detailing for a living.

rebels10 · 05-22-2009, 01:31 PM

So who else here details for a living? And is it for a detail shop or car dealership? I detail for a car dealership, and we detail cars for regular people not just ones that buy cars from us. So i stay pretty busy since im the only one detailing.

NotaDime · 05-22-2009, 02:40 PM

i have been detailing for the last 16 years of my life and have owned my own business doing mobile detailing for the last 7 years.

i just sold my business 2 months ago to relocate my family to NY.

rebels10 · 05-22-2009, 07:20 PM

do you enjoy detailing? like did it ever get boring for you?

HooDLuM corp · 05-23-2009, 12:47 PM

my friend wants to get into the detailing business. he loves keeping his cars fresh and he wants me to come be his partner. i wouldnt mind except my job right now pays the bills. leaving my job for this new business is a big gamble. did you make decent money starting out? how many cars did you detail in a day?

lee-mill · 05-23-2009, 12:52 PM

welcome to ny nota, hope you enjoy the crazy amount of taxes on everything and shitty weather 6months of the year

pollard · 05-23-2009, 09:09 PM

ive been doing it i love cleaning my own truck and people took notice and i do about 1 car a day around here. how much do you all charge normally i wash wax and interior i normally charge 75 for sedans and little cars i charge 130 for suvs

rebels10 · 05-23-2009, 11:39 PM

well where i detail a full detail which is was buff and wax along with interior is 149.00 and just a wash and vac is like 40.00. And the amount of cars i detail in a day depends on what each car gets. a full detail usually takes about 4 to 5 hours to do depending on how bad of shape the car is in. so usually anywhere between 3 to 8 cars a day for me.

sykominitrkr · 05-24-2009, 03:04 AM

I've been doin it since '96... and I've always done it for dealerships. Although, I once tried working at a local car wash... that place was a joke. I also do it on the side for extra cash.

Mi Super 10 · 05-24-2009, 09:26 AM

I detail on the side as a hobby. I will usually spend about 10 - 15 hours on one vehicle, so many times it takes two days to complete. I only do maybe one or two each week, and sometimes none at all, depending on my work schedule, my wife's work schedule and whatever else is going on.

I usually try to get as close to perfection as I can get, unless the owner specifically says they only want it to look a little better.

wagonproject · 05-24-2009, 11:22 PM

Detailing ever since I was 14ish. Run a mobile detailing business along with a fixed location. Hopefully by next year it will all be fixed as insurance would be cheaper and just a lot less headache.

bill 4.3l 5spd · 05-29-2009, 07:33 AM

Notadime where in NY?

Half_Pint · 05-29-2009, 11:11 AM

detail as a part time job for me out of my garage. best doing it the past few years and make descent money on it. typically wash, wax, and interior is $90 for cars and $105 for suv's and trucks. only do 2-3 cars a week though during the summer, need the full time job for everything else.

s-dime 00 · 05-30-2009, 03:39 AM

My dad owns a offroad shop and I detail for him. For the full monty we usually charge like $140 for cars and $180 to $200 for trucks and suv's.

NotaDime · 05-30-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by bill 4.3l 5spd

Notadime where in NY?

a few hours from you.... fort drum area.

rebels10 · 05-31-2009, 01:29 AM

what are you guys favorite detailing products to use? i use what work buys me so i use distinctive details products.

bill 4.3l 5spd · 05-31-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by NotaDime

a few hours from you.... fort drum area.

too bad if ya were close i'd get a price LOL

NotaDime · 06-01-2009, 12:08 AM

make the drive, id make it worth it.
pm me with what youd like done, ill give u a great price.

Mi Super 10 · 06-01-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by rebels10

what are you guys favorite detailing products to use? i use what work buys me so i use distinctive details products.

I use Menzerna polishes, Pinnacle Souveran and Wolfgang Fuzion wax, Meguiar's #21 2.0 sealant, and a ton of other stuff. I pretty much threw all my OTC products away when I discovered the good stuff

sykominitrkr · 06-02-2009, 07:25 AM

I like Automagic, a touch of class, and for polishes, and waxes, I like 3M.

BLaZE_1 · 06-04-2009, 07:36 PM

i worked for a mobile detailing service mostly for high end cars for all of ONE DAY. i was thinking hey how hard could washing a couple cars be....well in 90 degree weather its damn hard lol. i really had no idea how tough it is on you and i respect anyone that goes out there and does it ....the only good thing about that day was i got to wash a Lamborghini superleggera,an old 911 turbo, a ferrari i forget what kind, and a MINT 70's stingray......and that was just one house that guy has it good

but if i had a second chance id man up and do it again, that would have really been a great job for me cuz now i cant find anything

NotaDime · 06-04-2009, 11:11 PM

lol, ive been doing it now (outside) for 16 years and about 12 of those years was in the hottass south florida sun.....

S-10_man66 · 06-05-2009, 08:06 PM

I work for I 80 Auto Auction. Dealers come and sell their cars at my work and we can have them detailed if they would like for a price of course. We also have a used car lot and we detail our own cars as well as regular people who just want their cars clean. Driven some pretty nice cars too, 2006 M5, Porsche Carrera. I don't really get bored of it. Its just really tedious work and my boss is really picky about our work.

05-22-2009, 01:31 PM	#1
rebels10 firefighter260 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 730 Location: eminence, ky User is: OffLine	detailing for a living. So who else here details for a living? And is it for a detail shop or car dealership? I detail for a car dealership, and we detail cars for regular people not just ones that buy cars from us. So i stay pretty busy since im the only one detailing.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-22-2009, 02:40 PM	#2
NotaDime UN-BANNED B!TCHES!!!!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,335 Location: Home. User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. i have been detailing for the last 16 years of my life and have owned my own business doing mobile detailing for the last 7 years. i just sold my business 2 months ago to relocate my family to NY.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-22-2009, 07:20 PM	#3
rebels10 firefighter260 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 730 Location: eminence, ky User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. do you enjoy detailing? like did it ever get boring for you?
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-23-2009, 12:47 PM	#4
HooDLuM corp Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 39 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. my friend wants to get into the detailing business. he loves keeping his cars fresh and he wants me to come be his partner. i wouldnt mind except my job right now pays the bills. leaving my job for this new business is a big gamble. did you make decent money starting out? how many cars did you detail in a day?
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-23-2009, 12:52 PM	#5
lee-mill where's my chippy? Age: 20 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 7,846 Location: staatsburg, ny User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. welcome to ny nota, hope you enjoy the crazy amount of taxes on everything and shitty weather 6months of the year
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-23-2009, 09:09 PM	#6
pollard Registered User Age: 18 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 546 Location: keytesville mo User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. ive been doing it i love cleaning my own truck and people took notice and i do about 1 car a day around here. how much do you all charge normally i wash wax and interior i normally charge 75 for sedans and little cars i charge 130 for suvs
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-23-2009, 11:39 PM	#7
rebels10 firefighter260 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 730 Location: eminence, ky User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. well where i detail a full detail which is was buff and wax along with interior is 149.00 and just a wash and vac is like 40.00. And the amount of cars i detail in a day depends on what each car gets. a full detail usually takes about 4 to 5 hours to do depending on how bad of shape the car is in. so usually anywhere between 3 to 8 cars a day for me. Last edited by rebels10 : 05-23-2009 at 11:40 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-24-2009, 03:04 AM	#8
sykominitrkr Minitruckin' 4 life!!! Age: 32 Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,478 Location: S.A. TX. User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. I've been doin it since '96... and I've always done it for dealerships. Although, I once tried working at a local car wash... that place was a joke. I also do it on the side for extra cash.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-24-2009, 09:26 AM	#9
Mi Super 10 Registered User Age: 26 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 74 Location: Midland Michigan User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. I detail on the side as a hobby. I will usually spend about 10 - 15 hours on one vehicle, so many times it takes two days to complete. I only do maybe one or two each week, and sometimes none at all, depending on my work schedule, my wife's work schedule and whatever else is going on. I usually try to get as close to perfection as I can get, unless the owner specifically says they only want it to look a little better.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-24-2009, 11:22 PM	#10
wagonproject Short Bus Anonymous Age: 21 Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 6,385 Location: Kalamazoo, MI User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. Detailing ever since I was 14ish. Run a mobile detailing business along with a fixed location. Hopefully by next year it will all be fixed as insurance would be cheaper and just a lot less headache.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-29-2009, 07:33 AM	#11
bill 4.3l 5spd carries a gun at work Age: 28 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,749 Location: Bergen NY User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. Notadime where in NY?
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-29-2009, 11:11 AM	#12
Half_Pint another half pint to go Age: 23 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 513 Location: Northern KY User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. detail as a part time job for me out of my garage. best doing it the past few years and make descent money on it. typically wash, wax, and interior is $90 for cars and $105 for suv's and trucks. only do 2-3 cars a week though during the summer, need the full time job for everything else.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-30-2009, 03:39 AM	#13
s-dime 00 norcal s-dime Age: 17 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 38 Location: norcal User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. My dad owns a offroad shop and I detail for him. For the full monty we usually charge like $140 for cars and $180 to $200 for trucks and suv's.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-30-2009, 10:06 PM	#14
NotaDime UN-BANNED B!TCHES!!!!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,335 Location: Home. User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. Quote: Originally Posted by bill 4.3l 5spd Notadime where in NY? a few hours from you.... fort drum area.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-31-2009, 01:29 AM	#15
rebels10 firefighter260 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 730 Location: eminence, ky User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. what are you guys favorite detailing products to use? i use what work buys me so i use distinctive details products.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-31-2009, 09:29 AM	#16
bill 4.3l 5spd carries a gun at work Age: 28 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,749 Location: Bergen NY User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. Quote: Originally Posted by NotaDime a few hours from you.... fort drum area. too bad if ya were close i'd get a price LOL
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-01-2009, 12:08 AM	#17
NotaDime UN-BANNED B!TCHES!!!!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,335 Location: Home. User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. make the drive, id make it worth it. pm me with what youd like done, ill give u a great price.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-01-2009, 11:43 AM	#18
Mi Super 10 Registered User Age: 26 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 74 Location: Midland Michigan User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. Quote: Originally Posted by rebels10 what are you guys favorite detailing products to use? i use what work buys me so i use distinctive details products. I use Menzerna polishes, Pinnacle Souveran and Wolfgang Fuzion wax, Meguiar's #21 2.0 sealant, and a ton of other stuff. I pretty much threw all my OTC products away when I discovered the good stuff
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-02-2009, 07:25 AM	#19
sykominitrkr Minitruckin' 4 life!!! Age: 32 Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,478 Location: S.A. TX. User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. I like Automagic, a touch of class, and for polishes, and waxes, I like 3M.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-04-2009, 07:36 PM	#20
BLaZE_1 **** Age: 19 Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 405 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. i worked for a mobile detailing service mostly for high end cars for all of ONE DAY. i was thinking hey how hard could washing a couple cars be....well in 90 degree weather its damn hard lol. i really had no idea how tough it is on you and i respect anyone that goes out there and does it ....the only good thing about that day was i got to wash a Lamborghini superleggera,an old 911 turbo, a ferrari i forget what kind, and a MINT 70's stingray......and that was just one house that guy has it good but if i had a second chance id man up and do it again, that would have really been a great job for me cuz now i cant find anything
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-04-2009, 11:11 PM	#21
NotaDime UN-BANNED B!TCHES!!!!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,335 Location: Home. User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. lol, ive been doing it now (outside) for 16 years and about 12 of those years was in the hottass south florida sun.....
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-05-2009, 08:06 PM	#22
S-10_man66 Nevada: Hookers & Poker Age: 19 Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 839 Location: Bellevue,NE User is: OffLine	Re: detailing for a living. I work for I 80 Auto Auction. Dealers come and sell their cars at my work and we can have them detailed if they would like for a price of course. We also have a used car lot and we detail our own cars as well as regular people who just want their cars clean. Driven some pretty nice cars too, 2006 M5, Porsche Carrera. I don't really get bored of it. Its just really tedious work and my boss is really picky about our work.
	[Reply w/Quote]