Alright heres a question for you.

Do you tip a detailer as you would a regular carwash? If so what is the proper amount?

This morning I brought my car in for the first time to get it detailed. I'm now set up on a program where he will detail it every other week (wash, liquid wax, shampoo + vacuum)
He's charging me $20 bucks when I pick it up, do I tip as well?

Whats the consensus?

 

Most definately .....what ever you see fit

 

i pay $23 for my detailing, but will round it up to $30 with tip

 

For sure.. I always tip $5 extra for my hand washes/wax jobs. For full blown exterior/interior details with the buffer, I will tip around $10-$15 extra depending on how well the car looks.

 

I don't let other people wash my car

But if I did - I would tip them. Then, next time they will put more effort into it due to the possibility of getting tipped again.

Jonny

 

You guys are paying $20-$30 dollars for a detail? I feel bad for the cars.

Anyway, I know guys who do concourse detailing and their tips range from $50-$200 depending on the work done and the customer.

For the typical cheap drive through/interior wipe down/whatever, I think $10 is sufficient.

 

They're not paying $20-$30 for a detail they're paying for a detailer to do a wash/wax. That is a typical and reasonable price from a pro detailer. I charge my weekly wash customers $120 monthly for a weekly wash/wax. Most folks give me $140, which is a $5 a week tip.

A $50-$200 tips comes on work that costs $400-$1000. Those are the real details (wash, clay, multiple compounding steps, light polishes, glazes, sealants, chip repair, etc..), not the weekly washes.

As an aside, I think I can safely say that a lot of a detailers income comes from the weekly and bi-weekly wash/waxes. While I do full blown details on 5+ cars a week in the summer, it terms of time spent on a car and money earned (and volume) the wash/waxes are the bread and butter. $120 a month for ~2 hours of work, as opposed to the folks who show up with a car in bad shape who you charge $500, but have to spend 6 hours on the car.

 

I'm positive he's not getting a full detail for $20. A wash and wax job is not a detail job IMO. But the guy doing the job may be called a detailer... A good full detail job normally starts at $75 & up which inlvolves a clay bar, buffer, and many coats of wax... I pay around $150 for both the inside & out + tip...

EDIT: Exactly what "picus" said..

 

At my dealer, they include a book of free hand washes. I asked my salesman (my best friend, serioulsy!) if anyone tips. He sees anywhere from $0-10. I've been tipping $5-10 and see them weekly in the summer. Now that it's winter, I'm going far less frequently. When they're slammed, the car gets a quickie in comparison to other times.

I love the idea of a mobile wash! Come out to the parking lot after work to a sparkling car!

Anyone know of a top notch outfit (mobile or drop-off) in SLC?

 

LXOGOOD
Your right,
Hes charging me $120 for a full detail and $20 for the Wash and Wax job.
Appreciate everyones input. Thanks for your advice.

 

the way i look at it if someone is doing something for you that you can do...you should tip them

how much is up to you and how nice the car looks,how they treat you etc

 

Exactly what MongooseGA said.... I knew he would reply before me lol. I would give $10 on the $20 job if they are doing good work... if not find someone who will do great work. If the "detailer" is cool he may throw in some extra services if your car is in there while hes not busy since he knows you tip well

 

My words exactly. Thanks

 

I sure did give a detailer a tip........... I showed him how to use SCRATCH-OUT.
http://www.kitwax.com/html/kitProducts.htm

He loves it....even asked me if I wanted to come work for him.