What's new

Vac question at nearby SS wash

NickTechTalk

New member
Joined
Dec 31, 2016
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
New Jersey
Hey there, I'm new to this site and just wanted to ask a question about a nearby self serve wash (sorry if I am in the wrong section). They have about 8 vacs in total, 6 newer combo vacs (fragrance and vac), then 2 monorail vacs. The combo vacs all have their fragrance options removed, but they still advertise it... then the thing that really bugs me is that 6 out of the 8 vacs have only crevice tools on them. Only the two older vacs have claws. Crevice nozzles on 6 of the brand new vacs seem inefficient to me. Is this a way for people to buy more time as they can only vacuum such a small area at a time? They offer $2 for 6 mins on "Regular Power" then $2 for 4 minutes on "Super Power". Really been bugging me so somebody help me out here.

Thanks!!
 

Earl Weiss

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Messages
6,369
Reaction score
941
Points
113
I have heard some have gone to a crevice only tool to reduce clogging issues.
 

MEP001

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
16,665
Reaction score
3,946
Points
113
Location
Texas
It sounds like they're using the crevice tool to make it take longer to vacuum, especially if they have "Super Power" vacuums with crevice tools. I use claws mostly to reduce the amount of large debris in the vacuum, but it doesn't really limit the vacuum use.
 

robert roman

Bob Roman
Joined
Sep 11, 2007
Messages
2,200
Reaction score
3
Points
36
Location
Clearwater, Florida
“….fragrance options removed, but they still advertise it....thing that really bugs me is that 6 out of the 8 vacs have only crevice tools….two older vacs have claws.”

While this may suggest handicapping, fitting crevice tool rather than claw may also be due to ineptitude and/or lack of entrepreneurial spirit.

For example, did the owner do this or a part-time clean-up person or a contract service technician?
 

JMMUSTANG

car wash owner
Joined
Sep 1, 2007
Messages
1,288
Reaction score
198
Points
63
Location
at the car wash
“….fragrance options removed, but they still advertise it....thing that really bugs me is that 6 out of the 8 vacs have only crevice tools….two older vacs have claws.”

While this may suggest handicapping, fitting crevice tool rather than claw may also be due to ineptitude and/or lack of entrepreneurial spirit.

For example, did the owner do this or a part-time clean-up person or a contract service technician?
Or maybe the customers like them.
I had many customers ask me for them so I put 2 at each of my washes as a trial.
Several times a week I find a crevice tool removed from it's original vac and the crevice nozzle placed on a vac that had the claw on it.
By the way the claw is usually on the ground.
Customers that use them love them. They can get between and under the seats and othe places that the claw cannot reach.
Ultimately we're in the business of customer satisfation so why not try them
 
Etowah

NickTechTalk

New member
Joined
Dec 31, 2016
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
New Jersey
“….fragrance options removed, but they still advertise it....thing that really bugs me is that 6 out of the 8 vacs have only crevice tools….two older vacs have claws.”

While this may suggest handicapping, fitting crevice tool rather than claw may also be due to ineptitude and/or lack of entrepreneurial spirit.

For example, did the owner do this or a part-time clean-up person or a contract service technician?
The owner himself has made many odd changes to the wash over the years. The "new" vacs that are there now replaced Fresh'N'Ups which had everything. Maybe he didn't like replacing fragrances or hated servicing the equipment?
 

NickTechTalk

New member
Joined
Dec 31, 2016
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
New Jersey
Or maybe the customers like them.
I had many customers ask me for them so I put 2 at each of my washes as a trial.
Several times a week I find a crevice tool removed from it's original vac and the crevice nozzle placed on a vac that had the claw on it.
By the way the claw is usually on the ground.
Customers that use them love them. They can get between and under the seats and othe places that the claw cannot reach.
Ultimately we're in the business of customer satisfation so why not try them
I myself do not prefer crevice nozzles for general vacuum use, but it seems that having only 2 claws and 6 crevice vacs is just odd. And like I said the vacs with the claws are the older style vac.
 

MEP001

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
16,665
Reaction score
3,946
Points
113
Location
Texas
The owner himself has made many odd changes to the wash over the years. The "new" vacs that are there now replaced Fresh'N'Ups which had everything. Maybe he didn't like replacing fragrances or hated servicing the equipment?
I wouldn't blame an operator for removing the IVS Fresh'n'Up vac, especially if it's an older model. I've never seen such a piece of sh** as far as the internals.
 

NickTechTalk

New member
Joined
Dec 31, 2016
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
New Jersey
I wouldn't blame an operator for removing the IVS Fresh'n'Up vac, especially if it's an older model. I've never seen such a piece of sh** as far as the internals.
I don't mean to get this thread off-topic, but you seem like you would know about this. There are 2 washes in my town, the SS that I mentioned, and a tunnel wash. The tunnel wash has Fragramatics Shampooers with their hoses removed as well, are they a pain to work on as well? Is it a common thing here with equipment that doesn't get used at washes? Or is this just some coincidence in my area.
 

Earl Weiss

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Messages
6,369
Reaction score
941
Points
113
I don't mean to get this thread off-topic, but you seem like you would know about this. There are 2 washes in my town, the SS that I mentioned, and a tunnel wash. The tunnel wash has Fragramatics Shampooers with their hoses removed as well, are they a pain to work on as well? Is it a common thing here with equipment that doesn't get used at washes? Or is this just some coincidence in my area.
I think there is an issue with some operators not being able to fix stuff themselves. That leads to the path of least resistance. I have a buddy who places vacuums and air machines on a revenue sharing basis and some operators call him to service their stuff. I don't know what you do for a living but you may have uncovered a need for service. Problem is then getting operators to pay you a fair price for parts and labor.
 

Waxman

Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Messages
6,046
Reaction score
1,685
Points
113
Location
Orange, MA
I have been thinking about using crevice tools on my vacs. They are what we use in our detail shop so why not?
 

soapy

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2007
Messages
2,894
Reaction score
855
Points
113
Location
Rocky Mountains
I used to offer one claw and one crevis tool per double vac island. Seemed like people were always removing them because they wanted what ever was not on the vac they chose. I went to the metal vac claw that is not curved and functions as both. I was afraid I would have theft with them so I branded the plastic cuff with my wash name. I have only lost one and now my hose ends stay put and people seem to like them better.
 
Top