Hi all - just curious - I recently had my '18 coated with CQuartz. They did a fantastic job, although it was pricey, it looks great. Turns out the price for the coating doesn't include all the prep work and buffing needed to get the surface in pristine condition - even though it's new, you could still see swirl marks if you looked closely.

Anyhow, on to my question - the total came in north of $2k and I was somewhat surprised when they turned around the screen for a signature and the "tip" option was presented, which normally I would have gone with the suggested 20% or so, but considering what I was already paying - we're talking a good several hundred more I hadn't banked on - I was already questioning spending that kind of money. In the end I tipped $100 - but then I felt cheap and wonder if I should go back?

I get tipping 15% 5o 20% for a detail job of around $150 to $200 - but it's a pretty hefty difference when the bill for the work is already so high.

So am I being cheap? I really didn't know what to do, just wasn't expecting or thought about tip on top of the bill?

 

I wouldn't tip anything. Tips are usually for jobs were the employee is making little money and the tips are a major part of the earnings. Restaurant workers as an example.

Paying $2000 for a ceramic coating seems to be already on the high side. I got quoted less than $1000 from several places for my 14 HT which needs more prep than a new 18.

First and last time I used a detail service they didn't offer an opportunity to tip and I wouldn't have done so anyway. Didn't really like the phony attitude of the owner. I hate when people call me "bud" or "boss".

Just because they show a tip area doesn't mean you have to be a payer.

 

I think that was just the owner wanting more money.

 

I don't think you should have tipped at all. If so why don't you tip your mechanic every time you come in? Or your doctor? I don't get tips and I don't expect them. If I was a waiter then I would.

 

Thanks guys - I feel better I sort of feel the same way, for a job costing less than $100 and knowing the guys are probably not getting much of a cut, tipping seems like the thing to do - but when it's over $2k and you know they are making a good profit, it didn't seem like a tip should be expected.

 

That's ridiculous asking for a tip on such a large purchase.

 

The business is using a point-of-sale system like Square or Stripe, and it is probably displaying a tip option for every transaction. It might be appropriate for some of their services, but in your case it was inappropriate and obnoxious.

It's called "guilt-tipping": https://qz.com/730315/squares-design...ally-everyone/

 

I agree that tipping for this is a bit extreme. What I've learned over the years - tip anyone that provides you a personal service, ie: mail person, the people that dry your car after its been washed, waiter/waitress, food delivery person, florist, dj, etc. You should never tip the owner of a business - they are the owner and their tip is the profit from said business.

 

$2000 for a detail and CQuarts ceramic coating. Damn ! They stole your money.

I only charge $500 and I know my work is better. I don’t run a business, it is my hobby and I do not rush. I take my time cuting, polishing and prepping until it’s perfect then I use Gyeon Syncro .

 

Dave O, I don't doubt that you do great work and this is in no way an attack at you, but the reason you can do it for $500 is because it's a hobby. Hobbyists are almost always cheaper. No business costs, no people costs and no overhead. Hobbyists also generally have a passion for what they do.

I have no idea what the real world cost is for these supplies or materials nor of this persons time or this companies 'costs' or pricing. If this was LA, where gas is $5 / gallon, things 'might' be higher - how much higher, I don't know.

Using a randomly generated estimate of $100 / hr, this would be 20 hours of work.

 

Yup, you are 100% correct.

I buy my products at full retail cost with no discounts at all. Like you said I have no overhead and all that other BS. I paided retail for all my tools and machines because I like both our cars super clean and protected.

I do my work as a hobby for friends and by referral only. I find detailing as a very relaxing process for me. I put on my Bluetooth headphones with some Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, GnR, Pink Floyd, The Who and just clean away.

I detailed cars professionally for a long time when I was young and you never loose those skills just like how to ride a bike.

I like to take care of people and this is kind of my way of giving back at a my “cost” and my time. Like a said it’s my hobby and how I relax and someone is paying me to do something I find relaxing.

My old high school friend has his own shop and gets huge discounts on everything and uses all the cheapest products and charges the same high prices. They can do good work but they do not have the time and have to cut corners because they have to keep cranking cars out.

That’s the big difference between me and them.

If anyone is near West Chester Pa 19380 ( West of Philly ) and needs a detail send me a PM.

 

I wish I lived closer Dave. I’d love to have you detail my car.

 

Same here.

 

In business, the term "key" can mean a couple different things. One is "how much does it cost to turn the key each morning?" Here a business figures their overhead out and then divides by 260 or 365. Another is in the hotel business where they use "cost per key" relative to the total cost of building a hotel divided by the number of rooms. In this case DaveO's cost is the flowers he has to buy his wife for spending too much time with the Mistress and her sisters.

Just one thing on the ceramic coatings, if you don't like your car finish so glass-like that a finger print shows up like a welt, either do not have it done or carry some microfiber towels with you.

 

I decided to have my car ceramic coated. I called a few detailers in my city to find out about getting it done locally. The local shops couldn't/wouldn't tell me the steps they used in doing the job, or the products they used. Dave answered any questions I had. I drove 9 hrs. one way for Dave to do my car and it looks gorgeous. Even though a hobby, Dave is the ultimate perfectionist.

 

Hmmm,

Mistress Detailing
West Chester Pa 19380 ( West of Philly )

"When only the best for the other woman in your life will do"

 

Whine not Walnuts

Just one thing on the ceramic coatings, if you don't like you car finish so glass-like that a finger print shows up like a welt, either do not have it done or carry some microfiber towels with you.

This is not 100 % true. They make several different coating now.

You can have the soft deep shine of a just waxed car coating or the super water wet glassy look. It all depends on what the client wants but most people point to my car and say I want that.

Coatings are more advanced now and come in different finishes like paint, heck they even have a Matte finish now.

I have only 3 top shelf brands; Gyeon, 22ple and Kamikaze and they are all from Japan.

 

Matte finish is for BBQ grilles, cars are suppose to be shiny.

And, I have gone the MF towel route.

 

$2,000 for ceramic coating on a new car?! Whoa. I paid less than a third of that for my car to be prepped and then coated. No way I would've tipped on the $2k at all.