price over the phone?

[tuscarora dave]

how do you guys handle a price estimate if you don't know what condition the vehicle is in? is it best to ask them to bring you the vehicle for an assessment of the condition or just work up a service description with set prices? I have had bussiness proffesionals from other fields say "never discuss priceing over the phone" does this seem to be a good piece of advice for the detailing industry? this work is too hard to cut myself short But I suppose there is a fine line. Thanks for any ideas, Dave

[zoomzoom mazda5]

I don't like giving a quote over the phone, but if the person wants one, i add 200.00 more to be sure i'm covered. But most of the time 99% i get to see the vehicle in question and then give the customer my quote. I also have gotten a few calls lately from people looking for a detail and when i say that i want to see the vehicle in question they tell me that a few local hacks quote them 75 bucks, all i say is let them do it and have a nice day.

[Beemerboy]

The best way to handle something like that so you don't get blind sided..is to give an range....I don't care how many questions you ask someone about their car, its always way worse than they say.


I tell people my prices are based on the time that it takes..my auto details are $200 and up...the plus and minus is the condition of the car...and how many hours it take me...$200 will cover about 5 hours of my time...if I go 6 a lot of times I will not charge more..at 6.5 to 7 or better the price will jump.

If this scares them off then I don't want the work.

Do not get caught pricing over the phone...its never what they say it is

[RyansAutoDetail]

one thing my old boss said was to never quote over the phone unless its a price on a product and not a service, services are un-judgeable without sight in relation to a reasonable price for compensation of service done