The Difference Between A Car Wash And A Detailer 

There’s money to be made in the express details / car washes. It’s all about how you play the game. Are you going for wholesale moves or trying to target high ticket speciality deals or both. The guys on the side of the road doing $50 express washes with a basic wash, maybe a spray wax, vacuum, and wipe down just going for speed probably knocking them out in 30-45 min assuming they’re willing to work a little more than 8 hours a day could easily make $1000 a day doing simple stuff. Then you add in a helper and maybe they split the bill so $500 a day but now they can make $500 a person in what 4.5-5 hours? It’s all about strategy and time in the market not timing the market. There’s a lot of online talk about how “you can’t charge that much and make a living!” Meanwhile there are hand CAR WASH shops in my city charging $40-$50 a car that make enough money to hire teams and are knocking out 5-6 cars an hour. That’s not including up sells so you’re clearing $48,000 a month as a business only washing cars. Swallow your pride, make some money. @ myself as well

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This is a very late comment, but here’s how I see this concept … Car washing is self-explanatory. You wash a car for $X, transaction complete. Car washing is part of detailing, so it IS detailing. Polishing is not washing a car, but it is part of detailing, so it IS detailing. Restoring headlights is not polishing or washing a car, but it is part of detailing, so it IS detailing. The point being, there is no distinctions needed because it’s ALL detailing. It’s not arrogant or defensive to explain to a customer that a “simple car wash” is not a service you provide. It’s an honest and direct answer. It’s not about pride or ego, it’s about being professional at all times. That means EVERY customer is to be treated with respect and honesty, with consistence and fairness. I think you may be confusing RU-vid detailers with actual professional detailers. Most (if not, all) professional detailers don’t get offended when customers try to get a cheaper price or a lesser service for less. We take it in stride, explain as best we can and if that customer refuses, no harm no foul. I only polish vehicles. You’re a detailer. I only wash vehicles. You’re a detailer. I only clean interiors. You’re a detailer. I only do coatings. You’re a detailer. Why? Because it’s ALL detailing. I don’t think it’s wrong to take pride in what you do as a professional. I also don’t think it’s defensive to explain what it is you do or don’t do as a professional. I certainly don’t think knowing your craft is an egotistical stance … most would call that confidence. Being professional = respectful, honest, consistent and fair. You do those 4 things and your experiences are golden. Making your customer pay for your bad decisions is NOT being professional. Meaning, you going out and spending $100 a gallon on whatever and then passing that cost off to clients is just ignorant, selfish and rude. Customers don’t care about your new “thing” that has graphene and angel tears infused with unobtainium. It’s nonsense. Fair service for a fair price, that’s all they want. Yes, even the rich people with disposable income. Being a jerk is being a jerk. There are jerks out there, both professionally and non-professionally. This is all encompassing, not just in the detailing world. Instead of making distinctions of a lowly car washer versus a true detailer/valet, how about we look at it as professionals versus non-professionals … based on merit. These are just my opinions, though. I’ve been detailing since the 80’s, that’s longer than most detailers have been alive. What the heck do I know? 😊😊😊

Facts

𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘮 ✌️

There’s money to be made in the express details / car washes. It’s all about how you play the game. Are you going for wholesale moves or trying to target high ticket speciality deals or both. The guys on the side of the road doing $50 express washes with a basic wash, maybe a spray wax, vacuum, and wipe down just going for speed probably knocking them out in 30-45 min assuming they’re willing to work a little more than 8 hours a day could easily make $1000 a day doing simple stuff. Then you add in a helper and maybe they split the bill so $500 a day but now they can make $500 a person in what 4.5-5 hours? It’s all about strategy and time in the market not timing the market. There’s a lot of online talk about how “you can’t charge that much and make a living!” Meanwhile there are hand CAR WASH shops in my city charging $40-$50 a car that make enough money to hire teams and are knocking out 5-6 cars an hour. That’s not including up sells so you’re clearing $48,000 a month as a business only washing cars. Swallow your pride, make some money. @ myself as well