I just detailed a friend's 1985 Nissan king cab 4x4 pickup truck. With 283k miles, he admitted readily it had not been waxed in at least 6 years. It is primarily now a work truck, so the interior was heavily soiled. Well, I didn't think it had much hope, but he wants to try and sell it so he asked me and my boys to clean 'er up.

At the end of the day, I had washed, applied cleaner wax and then a final coat of yellow wax (meguires products), waxed the rims, shined the tires, cleaned the interior, including carpets and seats. Polished bumpers with Mother's Back to Black, etc. etc...you get the idea...one thorough cleaning! I could not believe the end result and wouldn't have expected it to be as good an outcome. I was stunned, and so was he when he picked it up.

It was about a 5 hour job and my son helped for most of the time, so about 8-9 man hours work. I charged him $80. I had not clue what was fair because I've never done this for anyone else before, much less for pay.

So, did he overpay? Or did I undercharge? I sort of felt as though I should have gotten $100! Thoughts from anyone out there that does this regularly? His 1989 Maxima SE is next...

 

at work we charge $150 for a normal detail (takes us about 2 hours) and if we apply 2 types of paint treatment, a special paint treating wax, and leather treater, we charge $680...i think you undercharged a little, but you aren't a professional so you can't charge as much as they do

 

Your buddy got a great deal from you. MrBurner's rates are very much the normal pricing out there. Tell your friend that he owes you a few nice dinners and then call it even.

Oh...and...when can I schedule a detailing service with you and your sons? Hope I get the same good Nissan buddy rate. Heehee.

 

I would say between $80 and $100, based on what you did and the products you used.

 

Anything less than $150 or so is quite a bargain for all that you did. I admire anyone who takes enough pride in their work to do it the way they would like to have it done themselves (or done the way they would want their vehicle done!).

 

heh...just a few weeks after buying my maxima (used, so it had a lot of gunk stuck on the paint), i gave it a little facial. after spending a several hours slaving away w/ a clay bar and the detailer and then waxing it, the paint's just oh so silky smooth! Prestone's Bullet Wax rocks!

 

Thanks to each of you for providing feedback on my pricing question. I feel much better about what I charged. He wants his 1989 Maxima done next and it is going to need the clay bar treatment. I figure that is worth at least another $20. Plus I'll give that 3 coats of wax instead of the 2 on the truck (i.e., cleaner wax, show car glaze, and hi-tech yellow wax; I skipped the glaze on the truck). Heck, that's another $30...so maybe about $110 for the car is what I'm beginning to think.

Thanks again to each of you.

srm