detailing questions?

We have been debating some detailing questions around here and I wanted to get some of your opinions!

We have a full service car wash and detail shop. Do you feel that a "detail menu" would benefit the detail bay (maybe a 3ft by 6 ft menu). Locate it around your car wash menu for people to select from? Anyone with any success doing this? We have always used brochures and printed material. Maybe express detailing also?

In these slower times we have been adding some additinoal services. We are looking for some advise on pricing?
- Headlight Restoration (also we don't like buying all the kits, where can be get the sealers and cleaners without paying all that $$$. Sanding paper is cheap and local.
- Plastic "Dealer Must Remove" back side adhesive floor mats. Price point???
- Ozone Genearator, looking for pricing and maybe a used machine???
- Looking for ways to improve (become faster) at removing tar, road film, road paint, etc. This type of "prep" work can make or break profit on some vehciles? Any certain products you like, or procedures?

Lots of questions, thanks for the help in advance!

If you do not have a detail menu now, how do you presently market your detail services to the customer? Are you offering full service detailing or express detailing? Or, both? How many cars can you work on at the same time? Inside or outside?

If you post full service detailingprices on your menu you close the sales window before it gets open. People look at prices and simply say to themselves, "oh, that is too expensive."

Express detail service prices can be posted.

A great deal more to marketing detail services at a car wash than putting up a sign.

Need to have more information on what you are doing now to assist you.

If you do not want to buy a kit buy some sandpaper and use your compounds and you are in business. Except of course, you need to have some training and knowledge. A first class kit with the a orbital sander; "correct" sandpapers," "correct componds & polishes," and sealers as well as training information can be had for $395 and more than covers the cost of replacing "one" damaged headlight because someone did not know what they were doing.

You can purchase a roll of these adhesive-backed floormats for $113.95. They are expensive, but dealers will or used to pay about $10 a set for them installed.

Ozone Generator - you seem to be price oriented I suggest you go to EBAY and buy one. Of course, you may not get one that works. You have to have an ozone generator that puts out enough ozone per hour to do any good. Our unit is top quality and works quickly and is expensive, $599.

There is no one miracle product to remove all the things you mention:

Oil, Grease, Tar - DETAIL PLUS Tar & Grease Remover. You can see the substance dissolve on the car, safe for finishes.

Road Paint - depends on the type of paint, oil and water based paint.

Hope this helps.

Bud Abraham
DETAIL PLUS SYSTEMS
www.detailplus.com
buda@detailplus.com

Bud's input is great on all fronts.

Do not make full serve detail about pricing; it should be about quality.

Headlight restoration is a good service. I trained myself and charge $39 per light. Each one takes a short amount of time and I get super results. I use heavy cut compound, machine glaze and wetordry paper.

I am kicking off express and will post pricing and services at the carwash. I am excited about express as a profit center and believe the hourly rate may prove higher than full serve detailing!

Detailing of any type involves a multi-point advertising campaign, excellent referrals from your satisfied customers, and a long-standing, positive presence in your local marketplace! Best of Luck to you!