What is a "Detail"

A

AquaHawk

New member
Hello, I seen prices on details and they are like a range from 100 to up to 400 I seen, but If I just wanted to charge lets say 100-150, what is that? What is a detail? I mean would I polish, paint refinish, clean inside and out, for that price range or just in general what would a detail of that consist of? Like Cleaning wise.



I see tons of things on paint refinishing and polishing, waxing. Etc. and don't know if that would be extra. What is a regular detail price and what do you actually do to the car?



Thanks.



-Hawk
 
There are no standards applied to auto detailing ( a polish, wax, sealant or a coating all have different meaning to different vendors) and most detailing "expert" advice comes from people who have a vested interest in selling products



The local tunnel wash will ‘detail’ your car by applying wax and vacuuming the carpets. A guy using a bucket and sponge will ‘detail’ you vehicle for you. Ask a detailer (even one from Autopia) and they cannot uniformly aggree on what consitutes a detail.



Is it any wonder that your prospective client is confused and will make the statement “I can get a detail for £100 and you want £400!â€� You need to explain to a prospective client exactly what your detail includes for the price quoted



Can you and your team name three things that set you apart from the competition?



There are a few reasons people choose to do business with you;

1. They feel comfortable with the company.

2. They feel comfortable with and trust your abilities

3. They want the service

4. The price is what they consider to be ‘right’.



Choosing and trusting a professional auto detailer can be a tough decision; when anyone looks for a detailer they want someone they feel they can trust with their vehicle, one with experience, knowledge and specialized training, one who provides the best possible workmanship and products for a fair price.





TOGWT® Autopia Detailing Wiki - “Becoming a Professional Detailerâ€� - http://www.autopia.org/forum/detail...ng/136438-becoming-professional-detailer.html
 
Whether you're paying $100 or $400, you're probably being charged about the same per labor hour. There is a role that skill and hustle play from detailer to detailer, but the bottom line is how much time do you want to pay someone to work on your car. Typically, the more you spend the better it looks.
 
I agree with Jean-Claude. In most cases, you aren't really charging for a specific service but rather for the time it takes. Applying sealants may be an exception since the cost of the product is high and the time it takes to apply is low. Most seem to charge a structured amount for something like that. To get back to your question, the most effective way to decide what a "detail" consists of is with your customer. Talk to them about what they expect and provide an estimate based on the number of hours you think it will take. Most detailers will give a low and high estimate for the job.
 
Check out my services page and inspect my pricing and time outlines. Each service has a breakdown on what is done. Those are my ideas of a detail.
 
Thanks everyone, I appreciate it. So can I do absolutely no paint/wax/polish work just an exterior wash with interior cleaning and charge 100 still?



What do you think on that price? Of course include Shampooing, Vacuuming, Armor Alling (or just a protector like Armor All) Stain removal.
 
Don't know where you are located or what the "market" is where you are or what the average Joe expects or has been paying.

Those are important factors to consider when pricing services.
 
Ron Ketcham said:
Don't know where you are located or what the "market" is where you are or what the average Joe expects or has been paying.

Those are important factors to consider when pricing services.
Click to expand...



And skill level.
 
The key take-away here is that you should not and cannot arbitrarily set pricing just because it "feels" right -- the going rate in your market, your skill level, and what you need to be making to both cover your costs and earn a respectable profit all factor into it. It takes doing a little research and a little math.



Once again, I'd highly recommend taking a basic introductory business course or two at the local community college so you can learn a bit about what it takes to run a business and have success.... and then determine if running a business is really right for you or not.
 
Education is the most important component of the success of any business. The skills required to run a business consists of; Technical (to do the actual work) Marketing (to get the work and keep it coming in) Financial (maintain company books, paying suppliers, ensure vendors are paid on time, maintain the companies credit rating, paying company taxes) Administration (maintain adequate chemical supplies, maintain a working relationship with the company Accountant, ensure bills are current (telephone, electricity, rates, water and etc) ensure client bills are received and resolve any conflicts should they arise
 
OP, these guys have given you some amazing suggestions and principals that you should marinade on.



TOG, charles and Ron have been around a long time and their comments are very sound.
 
AquaHawk said:
Thanks everyone, I appreciate it. So can I do absolutely no paint/wax/polish work just an exterior wash with interior cleaning and charge 100 still?



What do you think on that price? Of course include Shampooing, Vacuuming, Armor Alling (or just a protector like Armor All) Stain removal.
Click to expand...



$100 is still cheap for all that, more like $155 and stain removal is a up sale.
 
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