What Detailing Crowd Do You Associate With?
Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 02:10PM Our industry as a whole can be divided into two groups...I encourage the professional detailers I work with, coach and train that there is another option...a third group.
We have the "I don't care, I think I know it all but in reality I know nothing about detailing correctly crowd. This is the crowd that places value on "beating" everyone in town and offering the lowest price....the same group who performs "destructive detailing" and while the work may look great...the results can be reached at a very high expense to the car...and the customer. Healthy clear is devoured as quickly as a great white shark can eat a foot long hot dog...that healthy clear can not be recovered and the paint finish is compromised and God help the poor detailer who details behind this group...with some luck, that detailer is well equipped to recognize a possible situation!
Detailer Relaited Clear Issues??
The second detailing crowd is the "Highest Quality At Any Cost" group. Let me tell you, for two-years, I had "Addicted To Shine-itis" and when I looked at the numbers...the dollars and cents within my detailing business...I was shocked at how much my addiction to shine was costing me and how much money I was just "giving away" to the clients that I over performed for. Listen I love to make a car as new as new can get just as much as anyone reading this...my passion for detailing is only trumped by my passion for cars and that is a double whammy. I loved making paint and interiors sparkle but just a couple years into my business, (a very long two years I may add) I jumped to an elite group within the detailing industry.
A Black Mirror Finish...But At What Cost?
The most elite group within the detailing industry... Pro's Turning a REAL PROFIT. This third group is a about a rare in our industry as a truthful politician is in Washington DC these days. Many players out there talking the talk but few have a checking account are assets that would prove any real success. The professionals making the most impact within this industry are those that know and understand the proper sales system and selling from a well designed detailing menu.
Above...Peter Is Not Only A Detailing Professional...He Is a Financial Specialist! Peter Will Be Speaking At Our Vegas Event
Which Group Do You Belong In or Desire To Belong Within? Being a fantastic detailer is not an option...to be profitable you must be a talented detailing technician in today's market but to survive you must be detailing smart!
Auto detailing
Reader Comments (2)
Renny, you couldn't be more right about having to be able to sell your services. I would say that 95% of all detailing shops will just blurt out a price when asked without any explanation. You need to be able to explain why your service costs two or three (or more) times what the next guy is charging or you are never going to get the business.
I NEVER give out a price for my services until I have explained all the levels of service I offer, and if someone does not want to take the time to listen to them, I probably don't want that person as a customer anyway.
Keep up the good work Renny!
I totally agree. I am in the stage where I explain the services offered and an estimated price (the previso being that every car is different and so the work is to be different) and many get "sticker shock"! Immediately afterwards, the old statement of "I can get it done for 69.95 at so and so" comes into play. For those who still have one ear open, I retort with "if you are willing to risk spending an additional $1500-$3000 for a basic paint job (no frills) to fix that $69.95 because of the cheapest price, then feel free to do so. I will admit that I have mellowed a bit. The statement used to be "If and more importantly when your car gets screwed up and you are unhappy with the work and you come back, I will charge double my original estimate to fix it." A small, but usually effective guilt trip I learned from my father. He spent close to 50 years in the Auto Body business and on his own for about 22 of that 50. sometimes, bluntness to close the deal works. Fab write up and work as always!