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Are there certain cars that pros really dislike detailing?


BoCRon

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So one of the things that got me into detailing my own cars was the lack of reliable or available detailers in my area. 

A few years back I gave my daughter a "full detail" on her car for a Christmas present. I told her that we would find someone to come out and do her car and while they were here I'd have my husband's truck done as well. As we own our own business that is on our property and is basically open 7 days a week I needed to find someone who could come out and do the cars on site. 

I called 4-5 detailers in my area who were all listed as mobile operations. On each I got a voicemail, which I expected. I left a polite message stating were I'm located and the services I was looking for on 2 vehicles. I wasn't going cheap, I was looking for a good sized package and was realistic about my expectations (I thought). 

I didn't get a single call back, not from a one! 

So I'm wondering, is there just way too much business to keep up with, or do detailers just prefer doing the Mercedes, Corvettes and Maseratis that seem to proliferate my area and don't want to do "regular" cars? Or are there certain models that they just avoid? I understand that, as in my business as a dog trainer there are certain breeds I just don't want to work with and as busy as we are I have the luxury of turning down the business. But I do call everyone back and refer them elsewhere if I don't think we are the right fit.

 

Annette

Edited by BoCRon
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The term "detailer" is an easy one to slap on when in reality there is a substantial amount of guys out there that aren't much more than hobbyists. Theres almost a running joke that the majority of 'detailers' out there bought a PC last week, detailed their cars, and decided to open a business this week.

True, actual, experienced professionals running a legitimate full time detailing business are far more rare than people realize. I'd say there are hundreds of hobbyists posing as pros for every actual pro in the industry. Hang out on any car enthusiast forum for long enough and you'll see theres always a dozen or so guy who 'detail professionally'. Dig a little deeper and you find out they are generally uninsured, unlicensed (business), and working out of their home garage on weekends. Not that there is anything wrong with that - but it does present the issue you're dealing with.

 

Its easy to start a business FB page, start a basic DIY website, and claim you're a detailer, but when you have a regular 9-5 and only detail when you have spare time the business and service aspect of it fall by the wayside and sadly the perception of real detailers and full time pros suffers. The business is flooeded with them. Most likely you just happend to pick 4-5 of these types to call.

 

To answer your question - no. The most successful detailers I know hardly ever work on high proflle cars b/c they understand as a busienss everyones money is the same. If someone shows up with a cheap economy car, but wants to spend the money to have it detailed it pays the bills in the same way a Ferrari would. A smart business person looks at it in terms of whats out there - there are probably tens of thousands of average cars out there for every high end exotic, so the market is huge for those cars.

I know a lot of guys in this business. Get me a city/state and I'll put the feelers out there for you to get a real professional for you.

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For me, I prefer not to do SUV's and vans, mostly due to the size. A wash and interior is not too bad, but they are monsters to polish! I am slow enough when doing a full-size sedan. Trucks are not too bad, if they don't have a topper or painted tonneau cover. But I will basically work on anything. But enjoy working on something will be enjoyable for the folks on here to see.

I am polishing a 1919 White truck this weekend (pic below) and helping to re-assemble a 1912 Bebe Peugot BP1 (designed by Ettore Bugatti).

1919%20White%2004_zpsuntyfmsb.jpg

Edited by mc2hill
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If I was a professional doing that for a living, I would have run and hid when "mom" brings in the family van that the 4 kids were in while they were on vacation the week before.  That would be my nightmare.  ;)

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To answer your question - no. The most successful detailers I know hardly ever work on high proflle cars b/c they understand as a busienss everyones money is the same. If someone shows up with a cheap economy car, but wants to spend the money to have it detailed it pays the bills in the same way a Ferrari would.

 

And the expectations are not as high for the cheap economy car in most cases. 

Edited by marquez93
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I get lots of people that come to my shop for the first time and say something like "Oh, I see you only work on fancy cars".  I quickly reply with the fact that it isn't the case but I explain that the price is the same for me to work on a Toyota Corolla as it is for me to work on a Lamborghini, to which they give me a look like I'm from Mars.    I explain to them about polishing and the simple fact that it is all just paint to me.  While that is a bit of an over simplification, it gets the point across and how the person with a Toyota Corolla probably isn't going to be interested in spending 1000.00 to "detail" their car.  

 

I will work on practically anything....BUT.....I adjust the prices accordingly for large vehicles, significantly/heavily damaged paint, and yes, the dreaded mini wan interiors.  I call those the "french fry and fruit loop" upcharge.    That helps weed out the people who are looking for a fixed price "deal".

 

I try not to turn away work, but I'm not going to reduce my price based on the type of car.  It takes the same amount of product, creates the same wear and tear on equipment and towels, and takes the same amount time (sometimes even longer) and time is money.  I also get asked about doing mobile stuff and have to explain about lighting and environment and convince them that the best place for their car is at my shop.

 

- Darryl

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And the expectations are not as high for the cheap economy car in most cases. 

 

The same can be said the other way as well... I've seen plenty of 'fancy' car owners not want to pay top dollar for the work the car deserves and instead get what they can cheap. On the flip side we have plenty of customers and I've seen plenty of owners of very average cars want only the best and absolute perfection. It comes in all shapes/sizes.

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Ok Annette, so prove your point a little bit, and since Dylan brought his name up in a different thread (http://www.adamsforums.com/topic/28851-what-is-vibration-and-why-does-it-matter/), Todd Helme is 'one of those' detailers.  His website (http://belladetailing.com/index.html) is full of high-end, exotic cars.  He is not a full time detailer, just a part-timer with mad skills.  He has enough high-end work to keep as busy as he wants to be, and has the luxury (/skills/reputation) of only working on the top of the line cars.  He has customers that fly him in to spend several weeks detailing their collections, and has worked on several Concours winning automobiles.

So yes, there are some lucky detailers out there that can be that choosy!      

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The same can be said the other way as well... I've seen plenty of 'fancy' car owners not want to pay top dollar for the work the car deserves and instead get what they can cheap. On the flip side we have plenty of customers and I've seen plenty of owners of very average cars want only the best and absolute perfection. It comes in all shapes/sizes.

Good point. Plenty of people with 'fancy' cars are able to afford those cars because they try to get everything cheap. And there are definitely people with average cars that want perfection, but they probably are in better than average condition to begin with. I guess I was talking about the average person who does not necessarily keep their car as nice that will be easier to impress with the improvement regardless of what they drive.

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So yes, there are some lucky detailers out there that can be that choosy!      

 

I try to be that choosy in a way because these days I have only so much time with my 9-5 job and other projects I have going on in the garage. Lately it has been more of a choosy in that I am exchanging detailing work for other work to help out on my projects and keep some costs down. Those jobs get chosen over a detailing for dollars job because it helps me out more.

 

What I will say is I like seeing the turn around on a really nasty car sometimes. But I'm picky in that I will only do a really nasty car for a friend or family member.

 

On that note I'm not choosy on the type of car. I just charge accordingly (e.g. trucks, SUV's)

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