How much should i charge please advice...

[EMIN007]

depending on the condition of paint maybe MG105 with orange or wool pad if it justifies...

[njcarting1]

MY IDEA ON THIS IS.

You know what type of quality you will be sending to the customer.

See what the other shops offer to there customers,quality wise, products, and longevity.This said, why do you need to be LOWER? than anybody if you are a quality business?

You need to sell what you use for products,explain the process you use, and why you use and do what you do.Time is not a great deterrent in my opinion because you want to turn out a quality job.

Every car,is different so is the paint and condition of the paint so you might have to take extra time for a quality completed product.

Never feel bad for quality work at a higher price,stand alone and give more to offset the price.

Product knowledge is of great importance in selling your service.Again knowing how to use is also 100% paramount in pricing and selling and also giving a perfect job.

I hope this helps...

[EcoAutoCT]

Hopefully I can make one of my first posts useful without sounding like a jerk; and just in case I do- it's not intended to demotivate anyone.

Asking for validation of product/process, job duration and pricing for a sight unseen vehicle from forum members does not entitle a detailer to professional level compensation. Even if the results are comparable. When you ask to be paid professional level wages your customer will be expecting the job to be done in the shortest amount of time possible, that their vehicle will not be a guinea pig, and that you have enough experience to confidently estimate the level of correction and final result within the schedule.

When you can answer those questions yourself, feel free to charge whatever they'll pay- until then only charge what your worth.

Morgan

[Ronkh]

Originally Posted by EcoAutoCT

Hopefully I can make one of my first posts useful without sounding like a dick; and just in case I do- it's not intended to demotivate anyone.

Asking for validation of product/process, job duration and pricing for a sight unseen vehicle from forum members does not entitle a detailer to professional level compensation. Even if the results are comparable. When you ask to be paid professional level wages your customer will be expecting the job to be done in the shortest amount of time possible, that their vehicle will not be a guinea pig, and that you have enough experience to confidently estimate the level of correction and final result within the schedule.

When you can answer those questions yourself, feel free to charge whatever they'll pay- until then only charge what your worth.

Morgan

[EcoAutoCT]

It's easy to drop a few product names and combine them to come up with a plan, that doesn't necessarily mean you know what you're doing.

OBrien board, a life jacket, Billabong swim trunks, a ProTec helmet and a boat. See, I could teach everyone on the internet how to wakeboard- doesn't mean I've ever done it.

Now if the threadstarter posted pictures of the vehicle's condition, without mentioning how much he wanted to charge, and only wanted to validate the process I'm sure the replies would have been different. The problem comes from the fact he wants to be compensated in a comparable amount to what people who do this for a living would, without an inclination of the time involved among other things.

Asking questions and receiving answers are what makes forums like this a great source of knowledge. But there's a fine line between a detailing inquiry and creating a business plan- you cross it when money gets introduced.

Everyone have a great 4th and be safe!

[Paul S]

Well I may as well jump into the fire while I'm here.Being new to this board myself I see where the poster was asking for guidance from those senior detailers on his approach to a SUV detailing. Seems what he got instead was being told he wasn't qualified to do the job or not enough experience to do it properly. We all know this is a forum for advise and a sharing of opinions. I have always found costructive criticism to be the most helpful then jumping on a newb with both feet. If this is the way new members are treated then growth and the sucess of this forum will be at a minumum pace and the sponsors loose potential customers as well as the forum members potential new friends that share their love of the detailing hobby.
I'm posting this not to step on any toes but to give comment on the view from also being new to this site .I see a lot of experienced members that have a wealth of info to pass on to those that are new to the art of detailing.

Paul

[Poorboy]

well i was going to do a rabbi and stay out of it, but i think this thread has gotten a little out of hand .. ...

I think the OP should have asked his question a little differently ...

here's some facts I see ... he has product, he is going to use a rotary, which I'm thinking he must know how to use & he has just not done a Mercedes of this type, which most of us haven't either ...

my question if I was the OP would have been , "Who has worked on a Mercedes G series? " are there any tips, tricks or anything special I need to know to work on it? ...

as a general rule i do not offer pricing advice ... when Pockets asks me that question, and he's done it often, i answer a million dollars ... what i would charge and what anyone else would charge is totally different based on experience, overhead, geography, condition of vehicle ...etc ...

are there vehicles over some peoples knowledge and experience? absolutely ... even on my best day i wouldn't take on a fleet of cars, trucks , or busses by myself .. you need a crew ...I don't do pressure washing as it's not my gig, even if someone offers me rediculous money ..

do what you are capable and do it well ..

as Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry said, "a man needs to know his limitations"

ok jumping off soap box

[ArmstrongDetailing]

Sorry everyone. I pruned this thread in the interest of keeping it on topic. Not for any other reason.