u/AlexLevchenko

Tired of the "It’s not that bad" trap. How are you guys vetting cars before you arrive?
▲ 322 r/Detailing

Tired of the "It’s not that bad" trap. How are you guys vetting cars before you arrive?

Question for the pros here. My current booking process is pretty simple - customers pick a package + add-ons (like pet hair).

Lately, I’ve had a string of "Standard Interior" bookings that turn out to be total disasters. I arrive, and there’s sand in every crevice and coffee stains from 2019.

I hate being the "bad guy" who shows up and immediately starts asking for more money, but my "Basic" price doesn't cover a full restoration.

  • Do you guys have a way to "force" customers to be honest about the condition during booking?
  • Do you charge a "Surprise Fee" on the spot?
  • Or do you just do the work and hope for a tip? (Spoiler: they usually don't tip extra for the extra work).

Curious to hear how you guys handle the "expectation vs. reality" gap. It’s killing my margins.

u/AlexLevchenko — 5 days ago