Motorcycle valeting

[Zoffo]

On BCF someone mentioned Motorcycle valeting and I was amazed at the interest it generated. Had a look on the web and there are very few places doing motorcycle valeting. Assuming it was done properly I think something like this could take off. Waddya think? Would you pay to have someone else do the dirty work?

 

[Sam]

Would you pay to have someone else do the dirty work?

Sure would!! :lick:


Are you offering? :dunno: When can I come round :}

 

[Codbasher]

Depends on how much, I was quoted over ?70 for a full valet on the car, did it myself!

 

[Zoffo]

The only mobile valetor I could find charges ?25 without the fairing wax and ?45 with. Dunno if this includes taking the fairing off, Suspect not.....Ok what would you pay for a proper job. Fairing off the works?

 

[Codbasher]

?25 Max, cos I'm tight fisted.

 

[Zoffo]

Gimme a break! That's a 3 hour job to do properly. Not Jewish are you?

 

[RHINO]

It used to be my profession, hard work but very rewarding to see the results.
I wouldn't let anyone remove my fairing to valet my bike though, if you can see it then you can clean it. I've done a few bikes but they are very fiddley as opposed to the cars.
?70 for a full car valet is fair especially if its minging and the seats need a wet wash, anyone can wash and vacc but to get the finish desired by a TVR showroom is another ball game.

 

[richard]

Me to still do a couple now and then...




R :yo: :bow: :yo:

 

[frenchuk]

Have you seen the price of proper products like autoglym? If the valeter brings his own autoglym and does it proper, clean, wax, alloy etc, it's at least a 3 hours job, plus products, his petrol, his investment into his vehicle, etc... ?70 is very fair I'd say, profit he'd make after paying his outgoings would be in the mark of ?50 - remembering it's not 8hrs a day 5 days a week would YOU work at less than ?17 an hour?? c7u8

 

[Wolfie]

would YOU work at less than ?17 an hour?

yes, as do most people!!!!

 

[Zoffo]

Already work for considerably less than ?17 per hour at a job I hate but bills have to be paid.

Your average Bird owner affluent, middle class. They have to be to buy, insure and run the beast. I'm a single parent in a shit job and recently lost the lot (house, savings, fainth in British justice) in a bad divorce. I love my bike but it takes up a massive part of my income. Maybe that's why I actually love cleaning it. I'd rather be in my yard with the bike in the freezing cold than sitting in front of the telly watching fookin soap operas.
I'm no spanner monkey so fettling is not an option for a career change but I'm pretty good with an oily rag and a pressure washer
Look out for Zoffos mobile motorcycle valeting service in a country mansion near you. (No Harleys)

 

[frenchuk]

I said, remembering it's not 8hrs a day 5 days a week would YOU work at less than ?17 an hour?? of course a lot of peeps are paid less doing 9-5 jobs, but freelancers who own their own business? Highly unlikely or they fucking starve - I know, I'm one!

 

[RHINO]

Zoffo, i used to work 7 days weather permitting which made up for the days when it was pissing down or icy.
I had some very good contracts, one with a TVR and American Importers in Manchester and also Granada Television where i used to valet the casts cars from 'Coronation Street'.
In summer i'd be out by 7am and usually work until the light let me down and at weekend 9-6 without fail.
One sure fire way to drum up business is to go onto a trading estate and find a minging car, find the owner and offer a free valet......... The work i got was incredible from just 1 free valet the whole place see's you and then its onward from there. DON'T put shiny spray/gel onto dashboards as it looks cheap, don't forget to do ALL the glass smear free, and DO throw in the odd extra touch and make the customer feel special.
Also apply polish to the alloys where possible as this protects against the brake dust and makes it easier next time you go back!

 

[Jaws]

FUK, believe me, AutoGlym is NOT proper stuff !
Pro polishes,waxes and cleaners etc are about 5 times the price of AG and work 5 times better ! ( and I actually like AG products... so I am not saying AG stuff is inferior in any way at all )

The thing is, that while a valet on a car is a definite amount of work ( ok some interiors might need more work than others ) doing a job on a bike is just too variable.
The only way to do it would be to charge an hourly rate.. Say ?15.00 per hour maybe ? Then add on materials used.. perhaps a further tenner.

I must say that I deeply admire people who do this sort of thing for a living.
It is BLOODY hard work and very often thankless..

 

[Codbasher]

Mr Sheen work better than Autoglym IMHO. At least on bikes anyway.



%$fan

 

[derek kelly]

Mr Sheen work better than Autoglym IMHO. At least on my head anyway.



%$fan

 

[ianrobbo1]

and it looks like Dereks laughing at your post Coddy because he uses it on his shining dome!!

 

[derek kelly]

and it looks like Dereks laughing at your post Coddy because he uses it on his shining dome!!

Wrong! I use Autoglym :neenaw: When they did the Autoglym lifeshine on the car last week I got them to do my bonce at the same time :f

 

[frenchuk]

FUK, believe me, AutoGlym is NOT proper stuff !
Pro polishes,waxes and cleaners etc are about 5 times the price of AG and work 5 times better ! ( and I actually like AG products... so I am not saying AG stuff is inferior in any way at all )

Didn't know that mate! So which products are used by the pros? Autoglym is already quite pricey, if pro stuff is 5 times more expensive, how do the valeters do to make any money?:dunno:

 

[Codbasher]

Wrong! I use Autoglym :neenaw: When they did the Autoglym lifeshine on the car last week I got them to do my bonce at the same time :f

Up yours Mr Kelly :f I have a Matt finish to my head man8um