Denying a customer?

[Russ@Exclusive]

I just received a call from a man who wants me to do a full interior/exterior wash and the works. But he has no running water and he wants to come to my place to have it done. I kinda said yes but not yet I told him to call me when the weather gets warmer. I am terrible at turning down a customer anybody got any ideas?

[heatgain]

If you're uncomfortable with him coming to your place, turn it down. Or suggest another place with access to water.
No need to do something you're uncomfortable with.
I detail customer's cars at my house and I'm particular as to what customers will be allowed there.

[ArmstrongDetailing]

Go out of business.

Practice your rain dance.

Tell him you only work on nice cars.

Start telling him your proceedure. "I take my mitt and wash your wheels and then go right to using it on your paint finish and I always work from bottom to top"

Tell him you buy all your products from the flea market. (This one should scare him off but I bet it wouldn't)

Anybody else want to jump in here? I bet there are some really good ideas for you.

As for being serious. Honesty is your best policy. If you don't want to do it at your house then just tell him.

[Russ@Exclusive]

Originally Posted by Troy@DetailCity

Go out of business.

Practice your rain dance.

Tell him you only work on nice cars.

Start telling him your proceedure. "I take my mitt and wash your wheels and then go right to using it on your paint finish and I always work from bottom to top"

Tell him you buy all your products from the flea market. (This one should scare him off but I bet it wouldn't)

Anybody else want to jump in here? I bet there are some really good ideas for you.

As for being serious. Honesty is your best policy. If you don't want to do it at your house then just tell him.

Rofl.

On a serious note, I probably will just tell him I do not have the space to do work at my house. I do valet services only. And leave it at that.

[CharlesW]

While I don't know why, you are obviously not comfortable with doing his vehicle at your house.
The reasons are yours and don't need any explaining, but....
If you aren't comfortable with it, don't do it.
As a general rule, our gut instincts work pretty good for us.

I don't see your location in your profile, but could this be a time to consider a rinseless wash at his place?
One or two gallons of water is all you would need to take with you.
If the vehicle is really cruddy, one or both of you could take it to the DIY spray wash and knock the heavy stuff off there.
That might keep both of you happy.

Just an afterthought, could he be trying to keep the detail a secret from someone? Maybe spending the money for cleaning up the car hasn't met with approval at home.

[CARTfan]

I see no problem doing it at your place. Just make it clear that they can not be there waiting for the vehicle watching everything you do. Just tell them that they have to have someone pick them up and you'll call them when it's done.

[Sheila@detailcity]

Depends on how desperate you are for money! It may not be the most comfortable situation, but if it's cash in your pocket....

[Russ@Exclusive]

I personally like my privacy and I don't feel like having random people coming to my home but the rinseless wash may be a good idea. I never worked with one before, anyone got any tutorials, how-to's, or other info?

[CharlesW]

Originally Posted by Russ@Exclusive

I personally like my privacy and I don't feel like having random people coming to my home but the rinseless wash may be a good idea. I never worked with one before, anyone got any tutorials, how-to's, or other info?

Calgary Detail put together a good one. Some dummy screwed the original up, but it has since been reposted.
The use of the waffle weave towel is his choice, but I use a terry weave micro fiber towel since I think the extra nap gives some place for any dirt particles to go.

Anyway, here's the link to his tutorial.
Rinselss Wash by CalgaryDetail

[heatgain]

Wonder what that Grit Guard by Meg's is that Calgary uses on the bottom of the bucket?

[CharlesW]

Originally Posted by heatgain

Wonder what that Grit Guard by Meg's is that Calgary uses on the bottom of the bucket?

I think the bucket and grit guard are discontinued items.
Looked like it could be modified to fit a double bucket, didn't it?

[Reddwarf]

Charles, that is a great post! I have been thinking about washing a friend's car at his business place and doing it by this method. For water I was thinking of brings several gallons of distilled water. It sells for about $0.67/ gal at Walmart. Would that be a good way to transport the water?

Also I like the idea of using a DIY wash bay if the car is really dirty.

Good advice from CharlesW and CalgaryDetail!

[CharlesW]

Originally Posted by Reddwarf

Charles, that is a great post! I have been thinking about washing a friend's car at his business place and doing it by this method. For water I was thinking of brings several gallons of distilled water. It sells for about $0.67/ gal at Walmart. Would that be a good way to transport the water?

I'm sure you could do that, but I just mix up my ONR/water solution in a couple of gallon jugs in the house, (I use hot water), and take them to the garage. You could do the same even if you had to travel several miles. If for some reason you needed more water, either refill the jugs or buy more from a store that carries it in gallons.

Originally Posted by Reddwarf

Also I like the idea of using a DIY wash bay if the car is really dirty.

Good advice from CharlesW and CalgaryDetail!

I've been doing the DIY wash thing for years with Poorboy's Spray & Wipe. I also fel more comfortable doing it prior to a rinseless wash as well.
Our vehicles get very covered with salt/sand crud during the winter and I have a problem wiping a wash mitt across that stuff. Lots of people use a pre-rinse in a sprayer, but I don't happen to be one of those. (Yet )

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[heatgain]

Originally Posted by CharlesW

I think the bucket and grit guard are discontinued items.
Looked like it could be modified to fit a double bucket, didn't it?

Yep. Thought of your dilemma when I saw that.