Removal of Tri Foam Wax in S.S

[DiamondWash]

Came in to my equipment room this afternoon to find all sorts of pretty colors all over my concrete floor, the couplers to my tri-foam had all cracked and decided I needed something to do for next 2 hours. So I was contemplating removing the 3 colors and replacing it with a Rain X or something similar non colored foaming product. I also looked at my numbers regarding this idea and it seems I'm wasting my time offering tri foam wax in the S.S. Who else here has done this type of conversion and did it seem to take off?.

 

[Greg Pack]

IMO, all products need color and scent or usage will drop even more. I don't know what you use but I also don't use what I call "colored foam" and use products that have silicone in them so the customer can actually see the results of the application. I'm currently using quest chemicals's "shine on" which is designed for tunnels and has high amounts of silicone and some carnuba. It leaves the car shiny and with a slick feel like it has been hand waxed. Although it took a while to catch on it has become quite popular at one wash. I've had customers actually ask me if they can buy some. This is a higher income area wash though.

 

[pgrzes]

I use a triple foam conditioner at both my locations and would never consider removing it!! I put it out shaving cream thick and when I watch people cover every inch of their car with it I smile. The heavier its on there, the longer it takes to remove. I also have triple foam brushes, also put out very heavy. When cars leave my bays there is lots of color on the floor. I mostly use Blendco with a great fragrance. Dont skimp on product, better to give too much then skimp on it. I would rather have people complain about too much soap!! Just my opinion.

 

[MEP001]

I wouldn't remove it or change it to RainX either. A product like RainX needs to be applied to a clean car. People are stupid.

 

[Jerry]

I swapped my regular scented spray wax(that no one used) with RainX and the usage is much greater. The signage of rainX alone gets people to use it. As probably the second most recognizable name in auto care, people know RainX. Using a brand name can never hurt in my opinion.

 

[Greg Pack]

I swapped my regular scented spray wax(that no one used) with RainX and the usage is much greater. The signage of rainX alone gets people to use it. As probably the second most recognizable name in auto care, people know RainX. Using a brand name can never hurt in my opinion.

I also use rain-x type products for HP CCP. Some operators wince at the price but it's good stuff and in the overall cost of running a carwash it's a miniscule blip on the radar screen. A five gallon container lasts for months and customers notice the difference. With all the competition from tunnels we need to start buying the products that really work, even if the cost is a little higher.

 

[soapy]

I converted my SS in bay triple foam over to Rain X about 10 years ago. It gets much more usage and people come just because they can get the Rain X. I think Steve has the same SS equipment as I do. I just flushed the tanks and put in the Rain X. With good signs by the gun it sells itself.

 

[DiamondWash]

I'm now using Blendco's new Rust Oleum product line so with a trusted name of Rust Oleum as a Total Car Protectant in the Self Serve hopefully will get customers to start using that function more due to brand recognition and reliability of the product.

 

[Overachiever]

Do you guys use the trifoam gun for Rain X?

 

[Greg Pack]

Do you guys use the trifoam gun for Rain X?

I did, But if you had enough functions you could make it another service and do with low pressure out of HP gun.

 

[Jerry]

I use it as High Pressure gun instead of the crappy wax.

 

[2Biz]

I have TF and PS both come out of a LP gun instead of the HP wand....They both get used a lot more than when PS was on the HP gun for obvious reasons....Signs help, but I still see people holding the HP wand and look around to see where the noise (Air) is coming from....I don't think it happens too often as I've had it this way for over 5 years, but still its a learning curve from the norm. I get lots of compliments on how well they both work, so I won't be changing any time soon.

 

[MEP001]

Signs help, but I still see people holding the HP wand and look around to see where the noise (Air) is coming from...

That is why I like to set it up like this:

The foam gun is nearer the entrance with the meter and gun on the opposite wall. Customers can see the gun from the meter as they're selecting, and they have to go past it to get to the brush. It has worked very well, I never have to show anyone where the foam gun is.

I talked to a guy who took his foam gun out because no one was using it. He put it at the far opposite corner from the meter box, and his customers couldn't find it.

 

[2Biz]

My meter box is in the center of the bay. Foam gun and FB is on opposite wall, set up just like your picture only my FB is horizontal. I have a 2 second delay relay on the chemical of both TF and PS so a blast of air comes out and is more audible...My regular customers don't have any problems, its the first time users....I've stood back and watched those who couldn't figure it out right away, if they get it in the first few seconds, I don't interject...If they switch away from the foam gun to HP Soap, I step in and let them know how it works...it doesn't happen very often. Given the fact SOME don't even know how to pull the HP trigger, it isn't that big a deal! I would never change from the way I have it set up or chemical I run. It gets used too much and I get lots of compliments on how well it works.

Plus having the foam gun makes the mechanics a lot more simple. Lots less parts (Less CV's) and better flow than trying to shove product out the HP wand at low pressure.

 

[Semi-retired]

Used HP wax and a triple color wax on its own gun for 12 year's. I upgraded HP wax to turtle wax ice, went to a single color foaming wax on the separate gun and got so many call's the first month about the foam wax not working it was painful.
Not one call about the new turtle wax though.