bad economy

How has your business been affected by the bad economy?

Quote
East End Auto Detailing
How has your business been affected by the bad economy?

Four step compound/polish/swirl remove/wax jobs on exotics are down 50%, but interior details on SUVs, minivans, family wagons are up 50%, so it's evened out.

People are paying for work they need, and less for work they want.

[portland.craigslist.org]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/30/2009 05:53PM by acecars.

Here's an account from www.newsoftheweird.com of a man who may have been trying to save money on detailing :

Merle Sorenson, 48, had to be rescued from the Columbia River near Quincy, Wash., in October, where he nearly drowned after driving his Humvee off of a boat launch. He told the rescuers that he was trying to clean his tires and wanted to see how far he could drive the vehicle into the water but still be able to back out. [Seattle Times-AP, 10-31-08]


One more reason for Bud to always recommend using a professional detailer ( LOL) .

Doug

Friends-
The bad economy is not like " the bad weather " ; something we can't do anything about and that is nobody's fault . We are undergoing a change to socialism . We must, as citizens, face that fact . We've had more and more government manipulation of the economy and now the government is taking control of banking, health care, automobile manufacturing and more .

There are efforts to silence talk radio, and the FCC licenses of of T.V. stations have been subject to a veiled threat .

More restrictions on gun ownership are being pushed in Congress .

The stock market crashes more and more, possibly because of uncertainty over what the government will do next . Huge tax increases on tobacco and tobacco products, gasoline and the income of the top earners are planned . Trillions of dollars are being printed and doled out, threatening to cause crippling inflation that would destroy the value of the dollar .

Newspapers may be bailed out soon by the governments they report on . Pressure groups are receiving billions of dollars in taxpayers' money .

I hate to say anything " political " on this forum but I think you'll agree that I'm only reporting the facts . Ask yourselves whether we are becoming less free or more free, less secure in our property or more secure , more devoted to free enterprise or more devoted to government control . Ask yourselves what countries ours will resemble soon .

For a presentation ,lasting 86 minutes, on why the economy tanked and how to fix it, visit the link below :

[www.aynrand.org]

Other commentators on this crisis include Mark Levin , a radio host who has his own Web Site and, of course, Rush Limbaugh .

Doug



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2009 01:18AM by Doug Delmont.

ABSOLUTELY It has been super slow because ppl are trying to do there own details and use the cities car wash!!

?

San Antonio Mobile Auto Detail
Martin Hernandez
210.213.3782
[www.saMobileCarWash.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/2009 05:04PM by MartinHernandez.

Everyone :

We've discussed this idea before but I believe a tight economy is the perfect time to try it out. The idea : Break down the detailing process into profitable, affordable " car cleaning services ", such as :
1) Professional Auto Carpet Cleaning ( surcharge for installing new floor mats )
2) TLC hand car wash ( pressure wash floor mats extra )
3) Tire and exterior trim dressing
4) Leather seat clean and treat
5) Interior vacuum and wipe ( Vinyl dressing additional )
6) Paint sealant ( includes wash but clay bar treatment additional )

You may even want to dump the term " detailing ", which has come to mean a meticulous cleaning of the whole car for a low package price . You can save that for the car dealers .
Doug

?

San Antonio Mobile Auto Detail
Martin Hernandez
210.213.3782
[www.saMobileCarWash.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/2009 05:04PM by MartinHernandez.

Suprisingly upbeat comments!!

I almost feel like people get annoyed at me when I tell them my business is doing fine...The bottom line is if you do a good job and treat your customers right, they will keep coming back. Around here, unemployment is around 11%. That means that 9 out of every 10 people still have a job and are doing fine!!

Also have noticed a pick up from other shops going under.

Doug, I am a big fan of Ayn Rand.

Mark

I have seen no drop whatsoever on the bottom line. I am actually running about $2000 ahead of last year's pace. I live in a small town of about 1000 people and feared this would be a down year which would have really hurt as I am getting set to go off to college BUT it has been quite the contrary. My phone is ringing off the hook and I'm already scheduled about 2 weeks back. Last summer the wait got up to a month long I look for more of the same this year.

Tip-
In business, it pays to be alert for changes in customer preferences.

For example, at one time, drive-in restaurants were all the rage, with waitresses bringing the food to your car. Then operations like McDonald's became popular because it was cheaper to walk up and buy the food and then eat in your car. Eventually, people got tired of eating in their cars ( thank goodness ) and McDonald's started to provide seating.

Who knows what the future holds for detailing ? Maybe customers will prefer to pay extra to have the car picked up and delivered. Maybe they will want express detailing at car washes. Maybe they will want interior cleaning while they shop at the mall...

Be alert.
Doug

Bottom line of it is is "Karma"Treat people right and it will all work out shoot for the moon and at least grab a star !!