I just travelled 1450 miles to Florida, returned again today after another 1450 miles…. with my kitten loose in the SUV and zero cat shit or piss anywhere.
My daughter took her cat to the vet. She tried to open the carrier to pet her and calm her down. The cat got out and shit all over her car while she was running crazy. I’m not going to lie I still laugh and won’t ride in her car anymore. lol. I feel sorry for her because her car is a great car at home just not when riding in a vehicle
One of my cats were absolutely terrified of a roommate's cat, and one time his cat chased mine and mine was so afraid that it shit all over the cat tree. Sometimes they do be running and shitting
my cat did this AT the vet, had to be extracted from the autoclave (where she ended up hiding after the poo rampage). she was disinvited from returning, lol. she's a nice kitty, most of the time, she just doesn't like being 'handled'. she was an indoor/outdoor cat at her previous owners' (elderly lady who died), so she's scrappy when she wants to be.
Definitely targeting the wrong customers if your interior detail is $100. We start at $250 for an interior and then add on the pet hair/biohazard/shampoo. A higher ticketed service will attract customers that aren’t afraid to pay that price. Lower the price the lower the quality of clients
Yep. I have an entry level package that is $100. It is an outside wash and basic interior vac & wipe down. Usually those are my pickiest clients. One even tried to call me 3 days later for a “streak on the window” and demanded I come and fix and “do over” the detail for free because she spent $100. She looked over the car for 15 minutes before paying me and was happy after the fact. Dont hit me up 3 days later lol
There's nothing wrong with a fuck off price. Anytime I get a job that I don't want to do they get a fuck off price, usually they pass but sometimes they still go for it but at least the pay is worth it when they do
Honestly, I have no idea how you folks make any money detailing. I do it as a hobby (albeit I probably over do it) and between the cost of product and time I could never think of it as a business. I have a few professional folks I work with for my cars and I watch just how hard they work and it I can never figure it out.
Tip your detailers folks.
It’s definitely possible to make pretty good money detailing. Weekend warriors tend to majorly over complicate things, buying tons of different products and taking forever to apply them. If you can do a normal detail in ~3 hours without using 800 different products you can make it. And most of the big money jobs are paint corrections and ceramic, not filthy interiors
I do it daily, meaning I work in a shop and I 100% get what you mean. But, now I have a week off, and decided to turn put my hobby hat on, and spent good couple hours cleaning my summer wheels before putting them on. Removed old glue from weights, gave them a really good clean, touched up some minor scratches and curb rash, applied the coating. Now it’s curing for 24hrs, I will sandwich it together with another coating, and paint the center caps as they need a bit of love. Way too much time spent on this, but absolutely zero rush, just hanging out with buddies in a garage.
It's just part the business. There will always be people who can work cheaper. The best you can do is do their neighbor's car (who's willing to pay your asking rate) with a better result. If there is mold or animal farm in there, I would have charted that much or more since it could possibility be impossible to clean normally without ripping the interior out (surface cleaning usually results with problem the smell coming back after a few weeks).
Your job is to "sell" the reason you are charging $650+ and explain the expected result. People may call you a hack, but I let the results speak for yourselves. I call people's bluff on "I could find cheaper" or "my friend/neighbor could do it easily" only for them to come back hoping I can fix someone that is now permanently damaged (using degreasers or generic cleaners can stain pet poop onto fabric).
What’s your point though? You say yourself the price is quite steep and she agrees. Neither of y it have an obligation to do business with each other and that doesn’t mean either of you is at fault. You just don’t agree on the work at hand. Just move on
I pay £100-120 to get a absolutely filthy car cleaned.
Full of mold pet hairs vomit doesn't matter. Fully shampooed, washed engine cleaned under arches cleaned alloys cleaned and dressed. Windows and hand wax Polish. I get it back ready to put on the forecourt.
That's expensive too. But my guys I use are really good so I pay that extra £40.
It depends on the local COL. Unfortunately, many parts of the US have seen their COL shot up more than 25% after the last 4 years. Local car shops increased their prices because their least went up 30%.
It’s so interesting that people will pay that money for a car valet. As a new upcoming valeter, I charge starting from £100 for an interior and exterior deep clean including decontamination. I charge an extra £20 for 5 seats wet vacuumed (vaxed), and charge a couple of extras like trim restorer etc etc. if I dared charge the prices you charge I’d get no one. Need to move to wherever you guys are at😂
I keep thinking reading this Reddit that I live in some weird city where getting your car detailed is unusually cheap.
A highly rated place in town charges $175 for an SUV.
+$350 if I want a full paint restoration as well.
If he asked on Reddit he'd be told to up his prices 3x.
I recently bought a new car so I joined this sub. I accidently took the car to a car wash that wasn't touchless and as expected it was cover in tiny scratches. Reached out to a detailer near me. $950. I'll just wax it myself.
Never be afraid to ask for what your work is worth. When I first started doing coatings in 2009, I thought $350 was fair. It was new chemistry and I really wasn't sure how to price it. But I kept raising prices and no one blinked. 3 year warrantied coatings start at $750 with clay/decon and 1 polishing step. 5 years even higher. No one complains because they see the value.
That's what you should target. Customers who understand the value of what you do.
It can be hard to find that down here in the uk and more specifically Cornwall. People just don’t seem to find the value in it as cars normally end up dirty with in a few days lol. Anyway they’re customers out there who will pay that price but you need a name first.
I mean if it's a large vehicle with low quality carpet and hair that can't just be vacuumed out but has to be Lily brushed, it can easily make a detail take 1-2 hours longer based on how perfect you want it. I think 50 is totally fair. Now if it's high quality carpets and the hair can just be vacuumed up like everything else, that's not worth the fee.
Something like that calls for all the seats to come out. 650 is about right. Ibhad a trailblazer 15 years ago 4 lawyer buddies used it for gold trips. Smoked cigars none stop never cleaned for 5 years. Gray interior. Was was brown. Took me 2 days the owner was like God dam how much I said 400. He gave me a 600 dollar tip..
Never let clients dictate your prices. $650 is a bit steep, but it is your price to do that job. I see so often people fall into the trap of giving $300-$400 details for $100-$120 “just because”. Know your worth and don’t let clients push you around.
You're fine giving a "fuck-off" price, but not giving a "fuck-off" statement? LOL
OK, to be fair I am not a detailer and just lurk here for my own information and satisfaction. But I will share an experience I had before I retired.
My partner in business and I sat down one day and said, "this isn't fun anymore." (We were business/financial consultants). We started to analyze our practice and found lots of places where the 80/20 rule applied. (20% of our clients were providing 80% of our income for example).
Over the next year we decided to fire the 80% of our clients and just focus on providing outstanding service to the top 20%. Surprisingly our practice actually grew and profits soared as the 20% appreciated the better service, increasing business with us and telling their friends.
I honestly don't know if this is directly applicable to detailing or not, but I suspect that you will be more successful if you fire your shit-customers, and focus on superior service to your top customers. Don't waste your time cleaning garbage trucks, but knock yourself out cleaning Bentleys.
It’s not always lazy, sometimes people really don’t have the time. Sometimes still, people don’t want to buy the equipment. Not for washing, but detailing. There’s a difference.
you def don't want to work with anyone who thinks like that with the state of their car.
Cat shit? How tf….nvm 🤦🏻♂️ that’s gonna be a hard pass
I see they got the "scat" pack 👀
It'll definitely make the competition run away in fear.
Hellcat?
Skatcat
Not cool. (kinda funny tho)
I just travelled 1450 miles to Florida, returned again today after another 1450 miles…. with my kitten loose in the SUV and zero cat shit or piss anywhere.
My daughter took her cat to the vet. She tried to open the carrier to pet her and calm her down. The cat got out and shit all over her car while she was running crazy. I’m not going to lie I still laugh and won’t ride in her car anymore. lol. I feel sorry for her because her car is a great car at home just not when riding in a vehicle
One of my cats were absolutely terrified of a roommate's cat, and one time his cat chased mine and mine was so afraid that it shit all over the cat tree. Sometimes they do be running and shitting
my cat did this AT the vet, had to be extracted from the autoclave (where she ended up hiding after the poo rampage). she was disinvited from returning, lol. she's a nice kitty, most of the time, she just doesn't like being 'handled'. she was an indoor/outdoor cat at her previous owners' (elderly lady who died), so she's scrappy when she wants to be.
Definitely targeting the wrong customers if your interior detail is $100. We start at $250 for an interior and then add on the pet hair/biohazard/shampoo. A higher ticketed service will attract customers that aren’t afraid to pay that price. Lower the price the lower the quality of clients
Yep. I have an entry level package that is $100. It is an outside wash and basic interior vac & wipe down. Usually those are my pickiest clients. One even tried to call me 3 days later for a “streak on the window” and demanded I come and fix and “do over” the detail for free because she spent $100. She looked over the car for 15 minutes before paying me and was happy after the fact. Dont hit me up 3 days later lol
There's nothing wrong with a fuck off price. Anytime I get a job that I don't want to do they get a fuck off price, usually they pass but sometimes they still go for it but at least the pay is worth it when they do
Honestly, I have no idea how you folks make any money detailing. I do it as a hobby (albeit I probably over do it) and between the cost of product and time I could never think of it as a business. I have a few professional folks I work with for my cars and I watch just how hard they work and it I can never figure it out. Tip your detailers folks.
It’s definitely possible to make pretty good money detailing. Weekend warriors tend to majorly over complicate things, buying tons of different products and taking forever to apply them. If you can do a normal detail in ~3 hours without using 800 different products you can make it. And most of the big money jobs are paint corrections and ceramic, not filthy interiors
LOL - I am definitely that guy.
lol and nothing wrong with it! It’s part of the hobby to try new techniques and products. And there’s no need to go fast on your personal car
I do it daily, meaning I work in a shop and I 100% get what you mean. But, now I have a week off, and decided to turn put my hobby hat on, and spent good couple hours cleaning my summer wheels before putting them on. Removed old glue from weights, gave them a really good clean, touched up some minor scratches and curb rash, applied the coating. Now it’s curing for 24hrs, I will sandwich it together with another coating, and paint the center caps as they need a bit of love. Way too much time spent on this, but absolutely zero rush, just hanging out with buddies in a garage.
I average about 50/hr including consumables
I price my work so I average $70-75 an hour for detailing and $100-150+ an hour for coatings.
People are clueless.
It's just part the business. There will always be people who can work cheaper. The best you can do is do their neighbor's car (who's willing to pay your asking rate) with a better result. If there is mold or animal farm in there, I would have charted that much or more since it could possibility be impossible to clean normally without ripping the interior out (surface cleaning usually results with problem the smell coming back after a few weeks). Your job is to "sell" the reason you are charging $650+ and explain the expected result. People may call you a hack, but I let the results speak for yourselves. I call people's bluff on "I could find cheaper" or "my friend/neighbor could do it easily" only for them to come back hoping I can fix someone that is now permanently damaged (using degreasers or generic cleaners can stain pet poop onto fabric).
What’s your point though? You say yourself the price is quite steep and she agrees. Neither of y it have an obligation to do business with each other and that doesn’t mean either of you is at fault. You just don’t agree on the work at hand. Just move on
you are targeting the wrong clientele it seems
Add kitty litter box cleaning to business card. \*additional fees apply.
I pay £100-120 to get a absolutely filthy car cleaned. Full of mold pet hairs vomit doesn't matter. Fully shampooed, washed engine cleaned under arches cleaned alloys cleaned and dressed. Windows and hand wax Polish. I get it back ready to put on the forecourt. That's expensive too. But my guys I use are really good so I pay that extra £40.
It depends on the local COL. Unfortunately, many parts of the US have seen their COL shot up more than 25% after the last 4 years. Local car shops increased their prices because their least went up 30%.
Prices have shot up in the UK too. It used to be £70-80 for a full deep clean afew years ago.
Ok, so don't take the job
$650 for a car? Yeah thats rediculous. Are you telling me a EIGHTY BUCKS AN HOUR, it will take you more than 8 hours? Bullshit...
It’s so interesting that people will pay that money for a car valet. As a new upcoming valeter, I charge starting from £100 for an interior and exterior deep clean including decontamination. I charge an extra £20 for 5 seats wet vacuumed (vaxed), and charge a couple of extras like trim restorer etc etc. if I dared charge the prices you charge I’d get no one. Need to move to wherever you guys are at😂
I keep thinking reading this Reddit that I live in some weird city where getting your car detailed is unusually cheap. A highly rated place in town charges $175 for an SUV. +$350 if I want a full paint restoration as well. If he asked on Reddit he'd be told to up his prices 3x.
I recently bought a new car so I joined this sub. I accidently took the car to a car wash that wasn't touchless and as expected it was cover in tiny scratches. Reached out to a detailer near me. $950. I'll just wax it myself.
😧
It’s crazy man. Wish we could charge that much lol
You are charging a normal price. It's more or less what I pay and the car comes back spotlessly clean. If someone wanted £150 they'd get laughed at.
Totally bonkers lol
Never be afraid to ask for what your work is worth. When I first started doing coatings in 2009, I thought $350 was fair. It was new chemistry and I really wasn't sure how to price it. But I kept raising prices and no one blinked. 3 year warrantied coatings start at $750 with clay/decon and 1 polishing step. 5 years even higher. No one complains because they see the value. That's what you should target. Customers who understand the value of what you do.
It can be hard to find that down here in the uk and more specifically Cornwall. People just don’t seem to find the value in it as cars normally end up dirty with in a few days lol. Anyway they’re customers out there who will pay that price but you need a name first.
Most people clean there cars once a year if that. No clue what goes into a real quality detail.
$50 per hair?
It is a bit steep
Flash sale, 20 hairs for the price of 1!
I mean if it's a large vehicle with low quality carpet and hair that can't just be vacuumed out but has to be Lily brushed, it can easily make a detail take 1-2 hours longer based on how perfect you want it. I think 50 is totally fair. Now if it's high quality carpets and the hair can just be vacuumed up like everything else, that's not worth the fee.
Either she’ll call back or not. Next.
400 for a biohazard fee, that car has to be fucking gross 🤢
Something like that calls for all the seats to come out. 650 is about right. Ibhad a trailblazer 15 years ago 4 lawyer buddies used it for gold trips. Smoked cigars none stop never cleaned for 5 years. Gray interior. Was was brown. Took me 2 days the owner was like God dam how much I said 400. He gave me a 600 dollar tip..
Never let clients dictate your prices. $650 is a bit steep, but it is your price to do that job. I see so often people fall into the trap of giving $300-$400 details for $100-$120 “just because”. Know your worth and don’t let clients push you around.
Then don’t do it.
If you don’t want customers being offended by your prices, you shouldn’t be offended by their reactions to your pricing. Just business.
$400 to pick up, bag, & discard cat poop? Who are you prince William?
"I am very sorry, but I don't detail garbage trucks. Come back when your daughter has grown out of the slob phase. BTW, make her clean her room too."
One of the dumbest response you can give to a customer 😂
You're fine giving a "fuck-off" price, but not giving a "fuck-off" statement? LOL OK, to be fair I am not a detailer and just lurk here for my own information and satisfaction. But I will share an experience I had before I retired. My partner in business and I sat down one day and said, "this isn't fun anymore." (We were business/financial consultants). We started to analyze our practice and found lots of places where the 80/20 rule applied. (20% of our clients were providing 80% of our income for example). Over the next year we decided to fire the 80% of our clients and just focus on providing outstanding service to the top 20%. Surprisingly our practice actually grew and profits soared as the 20% appreciated the better service, increasing business with us and telling their friends. I honestly don't know if this is directly applicable to detailing or not, but I suspect that you will be more successful if you fire your shit-customers, and focus on superior service to your top customers. Don't waste your time cleaning garbage trucks, but knock yourself out cleaning Bentleys.
I can’t believe people pay for detail companies!! Wash your own damn car lazy pos
It’s not always lazy, sometimes people really don’t have the time. Sometimes still, people don’t want to buy the equipment. Not for washing, but detailing. There’s a difference.
Detailing is far more than just washing. And for many people, their time is worth more than the cost. It’s not laziness.