05LSV

I'm paying what I believe is a moderately hefty price to have the exterior of my car professionally detailed this morning. My question is this - should I tip the guys doing the detailing, or just know that they are making some money because of the high price I'm paying for the detail in the first place?

The detail includes the following:
Professional Hand Wash
Remove Paint Contaminants and Fallout (clay bar)
Clean Wheels
Clean Tires
Dress Tires
Clean Fender Wells
Clean Windows Inside/Out
Clean Door Jams
Clean Exterior Trim
Dress Exterior Trim
Remove Minor Wash Scratches and Swirl Marks
Professional Wax Application (2-stage)

Thanks...

ilocke

iTrader: (11)

I think opinions are going to vary, but here's mine: If you're taking it to a "chain" car wash and just getting their "ultimate service" or whatever, I would tip a little at the end, yes. Say, if you're paying $100 for the full service, maybe toss the guy a $10 at the end once you look the car over and are satisfied.

Now, if you're going to a detail specialist, or if he's coming to you and you're paying a good $200-$250 for him to do some good work on removing scratches and swirls, personally I would tip upwards $30-$40.

Again, I'm sure opinions will vary.

dra5037

i usually wash it myself, so on the rare occasion that i get it professionally detailed...i tip too

05LSV

I'm using a detail specialist and paying about $150-175 for the services above - the guy said he will have every scratch and swirl removed from the car and it will look better than it did when it was new.

He is coming to my office (self-contained mobile detail truck) and doing the car in my parking lot. He said it will be 2 guys and they will take about 2 hours total.

mahcah

iTrader: (3)

I would tip 10 percent. 15 if i am really pleased with the results. Im thinking in getting mine pro done too.

05LSV

okay, so an extra $15-20 on top of the job should be good then?

TLe2006

with all the services you listed, it should take at least 3 or 4 hrs even if they're professional. i'd check the car carefully before you pay him.

Oh yea, definitely tip them.

truoutkast

you should always tip them...that's hard work and they deserve a lil tip on da side. Even though it maybe expensive but the guy is probably not the one getting paid, the owner is. I'm sure those detailers are paid hourly...plus...make friends with them. That's what I did, cuz the next time I took my car to a professional detailer...he hooked me up with some extra detail work for a fraction of a cost.

05LSV

I just found out that the owner and another guy are the ones doing the work. They are foaming the car and doing the clay bar right now. He said that the normal detail that I'm getting should take about 2 hours with the two of them working - it's a 2 step wax/polish.

Gator Alum

iTrader: (3)

^^ I am curious too if you guys would tip if you KNOW the guy detailing is a one man company...

ELL Y

iTrader: (1)

I definitely would. My own details can easily take many hours (clay, polish, glazes, waxes), and are a ton of work.
How much depends on the job they do (at least for me), and maybe other factors like friendliness, enthusiasm, etc.

oski83

I think a tip is called for, specially since the price is decent considering they are coming to your loation.
I took one of my cars to a local place to have everything done you had PLUS interior shampoo'd, headliner, interior dash/vents, int. dressing, vacuum, and even engine bay for $125!!..They did a great job removing all swirl marks so I left an extra $20...buuuttttt I had to take the inconvenience of having to get a ride to/from the place while they worked on it for about 4 hours.
Working outside(non-controlled environment with wind etc) is tougher of course. Times are tough for everyone, but a small gesture in a good tip goes a long way. Next time they'll hopefully put an extra touch of detailing too

rs/ss

On the subject of tipping I have gotten great results when i tip in advance. After all it is To Insure Prompt Service right? Mostly at resturants before a big occasions. People expect to be tipped but because they don't know how much of a tip, if any at all, they will receive service suffers. Pay up front and expect great service.

UNKsuxel

dude i had a m3 that was midnight blue. just detailing the outside with just hand wax and hand wash ( not no 2 stage or 3 stage or with a buffer )


3 HOURS. i didnt even get a chance to do the interior.

now my lexus is silver. no special color so its a easy wash. a pro detail would depend on what kinda color paint you have. especially black, red, blue those colors swirls and scratches show very easy.


show us a pic b4 and after

05LSV

I didn't take a before pic, but the 2 guys only took about 80 minutes to do the whole car. I was working at the time, so I didn't stand there and watch them do everything, but he assured me that they did clay, wax and buff. The paint feels smooth, but there are still a ton of swirl marks. He said that he'd recommend 3 steps on top of what he did today (at $50 each step) to get 90-95% of the swirl marks out.

The car looks good and everything was wiped down great. You can definitely see all the swirls still though in direct sunlight.