This has been my first year of detailing, and I have really enjoyed it and learned a ton. Recently I started claying cars, and honestly I don't think I could ever seal/wax a car without claying ever again. A few of my clients have wanted me to wax their cars, but I have not been able to convince them of the benefits of claying. The thing is, they don't really care about their cars, and have never even heard of the process before. I don't want to sound like I'm just trying to make more money off of them, because I'm not. But how do I convey to them that it's really what is best for their car, and is actually worth paying for? Clark
What are you telling them the benefits of claying are? Personally, I would not pay for claying if I was just looking for a simple wash and wax. Especially not if I didn't care about my cars. I think you just answered your own question sir.
Tell them the wax/sealant will last longer due to better bonding, and they won't have to get their cars waxed as often. Adding $30 onto the pricetag now will probably save them $60 in repeat jobs or more, depending on what you charge and what you use. Then, you tell them the other benefits like the looks and feel. You need to drive it straight home where it counts; your customers seem to be concerned with money so tell them the benefits claying will have on their wallets. The rest is just fluff.
Same....people will be cheap if you let them. They are coming to you because you do good work, which is what they want, otherwise they would just run it through the drive thru. After your done they should be kissing your ass, if not, your doing something wrong.
haha damn good post But yea to the OP, just include it in your package or do the suggested as other members has said
I started offering it as an extra, but soon realized that no one really wanted it even after hearing the benefits. So now it's just part of my package. In the end it really makes a difference in the appearance of the final product, especially if the car has been neglected. If it's a car I do often I won't clay it every time, but I'll ensure I do it once in the spring and once again before winter prep. I really think that I do it more to please myself than the customer. Some people just wouldn't really notice the difference.
You have to included in your wax package ..because claying is important before putting on the paint the wax is going to definitely bring out the potent in the wax ..trust don't explain nothin .. t
Wow, thanks for the quick responses! I think I'll include it in my package, those who get their cars waxed generally seem to care enough to pay a bit more for claying anyway. I guess if they really really don't want to have it clayed we could work something out. I like the idea of explaining how it saves them money as well, I never thought of that. Clark
I always do it when I'm waxing so I'm never really selling it, but if your mobile and the customer is readily available there is nothing better then having them feel the difference themself. do a 50/50 on the most contaminated section of the car, they'll better understand what it is really doing..
[Non Pro here] If you're going to do any polishing (machine or hand) claying is a must. If you're just going to protect with a wax, then you could get away without claying. However, offering to break out claying is like offering to break out electricity that your rotary or D/A uses. It's just not worth the PITA to explain it to them.
Why explain? Show them the benefits! Clay a small portion and have them feel the difference.... that should sell itself! If that doesn't work, it's beneficial to remove the embedded contaminants before they rust into the paint and become a larger issue (rail dust).
I was trying to think of how I was going to do this, but when the time came to actually push the claying. it was simple. I am the "professional" who knows what he is doing. I simply explain that without claying, just laying down a coat of wax and sealant will not be as beneficial as if I were to clay. I just did a supervisors Honda on Saturday. He was shocked on how good it looked. Clayed, sealed, an waxed.
Just include it in your pricing and don't give them an option. Instead of "showing" the clients I just clay half the hood and have them run their hand over both sides. THAT sells them every time. THEN you can explain the benefits.
I pretty much follow the same practice... show and then tell. Detailing is a results-oriented industry so it's almost always better to show first and then explain later. However, if a customer is curious, you could always explain while you're doing it.
Be sure to keep a plastic ziplock bag with you if you are showing them the difference. We all can tell the difference with our hand but put their hand in a plastic bag and its night and day.
