Sunday PDR Business Talk | How I Price my Paintless Dent Repairs

[@dentdingking4878]

Thanks for sharing that Chris. I know most don't want to share their pricing methodologies but this is very helpful. Also hopefully this kind of information will help all of us to move up to rates which are more commensurate with our comparative value and our investment in tools and skills.

[@Dentlesstouch]

I definitely agree!

[@Thejhway]

U

[@DZ32100]

Finally someone not afraid to talk about their prices

[@NPC-157-e7r]

Not afraid because hes bumped his head on those prices

[@marinvremes5702]

Thanks for sharing mate. In 🇬🇧 I charge starting with £150/sq inch. This price is also a very good customer selector, only those who really wants hig quality finish will work with me. PDR is art, and has his price.

[@PRBB25]

With in the past year I have had 2 dents repaired at my local PDR shop ( Damn those pesky trash cans lol ). For the quality work that was done at $200 a pop I couldn't be happier. Thanks for what you guys do Chris!

[@pushandpolish919]

Sharing pricing is like taboo in this industry. I recently was burned out of $800 from an inexperienced (sales side) pdr tech. He does great work but was not up to speed on pricing. He did the repair for $200. We had a discussion. I wasn’t mad that I lost the job. But really frustrated that he shorted himself as well. We all learn as we go. My tools won’t leave the truck for under $75 in my area. Keep up the great work Chris.

[@greenbullitt6999]

Details on that job exactly. Year make and model and exactly what repair was done. I'm very curious to understand why you feel this way ...

[@jimmyfavereau]

Well said P&P!

[@Joel-we2gg]

Thanks again. I've been doing PDR and paint repair for about 25 years, at the end of the day I like to have averaged $125 an hour .

[@lifeofmark385]

It's all about educating the customer of what's involved. I run my own electrical business and it's always a case of informing them up front the associated costs. I try not to compare prices as other businesses have different overheads etc. Good job.

[@marvilltx9430]

I love the pricing. I quoted a hail job using a typical pricing matrix. Some where around $1700 total. No joke... I had another PDR guy come and quote the car for $300...!!! He of course got the job. It’s great to hear you are pricing your jobs correctly!

[@Petersondent]

I didn't know you were in the DC area I thought you were a little farther south than that I am in Seattle/ Everett area and that dent on the Honda would've been about 650 to 700 you did a great job and you always do I love your videos man

[@Dentlesstouch]

Thanks Garth!

[@s.r.5462]

Just got a ding on my 2021 vehicle - so upset! But this helped me find a resolution. Thank you. Best of luck with your business

[@Dentlesstouch]

Thanks, glad you were able to get everything taken care of

[@marcodeluca4068]

If you can not repair with PDR do you body work it? And if so is that additional charge?

[@cfldentrepair]

Another great video that will help turn the ship in the right direction!

[@joelkoonce8559]

Thanks again. I appreciate your honesty and good business practices, many PDR companies are deceptive in the time it takes and difficulties on their videos.

[@demetriusmcintire9927]

How do you set your camera up to see the dent but at the same time not interfere with your line of vision to fix the dent? Just play with adjusting it until you get it or what? May seem like a dumb question but I've been trying and having issues.

[@jaymorrison5895]

Thanks for posting! I’m going to share this video with my buddies (fellow techs) out here in So Cal!

[@teslovegod1bazdent]

Thank you Chris Mann I was struggling with pricing and a lot of time I underpriced and this helps a lot thank you very much. Now I I have an idea

[@0858Pinoy]

Thank you for this kind sir I’ve been trying to look for information like this but no one was willing to share, then I stumbled upon your video. Really want to learn and start my own PDR business and this is great information thanks again!

[@javierrenteria8127]

Hey what is the name of the tool that is holding the heat gun?

[@jesselackey5333]

Man, I am way behind the times. Been doing pdr for 20 years. Live in southern indiana, I have a dealership that I charge $40 for first dent, and $10 for each additional dent under 3 inches. I definitely need to reevaluate my prices.

[@SuperSuperPork]

I need to hire you. . . do you know anyone in the central/northern Indiana you would recommend? or are you ever up this way?

[@MDTAR15]

I had a big wide frisbee sized dent in the door of my Yukon that barely touched a body line...i was quoted "approximately" $900-$950 to fix it. I popped off the door panel (5-7 minutes) and pushed 95% of it out myself (another 5-10 minutes) and took it to another place who did small finishing work on the edge of the previously dented area for $195. The other place was going to charge me an additional $700.00-$750.00 for 10-15 minutes of work. Some PDR places are scammers....Dentless Touch seems better than most guys around my city.

[@josea.justiniano3329]

The PDR I don't exist in Puerto Rico. is a fabulous technique God bless you.

[@threeriversdent]

Great video. Education is so important as we advance the industry forward.

[@jesselackey5333]

I am not very fast, but after 20 years, have gotten really good at quality. It's all good for everyone but myself! Something I wish I could improve upon.

[@ricardovelarde87]

Hello! I love your video, I've been wanting to learn how to do paintless dent removal. Where is this technique taught and how much you reckon a specialist gets paid by a shop to do this work?

[@Slappyracecars]

Some of the comments on here just kill me. I've been a PDR tech for 18 years. People that bitch and moan about the price of it are the same people that have no skill in their life to be able to do it and are mad that someone's making more money than they are. Not only does it take skill to do the PDR work, it also takes a skill to be able to sell your PDR work. Chris you do great work and you don't hide anything in your videos. You show people would it actually take to do the job.

[@NPC-157-e7r]

Yall got it twisted. By the inch? Ive popped some serious dents out and the bigger and shallower dents pop out easier. Your techs are sandbagging you blicky.

[@raleighdentcompany]

Pricing needs to be discussed more and we need to all get on the same level. It's been taboo since I got in this business in the early 2000's. I cannot tell you how many times I've heard, "I know someone cheaper" in the past 17 years. They may be cheaper, but they're not better. I promise you that.

[@greenbullitt6999]

Competition is a great thing ... Eventually eliminating the over-priced PDR businesses who give it a bad name

[@ralstonsamuels3138]

Awesome info I commented a good while back on the tools you use ,and I like the way to detail everything thing and I always wondered what do you charge because I have been doing body work for 16yrs and plan on doing pdr for the new yr great content brother keep up the good work .

[@Dentlesstouch]

Thanks you! 🙏🏽

[@dmcnamara9859]

Christopher: A friend of mine with his usual wacky girlfriends...she went postal on his daughter's Miata (then New-Late Model), that woman destroyed just about every panel on that car. Fortunately, my friend has a PDR friend....he spent 2 days removing all the dings and dents (some of the closed sections had to be drilled/punched-out to gain access). After the two days closed with a gratitude barbecue and booze....he only charged my friend like $1,200....quite a bargain considering the car would have been written-off most likely by the Insurance Company.

[@thumpertorque_]

How did she destroy it? By accident or intentionally?

[@calvink3081]

Much better value than a bodyshop. Always preserve oem paint!

[@Aidan.17]

Thanks for video hard to find anything on hail storm damage though. The amount of small dents can range from 50 to 500. I saw in a video you did 500 in a day, thats 66 dents per hour. Are the small ones really that quick?

[@greenbullitt6999]

Yes ... Hell yes and don't believe anything said against that comment. Mild hail damage cars can be repaired in a day maybe two and shouldn't be more than $1000 - $2000

[@MrInzombia]

Green Bullitt At that point, you can get a brand new hood on ebay and just install a new hood. 😂

[@benygil4413]

good job in the video chris you are an icon in this branch of business very good job

[@KevinSandy2]

Another great add to helping folks !

[@okgo8315]

Thanks very much for sharing your pricing, thats very honest, and i'm sure a lot of people were wondering what the costs are. 🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@cortinas1004]

Than you for sharing Chris. That’s one of the subjects I always had question on. I’ve been doing PDR with my previous employer for about 7 years and I’ve been very interested on starting my own business doing PDR, I just wasn’t sure how much to charge or what would be the best PDR starting kit to start with. I don’t have a lot of money to invest but I’m thinking of just reinvesting the profits I make once I get started to grow my business. What do you recommend. Thank you! In advance for you feedback.

[@Wiigram5]

Thank you so much! I've been looking for this price information! Thanks!

[@dapend3915]

Did you ever quote a repair and couldn't get the dent out? What happened then? I've watched a lot of your work and am amazed at what can be accomplished from your efforts. Have you ever made a dent worse?

[@jrmorrissey207]

Good question. Maybe somebody can answer it that has experience. I was thinking the same thing.

[@JJ-iz5ql]

Really wish this question was answered. Exactly what I was thinking

[@frankgomezjr7520]

Great video lil brother we really appreciate all thee information 🙏

[@yoji8130]

so you give them an estimate first then at the end of the job give them a real price which could be a lot higher?

[@matthewjay8528]

Hi I'm a 41 year old guy looking to change careers. I have a passion to be around cars and like the challenge of fixing things. My question is with no experience in PDR I was told the best way to learn the trade is to shadow a seasoned PDR instead of going to any type of training institute. Your thoughts? Thank you!

[@exceldentremoval]

Great information about paintless dent repair pricing. Question. Do you keep you original quote on an estimate or do you call the customer and tell them it will be more for the extra R&I that is needed.

[@Dentlesstouch]

Great question. I rarely will call the customer after I’ve given an in person estimate. I see myself as an expert an with over a decade of experience I believe i should be able to provide an accurate estimate. With that being said most of the time I eat the additional cost and treat it as a lesson learned. This is probably not the most lucrative option and easily goes unnoticed but I think it sets us apart!

[@exceldentremoval]

Yep. I'm the same way. I try my best to know what the repair is going to take and to cost. Sometimes I will include the extra R&I, but let them know that if I do not need to do it, then I will remove it from the final invoice. I believe that it can help with showing that you are honest and can be trusted.

[@SiouxFallsDentRepair]

@@exceldentremoval we do the same thing!

[@swedenlifebyadnan]

One question. Why won't they get it fixed with the insurance?

[@dentremover01]

Great video Christopher I’m releasing a new vid soon going over how I estimate the job. No prices unfortunately but the steps taken to price it is all there. Take care and happy thanksgiving to you and family Martin

[@jbencollins5]

What do you use to take the glue off?

[@alonzojohnson7955]

Goo gone

[@Dentlesstouch]

90% alcohol

[@buukute]

How much for 4 bullet holes bro?

[@jimmyfavereau]

Awesome! Able to save her 300??? Plus keeping the resale value as high as possible without that paint work and probable tracks of paint work to the discerning eye. :) Time savings ,rental car etc.. thanks Chris

[@dentmastersofnymichael3316]

Pricing is the hardest thing, also know your competitors. Pretend to be a customer send a pic of a fixable dent ask what they charge. Do your research, it pays to know your market

[@danzilmack9325]

I could do this job,very rewarding. Id love to give up truck driving to do this.

[@SiouxFallsDentRepair]

We price our damage with the same system in South Dakota! great video!

[@marlonb1378]

I work at the dealership in Los Angeles and we have one or 2 guys stop by each week offering their services and the one that works with us charges $50 per small dent, I calculated his hourly comes up to about $70, I'm starting my training soon , will see what happens. $125 is not bad . Obviously there is commute to the customer back and forth , that too could be added to total time.

[@christeague3036]

Marlon B That’s wholesale, and what he is doing is retail, so that’s the difference.

[@mx5racer604]

@@christeague3036 since the actual work being done is the same no matter what you call it, and I have several dings to be taken out on the car I just bought, I will happily have it done "wholesale".

[@ortiz5494]

I know this is old but any update? I’m in LA area

[@krcoutdoors4566]

I bought a dent pulling kit off eBay for 30$ and it can do just as much as the body shop. Saving big $$$

[@krcoutdoors4566]

@sonny sonny I actually know a lot about body work but for the dumb people like you they put directions. I know crazy right

[@camdoge622]

Those prices are crazy high for my area but the work looks good!

[@simclardy1]

What's your area?

[@jimmyfavereau]

You too have to keep the value in your efforts... the slick wholesalers will be making PLENTy. Because of your efforts! Hold the line!

[@gurusingh5611]

Hey bro would like see a good video of u using the blending hammer blending a rail .

[@BmwMe-uh9sy]

4:55 E46!! Ye I’d assume a old car like that would have many dings n dents

[@jasonj4326]

I just wish the techs out there would kindly remind their customers that they aren't just paying hourly for our time, but for the time it took to learn how to fix even the simplest of dents. Learning how to do that Honda or the 4Runner took YEARS and not many techs would want to take on those jobs in my experience (route guys get spoiled pretty easily)

[@markphilippsjr]

Good info, good videos! Just starting out.

[@shakeelshaft6714]

Thanks bro very help fully video.

[@AlfredoHernandez-fh5fk]

Great video bro good to know prices 👍👌

[@schizofrenzia1884]

First god damn day i was working as a cart puller some jackass threw his cart at my car...i was still being shown everything by the manager when i saw that dent

[@naranjo01b]

Not to mention that the tools are simple but expensive 😲

[@michaelarens2046]

I try to bill at least $100 an hour for average dents, $150 for more complex dents. 25 year tech, so I think you're on the money for estimates! Think it's amazing how far PDR has come!!!

[@greenbullitt6999]

$100 an hour ... yeah that sounds totally fair for average people. That's a $12K a month job charging 40hrs a week and you said "at least" Damn the world is filled with con-artist ripping off hard-working people ... so sad

[@lydiahubbell6278]

@@greenbullitt6999 well, I assume Paintless dent repair is only possible on cars that have only cosmetic damage. I am poor and rather than begrudge professionals with all their overhead, skill, tools, etc, I either will drive around with dents or do my "imperfect, but still an improvement" DIY job with cheap or makeshift tools and KZbin video examples for reference. It is so unfair to think seasoned and skilled professionals should forgo their profit simply because you can't afford their services. You should read the Cliff Notes version of "Atlas Shrugged."

[@brokenbavariane9032]

You are a little bit higher but youre in DC so people have money. I got 5 dents pulled all about the size of a quarter and RPS charged me 250 for all of them which i think is alot lower than your rates

[@MrWhiterunGuard]

I wish something like this exist in Los Angeles, most of the places I went to say they either cannot fix it or I would need to leave my car for two weeks. I’d gladly pay $150…

[@ezequielmartinez3582]

How about for hail repair

[@free-naturalist8912]

Thanks for this 💯💯

[@hailman151]

HIGH QUALITY REPAIRS & PERFECT PRICES

[@1digitalwatcher697]

Thank you

[@1digitalwatcher697]

This was very interesting !!!!!!!!!!

[@Bobbyabafarida]

Thank u very much Boss 😊

[@saifnaeem6275]

Great job man.

[@MrBakakeng]

Great video and info

[@alcapone7167]

Hi i am from switzerland the most expensive country in the world 😂what is the normal salary in the usa for a normal umployee not owner? Exemple for a mechanic or paintworker

[@thetechlibrarian]

Well a mechanic is or painter is considered a skilled labor and can expect to make anywhere from $25 /50 a hr and up roughly. You might have a better idea with a retail worker someone who works at a mall or Wal-Mart is probably starting under $10.00 the standards of living his fallen sharply in America the last 15 years.

[@danielvodo1]

Man in Australia we get stiffed. Lucky to make $90 au an hour and even then I get undercut somehow. Freaking mobile painters doing half arsed jobs and panel shops working on super low pricing also

[@lesskinner8588]

They get good $ for PDR in the US, sure . . . but, if you're good and fast, can make the $ here. Takes a good 5 years + on the tools a lot (tech dependent of course), working your way up in both of those aspects. Most I've made is $250/hr on hail (that's AUD, about US$185), usually I can make the $150 on smaller regular stuff . . . . sometimes I take on a big / difficult job as a challenge and make less, but they are rare and have to be interesting enough (I do panel / paint too). It is annoying though comparing hourly rate averages to the lower cost of living in the US, that's where we really get stiffed !! :/

[@danielvodo1]

@@lesskinner8588Youre from Australia?

[@lesskinner8588]

@@danielvodo1 yes. Sorry didn’t notice your comment was from a year ago, still doing it ? Have you built your client base and pricing up a bit ?

[@danielvodo1]

@@lesskinner8588 which state are you in? I'm in Adelaide and its a constant struggle with pricing. I'm consistently battling against other PDR places that undercut. And unfortunately we don't get too much hail damage here. I've tried going to Brisbane looking to work on hail last two years excluding this summer and just found everyone keeps the work in house. I'm very proficient in PDR now always working to improve and fix a couple of hail cars a month. However theyre hardly ever insurance work which doesn't help with pricing.

[@danielvodo1]

@@lesskinner8588 definitely have raised prices but atm with covid just means fewer jobs so making the same money as before but not able to have as much consistent work. Our rates for car yards is $120 an hour. Still can't get into yards that have worse PDR techs that charge more!

[@ProBackgammonequipment]

Expensive but still worth it.

[@alonzojohnson7955]

Time matters

[@rigzrigz]

Wow wish we in great Britain could get this money on pdr work. We would get laughed at if we was to give these prices to our customers regardless of experience and skill. Bodyshops must be extortionate in the USA

[@thetechlibrarian]

Yes! Used car prices are also very high in America I see your guys auto trader and can’t believe some of the car prices.

[@AlonzoJ-pf4dt]

Good video

[@Creator_Veeto_PAEACP]

Might as well buy a new panel. 😔 also have a CR-Z got ran off the road but the fender is worth ~ 300 and I was planning on painting the car anyway…

[@Mastachazrs]

Not bad for this work

[@teeduck]

But if paint damaged, you’re screwed

[@Dentlesstouch]

Not screwed... just may not be a good candidate for PDR

[@willyang7855]

its pretty expensive in USD

[@marciomartelinhodeourobelm3776]

Show 🙏🔨🔨🔨

[@danilocouto1491]

Ótimo trabalho

[@greenbullitt6999]

A good thing is that this profession is being flooded with new competition and lower and lower prices are inevitable … That is a very good thing

[@adamyang5581]

My one inch dent is worth $200? Ill keep the money lol

[@carguy4192]

I can buy a car for a 1000 dollars and this gays want200.00 dollars to fix a 1inch dent

[@BODenKai]

lordt.......is your voice autotuned?

[@lewiscollins1045]

With those prices you would get zero business in the UK...........

[@stevefranklin8052]

So you're saying everyone their is dirt poor?? Or nobody cares about their cars or how they look.

[@greenbullitt6999]

@@stevefranklin8052 He's saying those prices are unfuckingbelievable for pushing metal that's all. This PDR industry is over-inflating itself but in the end so many people doing it will drive the prices down to where they should always and normally be at

[@Pfirtzer]

@@greenbullitt6999 Hey if it's only pushing metal, why don't you show us your skills?I want to see them.

[@ihaveatalkingpenisanditsay6699]

Why not buy a dent puller for 20 bucks and do yourself. All it is is a suction cup you attach over the small dent (size of a dime or nickel) and pull it out. easy peasy lemon squeezy. These guys are scammers who charge that much for a dime size dent that takes them 2 minutes to fix.

[@Elpotretro72]

Get to work...

[@greenbullitt6999]

Please don't overestimate this thing called PDR. People work hard for their money to be overcharged for just making a small metal dings disappear. Stop comparing you're work to the costs of conventional repair. There are materials involved in conventional repair but NONE in PDR so think about that. Please do not compare nor overcharge people …

[@Pfirtzer]

I had conventional repairs done, and they were lousy! I mean paintjobs and the like. I would love to learn pdr nothing beats the original paint.

[@greenbullitt6999]

The comment was written after outrageous estimates given by some. But I found a expert PDR guy who was very very fair with his price on my hail damaged vehicle.

[@domkikurbuttd9341]

Then you try and do it...stick a metal bar in ur door and don't break paint or the glass ...it's a skill ...u get what u pay for

[@nick7.3]

It doesn’t matter material cost it matters the value of the job. If it costs 1,500$ for a new hood and 500$ to paint it that’s 2,000$ if I can fix your original hood for the same quality of repair for 1,800 then that’s a steal

[@greenbullitt6999]

Well I just got my Hail Damaged car repaired for an extremely fair price. The end job was FLAWLESS and nowhere near the mentality of pricing here and most PDR businesses .... Be fair and stop over valuating pushing metal .... Geezus Christ stop this nonsense. Un-F'n Believeable the prices you mentioned here for these jobs. You should be ashamed of yourself. " Sharing pricing is like Taboo in this Industry " they say... Proof it's RIPOFF pricing out there .... BEWARE

[@Pfirtzer]

if it's so overvalued, why don't you do it then? You ever imagined, the costs of the tools?The time it takes to have the skills, having to pay for your rent, mortgage,gasoline, insurance, clothing food ect.? Knowledge has to be paid if it where easy everyone would do it, you have cheap and quality job.

[@mztd912]

I agree. PDR is not that hard to do. These clowns charging way too much money. I know many guys who do fantastic work at half of what this guy in this video is charging. Fuckin ridiculous.