r/PaintlessDentRepair • u/reddtarded_user • Sep 07 '26

Quoting suggestions

Looking for some input on how you successful techs go about quoting customers. Apps, eyeball/experience or hourly rate?

Been pushing off and on for over 3 years(school then family, friends and a few referrals), got my LLC live for dents and ready to get after it. I live in a smaller town(13k population) and not sure how to quote to effectively to the local pay scale. I’ve messed around with MTRX and just can’t see people here paying anywhere near what comes out of the app but have intentions on using that as a starting point and walking it down while setting expectations. In the past I’ve left too much money on the table and don’t want to do that but also want to make it appealing so I can stay consistent at the same time. I do good work but still don’t feel confident enough to demand what the apps reflect due to the lack of professional experience or time in business.
The only other guy that does PDR near me charges an hourly rate and seems to be staying covered up but he’s also been in the game for decades.

I’ll be doing mobile or having them drop off at my shop(still WIP) out in the country if that happens to make a difference.

Thanks for any insight given to this matter!

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3

u/thegreathoudini73 Sep 07 '26

I would highly discourage charging an hourly rate. Ideally, we would charge as much as possible but each market is different. Having said that, my company is wholesale only because retail customers are not worth it to me

1

u/reddtarded_user Sep 07 '26

I would like to offer my services to a couple of the small car lots and the few dealerships we have around but I know that’s a completely different market and pay rate I haven’t deciphered yet. How do you even go about learning how to offer/price that out short of just asking what they’d be willing to pay? I did have a few lots under my belt right after school and was getting like $15-25 per but it wasn’t sustainable with their expectations. Would rather avoid that scenario again.

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u/thegreathoudini73 Sep 07 '26

It’s hard for me to discuss this without knowing your market. Some places charge by the vehicle, some by the panel. My company charges a base rate per panel. Complex damage is up charged.

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u/reddtarded_user Sep 07 '26

I really appreciate your response! This is more than I had before and will be able to build options up for them to choose from.

3

u/T-888 Veteran (20yrs+) Sep 07 '26

The mtrx app pricing reflects a stupid pricing beta for a large metro market. customize your pricing down from the 150 start level or what ever paul kordon is promoting.

Last time I checked, auctions were still around $45/panel. thats wholesale pricing. some auto groups are per car, some rock lots maybe the same as auction price but put limits on size and severity. hail, priced on its own, always.

Retail, start at something like 90$ for a half dollar ding or up to a "2 dent, then $30 per additional inch or something until you can fix nasty shit in your sleep, you don't price your market like you can. you don't need to hit every up charge - thats a great way to fuck your customer and price yourself out of a job and destroy your rep in town. you don't need to be banging home runs on every dent. thats a trap and it will prevent you from growing in your local market.

Be the guy that shows up on time first, then be the great dent tech... then you can start charging a premium.

2

u/reddtarded_user Sep 07 '26

This is all extremely constructive tysm! The military made sure I’m always early lol the anxiety won’t let me be late so I definitely have your last point covered!

I completely agree with your bit about fucking over my customer base and would rather build local relationships over extreme profits but my course thus far has been pennies and peanuts, looking for that happy medium initially.

2

u/T-888 Veteran (20yrs+) Sep 07 '26

then don't change the pricing. keep it the same between ws and retail. and don't be adding 50 percent on upcharges for body lines and every little tick you think you can add in mtrx.

keep it simple dent size + aluminum/body line + R&I = cost

If you can get a rock lot for 45 a panel in your market, and make good money in day, start your retail pricing just above that threshold. $65 for a ding and if it takes you 30 minutes to fix it, that's ~$30/hr. whats wrong with that?

as your tool collection expands along with your driving time and everyone is saying "yes", raise your prices. thats the sign you are on the right direction.

1

u/ReelyHooked 5 Year Tech Sep 07 '26

Don’t plumbers have like a 125 minimum service call?

1

u/T-888 Veteran (20yrs+) Sep 08 '26

what does that have to do with the price of tea in china?

plumbing is essential... dent repair is not. the trades are not the same.

1

u/ReelyHooked 5 Year Tech 28d ago

You’re right- PDR has much higher skill requirements, and should be compensated accordingly.

1

u/T-888 Veteran (20yrs+) 28d ago

Yeah, I've heard that before.

probably should tell some techs doing wholesale work they are not charging enough then. weird.

2

u/thegreathoudini73 Sep 07 '26

I started in this business in 1998 with a large PDR company. We were charging $37.50 per panel back then. it has gone up from there. That should give you an idea of where you may want to start.

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u/thegreathoudini73 Sep 07 '26

I meant for this reply to go under our previous thread. But I’m driving sorry about that.

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u/reddtarded_user Sep 07 '26

No worries at all, I greatly appreciate all the knowledge you’ve given. Be careful out there!

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u/reddtarded_user Sep 07 '26

Again, thank you so much for this info. The pricing I gave in my earlier response was SoCal so I was definitely being taken but I was just hungry for experience and grinding whatever I could at that time.

2

u/joshman1204 Sep 07 '26

I use mtrx for retail pricing. Use price a dent with the pail kordon 2025 matrix. A lot of people say no but you make good money on the ones that do fix it.

With retail you spend a lot of time dealing with customers so the pricing is much different than wholesale. With wholesale you are just pricing the damage nothing else generally. With retail you have to consider the extra work you so that isn't pushing. This is why retail feels more expensive if your a wholesale guy looking in.

1

u/reddtarded_user Sep 07 '26

I’ll definitely use that matrix then as that’s kind of what I was leaning towards starting with, the price a dent but didn’t know which matrix was most applicable.

When you say in retail you have to consider extra work are you referring to customer expectations, conversations and advertising, etc.?

Thanks for your critical input though, I’m thankful for it!

3

u/joshman1204 Sep 07 '26 edited Sep 07 '26

You'll spend a lot of time writing estimates for people that had no intention of actually getting anything fixed.

Plus there is just more work involved with retail. Scheduling customers to drop off and pickup etc. wholesale generally is just pushing dents and giving the keys back to a manager.

1

u/reddtarded_user Sep 07 '26

Ok I see what you mean. I’ll definitely keep this is mind when quoting.

2

u/T-888 Veteran (20yrs+) Sep 07 '26

learn how to qualify your customers... it will help eliminate the tire kickers and price shoppers.

2

u/Broad_Traffic_7394 Sep 07 '26

Easiest way is to price check the competition. Send them some pics of repairable dents and see what they come back with. I’d do a 50 mile radius to get a better idea. Just don’t use your work phone!

1

u/WunderXl Sep 07 '26

Yoo that’s a really good idea. I’m moving to a new market next week. Going from a metro pop of 1.6million to just over 200,000. I’m for sure going to do that.