Two questions

[Tdub]

Where can a person find those paper floor mats that you stick in after detailing?  Also, what is a good rule of thumb or guideline for pricing work?  I'm still trying to get a feel for what I should charge.

[tdr6874]

i dont think there is a rule of thumb...but for a quality detail i like to think of a car in hours of work/$25-30 per hour....and to judge how many hours i count panels and figure one hour per panel....a coupe has 2 fenders, 2 doors, 2 rear quarters, a hood, a roof and a trunk...thats 9...9 hours X $30 is $270 then 1 or more hours for interior $300 for cars...trucks and suvs add 1-2 hours more on exterior and 1-2 more on interior...trucks/suv are/start at $400



black can add 2 more hours...badly neglected paint + 2 more hours...ect ect ect....

best tip, never quote a price without seeing the car first!

[Tdub]

Good advise, thank you.   

[gipraw]

I have been looking at these, but have not done any business with them, so can't say good or bad about them .


http://www.dealerstockroom.com/shop/?shop=1&cat=123&gclid=COfmucjC9qcCFQjd4Aod6GHEbA

[Poorboy]

here's another

http://www.napsupply.com/protective-paper-floor-mats.html?gclid=CM3xzuDF9qcCFQjd4Aod6GHEbA

[stoffden]

Tdub, how about making a power buy among several of us?  I don't need 1,000 floor mats even at the inexpensive rate of $49.00.   But I would take 50.  Is there interest by anyone else?

[Robby32]

Stoffden/Tdub - if you are not close to each other shipping the power buy mats could kill any savings.

[Poorboy]

I'm thinking those mats are heavy too ...

[Robby32]

If you have ever lifted a box of paper (carton of 8.5x11 office paper at the big box office store) think about what it would cost to send it via FedEx or UPS. Paper is sold by weight i.e. uncoated 60 lb offset paper - that means 500 sheets of 25"x38" weighs 60 lbs. Most office paper is 20 lb bond that is 500 sheets of 11x17 weighs 20lb and you get 4 reams (500 sheets) out of that 11x17 parent sheet so a box (10 reams) would way 50 lbs plus the box it is in.

Coated paper like the floor mat stuff weighs a lot more. It could weigh twice as much or more.

[Tdub]

I had found some really cool colored ones that had the front portion of a car.  Looked real nice for around $50-60 for 250 or 500.  I didn't save the link...... 

[stoffden]

I completed the purchasing form for 500 sheets found at the first link posted.  Standard shipping (lowest cost) came to $18.23.  The shipping weight is 21 pounds.  I did not make the purchase.

I'm also checking with our print shop that we have on campus regarding the availability for 50lb and 60lb paper stock, 17" x 22" white, plain and printed with one color (same specs found at the links above).  I'll share the results once I receive them.

[Too Stroked]

Tdub, how about making a power buy among several of us?  I don't need 1,000 floor mats even at the inexpensive rate of $49.00.   But I would take 50.  Is there interest by anyone else?

I might be interested, but I'm up here in Rochester, NY - also known as the middle of nowhere.

[stoffden]

Update:  I contacted a printer that does work for me and asked if they had any end-of-roll paper laying around, in the 50-60lb weight range, white.  They did (70lb) and cut me 50 sheets, for free (and even delivered that paper to my office).  Just what I needed and am not worried about the lack of advertising.

[Kitzy]

Nice!  Free is always a good deal.