I hear ya. The funny thing here is that the people WITH the money are the people who want to barter and bicker about the pricing etc. When I first entered into the automotive detailing scene nearly 20 years ago I worked within a Ferrari dealership and eventually moved on to RR/Bentley. I know my work and offer what I believe to be VERY good and professional service to my customers. The problem isn't really the economy around here so much as it is carwashes brain washing customers into believing they are offering a true automotive detailing service. I have a great following and a strong clientele not only in this area, but in the majority of the more affluent areas of Austin. 911Fanatic is in a totally different region than the majority of us and I would argue prices/pricing that he attains has quite a bit to do with it. I would say that maybe 50% of residents have the higher end vehicles .......... go across 620 and you'd swear you were in a ghetto ....... :shakehead:
Due to this not being my only gig, I have never offered maint packages although; I am contemplating changing that this season. The approach that I am considering is to offer maint packages ONLY to those that want a coating (IE: Opti Coat / CQ). I look at it this way: I only offer coatings after corrections I only offer maint packages after coatings Maintaining paint with a coating will make the maint much easier One hand helps the other - Win/Win
This is the same everywhere I think. The "new" money doesn't seem to have a problem with pricing but the"old" money has a hard time justifying the expenditure as they have spent a lifetime accumulating their wealth. I have more than a few younger clients with crazy incomes but they are the exception where I live. As with you, people seem to think that the guys offering the complete detail for $150 are doing exactly what I charge double that for. If I wanted to drive 1.5 - 2 hours each way, I could work in neighbourhoods where money isn't an issue but being at home at a decent hour to see my kids is more important to me at this time.
I learn 2 ways to approach maintenance, and it start with regular customer. frist way is to tell them "well since you buying x service y amount of time anyway for years this make more sense" then they see the benefit. The other way for new potential maintain customers, is telling them that unless they can guarantee their cars stay perfect, that if theyare spending 600+ on a correction, the money saved each correction season pays for 1.x maintenance services. But the easy way I start was if person purchase a certain amount of service in a given time(basic detail after full details), I reward with a nice discount on the final one for the year. When they as why I explain how I vvalue regular sservices customer. Then there are people who go to tunnel and hack wash placce and undo the 600 dollar correction Ido, still pay for winter preps but then come back year after year in sping for full detail. They can't spend 1200 dollar up front 1 year(or portion ) but they will spend 800 dollar with me and then another few hundred over a weekly hack wash with some other idiot.... Hopefully this help you think a little more. Sorry I am late to party lol
"The problem isn't really the economy around here so much as it is carwashes brain washing customers into believing they are offering a true automotive detailing service. I have a great following and a strong clientele not only in this area, but in the majority of the more affluent areas of Austin." Same issue here. they thing the 99.00 wash and wax is a "detail" People here also don't know what "polish" is, and they think "wax" is a detail. as wel as "do you armour all tires" Im blunt with people, "this is what I do, this is what I charge, this is how I do it and how long it takes" If they keep bring up price, then I actually will politley tell them to do the car wash "detail" and that is the place for them.
This is what I say too. Person down street does it for 99 dollars or w/e. I say do you want to pay 99 dollar or do you want it done correctly with outstand results. If they keep trying to down me on price I say go to 99 dollar place but remember it will cost you 300 MORE dollars to fix than my original price.
Wow Ididn't know I was going to start a war here! I was just looking to ask your opinions on the maintenance program. Lets face it were all not doing corrections every day, at least not me. But the maint. programs can be more profitable for time spent on the job when full corrections are not being done. Itebow34 that's kind of the way I feel about the hole situation. I always explain how to prevent damage to finish but I never sell the service. I'm being asked more and more to provide it. So just wanted to test the waters here to see what you guys are doing.
