Home
>
Small Business
>
Street Wars Between Mobile Car Washers and Mobile Auto Detailers

Street Wars Between Mobile Car Washers and Mobile Auto Detailers

There is much competition in the mobile auto detailing business. There are two different lines of reasoning emerging as to how the business should be run. One is go for volume and discount and wash the world. The other is go after the high end customer which is 10% of the market, do exceptional work and charge as much as the market will give. These two principles are the reason for a war between mobile auto detailers and mobile car washes. Mobile car wash companies are often seen washing the Honda car for the single mom in an office complex. While the auto detailers would not touch the car unless she was a total babe and they thought they might get a date out of it.

Sometimes there is much animosity in parking lots and words spoken when the two types of businesses are at the same location. Sometimes you hear the mobile car washer say something like; "We don't do detailing, we wash cars."

This puts the mobile auto detailer at ease; unless they also sometimes wash cars. Sometimes the mobile car washers will tell them that they will refer customers to them who want detailing because you don't do that; even ask for a stack of business cards. During the next week the mobile car washer might refer eight to ten people to them. If they hear back that people are pleased, refer two people per week from then on; meanwhile the mobile car washer ends up stealing all the mobile detailers weekly wash customers because the prices are so much different. As soon as this starts happening the mobile detailer starts to bad mouth the mobile car washers quality.

Mobile car wash operators think; "Why would someone bad mouth you when you just referred business to them?" Good question, it is hard to understand why people shoot themselves in the foot. Here is their logic:

They do detailing, they spend more time on a car, therefore, they are better

They believe that since they charge more they are better

Since they are so much better, they are helping the customer by warning them about you

'You get what you pay for' so the customer should pay more

You have taken all their wash business so they are getting back at you

They made a lot of money where you sent them on a referral and would like to keep going back

What the mobile detailers don't understand is that if they were really that great and that smart, they indeed would be making as much as the mobile car washers who derive their income on volume and do not limit their customer bases in doing so to the top 10% instead they go after the 90% and accept the 10% on their level if they choose to purchase services. The mobile auto detailers also fail to understand the driving force of the free market system:

Supply and demand

Quality and service

Image and marketing

Location

Consider this. If the mobile auto detailers would lower their price, they would get more work and more people would tell more friends and they would have an out of control snowball effect - enough work to last a life time. Sort of like the franchises in mobile car washing. Oh well; they say you can't teach an old dog a new trick. If a competitor mobile detailer doesn't want to play fair and wants to bad mouth, in the end the customer will probably switch. But since the customer is always right, both parties of the war on business methods and concepts of mobile auto cleaning ought start thinking and stop fighting.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs

top rated cleaning service Lake Forest ..

In The News:

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.

NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, beginning their journey to Mars with arrival expected in 2027.

Learn how to set email reminders on iPhone and Android so you never forget to reply again. Simple built-in features help you stay organized and on top of messages.

Discover how Apple's passkeys revolutionize Mac security by replacing vulnerable passwords with biometric authentication and encryption for ultimate protection.

New survey reveals 78% of parents fear AI scams targeting their kids, yet nearly half haven't discussed these threats. Learn why this dangerous gap exists.

Chrome now autofills passport and driver's license info automatically. Google's latest browser update adds official document support with encryption and user control.

Scammers impersonate Department of Veterans Affairs employees claiming veterans owe money, but real VA communications only direct to VA.gov or official channels.

The AltoVolo Sigma hybrid-electric aircraft flies 500 miles at 220 mph while operating 80% quieter than helicopters, featuring safety systems and compact design.

Google search scam alert: fake customer service numbers can give scammers remote control of your phone. Learn how to spot these traps and protect yourself.

Electric vehicles overtake gas cars in total CO2 savings after just two years of driving, with emissions benefits growing over time as power grids get cleaner.

Louvre Museum reportedly used "Louvre" as password for surveillance system during $100M jewel heist. Learn how weak passwords put even famous institutions at risk.

Bipartisan AI jobs bill from Sens. Hawley and Warner would require companies to report AI-related layoffs and hiring to Department of Labor quarterly.

Street Wars Between Mobile Car Washers and Mobile Auto Detailers

Small Business