Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 18
  1. #1
    central's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    84
    Post Thanks / Like

    should i discount?

    got a job today:

    Blazer: horrific interior - average exterior quoted $200 for the job.

    She turned around and added 3 more cars to the mix:
    escort- good shape ($300 paint job 6 months ago, some chipping) quoted $99

    Truck- ex shape, quoted $130

    Camaro- classic ex shape quoted $130

    based my prices on how long i would take to detail at $30 an hour.

    Now being that its all in the family, should i discount??

    comes to $559 total.. discount to $500??

    any advice appreciated.

  2. #2
    Owner and Tech. Rep Nickc0844's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Atlanta (Woodstock), Georgia
    Posts
    1,680
    Post Thanks / Like
    Hey Central,

    I just ran into the same scenario (5 cars one family, and 3 cars on another). Anything over 2 cars, which would require me to put them into 2 seperate days, I will typically discount slightly. Sure, there are factors to consider that would otherwise deter me to change.

    What you could also offer is a montly/bi-monthly wash n` wax service. If you make it sound like that this is the way to go to ensure protection and a great looking vehicle, you can easily make a residual income on it.

    On the flip side, did she balk at your quoted price of $550? If she didn`t, and doesn`t want a maintenance detail, then stick to your guns. Sometimes I`m good at estimating times, and others I am horrible at it. At the same time, if you offer the $50 discount, I have had the customer say, "Well, take it as a tip then." It could really fall either way.

    Good luck on them, and I would love to see some pictures and the regimens you used.
    Nick Carberry
    ~Detailing high-end cars with quality products~

  3. #3
    The Fuzz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Wherever there is a mullet... I'll be there.
    Posts
    1,626
    Post Thanks / Like
    Give them the ``````in camaro discount`! Do the 500 bucks. That sounds like a good customer. Good customers deserve the discount. Besides, they will probably tip the extra 60 bucks for your good business skills. As long as you aren`t opperating at a loss then discounts keep customers. Pass them out whenever somebody brings you 4 cars to do. This could turn into a regular thing with this client and you don`t want to blow that by appearing not to appreciate the business. Maybe they won`t care, but if I brough you 4 cars to do then I would expect some kind of discount for it. Its customary.

  4. #4
    Beautification Specialist dr_detail's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Sunny Southern California
    Posts
    907
    Post Thanks / Like
    $599 vs $500 is a little over a 15% discount, sounds good to me to give them the multi-vehicle discount. I might also throw in a free wash or a 10% discount off their next complete detail to the person who refered them to you

    Look what it says below... A happy customer does what?
    A happy customer tells a friend ... An unhappy one tells many friends !!!

    Gim-me a car with finns... :naughty and I`ll shows ya what detailin`s all about... :jump

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    171
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: should i discount?

    Originally posted by central
    Now being that its all in the family, should i discount??

    comes to $559 total.. discount to $500??

    any advice appreciated.

    Instead of offering an up-front discount, you could always offer your customer something like a `fifteen-dollars off` certificate, good towards their next detailing, for each vehicle detailed. That`s always a good incentive to get your customer to use your service again and get each vehicle detailed again. It shows that you truely appreciate getting the extra work.

    In the future, you may also want to think about raising your list prices about 20%. Then you can always offer a discount and still get the price you need to in order to make your hourly rate.

    It`s always better to focus on the quality of your work, not the price.

  6. #6
    central's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    84
    Post Thanks / Like
    thanks for the input!

    Nick: will post them as they come, doing the first one on Mon.

    Fuzz: i was think along the same lines and she would be back for my services.

    Dr: That apply to all of them or just her car?! Im sure she`ll want the same for the whole family.

    mirror: "It`s always better to focus on the quality of your work, not the price." .. believe me and im sure you are on the same boat most of the time you detail, your work is never done and you can always do something better.... In other words, im sure you`ve stayed an extra hour or two to get the job done right or atleast i do.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Mooresville, NC
    Posts
    1,317
    Post Thanks / Like
    It looks to me like your prices are already more than fair. If the person was happy with the quoted prices, I would leave them as they are. You might want to give her a coupon for a free future wash or a % off coupon to use within a certain time frame as a "thanks for doing business with me". The problem with discounts are that people come to expect them every time. When quoting any type of service, there are going to be times when you miss something and the job will take longer than expected. (I have been there) So stick with your prices and do something, in addition to your quality work, to get the customer back in the door again.
    It`s what you learn after you know it all that counts ... John Wooden

  8. #8
    GraniteState's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    NH
    Posts
    228
    Post Thanks / Like
    I Like to offer my customers a 10% discount for multiple vehicles. I agree with Fuzz it is usually customary to offer a discount to multiple vehicles. Unless you are to busy to offer a discount then supply and demand will come into play.
    DISTINGUISHED DETAILING

    Work and hope, but don`t hope more than you work!

  9. #9
    No Prep, No Pride ! Patrick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Thousand Oaks, Calif..
    Posts
    250
    Post Thanks / Like
    Im with Frank, give them some incentive to come back to you.......
    When it`s you car, every detail matters...........

  10. #10
    Beautification Specialist dr_detail's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Sunny Southern California
    Posts
    907
    Post Thanks / Like
    Originally posted by central

    Dr: That apply to all of them or just her car?! Im sure she`ll want the same for the whole family.
    If it`s paid on one invoice, in one location -- sure I would give 15% off for a multi vehicle discount... if it`s on multiple tickets, in multiple locations -- it would depend on my mood at the time, and the customer.
    A happy customer tells a friend ... An unhappy one tells many friends !!!

    Gim-me a car with finns... :naughty and I`ll shows ya what detailin`s all about... :jump

  11. #11
    Beautification Specialist dr_detail's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Sunny Southern California
    Posts
    907
    Post Thanks / Like

    Question Re: should i discount?

    Originally posted by central
    ...based my prices on how long i would take to detail at $30 an hour.
    So if a wash and wax takes 45 minutes, would you charge $22.50?
    A happy customer tells a friend ... An unhappy one tells many friends !!!

    Gim-me a car with finns... :naughty and I`ll shows ya what detailin`s all about... :jump

  12. #12
    The Fuzz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Wherever there is a mullet... I'll be there.
    Posts
    1,626
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Re: should i discount?

    Originally posted by dr_detail
    So if a wash and wax takes 45 minutes, would you charge $22.50?
    If I were charging $30 per hour then there would always be a one our minimum charge regardless of the time it took unless another price was quoted. I would charge like $20 for a basic engine cleaning and that takes much less than an hour to do. I wouldn`t charge $30 if all they wanted was the dash detailed either. Unless another price is quoted then I would go by whole hour prices.

  13. #13
    central's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    84
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Re: should i discount?

    Every job i do, i end up staying to complete running over about 15 to 30 mins. time i dont mind staying for to get the job done right. But still charge on an hourly rate. Usually rounding off to the lower hour rate.

    Originally posted by dr_detail
    So if a wash and wax takes 45 minutes, would you charge $22.50?

  14. #14
    Beautification Specialist dr_detail's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Sunny Southern California
    Posts
    907
    Post Thanks / Like
    So if a wash and wax takes 45 minutes, would you charge $22.50?
    I asked this question for some ponderance... and to help in calculating pricing structures. If a wash & wax takes 45 minutes, and one charges $55, that`s a labor rate of close to $75/hr. Thus when one transfers that to a full detail which will take 3 hrs, why only quote $30/hr? Since the profit margin is greater in doing quick wash & waxes, why not charge a little bit more for the complete`s --
    Just thinking out loud I guess :cool
    A happy customer tells a friend ... An unhappy one tells many friends !!!

    Gim-me a car with finns... :naughty and I`ll shows ya what detailin`s all about... :jump

  15. #15
    central's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    84
    Post Thanks / Like
    damn, then im really under charging i usually do the mini`s for $50 - $60 assuming i did an initial detail. And they usually last an hour upwards to 2 hours for it. My quarterlies last about 2-3 hours for $75... think im under/over charging? curious.

 

 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Any discount soon ?
    By cobraa in forum 3D / High Definition Car Care
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 10-10-2012, 09:18 PM
  2. Fk1-10% Discount?
    By glen22 in forum Detailing Product Reviews
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 03-29-2006, 07:07 AM
  3. PAC Discount?
    By Deandome in forum Detailing Product Reviews
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-05-2004, 05:14 PM
  4. Discount ?
    By detail in forum Auto Detailing 101
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 03-23-2004, 09:07 PM
  5. CMA discount
    By imported_Tony in forum Car Detailing
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-15-2002, 03:07 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •