TintDude

I think people get used to being deceived. Every day in subtle ways that we get used to. Like prices ending in 99 cents, or the price of gas ending in 9/10ths of a cent. 

Reminds me of a video we saw recently about Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs trying to get some bobble heads made. 

Companies really should say "Assembled in the USA" if using "globally" sourced material. IMHO

It seems deceptive to use "Made in the USA" in these cases, as it is ostensibly used as a selling point to people concerned about manufacturing leaving the US.

I didn't mean you were one, just that they are on a whole other level of pain in the butt customers.

Also, there is the whole BMW owner thing.

I hear you. My neck is permanently jacked up from years of it.

Another also...

Just because it is a Bentley doesn't automatically make it a more difficult tint job, and that Kia may just be a pain in the butt to tint. 

Also, you used the example of a Kia and a Bentley, that it shouldn't matter...

You have to consider that mistakes happen and replacing a part on a Kia is a little less expensive that replacing a part on a Bentley.

We need to know what kind of car it is for several good reasons. Some cars are very easy, and take little time. Other cars require a high level of expertise and time. Both are priced accordingly.

Also some cars have issues that make them problematic to tint. We aren't trying to rip you off anymore than any other field.

Quote

The guy comes up to me when he's finished and says to only have the AC on my feet and to not roll my windows down for 2 weeks. I've had probably 6-7 tinted cars and I've never been told 2 weeks. 

Yeah, two weeks is BS, and the AC thing is also BS. Sounds like he was trying to be a dick honestly.

What film were they using? Looks like a bad batch.  

1 hour ago, Dano said:

If it had a Benz badge it would no doubt be twice the price and last half as long.

39 minutes ago, Dano said:

Is it possible to do an inline add every 4th or 5th post that says " Go premium to support the cause or your a just a drain on society" or something similar?

It is. I sure appreciate the support from the premium members, but I feel bad that I don't have a lot to offer as a premium, other than trying to guilt people into it.  

Also there are 64 sections in there, some of which never get posts. If they were all in one section it would look busier, so it's all how you look at it.

26 minutes ago, Dano said:

Premium paywall? Tshirts/swag or discounted membership for x number of useful submissions?

I've tried things like that. No one was interested in posting to areas that were roped off so I'm just going with the free model in hopes of generating more participation and paying the bill via sponsors.  

There are 4 new posts in it right now. A lot of people consult it, but not many are willing to share, only take. It's always been like this.

I haven't seen many posts from you there.

2 hours ago, Damien said:

I’m starting my prices supper cheap.

First of all don't do that. I had ChatGPT help me with this and it is spot on:

While it may seem enticing to start a service business with prices significantly lower than the competition, there are several reasons why this approach may not be advisable in the long run. Here are some potential drawbacks:

1 Quality perception: Customers often associate higher prices with better quality. By significantly undercutting the competition, you risk creating a perception that your services are of lower quality or that you are cutting corners to offer such low prices. This can make it difficult to build trust and establish a strong reputation in the market.

2 Profitability challenges: Operating a business with very low prices can make it challenging to generate sufficient revenue and maintain profitability. If your prices are too low, you may struggle to cover your costs, invest in necessary resources, or sustain your business over time. This can lead to financial difficulties and potentially force you to increase prices later, which may alienate existing customers.

3 Value proposition: Competing solely on price often reduces your value proposition to being the cheapest option in the market. This can attract price-sensitive customers who may not be loyal and are more likely to switch to a cheaper alternative. Building a sustainable business requires offering unique value, exceptional customer service, or specialized expertise, rather than relying solely on low prices.

4 Undercutting your competition: By undercutting the competition significantly, you risk engaging in a price war that can be detrimental to all businesses involved. Competitors may respond by lowering their prices further, leading to diminishing profits for everyone. This scenario is not sustainable in the long term and can harm the entire industry.

5 Perceived lack of expertise: Setting prices significantly lower than your competitors may give the impression that you lack experience, expertise, or confidence in your services. Customers may question why your prices are so much lower and whether you can deliver the same level of quality and results as your competitors.

6 Difficulty raising prices: If you establish your business with significantly lower prices, it can be challenging to increase them in the future without facing resistance from existing customers. Once customers have become accustomed to your low prices, they may be reluctant to pay more, even if you have improved your service quality or expanded your offerings.

7 Long-term sustainability: Building a sustainable business requires a solid financial foundation. Operating with prices significantly lower than the competition can make it difficult to invest in growth, retain talented employees, or weather economic downturns. It's essential to consider the long-term viability of your business model and ensure that it can adapt to changing market conditions.

While pricing is an important factor in attracting customers, it is crucial to strike a balance between offering competitive prices and delivering value that justifies your rates. Competing solely on price may lead to short-term gains but can have negative consequences for the long-term success and sustainability of your business.

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Now the next thing I would suggest is customer management.

90% of your problems are going to come from customers who weren't prepared ahead of time what to expect.

Print out a stack of these: https://www.tintdude.com/care.html/ and read it with and leave one with each customer before you begin the work, this will save you a lot of grief and you'll thank me later.

A house of cards it is.

Why would you build anything but the absolute lowest quality when you have a captive market and all this government support?

I can't wait to watch the fiasco that will unfold regarding the batteries.

30 minutes ago, pbalentine said:

Tesla will be nothing but a memory in next few years.

You forget the government subsidies, mandates and incentives.

Dang dude

Good to see you @Fiveofeen and congrats!

Looks good! 

Boats are such a pain in the butt. 

Is it tempered? Probably a bit safer if it is. 

That is sick!