How much Should a Detail Coast?

[menoats]

I've never had my car detailed before but after you're all taking it so seriously I might have to.

[jcranston]

I charge $120 that includes wash, clay bar, wash, paint sealant, all chrome inc wheels and the interior.

Forgot to mention all done by hand

[300C2NV]

I'm a professional detailer, and I charge $150 for the works. I believe that that IS too much based solely on the information your giving. The deal with that is, sure, it would look new when he got through i'm sure, but there are other detailers out there that can do the exact same thing for half that price. And believe me, high speed buffers are a good thing IF AND ONLY IF the person using it knows what they're doing, many detailers use it as a way to fix paint imperfections, heavy swirling, etc. and go to a random orbital buffer to finish off the paint, and fix the imperfections the high speed buffer caused. It just comes down to experience, ask detailers to show you pictures of their previous details. Believe me, they have them, if they don't, don't trust them, becuase apparently they didn't do to good

Hope this helps, sorry for the long post!

[cnote05300]

Originally Posted by Ultimatecarman45

Wow, you're cheap.....I mean that it in a good way too, lol.

Around my area the cheapest way of getting it done right is about $225, but that is a extremely good detail with nothing left undone, including the undercarraige. Consider that Show quality 100%.

yeah i know.. but in my eyes, it takes me about 3 hours start to finish.. and its not hard work.. wash it, undercarriage/engine bay, dry, do windows, wax, vacuum, final detail.. etc. its basically all profit, and i think 120+ is ridiculous. plus ive just always loved being around cars.. so its more of a hobby than a business venture. im currently working on a deal to do a couple small used dealerships cars, because the guy he uses charges $150 and takes a day per car, and he said my work is much more worth it cause i do it by hand. (plus im cheaper and can do it in about 3 hours.)

plus i know some people just dont have time to fully detail their ride, and they also dont wanna come off $150 bucks to have it done.

But im located in Tupelo, Mississippi and if youre ever in the area, shoot me a pm and ill see what i can do for you. i can also do other stuff (restriping.. yada yada) but that is gonna cost you a little more, cause i HATE pinstriping.

and for those who think im just some kid tryin to make an extra buck, i took four years of Auto Body and Detailing classes, so i know what im doing!

[GoofyTimL]

For total inside and out, including paint cleaner and sealing should range anywhere from $125 to $225 in my experience.

$300 for outside only is way over priced IMO.

[GoofyTimL]

Originally Posted by cnote05300

yeah i know.. but in my eyes, it takes me about 3 hours start to finish.. and its not hard work.. wash it, undercarriage/engine bay, dry, do windows, wax, vacuum, final detail.. etc. its basically all profit, and i think 120+ is ridiculous.

....

and for those who think im just some kid tryin to make an extra buck, i took four years of Auto Body and Detailing classes, so i know what im doing!

Yes, but now maybe you need some business classes/sense because at what you charge you'll never pay overhead for a shop, maintenance on equipment and purchase of supplies, salaries for employes, feed your future family and save for eventual retirement. All you are making at present is a little (or a lot) spending cash... here today... gone tomorrow.

You may know what your doing with car detailing, but there are details of business that I think you're missing big time.

[cnote05300]

jw...

How much Should a Detail Coast?

are you trying to get me to detail the shoreline?

[JMatt]

Doesn't it really come down to "you get what you pay for?"

A wash and dry isn't the same as a wash, wax, and dry.

And that's not even remotely close to a wash, clay-bar, scratch removal, polish, glaze, sealer, show car wax job.

It can easily take 6 hours (or more) to take a car with scratches, acid rain etching, hard water spots, swirls, etc. and turn it into a show car finish.

At one end of the spectrum, $40 sounds fair. At the other end of the spectrum $300 sounds fair.

Again - you get what you pay for.

[300C2NV]

See, the thing about this is it all depends on your clientele. I have high end clients who I have to detail their S500, S600 Mercedes, 7-series and 6-series BMW's, Corvettes, Porsches, Vipers, etc. THEY WANT THE BEST THEY CAN POSSIBLY HAVE, and wash, wax, and vaccuum (as you stated you do) would NEVER cut it. You've got to take a full day to completely clean a car flawlessly. As jMatt said, " And that's not even remotely close to a wash, clay-bar, scratch removal, polish, glaze, sealer, show car wax job."

Maybe your clientele in Tupelo is a little bit different then mine in Little Rock, who knows though. Not here to shoot down people.

Originally Posted by cnote05300

yeah i know.. but in my eyes, it takes me about 3 hours start to finish.. and its not hard work.. wash it, undercarriage/engine bay, dry, do windows, wax, vacuum, final detail.. etc. its basically all profit, and i think 120+ is ridiculous. plus ive just always loved being around cars.. so its more of a hobby than a business venture. im currently working on a deal to do a couple small used dealerships cars, because the guy he uses charges $150 and takes a day per car, and he said my work is much more worth it cause i do it by hand. (plus im cheaper and can do it in about 3 hours.)

plus i know some people just dont have time to fully detail their ride, and they also dont wanna come off $150 bucks to have it done.

But im located in Tupelo, Mississippi and if youre ever in the area, shoot me a pm and ill see what i can do for you. i can also do other stuff (restriping.. yada yada) but that is gonna cost you a little more, cause i HATE pinstriping.

and for those who think im just some kid tryin to make an extra buck, i took four years of Auto Body and Detailing classes, so i know what im doing!

[kings11]

Good discussion folks. I know there isn't a single answer. The big variable I have is the paint scuff on the front fender. I think that is driving the whole job up in price. I may just deail with that at the body shop and call it good. I think I'm shooting for $150 (more or less) inside and out.

Scott