wash,clay and seal detailers??? NO WONDER PEOPLE FLIPP WHEN YOU TELL THE $350 $450

[Danube]

.... but most people see clean and shiny, they dont see swirls.

This is very true !!

[Danube]

$500 for a 2/3 year coating is a steal. There’s a handful of people around me that would charge $600 but most start and $700 and some even as high as $1200. If someone thinks $500 for a properly done coating is too high they should stick to Auto Bell.

Try Australia, some dealers charge $2,000 for ceramic coating for new cars.

When asked what ceramic coating process includes and what material is used, they have no clue. All they know is - $2,000

I don't blame hem, I blame ones paying that price without knowing what for and why.

[briarpatch]

While it may seem outrageous to offer/perform a wash/clay/seal (without a polish), you'd be surprised at how many people I've offered that to, that love the idea, the price point, and the results. I typically only offer it on cars that are already swirled, as the great majority of people really want 'clean and shiny'. The clay step adds 'smooth' to the equation, and I've come to realize that people like slick paint. On some of these cars. I've pointed out the obvious imperfections, and when the additional cost of a polish is brought up, most of them balked at it.

In my limited experience, the percentage of car owners who really want perfect, or near perfect, paint is very, very small.

[Optimus Grime]

Haha. This is not my day job/career. I will say that in my area i think im fair. Could i charge more? Im sure i could but im happy with what i get for work performed. I feel most places charge way to much for coatings, And upsell them as end all be all. I do not do that. I know everyone that ive done work for. And i tell them maintenace is key. Ive even told a couple ppl that wanted a coating...hey ill take your money but a coating is not for you. They dont hand wash it enough, so its a waste of thier money. I cant in good concious price gouge folks, or take their money when i know its not the right product, especially when i know them.

Im a buck or two more than 5 (depending on size)for a 1 step polish and coating job(mohs evo is my go to), with all the proper steps that go along with it. I dont chase every defect, unless im getting asked to and compensated for it, cuz im about a getting that perfect balance of correction/finish with also preserving the most amount of clear.

Ive even recently told a person or two when it comes to paint corrections,"hey if the vehicle is already clean, itll save you some money". In the end itll save me time too. Cuz i can jump right into a clay after a quick wipe down of the paint. I dont have to pisss around with washing everything, and then making sure its dry and not leaking water in all the cracks and trim pieces.

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It looks like you and I think the same. My philosophy on coatings and my prices seem damn near identical to yours, especially about being up front with customers about how a coating is not the best choice because of their lack of diligent maintenance. I’ll gladly take their money is they insist but I’m very clear that if the coating fails it’s not an installer problem but a “lack of maintenance by the customer” problem.

[opie]

It looks like you and I think the same. My philosophy on coatings and my prices seem damn near identical to yours, especially about being up front with customers about how a coating is not the best choice because of their lack of diligent maintenance. I’ll gladly take their money is they insist but I’m very clear that if the coating fails it’s not an installer problem but a “lack of maintenance by the customer” problem.

Yes sir, exactly!

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[Eric7810]

The guy in that second video doing that hammered gloss black Escalade, I don’t know how you get away with not putting a buffer to that thing. Oh my word.

My exterior details assume an AIO and customers are always blown away. I haven’t ventured into the cheaper options because the cheaper I go, the worse customers I seem to draw.

The more I charge and the higher caliber my work is, the more pleasant and level-headed my customers are.


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[Optimus Grime]

The guy in that second video doing that hammered gloss black Escalade, I don’t know how you get away with not putting a buffer to that thing. Oh my word.

My exterior details assume an AIO and customers are always blown away. I haven’t ventured into the cheaper options because the cheaper I go, the worse customers I seem to draw.

The more I charge and the higher caliber my work is, the more pleasant and level-headed my customers are.


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I get it. Ultimately it's what the customer wants and as someone mentioned early, most people just want a shiny vehicle and aren't willing to pay for anything beyond that. I live in a rather affluent area for my city and every week I see a new neighbor bring home a luxury vehicle and they let them go to hell. Either they don't ever wash it or a $20 wash from Auto Bell is good enough for them.

[Optimus Grime]

Try Australia, some dealers charge $2,000 for ceramic coating for new cars.

When asked what ceramic coating process includes and what material is used, they have no clue. All they know is - $2,000

I don't blame hem, I blame ones paying that price without knowing what for and why.

From time to time I'll call other detailers and shops to find out what they charge for coatings just to make sure I'm charging a fair price which I always do. One shop I reached out to about six months ago sent me a text for their Labor Day "deal". They were offering a 3 year coating for $1000 to the first ten people that booked which normally costs $1800. I was shocked for 2 reasons. First of all, $1800 for a three year coating is highway robbery and I only charge $750. The other reason is that when I first contacted this shop a 3 year coating was $1600 so they've jacked their prices up $200 in the span of 6 months. Add to that the yearly maintenance wash ($200-$400/year) that is required to maintain their warranty and you could easily end up paying close to $2500 for a 3 year coating. These are the people that give coatings a bad name.

[Bert31]

The guy in that second video doing that hammered gloss black Escalade, I don’t know how you get away with not putting a buffer to that thing. Oh my word.

My exterior details assume an AIO and customers are always blown away. I haven’t ventured into the cheaper options because the cheaper I go, the worse customers I seem to draw.

The more I charge and the higher caliber my work is, the more pleasant and level-headed my customers are.


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Worse customer in that they want you to work for almost no pay or worse customer in that getting payment out of them dang near requires highing Quido to collect it?

[opie]

From time to time I'll call other detailers and shops to find out what they charge for coatings just to make sure I'm charging a fair price which I always do. One shop I reached out to about six months ago sent me a text for their Labor Day "deal". They were offering a 3 year coating for $1000 to the first ten people that booked which normally costs $1800. I was shocked for 2 reasons. First of all, $1800 for a three year coating is highway robbery and I only charge $750. The other reason is that when I first contacted this shop a 3 year coating was $1600 so they've jacked their prices up $200 in the span of 6 months. Add to that the yearly maintenance wash ($200-$400/year) that is required to maintain their warranty and you could easily end up paying close to $2500 for a 3 year coating. These are the people that give coatings a bad name.

Wow aint that some shitt! Absolute nuts. Its a shame more folks dont do some reasearch

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