Full Service vs Express Detailing

How many of you operators are either doing full service, express or both forms of detailing?

If you do both do you have separate operations?

Why? Or, why not?

Regards
Bud Abraham

---
- |
---
- |+
---
- |
---
- |+
---
- |
---
- Express only...we do a clay polish with every handwax. Your paint sealant with a clay polish puts an unbelievable finish on a vehicle. We did my 3 month old Ridgeline and it looked better than brand new. You've got a great product Bud.

---
- |
---
- |+
---
- |
---
- |+
---
- |
---
- we do express only, 3 choices. interior only, exterior wax or combo. Everything takes 30 minutes or less or we don't do it. We push interiors because they have the most profit and least amount of time. People like express washes but don't neccessarily want to vaccumm their own car even if it is free thru tokens. Express is all about being quick.

We do both, offer on-line express services and full detailing services. Really two different things. Full deailing is more of a restorative versus a maintenance type of service. We offer leather dye/repair, carpet dye, chip repair and a range of services from wax/paint sealant to clay/wetsand, engine steam clean and engine dressing. Full detailing can be very profitable and a great loyalty builder.

Isn't the full serve detail industry slowly dying out? Maybe not dying just moving or changing. Seems like this whole industry has turned cheap and fast over quality.

I think solo detail shops are going to start being the only place to find a real detailer. I see alot of SS guys renting or hosting a detail guy on their lots.

We offer both. We do carpet and full shampoo using hot water extraction. Hand wax and clay wax. Express wax also. We also offer full polishing and shampooing packages. Average about 20k a month in detail on a full service wash that does about 85 thousand cars a year. We have found that it makes a big difference when we concentrate sales on express detail rather then package washes. We are throwing a lot of money at dedicated detail crew vs. pulling car wash crew. I don't know if this will work out or just cost me a lot of money. I will let you all know.

we concentrate sales on express detail rather then package washes, we are offering express details Carpet, seats, wax, interior super clean, all for $24.99 each- with a break on 2,3&,4th.. this is a change for us, we have always combined a basic wash w/ our details... now we can sell our wash... than upgrade them into a detail... any thoughts? what are you seeing out there?

I offer 3 main details. exterior wash and wax, interior full detail, and a bumber 2 bumper. The details are great for my 5 self service bay and 1 touchless automatic for 2 reasons. it brings in extra cash, and it gives me more of an employee presence on the lot in case any problems in the actual car wash.

I've been doing full service detailing at my location since 1996 and I just added a new 2/1 car wash.

There was a great detailing article recently in a trade magazine emphasizing that a detail shop must be a business FIRST. I couldn't agree more. This is where I struggled. Now I have taken the advice of Bud A and others regarding pricing and cost analysis. This has helped my business. Too many detailers low ball prices and are 'forced' to do shoddy work. My mentality has changed; my pricing is where it should be for me to take the appropriate amount of time on a vehicle, use quality products, proper techniques, and a well-trained staff.