DON'T DETAIL THESE CARS... Detailing Business Mistakes You SHOULD Avoid! 

Yup makes total sense. My most hated phrase from a customer is when they talk about "just a wipe down." They don't seem to understand this stuff takes A LOT more than a wipe down.

hey bro. you’re one of the main reasons my new auto detailing business is on fire right now. thanks for all the hard work not all heroes wear capes 🤙🏻📈

I detailed a car a few months ago and the cars exterior was trashed. They were selling it so I figured to meet their budget I would just wash, clay, wax and restored the black plastics. Once I was done it did look 1000x better but still has some extremely heavy scratches from them running into things. They come back and don’t seem too happy with the results and they expected the scratches to ‘buff out’ (they were down the the bare metal). Moral of the story, always explain everything to new customers.

Yes, I’ve had quite a few potential “customers” ask me “hey man, can you just wipe it down and knock it out real quick” but like you said, I always have to tell them that if I ONLY did that, then it would look like I did hardly anything, and I don’t feel comfortable leaving the car looking like that. Sometimes they get it, sometimes they don’t. That’s why I always demand a full detail from me before I’ll even entertain the maintenance washes or “quick washes”

I’ve been cleaning my cars for 30 years. Recently upped my cleaning to pro detailing for hire. I underbid what I actually think it’s worth and the detail that I put in. But at this point I’m learning to be faster and learning to lower my over delivering. I’m from a smaller town and almost every job leads to another full detail. I spent 2 days on a 250$ quote. It was for someone I had known years before so in my mind it’s worth the extra work. 2 days later I have someone that looked over their car calling me to come to his 3 car garage to give him a price on his 2019 Dodge Challenger Hellcat. Says it has 20,000 miles and always garage kept. He had felt the feel of the car I had clay bared and waxed and wanted his to feel like that. Also he said I way undercharged for the other car I had done. I agreed and said it was for a friend and it leads to better paying jobs sometimes. We shouldn’t do jobs for to low of a price but I had nothing else them days so it’s worth the learning experience if nothing else.

Hello, I detail cars aswell and you are totally right about people wanting things “wiped down and vacuumed” they expect the price to be very low and expect great results because you are a “detailer” it takes time and money for great results when it comes to detailing

one of the most applicable videos in your library .. covers all of the topics that i have come across with clients and building my business.. thanks again for all you have done for all of us in the detailing community! keep it up!

Luke, thanks so much for your time you share and put into these videos. They have really helped me avoid some situations I easily could have been in. Your a great asset to the detailing and small business community

Omg!i totally agree with the last 5/6 vlogs you have posted!i have now re structured my detailing packages after the weekend and watching your tutorial vlogs.lets see if this new method works or scares people off!😬

great video ❤ loved it immensely. Your ability to narrate the in and outs , does and don't is a talent in its self. I've worked for several businesses detailing from auction cars to used car trade in nightmares with old interior surfaces,, dog hair, chemical spills you name iti. So I really appreciate the evaluating tip on perceived and actualized perceptions when dealing with customers. Great video ❤ 👍 loved it

Luke, Excellent tutorial. Perceived value in the marketing world holds more weight than actual value. It's all about the identification and satisfaction of wants and needs.

Wow, it looks AMAZING! Great job!!!

Good work man ! Just subscribed to your channel you have good content and info on most of your videos. Keep up the good work and God bless you and your bussiness

Thanks for all the tips

Watching these detailing videos is very therapeutic to me for some reason. Great videos though!

Hey Wilson i started my mobild car wash business. 3 weeks in now. I used your maintenance service module. My customers pays me upfront for different package option. I appreciate you

I watch these cleaning car videos for the last 4 years now... and still I don't have a car 🙃

Personally i think these are great cars to clean. These cars get you 5 star reviews, lots of pictures and these are exactly the cars that get you a maintenance client. Customers with these cars are generally happy if you offer to do it monthly at a reasonable price

Luke I think your videos are great as far as the content I. The video and the voiceover . It has inspired me to start my own detailing business and been going really well so far one thing I'm working on is my pricing as I take a good few hours to detail a vehicle I'm selling my self cheap by the end of it so it's something I'm changing to value my work . Now I've come onto a problem on one vehicle that the client let me know that the car has a mildewy smell after I shampooed the carpet and upholstery now I've done a few interior detail and some mention that they smell it for a day and then it's gone so I really don't want this to become a problem and ruin my rep in the detailing business . I'd like to ask you for advice or tips on how not to leave that mildew smell . I use super clean for the upholstery use drill brushes for agitating then continue to extract but I don't know if I'm not extracting enough or if I'm using too much water as I extract at this point I'm not sure one factor is that the one client I did later in the evening into the night and think that might be the reason the seat and carpet didn't dry well enough leaving that mildew smell , please help thanx in advance

Great info man really appreciate it

Yea I use to do just what they asked for to meet their price range, but I was not too happy with the results, and I could tell neither was the customer. Now I don't deviate from my price range and summarize the process of what I need to do compared to what they asked to achieve a quality detail which is the point of getting a detail in the first place. I found it ok to not work with potential clients that want the cheapest yet best results. It's not a good situation. Great video Wilson

Love tour vids bro keep it up great conten good voice overs ;)

I worked in a body shop and magic erasers should be avoided at all costs because they are like 3000 grit sandpaper. They are abrasive and can damage the plastics. Never..NEVER USE THEM DRY

That's nasty! I got my 2020 GT500 9 months ago. Just started a page myself. I admire the work you guys do. Keep it up👍

Great video and just ordered the magic erasers. Do you use them on every detail you do? Or specific ones depending on how dirty the vehicle is? Ty

I’ve found that the best way to attack farm/work trucks is with wreck less abandon. You can’t hurt them and anything you do to it is a huge improvement and it’s going to get trashed again quickly

I would be careful when using magic erasers, lots of people don't know that it's similar to a very fine sandpaper so it could remove/damage you did not intend too.

Sir You did such a great job on this truck!!!! You made it look 100% better than before!!!! Can you do my vehicles by any chance??

I just retired my business due to a butchered hip operation, but I now work managing a much larger detailing company. I have moved the company from set prices to an hourly rate just for this sort of situation. What I do is agree with the client on the number of hours it will take before we start the job. Having set prices tends to be unfair to clients whose vehicle is an easy job and is too soft on the harder jobs that take much longer.

This information is helpful far far far beyond detailing.

Love the vids and I just started my own little car detailing. I’m no where near your status but it makes me feel good. When I’m doing it. It’s like therapy to me and when the customer sees the car and gets excited, it’s the perfect ending lol

can you do a video if you get the chance to show your process of cleaning the buttons and knobs surfaces that the sun and humidity make these surfaces caked on with a hard sticky to the touch film that is tough to get off. ..I use an ipa mix and SuperClean to break it down but would love to know your method to removing this easier it's usually the window buttons and dials have a baked on rubbery sticky feeling. thanks

I justify damaging carpet fibers at times. When it comes to the impossible carpeting, carpet that is crap quality to begin with, a metal bristle brush to get very stubborn debris out in my mind is really worth some damaged fibers, something nobody would ever notice anyway.

I like your steamer. What kind is it? Looks like it does a really good job.

I did a farm truck the customer was looking to sell 250xxx miles and it had never been cleaned... It was a 2 day interior/exterior detail and paint correction. For what it cost them they definitely doubled their profits just from the detail.

Luke when u do a minivan, do u take out the middle row of seats?

Looks good! You put vinyl protent

Does safetouch need to be neutralized or does it contain butyl? Great prices for their products and Ill need new drill brushes soon too and will definitely go with your set

And that is why I don't do commercial vans or work trucks, sometimes no matter how you clean it or how much time you spend on it, the plastics are already stained or so scratched up that doesn't make too much of a difference. The customer won't understand that and tell you that the job hasn't been done correctly.

what shape and condition is your vehicle in? ...customer - " a little dirty and some swirl marks.. then you get there and see this and say. umm. sir, this isn't what you described..it will take 4 hrs and will use up all my products. it'll be 300 dollars now but once I'm done and the like new again. I can keep it that way for 60 75 dollars every couple weeks. so you don't have to pay a fortune again and I don't have c to spend all day on it. deal?... customer.. "deal" 🤝 or charge less...but say you can only knock out prime areas of concern and then after a couple wash it'll get back to good shape. so b basically 300 now. or 75$ over the next 4 washes. each one concentrating on a different area until vehicle is new. great videos man. you're a true professional

Well I rather watch videos like this one.. i like it more than those where you detail a clean vehicle

Question, why are you using steam to clean the instrument cluster, when the last video you showed that you would not use steam to clean the instrtument cluster, since the steam would penetrate the plastic guage, generating steam inside the cluster and leaving a bunch of water inside.

Good points on detailing very dirty vehicles - don't do them unless you can manage the customers expectations. Got it.

Luke, 1st thanks for taking the time it takes to make these quality videos. Yes I get those customers alot " it's just my work truck". Or its my wives kid hauling car.. I don't want the show car job, just clean the interior and wash it..! Well how as a quality detailer do you not clean one area as well as you did the other areas? I mean in this video you told customer your not doing the jams, but if the jams are really bad do you at least wipe them off some? For me it's hard to clean everything really well but don't touch others.

when you use the vacuum for suds, do u have to take out the filter or just leave it like that?

here and there I get a customer who wants a "quick detail". I start by telling them there is nothing quick about a detail, then I recommend the package i built just for those types of people. "quick clean and wash". it's a vacuum and wipe down of the interior and a touchless exterior wash. no drying. what do you think about this, Wilson?? I've also been curious.. another thing i do when coming to a very dirty car is i say "hey listen, the interior package is budgeted for 4 hours, after 4 hours i can keep going for x $ per hour." how does that sound? any recommendations or ideas? thank you in advance.

Wow that thing was filthy! Awesome work! How much did that detail cost him?

I hate people's attitudes like that. "Oh nothing fancy. Yea just get that dust off". But the dust is actually a throw up, milkshake, and mud mix, with a little blood. Explain price, and effort, and time, Customer goes : "NO NO NOOOO, just that little dust in the carpet! That's nothing bing bang boom! 5 seconds! Lemme see that rag!" "I know someone that does it for $5!" "I would've never called you."

You were saying how the door jambs arent included in the detail, how do you explain that to the customer? do you tell them "hey its gonna be an extra $50 to clean the door jambs as well" or Do you just say "Hey I dont think it makes sense to clean the door jambs this time around"?

Luke is amazing!!

Pull the seats and remove the carpet, hang it up and steam clean it....shampoo and dye...I worked in 3 dealerships running the Detail department it can load you with some garbage..Door jams should be cleaned before the Door panels...??

You speak the truth

Can soemone answer please. Whats the reason for using a magic eraser?

i see detailers cleaning the door jams with pressure washer, then outside, later inside. So that it is right way. If you clean door jams after cleaning inside, the dirt goes inside again. It is a double work. And why didn't u remove seats, and take out the items out, behind the seats and clean.

Yes I have

that's why you have two price points, one for the custom, showroom vehicle clean, and the other the regular less time, but still clean, knowing that it's going to get dirty once again....

Famous customer quote - it just needs a quick rinse.

oof my husband and I started our detailing business doing farm trucks for this crazy old lady. She would get like 3 trucks done a week and wanted them to be continually maintained. But man... it took like 4 hours for the two of us to get it done, and our equipment was straight wrecked afterward. Our pressure washer, the cords, the vacuum and hose... everything completely caked in dirt and grime. We had to detail our equipment when we got home lmfao I mean... we'd do them again if someone wanted them done. But yikes it's a chore and it takes a serious toll on your equipment.

Isn't spraying the console like that bad for the electric wires or something? (I have no knowledge of this. Just enjoy watching detailing videos)

It's all about the mentality with the customer where you have to do more then they are willing to do to justify paying for the work. If you do the bare minimum and they look at it and aren't impressed then they are thinking in their head "crap i could of done that myself for free". So it's a crazy price game and every vehicle is different and every customer is going to have a different expectation. Dam i need to get that steamer for my detail tool set and that drill brush set.

I seen your other videos and you said it's not good to steam the dashboard and you are steaming the dashboard on this one

Waiting for your Course to drop im literally holding my funds for it

Wow you just dont stop talking 🙂 Nice job btw 👌 i like your videos 👍

So ... how much did you charge ? And was it what you quoted the customer ?

Yes!

I never accept a detailing job unless I see the vehicle in person.. that way I can give an accurate quote based on my years of experience. The key "buzzwords" when a potential client calls or texts me that set off the alarms are "It's not that bad", "it just needs a buff and wax", "the interior just needs vacuuming and a wipe down". 99.99% of the time, the vehicle looks like it will be a Lazarus project... price it accordingly.

Awesome

Where’s that dude that was commenting on your other video saying you don’t show the before and after? Lol

What do you usually charge per hour ?

I dont do farm trucks. These farmers around here have clapped out 2 year old trucks costing $50,000 but dont want to pay to clean it.

Yes..i abosultely detest when potential clients belittle the job they envision we would do and it becomes a battle of realization. When youre potential client doesnt want to see the complexity, and he/she sends you photos, standing 50miles away from the vehicle to make it look "small" and use belittled, easy task, simple desire, vocabulary...they are not worth the job..they either want to score a cheap job and take advantage that youre new! Trust me..ive noticed that the people that value the job and you, will put up another $20 bill..God, it felt good telling that person "No". I can recomend you another guy and/or take it to your local So Fresh so Clean for 30 bucks.

Hey can you tell me what glass cleaner you use for tints. I’m a noob to detailing

In the summer you get tons of work, but How do you survive when the rainy season hits 🤔?

I noticed you are using a different steamer than the McCullough Steamer. What steamer are you using?

This is all type i do all the time literally

How do I take white marks out that my steamer leaves behind e.g. on the airvent??

Are you running a filter?

yes l have

I deal with those customers all the time and these type of cars

Where are you located?? What state

Won't that steam get into the speaker waffle and deteriorate it?

I totally get it. I'm not a professional, just a hobbyist, but can appreciate the mammoth effort required to detail a car. Giving it a "light" or quick overall detail doesn't give noticeable results that someone else will notice

Back when I used to detail vehicles I would tell my clients that my work isn’t cheap. If you’re cheap please find a detailer that’s going to half step.

The reason they called you is precisely because a "quick wipe down" will not cut it.

We good

How do I sign up for your course?

We can not afford to serve some customers.

I remember watching one of your old videos on how you had a client with a minivan in which you told her to come pick her car up as it was too dirty to clean. Theres no way it was dirtier than this car was it? Also how much did you end up charging for this job? and i assume it was only the interior and not exterior?

The people with the dirtiest cars want to pay the least. That's why he didn't do the door jams.

I'm a fellow detailer who does face this type of disaster detail every week and I'll do what they say and then show them then I do what I need to do to get it in perfect condition.

I would deny them

anytime somebody asks you to “just *** real quick” it’s a rip-off, don’t do it

Yea all the time, my wife is literally my worst customer

Famous nasty customer quote, "Its not THAT bad"

Wipe means no elbow grease! Do you know how many layers of dirt and grime is here?!?!

15:20 Ummm the 80/20 rule IS that 20% of the effort yields 80% of the results lol

Drink some water and stop smacking haha, great video though

I think its called having a eye for detail ... i mean isn't that detailing ?

Unless it’s for RU-vid clout!

man, begining you should airblow with a big blower this cases. in 3 minutes you turn a hard case to an average... *Optimized Detailing. coming soon