What's in your "contract"
- Thread starter Bullpup
- Start date
imported_Jakerooni
New member
Possible damage??? As in you might damage their vechile? Or as in it came in with damage to it? Seems like a really odd thing to have in a contract if you're noting you might end up damaging their cars and such. If it came in with damage it's best to always walk around the car with the customer on drop off and point out anything else you see. And always take pic before you even touch the car of everything. Perferably with the customer there if possible.
Jean-Claude
Keeper of the beautiful
Basically,
By initialing, the client agrees to having the noted work done by [company name] and paying for said work upon completion.
At the bottom of the page I have the customer sign a line which says:
By signing, the client agrees that all work was completed as noted and that there is no damage on the vehicle.
The actual wording is different(and better). But that's the gist.
By initialing, the client agrees to having the noted work done by [company name] and paying for said work upon completion.
At the bottom of the page I have the customer sign a line which says:
By signing, the client agrees that all work was completed as noted and that there is no damage on the vehicle.
The actual wording is different(and better). But that's the gist.
Got More Wax
New member
Yep, we always outline damage as well as what is expected of our service. When performing a complete detail, our contract states that we work on an hourly basis and final charges are based soley upon the amount of time necessary to realize intended results.
Andy
Andy
Envious Eric
New member
i give a range...it will be X-Y amount, usually around $50-75 difference as you can usually estimate once you get into the swing of things. its all based on an hourly!
Got More Wax
New member
On a full detail, I don't give a quote. Like Eric stated, I am more inclined to give a range.
Andy
Andy
Bullpup said:
Jean-Claude
Keeper of the beautiful
Bullpup said:
There are a few factors that depend on how this goes for people.
If you've got many years of experience with return clients who know you'll do you're best on an hourly rate, you're going to get a better response from clients.
If you're new to the biz, you're going to have to be one hell of a salesman to pull it off.
It all depends on you're level of expertise, history with clients and salesmanship.
Here is a very important factor to this business and having return clients. Do not go over your initial quote. Even if you lose money or only make $8 per hour. Clients respect someone who holds to their word at their own expense.
Jeff. AutoKraft
New member
Bullpup said:
I was actually wondering the same thing today as i am also soon to be starting my own business. I see here alot of people as discussed above charge per hour which is interesting because here in australia most charge a flat rate for what type of job is requested whether it be exterior only,interior only or a combination of both,paint correction & a full "bumper to bumper" detail etc. The only surcharges that may apply to the job is the vehicle size.
brwill2005
New member
No written or signed contracts for me. The prices of my packages are fairly fixed, and I can usually quote almost dead on. I do tell the customer that the FINAL price depends on the condition and how long the detail takes.
WAS
Driven
Ours:
Vehicle Sign In
Limitation of Liability & Agreement of Service
1. I hereby release xxxxxx, from any and all liability and claims arising out of or related to any loss, damage or injury, as a result of services performed.
2. I hereby understand and agree that xxxxxx cannot guarantee the removal of all contaminants (including, but not limited to, irremovable carpet or seat stains, irreversible paint defects, etc).
3. I hereby release xxxxxx from any liability for any damage or incidental, visible or otherwise, prior to the vehicle being submitted for services.
4. I hereby authorize xxxxxx to spend up to one (1) additional hour, billed at the regular hourly shop rate, for any additional time spent on any quoted service, including, but not limited to, excessive pet hair removal, organic substance removal, off-road contamination, etc.
5. I hereby validate that I am the registered owner or have the full authority of the registered owner(s) of the vehicle being submitted to xxxxxx for services. xxxxxx cannot be held liable in the event an unauthorized individual submits a vehicle for services.
6. I hereby agree to remit payment of any and all services agreed upon, orally or written, prior to my vehicle being released back to me. I authorize xxxxxx to withhold, detain, and issue a lien on my vehicle should I refuse to remit payment.
7. I hereby agree that xxxxxx cannot be held liable for any personal belongings left in the vehicle.
Vehicle Sign In
Limitation of Liability & Agreement of Service
1. I hereby release xxxxxx, from any and all liability and claims arising out of or related to any loss, damage or injury, as a result of services performed.
2. I hereby understand and agree that xxxxxx cannot guarantee the removal of all contaminants (including, but not limited to, irremovable carpet or seat stains, irreversible paint defects, etc).
3. I hereby release xxxxxx from any liability for any damage or incidental, visible or otherwise, prior to the vehicle being submitted for services.
4. I hereby authorize xxxxxx to spend up to one (1) additional hour, billed at the regular hourly shop rate, for any additional time spent on any quoted service, including, but not limited to, excessive pet hair removal, organic substance removal, off-road contamination, etc.
5. I hereby validate that I am the registered owner or have the full authority of the registered owner(s) of the vehicle being submitted to xxxxxx for services. xxxxxx cannot be held liable in the event an unauthorized individual submits a vehicle for services.
6. I hereby agree to remit payment of any and all services agreed upon, orally or written, prior to my vehicle being released back to me. I authorize xxxxxx to withhold, detain, and issue a lien on my vehicle should I refuse to remit payment.
7. I hereby agree that xxxxxx cannot be held liable for any personal belongings left in the vehicle.
flamewerks
New member
^ Do you mind if I borrow that?
WAS
Driven
flamewerks said:
Go for it. I have it in a .doc form if you'd like it e-mail to you (has my company logo and signature spots all nicely formatted). Send me a PM with your e-mail addy if you'd like it.
I did not read what everyone here does but will go back and do so since I may learn something new here... Here is what I suggest and do... There are two things. One is a sheet with a picture of a car, van, truck or whatever kind of vehicle you are working on. I mark on that where dents and scratches and blemishes are. On the side I write what they are, etc. I have them sign this so they can't go back and say that I did it and scratched their car or dented it. Pictures need to be taken as well. Second is a contract on what the service you are going to do includes. This is to cover you from those clients who want to pull the whole "oh but you didn't cleam the stains on the carpet" when you did a wash and vac service. If they pull that then you can pull out the signed agreement on what service you did and what it includes and does NOT include. Doing this will cover you in many ways. Sure it will take an extra 10 to 15 minutes for both of those plus some pictures but in the end it is worth it. Also you can use the pictures for your website.
WAS
Driven
Shawn F. said:
Your second point I would agree on, which is basically what I have in my "vehicle sign-in" (where I state that services must be paid for in full).
Your first point, however, could become quite time consuming depending on your clientel. I personally couldn't do it, some of the vehicles I see have scratches over 70% of the body (mid-90s soccer mom Dodge Caravans and Ford Windstars for example). My "picture" would have to be printed on a 22" x 36" sheet of paper to accurately mark down every blemish, not to mention it would probably take an hour or two. Besides, you don't need to. A customer has to prove that YOU put a scratch or dent in their vehicle. In other words, unless they have a time stamped picture of their vehicle directly before giving you the keys (ideally with you signing said photo), they're SOL on trying to hold you liable for anything. Just my two cents on that one, I don't think it's a bad idea by any means, I just think it's going overboard and possibly consuming a ton of time for those of us that don't see purely exotics.
Driven Auto Detail
New member
I agree with WAS. There's no possible way of taking a picture of the car to mark all the blemishes while the customer waits there. The customer would get highly annoyed and frankly, so would I.
You are right about the second one but I made a mistake by not mentioning that I do not do typical soccer mom vans and destroyed vehicles. I stick to higher end Mercedes, BMW, classic cars and trucks, Jags, Maserati, etc. With these cars you will not find many dents or scratches so it's easier. Now when I get a typical daily driver like a SUV or soccer mom van with heaps of scratches then I only do the typical dents and huge gouges that are to the primer or metal. The rest I dont need to do anything but take a basic picture to prove my point. I only try to cover myself on things like scratches to the metal so they do not try to get a free paint job out of me. I've had it happen before when I worked for a dealer and the boss ended up painting the front of the ladies car for her which I did not agree on because she always complained. Customers like this I just make them happy the first time and turn them away next time they try comming back. Some agree with this and others dont, I do what works best for me and so far doing this has worked.
I do agree and understand where you are comming from though.
I do agree and understand where you are comming from though.
WAS
Driven
Shawn F. said:
Nope, you're totally right. If you're sticking mainly to higher end vehicles (which I don't have in my area because we don't have the dealerships that sell them), then for sure, that makes sense.
I don't like it when businesses just hand stuff out because a customer complained. If the complaint is completely legitimate, then yes, fix / rectify the problem. But anything else, IMHO, is just allowing one's self to be walked on. I understand why the bigger businesses do it, to use your example, at the dealership, your "boss" was the sales or service manager ? They're just an "employee" too, they aren't the owner, so it's no skin off their back to OK a re-paint. Large corporations are bad for that kind of thing too.
Migue
New member
WAS said:
The dealership i work at does this EVERYTIME a customer complains about a dent that "was not there before" and it's funny because when i take the car up front they immediately walk straight to the dent and say"that wasn't there" and give us all this crap over a scratch or even stains in the interior of FILTHY cars so the stupid estimators ask us to clean them up constantly just because the customer's crying about it. One of these days i'm gonna tell the estimators to F off. I need to find me an affordable place to live with a garage and start doing details full time so that i don't have to deal with annoying co-workers.