what do you guys pay for detailing?
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Orange County, CA
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But what most people don't realize is that the reason I (as well as the other top detailers on this board) remember this moment is not b/c of the $1k, but rather the look on the customers' face when they first see the car and say WOW
! That's what it's about for us.
! That's what it's about for us.
I'm sure the $1K didn't go unappreciated either . . .
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: West Chester, Pa
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Great points Moe and Bob. But like you guys said, it's one thing to talk the talk but eventually you have to walk the walk. There are a number of detailers out there who have the give of gab and can "sell" a $1K detail, but will the client come back again and pay $1k again in the future? That's the difference between "selling" and "delivering value".
I still remember the first time I quoted someone $1K for a detail. It was on a gold '88 MB SL560 (my favorite car to detail). The look on the customers' face was priceless. He told me that he had never paid more than $200 for a detail and just looked at me baffled. I made him an offer; "Let me detail your car and if you don't think the job was worth the money, pay me nothing (the only caveat was that he not rush me). "Even if you think the job was only worth $900, I won't take it". He thought about it and said OK, b/c he really wanted to see what a $1K detail was like. He later told me that he went home and had nothing but second thoughts and regret. He was even afraid to tell his wife. When I finally finished the car, I told him to bring his wife and I specifically left it on the lift under the fluorescent lights for them to see. They must've spent a good 20 minutes looking over the car after which he turned to me, shook my hand and said "Now I know what a $1K detail is". His wife now won't let him sell that car. To this day he is one of the best promoters of my work. But what most people don't realize is that the reason I (as well as the other top detailers on this board) remember this moment is not b/c of the $1k, but rather the look on the customers' face when they first see the car and say WOW! That's what it's about for us.
Matt
I still remember the first time I quoted someone $1K for a detail. It was on a gold '88 MB SL560 (my favorite car to detail). The look on the customers' face was priceless. He told me that he had never paid more than $200 for a detail and just looked at me baffled. I made him an offer; "Let me detail your car and if you don't think the job was worth the money, pay me nothing (the only caveat was that he not rush me). "Even if you think the job was only worth $900, I won't take it". He thought about it and said OK, b/c he really wanted to see what a $1K detail was like. He later told me that he went home and had nothing but second thoughts and regret. He was even afraid to tell his wife. When I finally finished the car, I told him to bring his wife and I specifically left it on the lift under the fluorescent lights for them to see. They must've spent a good 20 minutes looking over the car after which he turned to me, shook my hand and said "Now I know what a $1K detail is". His wife now won't let him sell that car. To this day he is one of the best promoters of my work. But what most people don't realize is that the reason I (as well as the other top detailers on this board) remember this moment is not b/c of the $1k, but rather the look on the customers' face when they first see the car and say WOW
! That's what it's about for us.Matt
Awesome story Matt..... I have to agree. The look on the client's face when they see their car for the first time after working on it is what makes it all worth it.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: New Jersey
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Bob, Matt, and Moe said it all for the most part, but to add you do get what you pay for (for the most part)
and I have to stress when clients say their cars are mint I know I'm in for it.....Those are always the worst cars I have ever seen in my life...
eg: here is one that my customer said my car is mint no swirls no paint correction nothing is needed just a wash and wax.....
and I have to stress when clients say their cars are mint I know I'm in for it.....Those are always the worst cars I have ever seen in my life...
eg: here is one that my customer said my car is mint no swirls no paint correction nothing is needed just a wash and wax.....
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Dallas
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Bob, Matt, and Moe said it all for the most part, but to add you do get what you pay for (for the most part)
and I have to stress when clients say their cars are mint I know I'm in for it.....Those are always the worst cars I have ever seen in my life...
eg: here is one that my customer said my car is mint no swirls no paint correction nothing is needed just a wash and wax.....
and I have to stress when clients say their cars are mint I know I'm in for it.....Those are always the worst cars I have ever seen in my life...
eg: here is one that my customer said my car is mint no swirls no paint correction nothing is needed just a wash and wax.....
I've had the very same thing said as well, which is why I pull out the 500W and show them the truth and then tell them what it will take to make it perfect.
Educating the clients is #1 priority cause everyone has there own meaning of what "mint" is.
Bob, Matt, and Moe said it all for the most part, but to add you do get what you pay for (for the most part)
and I have to stress when clients say their cars are mint I know I'm in for it.....Those are always the worst cars I have ever seen in my life...
eg: here is one that my customer said my car is mint no swirls no paint correction nothing is needed just a wash and wax.....
and I have to stress when clients say their cars are mint I know I'm in for it.....Those are always the worst cars I have ever seen in my life...
eg: here is one that my customer said my car is mint no swirls no paint correction nothing is needed just a wash and wax.....
Banned
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 178
From: pleasanton ca
Rep Power: 35
It's Mint!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here it is in a nutshell........... You have some people who complain about price point, but will say "I want the BEST", well the best is accomplished because the provider of said product or service is just flat out better than the "thrifty company".
As I am working on a Million dollar vehicle, in a multi milliondollar home, I could whine and say to myself "how come this Enzo is sooooo exspensive?? why can't I afford it?" Well, because that car is one of the BEST cars in the world, thousands of man hours went in to the development and construction. How I think is if I want to own this car that is parked in this incredible home, I need to make it happen financially for myself so I can AFFORD it, but I know my limits.
Remember, cheapness is a disease that I am glad I do not to suffer from.
As I am working on a Million dollar vehicle, in a multi milliondollar home, I could whine and say to myself "how come this Enzo is sooooo exspensive?? why can't I afford it?" Well, because that car is one of the BEST cars in the world, thousands of man hours went in to the development and construction. How I think is if I want to own this car that is parked in this incredible home, I need to make it happen financially for myself so I can AFFORD it, but I know my limits.
Remember, cheapness is a disease that I am glad I do not to suffer from.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Long Island, NY
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Now that's a perfect example of what we deal with on a daily basis Phil. Usually when someone calls me, tells me the car is a certain flavor that all it needs is a wax, I respond by asking them if they call their dentist and tell them the same thing? That's why the dentist first asks you to open up and say ahhh and then he tells you what you need; and that's why we need to see the car first for a proper evaluation. The thing that gets me the most is when you actually shoe the customer the swirls, etc. on the car and they still tell you to just wax the car 
; just b/c they don't want to pay for the proper job. Personally I won't do that b/c I tell them their car will reflect my work and my reputation, and I refuse to compromise either one. Again, it's like going to your dentist, him informing you that you need a root canal, and you telling him to just put in a filling b/c your you think teeth are mint.
In regards to what Bob mentioned, there is actually a gentleman in my area who owns an Enzo, Murci, etc. and thinks paying anything over $250 for a detail is asinine. Obviously I don't do his cars and they do look like crap
. This "disturbing behavior" I just can't comprehend. What are you going to do?
Matt
; just b/c they don't want to pay for the proper job. Personally I won't do that b/c I tell them their car will reflect my work and my reputation, and I refuse to compromise either one. Again, it's like going to your dentist, him informing you that you need a root canal, and you telling him to just put in a filling b/c your you think teeth are mint. In regards to what Bob mentioned, there is actually a gentleman in my area who owns an Enzo, Murci, etc. and thinks paying anything over $250 for a detail is asinine. Obviously I don't do his cars and they do look like crap
. This "disturbing behavior" I just can't comprehend. What are you going to do?Matt
I think it's our industry. There are so many guys out there with shorts and t-shirts and flip flops showing up at someone's door and doing cars for $150. It's the old cliché of a detailer that basically does this to get through college or part time. And you know what, most guys out there are and then there are also the Hispanic guys here that will do cars for much less because it's a cash deal. However, there are true professionals that run the show like a REAL business and basically self-govern. But those are far and few. For every one of us there are 100 of the drive-by detailers.
Something does need to be done to raise barrier to entry, improve detailer preconceived notions, and raising awareness. Someone with an Enzo would never take his/her car to Jiffy Lube so why call the guy that put a card on the mailbox or a flyer on the windshield? I too refuse service if someone tried to tell me what THEY think I should do. I don't need the money that bad, I won't tarnish my name that I've worked so hard to build, and I won't do your car injustice by doing sub-par work. How many people have walked away from a $800 detail a F430 because they knew it needed more work but the client wasn't willing to pay for the extra attention the car needed? I did because I wouldn't sell myself short. He now knows that I will not budge on my diagnosis and quality of work. Sad thing is, that Ferrari will always look inferior because of its owner.
I do think we need to do something about this for our best interest and the interest of our clients. A detailing association that ultimately becomes the standard of excellence, training for future detailers, support for current detailers, etc.
Something does need to be done to raise barrier to entry, improve detailer preconceived notions, and raising awareness. Someone with an Enzo would never take his/her car to Jiffy Lube so why call the guy that put a card on the mailbox or a flyer on the windshield? I too refuse service if someone tried to tell me what THEY think I should do. I don't need the money that bad, I won't tarnish my name that I've worked so hard to build, and I won't do your car injustice by doing sub-par work. How many people have walked away from a $800 detail a F430 because they knew it needed more work but the client wasn't willing to pay for the extra attention the car needed? I did because I wouldn't sell myself short. He now knows that I will not budge on my diagnosis and quality of work. Sad thing is, that Ferrari will always look inferior because of its owner.
I do think we need to do something about this for our best interest and the interest of our clients. A detailing association that ultimately becomes the standard of excellence, training for future detailers, support for current detailers, etc.
EE
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,486
From: Glendale, AZ
Rep Power: 82
Bob, Matt, and Moe said it all for the most part, but to add you do get what you pay for (for the most part)
and I have to stress when clients say their cars are mint I know I'm in for it.....Those are always the worst cars I have ever seen in my life...
eg: here is one that my customer said my car is mint no swirls no paint correction nothing is needed just a wash and wax.....
and I have to stress when clients say their cars are mint I know I'm in for it.....Those are always the worst cars I have ever seen in my life...
eg: here is one that my customer said my car is mint no swirls no paint correction nothing is needed just a wash and wax.....
wahahahahhahaha!!! Poor guy!!!! Didn't know his car needed some TLC.. What was his expression when you finished the car with your top-notch work? LOL!! I bet his eyes popped out hahaha!
Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 191
From: BAY AREA
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Thanks again for all the feedback
Just dropped off my C4S at California Detailing here in San Francisco. Had a very nice conversation with Jim last week, asked all the questions you all suggested to ask. I noticed California Detailing is also an advertiser here. I'll post pictures tomorrow after I pick up the car.
Just dropped off my C4S at California Detailing here in San Francisco. Had a very nice conversation with Jim last week, asked all the questions you all suggested to ask. I noticed California Detailing is also an advertiser here. I'll post pictures tomorrow after I pick up the car.
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I'm all for teaching owner's to take care of their cars but learning to properly polish a car is A LOT harder than learning to properly maintain it after a detail, which is why many take it to a good detailer... another reason is simple, time=money... why would someone spend 10 hrs to save $500 and "break their back" when they can sit comfortably in their office and make that or more.... again, don't get me wrong, I'm all for people taking care of their cars because some are just abused, but I'm trying to explain that not everyone is fit to get up and start detailing their own ride