New from KY - how much to charge.

[rwright]

I wouldn't touch that truck for less than $250 in the condition you describe, and that's being generous for a first customer. But then again it's an auction prep so I would cut corners to meet the customer's budget and fully explain the difference in the level of work output. That's a lot of work and if you're not in best of health it will wear you out fast. If you are taking the route of auction prep then I highly recommend purchasing at least a Porter Cable 7424XP and a selection of pads for exterior work, and at least a Bissell Little Green Machine for interior work, given the funds are available. For exterior work I would invest in some type of liquid cleaner wax or all in one type of product, nothing real fancy or durable for auction vehicles. Take a look at either white Lake Country 5 1/2" pads or tangerine Lake Country Hydro Tech pads. These will give you a little extra bite when cleaning up oxidation and junk on the paint.

For the interior I would go with a bulk order (gallon or more) of an interior cleaner that doesn't need to be rinsed like all purpose cleaner's do. The reason being time. Yes an APC can be purchased in bulk very cheap, can be diluted to make application even cheaper, but if you're dealing with time demands then why waste it by adding an extra step? If time will not be an issue then go for an APC but keep in mind that everything you touch with it will need to be rinsed because it leaves behind residue.

[wheelman302]

Be careful not charging enough is sometimes a bad thing with dealers! You start cheep to get the business,then they want that price ALL the time. Believe me it's always easier to go down next time than up! good luck.

[diyguy]

Some great tips, rwright. Thanks!

As it turned out the manager called and asked me to return the SUV Friday a.m. since the owner wouldn't be back until then and he wants to see me when I get there. So I reconsidered the dull oxidized paint and told myself I can't take this back looking like this so I got the Turtle Wax rubbing compound and went to work with my hands (don't have a Porter Cable yet) and for the next 4 hours I had quite the workout. The results are remarkable and I followed up with a coat of liquid polymer wax and now I feel good about presenting it to the owner.

wheelman302, I think you're right so after the hand buffing I have decided to ask for $175. If his eyes bug out or he chokes then I might reduce it to $150. If he doesn't like the price I charge for an extra dirty large vehicle with faded paint and mud under the hood (I got it looking good under there as well) then he can just let the cars back up on him which is why he wanted me in the first place.

[FUNX725]

I believe I'm beginning to understand your situation a little more now...I could be wrong though.
Help me out some here...If you don't mind, that is.

Is your status of being unemployed a result of being layed-off/downsized, or health issues? If so:
-Was your former employer a responsible party, in part, that currently has you on unemploment-status.
-Were they aware of your health issues prior to you being placed on unemployed-status?
-Did you ever receive any Workers Compensation?

You stated you're receiving SS, but you're not 65.
-Are you on SSDBI? Temporary or permanent?
-Have you opted for "early retirement" with reduced SS benefits?

The reasons I ask are:

Originally Posted by diyguy

I'm an unemployed older man...

I bought a used car at a bargain price that needed a really good cleaning from a Chrysler dealership...
...I took my car in and the owner saw it and was impressed at how well I cleaned it up.

He asked me if I'd like to do some detailing at my house on trade-ins and I said sure.

I got my first vehicle...It is a 2001 Toyota Sequoia...
...everything got cleaned, every crack and crevice...

...the rear tailgate would not open so I had to climb over the second and third seats.

I worked 12 hours in two days to clean the interior...

Tomorrow I will do the white exterior.... I plan on just washing it with a wash and wax product...I expect the exterior to take 2 to 3 hours.


...how much should I charge the dealership... I was thinking in the range of $150 to $200.

If he doesn't like my price and decides not to use me anymore I wouldn't care.
On the other hand I see it as a good opportunity to earn some cash

Originally Posted by diyguy

I'm not 65 but I do draw SS...
...which is one reason I don't want to be on his payroll.

He knows my health condition...

...I was thinking $12 per hour plus $25 for supplies. So at 12 hours I come up with $169...
...I was supposed to tell him what I would be charging when I picked up my first car and I mentioned this to his manager in which she replied "he said what ever I charge will be okay." Sounds kind of like a blank check, huh? I told her I would be reasonable.

Originally Posted by diyguy

...the manager called and asked me to return the SUV Friday a.m.
...I reconsidered the dull oxidized paint and told myself I can't take this back looking like this so I got the Turtle Wax rubbing compound and went to work with my hands...
...for the next 4 hours I had quite the workout...
...I followed up with a coat of liquid polymer wax...
...after the hand buffing I have decided to ask for $175. If his eyes bug out or he chokes then I might reduce it to $150.

...If he doesn't like the price I charge...
...then he can just let the cars back up on him which is why he wanted me in the first place

Now this may be true (and everyone was, I believe, sincerely attempting to assist you):

Originally Posted by diyguy

Some great tips...

But that's not what I was referring to when I said:

Originally Posted by FUNX725

You're being Business-wise.

-I meant: You know your working-ability-status (legal or otherwise) better than I do.
(I should have made that clear to begin with)

-Most folks don't think too highly of dealerships/their personnel to begin with.
Now that you have informed one of them, and their management, of your health-status...
I can see why they want you to work for them as a non-contract employee
(subcontractor? in a matter of speaking) away from their business-site:
Away from being scrutized, perhaps, by 'government officials', if the case may be.

-I realize that the different States have different work-rules, as it were.

-I just hope if this dealership becomes unhappy with the "reasonable-rate" you're charging to clean his vehicles offsite...
Or even if their current employee(s) that are already performing clean-up work are unhappy about
you taking away some of their "job-security" and report-it to 'someone'...

-You will still have available to you, whatever SS-benefits you now receive.

Again...
I may be wrong in my above analysis...I hope I am!!


Bob

[master detailer]

thats a day and a 1/2 thats 300.00 to 350.00 all day long. he new what he was giving you.If you do it cheap he will keep sending you the #### ones. Say he has a guy working for him at 10.00 hr and he works 12 hrs on it thats 120.00 then he has to pay for all the stuff say 50.00 and workmens comp water elc. and to be insured.

[diyguy]

Well the owner wasn't there when I took the SUV back but the manager said I'd have to bring in an invoice in order to get paid and then I could see the owner about the detailing I did on the SUV. The manager looked surprised when I told her I was asking $125 so I didn't bother to go back I just faxed in my invoice. Their accountant called me the next day and asked if I would take Amex. No. Today (two weeks later) I got my check in the mail for $119.36. I'm wondering if I should call them to see what happened to the $5.64. I figure they didn't like my pricing.

[FUNX725]

Originally Posted by diyguy

Well the owner wasn't there when I took the SUV back but the manager said I'd have to bring in an invoice in order to get paid and then I could see the owner about the detailing I did on the SUV. The manager looked surprised when I told her I was asking $125 so I didn't bother to go back I just faxed in my invoice. Their accountant called me the next day and asked if I would take Amex. No. Today (two weeks later) I got my check in the mail for $119.36. I'm wondering if I should call them to see what happened to the $5.64. I figure they didn't like my pricing.

-Thanks for the follow-up...

Sorry about your experience with this dealership...
Seems about par for the course though.

Perhaps the $5.64 was for: 'being shotty-to-folks'...supplies.

(Please excuse any spelling errors, of which I may be guilty.)

Bob

[wheelman302]

I'd send him and another invoice for $5.64 ! Always bid upfront with new customers. If he doesn't like it he doesn't have to let you do the car. what is AMEX?