there car and how close of freinds they are. just tell them your gettnig els them minmun wage to do a full detail for 50 bucks and its just not worth the oppertunity costs. That or give them 100 carsds and tell them they have to pass themout, put a small symbol on the back and see if there handing them out, make it worth youre time
 
A friend of mine told me about the referral system. If they can refer 3 or 4 people, you can give them a full discount considering they made you money.



But ALL of my friends are asking for free details.
 
nobody gets anyhting for free from me....not even close friends or family, they need to understand that this is what you do to make a living, is not a hobby! (for me anyway).......i amy throw an extra service in at a discount as long as it isnt taking any more time...and they think they are getting a good deal (which they are anyway)....but nuthing gets done for free, time is money!
 
madwax said:
Is it just me or do (friends)? think you enjoy doing free work. I get so many people asking me to do their cars cheaper or cut rate and even for free. I explain to them this is not like giving out a shot of polish. Yourasking me to put it on too :mad:I had one come down to my shop and ask me to do a full detail on his truck for$50.00 he was getting ready to sale it. I can see maybe, if you have something in trade, but labor for free doesn't add up!
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LOL I get this a lot too. I do free work for my parents all of the time. They usually try and pay me but they gave me a roof over my head for 23 years of my life and they are always there when I need them so they will always get free work. I usually do free work for my sister and brother inlaw too but he helps me out all of the time on other items. And I trade details for my other firend's services often as well. But what kills me is when someone says "Hey, I need my car detailed can you help?" Which always means, can you do it for free while I sit and watch? Or sometimes people will say, "I need my car done but I don't have much money." It did not bother me when I first started out because I wanted the practice and I had the time but now it just annoys me a bit. What I have done recently is came up with a "cheapo" detail. For those that don't want to pay much. I simply wash their vehicles and slap on some Four Star 4-54 sealant and call it a day as far as the paint.
 
Danase said:
LOL I get this a lot too. I do free work for my parents all of the time. They usually try and pay me but they gave me a roof over my head for 23 years of my life and they are always there when I need them so they will always get free work. I usually do free work for my sister and brother inlaw too but he helps me out all of the time on other items. And I trade details for my other firend's services often as well. But what kills me is when someone says "Hey, I need my car detailed can you help?" Which always means, can you do it for free while I sit and watch? Or sometimes people will say, "I need my car done but I don't have much money." It did not bother me when I first started out because I wanted the practice and I had the time but now it just annoys me a bit. What I have done recently is came up with a "cheapo" detail. For those that don't want to pay much. I simply wash their vehicles and slap on some Four Star 4-54 sealant and call it a day as far as the paint.
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Thats what I do.... If someone even insinuates a 'free detail' it usually means that they dont have a clue as to what detailing means..... so I just make it shine like 'fools gold' in and out..... takes me half the time and they're happy as anything....
 
I always did my friend's vehicles for cost when I had a shop. They paid the detailer their normal retail client rate and everyone was happy(especially when most of them got tipped very well). I only did this when we weren't backed up. I think bartering is also a great thing to. I also did all the dealership owner's and manager's personal vehicles(and even their wifes vehicles). I built a much stronger relationship.
 
FidoAUTO said:
Thats what I do.... If someone even insinuates a 'free detail' it usually means that they dont have a clue as to what detailing means..... so I just make it shine like 'fools gold' in and out..... takes me half the time and they're happy as anything....
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Yeah but if you do that then your name gets put on something that looks "not so good."



Ive been asked by friends to do free work but I tell them straight up that if I take a day out of my schedule to do their car... then Im losing $200 I could be making on a customers car.



I JUST did a 300C on saturday for a good friend... inside and out.. polish.. etc. I also did it last minute and wasnt planning on detailing that day. I wouldve normally charged $220 but I did it for $180 and told him to keep the amount between us. Seemed fair to me. I also know that it will lead to other business... plus I already did a big job for his mom last month.



I wouldnt ever consider a job for less then $100 for friends or family. The fact that I could be making double doing the same thing the same day wont let me.
 
i'm not even close to being a professional detailer...although my truck is always cleaner than anyone else i know. I get hit up all the time to detail friends cars. I usually do them for like 100 bucks, or 75 if they want to help. Family i do for free.
 
so... what do you do when your uncle is the cheapest person ever. he gives $20 on birthdays, has like seriously no more than 8 pairs of clothes for his 1 yr old daughter, drives two BMW's 3 and 5 series, makes above average income and asks for a detailing. I don't want to be ignorant and be like, it'll be like $75 cause i am no professional, but when i'm done with his car he usually says "oh i should pay you" and pulls out $20 of 5 hours of work.



what do you say?
 
hoanger said:
so... what do you do when your uncle is the cheapest person ever. he gives $20 on birthdays, has like seriously no more than 8 pairs of clothes for his 1 yr old daughter, drives two BMW's 3 and 5 series, makes above average income and asks for a detailing. I don't want to be ignorant and be like, it'll be like $75 cause i am no professional, but when i'm done with his car he usually says "oh i should pay you" and pulls out $20 of 5 hours of work.



what do you say?
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"Sorry, my schedule is full at the moment... maybe some other time..."



Hey, if they don't appreciate the work, might as well just take it through the swirl-0-matics and call it a day.
 
Ask them for something free from their job. That usually shuts them up.



"Hey, how about hooking me up for a free detail?"



"Sure, hook me up with several hundred dollars from your cash register".



;)



I'll do family vehicles as birthday or Christmas gifts but everyone else pays.
 
No one asks me for free details, but I can't stand people with new higher end cars who once they find out that I charge $300 for a full detail on a Z4 for example e mail me back a day later: How much is just the outside? Cheap bastards!



Interesting how they don't like a fair price, but overpay their stealership and don't even know it.
 
I try to give a discount to my friends however, when they try to get the price down by saying "how much if I help?" I tell them that will be extra!!!!!
 
gatightlines said:
I try to give a discount to my friends however, when they try to get the price down by saying "how much if I help?" I tell them that will be extra!!!!!
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hahah seriously....when you have to stop mid polish and show them what to use, it gets annoying....



i used to do friends cars for 1/2, or if I am practicing with the rotary, but that is a learning curve, so i cant cahrge for that IMO...but no one gets free from me anymore....wait my grandma does, but my aunt wants to pay me 70 to wash and wax her jeeps...thats retail!!!! I said deal! hahaha
 
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