What is a fair price to charge?

charlesaferg said:
Considering it usually takes me 12-14+ hours, and I'm young, in-shape, and fast - I'd go with no more than 100-150 like you stated, from my reasoning above. Your procedures and resources are very limited. That's not even including your experience level.



Obviously you're set on doing your own thing - so I won't stop you. I'm not here to argue with you about something you already know everything about.



If you screw up, you'd better be able to fess up and pay the consequences, otherwise you give us all a bad name.

:ignore



Yes, If I screw up I will pay the consequences...but I dont know how you think im gonna screw up?



Im using a PC



I dont think I could burn through anything if I wanted too
 
I usually charge my friends $100 for exterior or interior details. Of course, I set aside a day for one of those details or 2 days for both details. I really take my time with my friends cars.



Oh yeah, I charge my parents $100 for both exterior and interior... since they are, after all, my parents and I love them, hehe. I actually spend just as much time on their cars as I do mine. :)
 
justinschmidt1 said:
Yes, If I screw up I will pay the consequences...but I dont know how you think im gonna screw up?



Im using a PC



I dont think I could burn through anything if I wanted too



You're correct in the PC7424 for the most part, but don't get too complacent, I've seen it done. Overall though, it's less about screwing up - more about what you can actually do with probably around $150 of actual product besides your PC and pads... I'd say it's more of a maintainence regimen than a full detail.



I've stated this before, but it's quite obvious you are limited in experience - it isn't a personal attack on you, and I'm not making a fool out of you. It's just that the attempt to ignore this really kills your credibility. Enough for many of us to doubt that you should charge people you don't know, as a business - however small. They could potentially be paying you for services far less than what is possible.



It's a card played all too often with the local detailers around here, and it gives us all a bad name, charging more than the services you can provide. Somebody will call you out on it otherwise.

Unethical business practice is my one pet peeve.



Denzil said:
I usually charge my friends $100 for exterior or interior details. Of course, I set aside a day for one of those details or 2 days for both details. I really take my time with my friends cars.



Oh yeah, I charge my parents $100 for both exterior and interior... since they are, after all, my parents and I love them, hehe. I actually spend just as much time on their cars as I do mine. :)



Yet, this is a good example. Denzil has shown through words and experience that he knows what he is doing.



Not to be a mean guy, but it's good advice. I'm not going to argue, and I'm sure as hell not going to beg, I'm throwing it out there.

I think all of us agree that the unethical detailer is worse than the guy who can't wash his own car properly, at least the guy will learn. The "detailer" will most likely be stubborn and continue, I mean hell - he's making money from it.



EG - This guy... User: Benz Rider...

more 280 pics after a full detail - Page 2 - Benzworld.org - Mercedes Benz Discussion Forum
 
If your gonna swirl remove I wouldn't think twice about a pc7424 either. Your thinking about how much time it will take to remove swirls with that machine. It's going to take a LONG LONG time. I'm not trying to be mean I'm just trying to be up front about it. Ask any pro on here they everyone has started their prices very low. When I started when I was 16 I did wash, wax and interior for 35 bucks. Now I charge 70 for that job. It only take about 1.5 hours. Keep it easy on yourself and don't swirl remove without insurance Friends will be friends until you mess something up.
 
charlesaferg said:
You're correct in the PC7424 for the most part, but don't get too complacent, I've seen it done. Overall though, it's less about screwing up - more about what you can actually do with probably around $150 of actual product besides your PC and pads... I'd say it's more of a maintainence regimen than a full detail.



I've stated this before, but it's quite obvious you are limited in experience - it isn't a personal attack on you, and I'm not making a fool out of you. It's just that the attempt to ignore this really kills your credibility. Enough for many of us to doubt that you should charge people you don't know, as a business - however small. They could potentially be paying you for services far less than what is possible.



It's a card played all too often with the local detailers around here, and it gives us all a bad name, charging more than the services you can provide. Somebody will call you out on it otherwise.

Unethical business practice is my one pet peeve.







Yet, this is a good example. Denzil has shown through words and experience that he knows what he is doing.



Not to be a mean guy, but it's good advice. I'm not going to argue, and I'm sure as hell not going to beg, I'm throwing it out there.

I think all of us agree that the unethical detailer is worse than the guy who can't wash his own car properly, at least the guy will learn. The "detailer" will most likely be stubborn and continue, I mean hell - he's making money from it.



EG - This guy... User: Benz Rider...

more 280 pics after a full detail - Page 2 - Benzworld.org - Mercedes Benz Discussion Forum



Just to follow up on this kid who thinks he knows everything about detailing... Benz Rider.
 
charlesaferg said:
You're correct in the PC7424 for the most part, but don't get too complacent, I've seen it done. Overall though, it's less about screwing up - more about what you can actually do with probably around $150 of actual product besides your PC and pads... I'd say it's more of a maintainence regimen than a full detail.



I've stated this before, but it's quite obvious you are limited in experience - it isn't a personal attack on you, and I'm not making a fool out of you. It's just that the attempt to ignore this really kills your credibility. Enough for many of us to doubt that you should charge people you don't know, as a business - however small. They could potentially be paying you for services far less than what is possible.



It's a card played all too often with the local detailers around here, and it gives us all a bad name, charging more than the services you can provide. Somebody will call you out on it otherwise.

Unethical business practice is my one pet peeve.







Yet, this is a good example. Denzil has shown through words and experience that he knows what he is doing.



Not to be a mean guy, but it's good advice. I'm not going to argue, and I'm sure as hell not going to beg, I'm throwing it out there.

I think all of us agree that the unethical detailer is worse than the guy who can't wash his own car properly, at least the guy will learn. The "detailer" will most likely be stubborn and continue, I mean hell - he's making money from it.



EG - This guy... User: Benz Rider...

more 280 pics after a full detail - Page 2 - Benzworld.org - Mercedes Benz Discussion Forum







I understand what your saying...of course there are better people out there...I dont know everything, I dont have my own detail shop...Im just a 19 yr old kid who likes detailing and has been at it for years.



You keep trying to say I have limited experiance but im not claiming to be a professional detailer...I posted some before/after pictures and some people want me to do thier cars....



So the results that I was able to achiever must have been good enough for people to request me to do thier cars.



I understand what all the products are doing and I understand it is possible to burn paint, hell, I wetsanded through the paint on my own car trying to remove a stubborn scratch in a bad area.



Im not saying im going to remove deep scratches or anything but I am able to remove mild swirl marks with a cutting pad and a decent product.



I can polish and wax the car with some of the nice products and these peoples cars will look 3 x better than they have before....maybe they could go to a "Real Detailer" and spent 500 dollars to get it to look 4x as good but why?



I would appreciate it if you could give me some credit since you dont know me or what I am capable of at all.



Here is my 96 gt...does my paint look ok?



( yes, the rims are filthy there)



2458365324_f42b79ce71_b.jpg




2423071495_86f785ac61_b.jpg
 
Denzil said:
Just to follow up on this kid who thinks he knows everything about detailing... Benz Rider.





The dude clays dirty cars and takes WIRE brushes to painted calipers...the kid sucks.



I dont claim to know it all or anywhere near it all...but I do claim to understand some basic concepts and I believe I can provide a nicer looking car when Im done with it...



Just a Polish and wax does wonders for an abused paint job
 
keep in mind not everyone is going to want 100% perfection or close to it...some just want it to shine...which is why a two step is my most common procedure or less...for those who want it to look like new, they get quoted based on a per hour rate...usually around 400-600...others have a package deal waiting for them on my website to choose from...hope that helps a little in the fact that for 150 bucks, they should receive a two step plus interior, not perfection...unless you like working for 10-12 per hour...
 
Believe me man, you're a godsend compared to that guy.



I must step up and say thank you for taking the time to be on this forum.

I'm getting sick of interjecting this Benz Rider's BS. My gosh, it's endless, but I'll always be there to keep him busy, and thinking of ways to force him to teach himself, just to provide a semi-intelligent retort towards me. It's right when I sit down and wait for it to come to me, that's when he'll really screw up. I've really gotta stay on the offensive, because I can tell he's learning to become smarter. So, regardless of if he uses it on cars, I know some of it will be.

It's all I, and all of you can do to keep people like Benz Rider from screwing up cars TOO bad.



So again, thanks for not being a hack, really. I appreciate it man - same to all of you.

:bigups
 
charlesaferg said:
Believe me man, you're a godsend compared to that guy.



I must step up and say thank you for taking the time to be on this forum.

I'm getting sick of interjecting this Benz Rider's BS. My gosh, it's endless, but I'll always be there to keep him busy, and thinking of ways to force him to teach himself, just to provide a semi-intelligent retort towards me. It's right when I sit down and wait for it to come to me, that's when he'll really screw up. I've really gotta stay on the offensive, because I can tell he's learning to become smarter. So, regardless of if he uses it on cars, I know some of it will be.

It's all I, and all of you can do to keep people like Benz Rider from screwing up cars TOO bad.



So again, thanks for not being a hack, really. I appreciate it man - same to all of you.

:bigups







Lol, thanks man...I need to get some more pics of my car up here...



I did a nice job on my rear bumper today...



the thing was oxidated real bad and the plastic was faded.....hit it with some ssr3 polish wax and now it looks new
 
Back
Top