Detailing Feeler

[Bishop]

No worries, I'm just wondering if it may be legit. So far not a lot of interest.

[Bimmerman325i]

I'm definitely interested, keep me posted on prices and when you think you may be able to get things going. I may need to replace the damn shock after all (adjuster....no longer exists. wtfbbq) so additional non-maintenance spending may get reduced right quick.

And i'm not threadjacking, i swears it.

[Bishop]

Did u talk to BH about their F-UP and maybe have them replace?...

I will keep you updated for sure, pass the word around, and see if u know anyone else. I don't wanna spend a couple hundred $$ if I don't have a way to make it back lol. But, if u need help in the meantime, we can work something out.

[Bimmerman325i]

Did u talk to BH about their F-UP and maybe have them replace?...

I will keep you updated for sure, pass the word around, and see if u know anyone else. I don't wanna spend a couple hundred $$ if I don't have a way to make it back lol. But, if u need help in the meantime, we can work something out.

No, I can't prove it was them that fucked the install up (even though it clearly was, I just have no records to fingerpoint with). I can ask wtf happened during the PPI, but after nearly 4 months between PPI and I got to drive it/discover said fuckup....I'm not expecting anything.

[Bishop]

Ah yeah I forgot the delay since you were out of town.

[GermanDriver]

Check out autopia.org
There is a lot of really great detailing info and you can get a feel for what it takes to be a pro/semipro detailer. I do my own little summer business and it brings in some profit. To detail cars at a pro level you have to be willing to fork over some $$ for a good polisher, pads, polish, waxes, paint sealants, ect.

[Bishop]

Thanks for the link, I'll definitely start reading up. If you don't mind sharing some starters advice (especially starting prices perhaps (I'm completely stumped on the subject)). Tips, tricks, anything you don't hold close to the heart would be appreciated...

Today, I'm hoping to order a porter cable 7424XP as well as a slew of Menzerna products. I have some Einszett products leftover, just waiting to hear if the Einszett wax will be ok to be applied by machine, and I had to order some more P21S stuff.

[Bishop]

Ordered stuff today, will probably send a PM to a mod regarding if its ok to "advertise" without being a sponsor, and put up a new thread.. Maybe a master thread for interested parties and I can post pics of cars

[red325]

So are you looking to just detail members cars, or are you trying to start this as a small business and detail any cars in the community?

I detail cars over the summer. We charged 150 car/sedan, 175 for an SUV. If they wanted a detail with different options, they contacted us.

Here, I copied and pasted info from one of our flyers.
The detail included
- Hand Wash/Dry
- Clay Bar Treatment
- Sealant Applied
- Hand Waxed/Buffed
- Rims Fully Cleaned
- Tires Cleaned/Dressed
- Windows Cleaned
- Interior Vacuumed
- Carpets Shampooed
- Leather Cleaned/Conditioned
- Vinyl/Trim Cleaned
- Door Jambs Cleaned
- Stains Removed

It's a good business, and feels great turning car from dirty to shine. Be sure to do before/after pictures for the customer.

Also, flyers are your friend.

And... http://www.autopia.org/

[Bishop]

Red, I may be PMing you in the future asking for advice, or something else if that's alright. I'm glad to have some help in the beginning..

I was planning on doing local enthusiast's cars at first, and family/ fam. friends / friends, etc... I admit I am a novice and would rather work with people I know at first rather than strangers. I'm not sure if this is gonna turn into a business or what, I'm just looking for a way to make some $$ on my own schedule since I'm a full-time student, and need to keep my focus there.

Am planning to use my camera, a lot, for customer viewing as well as posting online, and I did bookmark autopia already.....

Feel free to PM me if you're bored enough to help, any of it helps and I'm appreciative of your posts so far... The price sounds about / exactly what I had in mind. I'm gonna have to brush up on interior stuff though, looking back I didn't order anything for the interior (doh).

[red325]

Red, I may be PMing you in the future asking for advice, or something else if that's alright. I'm glad to have some help in the beginning..

I was planning on doing local enthusiast's cars at first, and family/ fam. friends / friends, etc... I admit I am a novice and would rather work with people I know at first rather than strangers. I'm not sure if this is gonna turn into a business or what, I'm just looking for a way to make some $$ on my own schedule since I'm a full-time student, and need to keep my focus there.

Am planning to use my camera, a lot, for customer viewing as well as posting online, and I did bookmark autopia already.....

Feel free to PM me if you're bored enough to help, any of it helps and I'm appreciative of your posts so far... The price sounds about / exactly what I had in mind. I'm gonna have to brush up on interior stuff though, looking back I didn't order anything for the interior (doh).

Yeah, no problem that's fine. I know I sure would've liked some help when I first started.

Detailing is a load of work though. I worked with a partner and many cars took us up to 5 or 6 hours.

[Bishop]

Yeah I understand what I'm getting myself into ;)
Since I'm focusing mainly on school, I'll schedule around classes and homework, and I usually leave my weekends free of class as well as 1 day during the week free of class. So I can dedicate a day or 2 a week to detailing me thinks.... We shall see... All my stuff is "payment received" but nothing shipped or anything to indicate any changes.... Ordered yesterday morning, I'm antsy.

[iamsam]

Hey how is this thing going?

Because if you are moving forward in this detailing business you are starting, I have an idea on how you can rake in the customers.

In my extensive job searching I picked up a sort of part time sales/photography job. I am setting up online virtual tours/websites for companies that want to advertise (and rake in the business). The listings I am making are keyword searchable in Google, Yahoo, and MSN and are usually the first result.

If I made one for your detailing business, you could type in "Auto detailing in Boulder, CO" into Google and your listing would be one of the first few results.

If you are interested, i can work out a deal with you on a listing, its $99 for the cheapest listing that has pics and you are supposed to do it yourself, and one that also has a video where I am supposed to do it for you costs $599 but i'm sure that's a bit steep.

Being the sales rep, i can give discounts and stuff, and if you would like, we can do the $99 one for like $89 and I can set it up anyway. Besides, you are probably a better photographer than me anyway.

So here is my first (and only) listing I have made (I just started). And it sucks, the pics were just point-and shoot, and I did it in just one night. Yours will kick way more ass.

its for an international candy store: http://www.bizglimpz.com/AllSweets/

[Bishop]

Thx Sam, I'll keep it in mind but I don't wanna jump that far this quick. I have the supplies, just waiting for a partial shipment to arrive and then I'll have most of what I need. I wanna start out slow still with some locals and work my way from there. I'm not hell-bent on turning this into a business, just something to bring in some $$ while I'm in school and I can make my own hours.

[Japandrew73]

A good way to get business is to show pictures of your work. ;)