Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.

[RMarkJr]

ok so I did my girlfriends friends car yesterday. Her Brother in law saw it and said it looked brand new. Now he is wanting me to do his BLACK Tahoe He says he wants it washed and waxed. I have done a few cars for family and friends recently and trying to get everything together to start doing this for money.

So the anxiety part is .. one I may have my first paying job at detailing. Two I have NO idea what to charge.

There are a few possibilities I can think of.

If he does just really want a wash and wax with no defect removal? What would you say I should charge .. like wash tires first with tire wells and fender wells. Snow foam the car and wash it well .. air dry the car .. then go over the car with a spray detailer to get any water spots left over. Then go back and dress the tires and fender wells and then apply a wax/sealant by hand.. something like Meguiars ultimate liquid wax. finally windows inside and out.


The other option is that he does have some swirls on the Tahoe and wants them removed. I am thinking about using possibly a microfiber cutting pad/or foam cutting pad on a Porter cable with a compound for 4 to 6 passes to get most of the swirls if not all out and then going over the car with a polishing pad and D151 since it has slight cut and a sealant built into it ... and of course the other stuff above as well. With this option should the clay be extra or included in the package or even done?

Then lastly if he does want the interior done and I know its not going to be super dirty .. what would a good price be for the interior cleaning.. dusting .. going over panels with cleaner and then possibly dressing them with something like natural shine or hyper dressing diluted down? Possible go over the seats quickly if they arent too dirty and the carpet as well? I would not be using a steamer or extractor. That is gonna have to come down the road for me at this time.

[Eldorado2k]

Ugh I hate when people with Tahoes or Suburbans ask for a detail... I always wind up feeling like I'm on the short end of the stick because most people can't handle the truth when it comes to what I should actually charge to detail a vehicle that large.

Yesterday while I was doing a mobile detail, I had some guy come ask me how much I would charge for a detail.. I asked what kind of vehicle it was.. He said it was his wifes mini van.. I immediately thought to myself "oh heck no, not again" lol.

I'm done breaking my back on super dirty family wagons for fair prices... I told him "mini van? Those things usually cost alot more to do because of the size and their usual condition" He got the hint. Lol.


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[RMarkJr]

Ugh I hate when people with Tahoes or Suburbans ask for a detail... I always wind up feeling like I'm on the short end of the stick because most people can't handle the truth when it comes to what I should actually charge to detail a vehicle that large.

Yesterday while I was doing a mobile detail, I had some guy come ask me how much I would charge for a detail.. I asked what kind of vehicle it was.. He said it was his wifes mini van.. I immediately thought to myself "oh heck no, not again" lol.

I'm done breaking my back on super dirty family wagons for fair prices... I told him "mini van? Those things usually cost alot more to do because of the size and their usual condition" He got the hint. Lol.


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LOL ya I know what you mean .. I have been doing my familys cars and when my girl said he wants his Tahoe done .. and it was black .. I was like oh great two things I didnt really want on my first paying detail job.

What do you think those options I listed would run you typically? Do you have kinda a set price range for stuff like that? I dont think I can start with 500 for a quick wash and wax or even light swirl removal with no interior work lol

[ScottH]

Ugh I hate when people with Tahoes or Suburbans ask for a detail... I always wind up feeling like I'm on the short end of the stick because most people can't handle the truth when it comes to what I should actually charge to detail a vehicle that large.

Yesterday while I was doing a mobile detail, I had some guy come ask me how much I would charge for a detail.. I asked what kind of vehicle it was.. He said it was his wifes mini van.. I immediately thought to myself "oh heck no, not again" lol.

I'm done breaking my back on super dirty family wagons for fair prices... I told him "mini van? Those things usually cost alot more to do because of the size and their usual condition" He got the hint. Lol.


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So VERY true!!! Large SUV's, large pickups and "family wagons" (aka MiniVans) are not only the largest vehicles, but are more times than not in the worst conditions (e.g. Gummy Bears melted into the carpet from 2 years ago) and more swirls than should be legal.

ScottH

[Matt3400]

I attract th3 mini-vans that aren't only destroyed by kids but also have 30lbs of dog hair embedded into every fiber of the carpet. I just now refuse vehicles with excessive dog hair, this is still a hobby for me that I sometimes extend out my services on facebook buy/sell/trade sites.

[Eldorado2k]

Next time someone says my wifes Suburban, I should just interrupt and say "starts at $500" lol. But seriously...


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[osiapstndp]

Next time someone says my wifes Suburban, I should just interrupt and say "starts at $500" lol. But seriously...

I received a message on Facebook asking for this exact thing about a week ago. It was the customer's wife's black 2013 Suburban. After seeing some pictures I gave him a starting price and never heard from him again.

[Cruzscarwash]

Next time someone says my wifes Suburban, I should just interrupt and say "starts at $500" lol. But seriously...


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All great points by eldorado2k, and I do this now as well as I've under priced instead of just saying no. So not I basically just say "for a car like that it starts $200 for just the Xxx and see where the conversation goes from there. In the end if you are polishing and for a car the large you are want to do 4-6 passes you are gonna take a good amount of time so figure out what your time is worth and estimate from there. Personally for AIO like 151 4 passes is my max as it gives more then enough cut and leaves good protection for the client and what the are expecting. If they want more and better then, that's where a normal 3 step comes in and $$. So find your middle ground and go from there

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[yak0924]

I wouldn't Polish a Truck for under 500. It's Your Girls family member and Your New At This So Tell HIM 300 for Wash, CLAY, wheels, single Stage Polish Then Wax Or sealant

Don't use a micro cutting Pad on a single Stage Polish. Use a polishing foam Pad.


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[DogRescuer]

I have to say a lot of our pricing depends on the area we live.

I wouldn't Polish a Truck for under 500. It's Your Girls family member and Your New At This So Tell HIM 300 for Wash, CLAY, wheels, single Stage Polish Then Wax Or sealant

Don't use a micro cutting Pad on a single Stage Polish. Use a polishing foam Pad.


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