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Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
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.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
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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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Next time someone says my wifes Suburban, I should just interrupt and say "starts at $500" lol. But seriously...
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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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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
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eldorado2k
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.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
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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Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
I predict his girls brother will balk at $300... I'm not saying it's not a proper price, it's just that friends & relatives have a mentality that they're gonna get hooked up, or they're just flat out cheap or don't know the amount of work that goes into it. Sucks but it's true.
That's why I tell people, The real money isn't going to come from your known people... It's going to come from the reference people aka the people who don't know you from jack but actually Need their vehicle detailed.
Trying to make good bank from the people you already know can be a losing battle. But if they recommend you to some people they know you begin to see a different breed of customer that actually needs your service, instead of someone who thinks it would be "neat" to have their car detailed.
Just my 2 cents.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eldorado2k
I predict his girls brother will balk at $300... I'm not saying it's not a proper price, it's just that friends & relatives have a mentality that they're gonna get hooked up, or they're just flat out cheap or don't know the amount of work that goes into it. Sucks but it's true.
That's why I tell people, The real money isn't going to come from your known people... It's going to come from the reference people aka the people who don't know you from jack but actually Need their vehicle detailed.
Trying to make good bank from the people you already know can be a losing battle. But if they recommend you to some people they know you begin to see a different breed of customer that actually needs your service, instead of someone who thinks it would be "neat" to have their car detailed.
Just my 2 cents.
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Ya I agree with that .. I am thinking that if I say 300 its probably not going to happen ... however if I do it at a lower price and then he tells others and I get more people then that could be beneficial. Just like how he heard about me was through me doing her car for free when her and my girlfriend left for the day in my girls car.
if he doesnt want or need it to be polish .. 300 does sound pretty high for wash, tires cleaned and dress with wheel wells, windows and wax. even for a tahoe ... but i dont know really .. I think the hardest part of all of this is getting th packages/prices together.
a lot of the places around here dont list the packages or prices online. you have to call and im pretty sure they would want to look at the car first to see it too. Kinda going to be hard for me to drive a car to them that i dont have .. but I plan to call a few and say I have a Tahoe I am needing to be done and see what they say lol
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Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RMarkJr
I think the hardest part of all of this is getting th packages/prices together.
Same here... Sometimes I'll get a picture text with 1 exterior shot from someone I know saying "how much would you charge to detail this 2013 Ford F150"?
And I think oh great that's gonna real easy to pinpoint. Lol.
Or someone asks, "how much do you charge to detail the inside of a Jeep Cherokee"? My 1st thought is "how the heck am I supposed to know in 2 seconds time without having seen the vehicle"? Lol.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eldorado2k
Same here... Sometimes I'll get a picture text with 1 exterior shot from someone I know saying "how much would you charge to detail this 2013 Ford F150"?
And I think oh great that's gonna real easy to pinpoint. Lol.
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lol ya ... I got to see the car in person and talk to the owner about what they want and tell them what to realistically expect.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
I have to say a lot of our pricing depends on the area we live.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Great point. I've been burned so many times because I gave a price sight unseen.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eldorado2k
Same here... Sometimes I'll get a picture text with 1 exterior shot from someone I know saying "how much would you charge to detail this 2013 Ford F150"?
And I think oh great that's gonna real easy to pinpoint. Lol. But
Or someone asks, "how much do you charge to detail the inside of a Jeep Cherokee"? My 1st thought is "how the heck am I supposed to know in 2 seconds time without having seen the vehicle"? Lol.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eldorado2k
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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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Friends and family rate $50/hour.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Personally I would mention paint correction to him but let him know it takes time and is costly. Give him the ins and out so to speak of the process and mention it would probably be around 250 and up just for the wash and wax and then more as you go on. I would include the wheels, and tires and the engine bay for that too
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
People also make me really angry. Neighbors has two of the same car, I was doing some work and im doing everything correctly and my neighbors washing his truck with a sponge and a bucket -----NO NO NO NO NO. I was asked while doing work how much would you charge. We never spoke about specifics but I put out 100 dollars. They never spoke to me again.
It makes me real angry when some can just drop so much on things yet they think car detailing is nothing at all
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
"Full detail" - $175. Wash / wax exterior. Wheels / tires cleaned and dressed. Brightwork waxed. Glass in and out. Interior vacuum and wipe down. Shouldn't take more than 3 hours even on a Suburban or Tahoe.
"Paint correction" - Full detail as above plus clay and AIO polish - $400
One step correction then wax or sealant - $550
Two step correction then wax or sealant - $700
That would be what I would be trying to get out of the job.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ekennett
"Full detail" - $175. Wash / wax exterior. Wheels / tires cleaned and dressed. Brightwork waxed. Glass in and out. Interior vacuum and wipe down. Shouldn't take more than 3 hours even on a Suburban or Tahoe.
They can get that at the local hand car wash for $29 and be back home within an hour....
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eldorado2k
They can get that at the local hand car wash for $29 and be back home within an hour....
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so what would you suggest on that? Do more .. charge less .. or both? But then again .. I doubt the local car wash it going to be sure to get every part of the panel and dash and all the crevices too.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RMarkJr
so what would you suggest on that? Do more .. charge less .. or both? But then again .. I doubt the local car wash it going to be sure to get every part of the panel and dash and all the crevices too.
Hand wax or spray??
Idk, your price is 3x more then mine but then again I'm priced higher then all the other detailers in my area. One charges $20 for what you just described. I'd love to be in your area and charge rates like that and have a full schedule that's for sure. If that's what your area supports then go for it man, establish yourself and stick to it
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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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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
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eldorado2k
They can get that at the local hand car wash for $29 and be back home within an hour....
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Then that's not a customer worth having. They can take it to the car wash...
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Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RMarkJr
so what would you suggest on that? Do more .. charge less .. or both? But then again .. I doubt the local car wash it going to be sure to get every part of the panel and dash and all the crevices too.
IMO for that price and the services he listed, it sounds like a car wash, not a "full detail"
For example, If it's a "full detail":
-How are you going to wax without claying?
-Clay exterior windows
-If the headlights are hazy, do a quik light restoration [via polisher w/compound]
-Wheel Wells
-Don't just vacuum seats & carpet. Clean them.
-Don't just do a quik wipedown of interior panels.. Instead get into every nook & cranny with APC and a detail brush.
-Clean & dress weatherstripping
-restore or at least dress exterior trim
-Fog interior to freshen air and eliminate odors.
-Some people even clean under the hood
~ Then you can begin to call it a "full detail" and charge even more than $175, but at least the customer doesn't feel fleeced afterwards.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
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.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Well update ... on the SUV .. ended up being a suburban and not a Tahoe. A completely wrapped Suburban at that. I first said that I would include the foam cannon .. two bucket wash ... air dry...clean the rims, inner rim, wheel wells, dress tires, wheel wells, clean door jams, clean gas lid area, clean glass inside and out, and put a wax or sealant on it (depending what is best for the wrap) for 200 and then trim restore for 50 more. I figured 200 mainly due to having to wax that big ass thing more than likely by hand ... i dont think I like doing it by machine as of now.
They then said that the company they work for does it for 65. No idea what all they actually do or how well they do it.
I thought about it for awhile and said I would do all that I listed for 125 since there was not going to be any paint correction at all .. and I kinda know the people (girlfriends, friends sister and husband)
They still said that was too high and I was like Im not doing that suburban.
I am not sure if my fist offer was too high .. I think the second one might have been a bit low .. but again no paint correction and no interior work done.
any thoughts??
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
I think you should be happy you're not doing it. $65 is way too low...
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Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Also, you pretty much never want to "wax" without claying unless for some rare reason the paint's already smooth... Removing wax from paint that needs claying is cringe worthy and will make you feel like you half arsed it.
I recommend this clay towel. It works like a champ and really speeds things up. Get yourself some Mckee's N-914 to use as claylube @1:128 and use plenty of it when using this towel and it will work flawlessly.
http://www.autogeek.net/autoscrub-handy-towel.html
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eldorado2k
Also, you pretty much never want to "wax" without claying unless for some rare reason the paint's already smooth... Removing wax from paint that needs claying is cringe worthy and will make you feel like you half arsed it.
I recommend this clay towel. It works like a champ and really speeds things up. Get yourself some Mckee's N-914 to use as claylube @1:128 and use plenty of it when using this towel and it will work flawlessly.
Nanoskin Autoscrub Handy Towel
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I will look into that .. I have a clay bar .. I also have that autoscrub thing .. not sure how well I like it. But that particular car was wrapped. Dont think clay would be a good idea on that?
also ..do you know what is a good protection for a wrapped car .. like wax or a sealant?
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RMarkJr
I will look into that .. I have a clay bar .. I also have that autoscrub thing .. not sure how well I like it. But that particular car was wrapped. Dont think clay would be a good idea on that?
also ..do you know what is a good protection for a wrapped car .. like wax or a sealant?
I know nothing about wrapped cars... I was going to ask exactly what you meant by wrapped.. I mean I guess I know what it is, but if it was me I wouldn't touch it. Especially for those prices.
Which exact product is "autoscrub"?
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eldorado2k
I know nothing about wrapped cars... I was going to ask exactly what you meant by wrapped.. I mean I guess I know what it is, but if it was me I wouldn't touch it. Especially for those prices.
Which exact product is "autoscrub"?
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guess it has some clear plastic/vinyl protective film all over it.
the autoscrub is by nanoskin ... its a 6 inch synthetic clay disc that goes on an orbital.
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Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RMarkJr
the autoscrub is by nanoskin ... its a 6 inch synthetic clay disc that goes on an orbital.
Oh I don't like those things... IME they marr the heck out of the paint.
That little towel + the 7"x7" Med Grade Speedy Prep Towel are the only ones I like. As far as claybar, I like Meguiars C-2000 Professional Detailing Clay.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eldorado2k
Oh I don't like those things... IME they marr the heck out of the paint.
That little towel + the 7"x7" Med Grade Speedy Prep Towel are the only ones I like. As far as claybar, I like Meguiars C-2000 Professional Detailing Clay.
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ya the only clay bar that i have tried so far is that smooth detailing clay kit from meguiars ... didnt like it much
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RMarkJr
ya the only clay bar that i have tried so far is that smooth detailing clay kit from meguiars ... didnt like it much
What didn't you like about it?
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eldorado2k
What didn't you like about it?
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well when I went over the the whole car ... and before checking I spot compounded .. then polished the whole thing really good. Then I decide to do the baggie test ... bumps all over still. I should have either used something more aggressive or iron-x before the clay bar
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RMarkJr
well when I went over the the whole car ... and before checking I spot compounded .. then polished the whole thing really good. Then I decide to do the baggie test ... bumps all over still. I should have either used something more aggressive or iron-x before the clay bar
Ya it tends to be pretty mild.. Try doing a heavily contaminated vehicle and takes a good long while with most claybars including that 1.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eldorado2k
Ya it tends to be pretty mild.. Try doing a heavily contaminated vehicle and takes a good long while with most claybars including that 1.
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been hearing good things about .. I think its called clay magic. I might try that .. and the meguiars aggressive one
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eldorado2k
I predict his girls brother will balk at $300... I'm not saying it's not a proper price, it's just that friends & relatives have a mentality that they're gonna get hooked up, or they're just flat out cheap or don't know the amount of work that goes into it. Sucks but it's true.
That's why I tell people, The real money isn't going to come from your known people... It's going to come from the reference people aka the people who don't know you from jack but actually Need their vehicle detailed.
Trying to make good bank from the people you already know can be a losing battle. But if they recommend you to some people they know you begin to see a different breed of customer that actually needs your service, instead of someone who thinks it would be "neat" to have their car detailed.
Just my 2 cents.
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I completely agree on this. I used to do screen printing on the side and family and friends always had the mentality that they were going to get the family(hook-up) price. I learned the hard way and wouldn't do it again. I suggest charge what you would normally charge. I don't detail for a living so I can't help you on how much you should charge, but good luck and hopefully it works out for you.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Poohbear
I completely agree on this. I used to do screen printing on the side and family and friends always had the mentality that they were going to get the family(hook-up) price. I learned the hard way and wouldn't do it again. I suggest charge what you would normally charge. I don't detail for a living so I can't help you on how much you should charge, but good luck and hopefully it works out for you.
well this one didnt
this is from page 3
Well update ... on the SUV .. ended up being a suburban and not a Tahoe. A completely wrapped Suburban at that. I first said that I would include the foam cannon .. two bucket wash ... air dry...clean the rims, inner rim, wheel wells, dress tires, wheel wells, clean door jams, clean gas lid area, clean glass inside and out, and put a wax or sealant on it (depending what is best for the wrap) for 200 and then trim restore for 50 more. I figured 200 mainly due to having to wax that big ass thing more than likely by hand ... i dont think I like doing it by machine as of now.
They then said that the company they work for does it for 65. No idea what all they actually do or how well they do it.
I thought about it for awhile and said I would do all that I listed for 125 since there was not going to be any paint correction at all .. and I kinda know the people (girlfriends, friends sister and husband)
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RMarkJr
well this one didnt
this is from page 3
Well update ... on the SUV .. ended up being a suburban and not a Tahoe. A completely wrapped Suburban at that. I first said that I would include the foam cannon .. two bucket wash ... air dry...clean the rims, inner rim, wheel wells, dress tires, wheel wells, clean door jams, clean gas lid area, clean glass inside and out, and put a wax or sealant on it (depending what is best for the wrap) for 200 and then trim restore for 50 more. I figured 200 mainly due to having to wax that big ass thing more than likely by hand ... i dont think I like doing it by machine as of now.
They then said that the company they work for does it for 65. No idea what all they actually do or how well they do it.
I thought about it for awhile and said I would do all that I listed for 125 since there was not going to be any paint correction at all .. and I kinda know the people (girlfriends, friends sister and husband)
It was probably for the best.
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Re: Got a little anxiety going on here lol need advice for possible first paying job.
Congrats on Saying No! I Might Wash a Burban for 65 for somebody i Know.
Don't feel Bad about Not getting the Job You'll Get plenty More. It's All part Of the Game.
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