Anybody use the same foam brush soap for their SSCW as for their AUTOMATIC?

[mjwalsh]

We are using KR's Cherry Blossom Foam Brush Concentrate. The dilution is 600-900:1. It is used with a self service simple Flojet & solenoid system.

A local supplier has Tri-Foam Soap with various colors that is 120:1 dilution. It is specifically for automatic car wash stated on its label.

They both come in 5 gallon pails. It seems like if we use a Tri-Foam color in place of the the straight pickish Cherry Blossom we would have to get the Tri-Foam pail for 15 to 20% if we were looking at equal cost to use. I am not sure ... but it seems like neither would have much actual cleaning power??? The supplier says he will let it go at a loss to him because of lack of storage space etc. I not sure if he will fell insulted & call us the biggest cheapskates of all ... of we offer him 10 cents on a dollar considering his 5-8 times less concentrated factor?

Kind of a long shot question ... I am just wondering to SIMPLY A BIT ... if some operators use their Tri-Foam also with their foaming brush as a single color or with all three. I know KR sells a special gun & nozzle that really is for the Tri-Foam with its specific generator so I am probably full of it for asking. I never did try the Tri-Foam at any car washes but I have read that it can be popular in some cities.

 

[mac]

I have used a foam brush soap in some automatics that just needed a brush lube with good results. I have yet to see anyone make money with tri foam in the self serve bays.

 

[mjwalsh]

I have used a foam brush soap in some automatics that just needed a brush lube with good results. I have yet to see anyone make money with tri foam in the self serve bays.

Mac,

That was my hunch that in some areas the Tri-Foam feature would "turn off" a lot of customers as it being perceived just as a tease-advertising gimmick. Sorry for all the typos in my last post.

 

[MEP001]

I have used a foam brush soap in some automatics that just needed a brush lube with good results. I have yet to see anyone make money with tri foam in the self serve bays.

I've seen great success with trifoam in self-serve bays. IMO it's all about where you put the foam gun hanger. The guys who install it and take it out a year later always put the gun catacorner from the meter box where no one can find it. I've watched their customers select it and go looking for the gun. I put the foam gun at the front of the bay and the foam brush hanger in the middle where they see the foam gun as they go for the brush. About a third of customers use trifoam.

 

[MEP001]

Mac,

That was my hunch that in some areas the Tri-Foam feature would "turn off" a lot of customers as it being perceived just as a tease-advertising gimmick.

If you use a good product, there's no "tease-advertising" about it. The only "gimmick" is the different colors, which gets them excited. It doesn't "turn off" anyone. They can use it or not, there's nothing forcing them to go through every selection on the dial.

 

[Greg Pack]

Mep is right, place your applicator wand in a more obvious place where they must walk by it to get to the foam brush. Don't use colored foam or conditioner that lacks CCP properties. Because then it is indeed a "tease-gimmick" as you describe. I use a premium polymer product (Quest's shine on)that beads water like a duck's back and leaves a slickness on the finish. Its an expensive product and I use it at a strong dilution but customers love it.

 

[mjwalsh]

Mep is right, place your applicator wand in a more obvious place where they must walk by it to get to the foam brush. Don't use colored foam or conditioner that lacks CCP properties. Because then it is indeed a "tease-gimmick" as you describe. I use a premium polymer product (Quest's shine on)that beads water like a duck's back and leaves a slickness on the finish. Its an expensive product and I use it at a strong dilution but customers love it.

Greg & Mac,

To be honest, I really am not familiar with self service triple foam to say too much about it. Are you guys talking about the triple foam soap or the triple foam wax? Or are they one & the same. Not unusual for me but ... it is possible I am somewhat confused when it comes to the distinction between the two offerings & to what Mac was referring to.

 

[Greg Pack]

"Triple foam" comes in a variety of forms. "Triple foam soap" is probably referring to a neutral ph detergent. It may foam, look, and smell great but does essentially nothing in the self serve bay environment. Some soaps may be low ph and referred to as a conditioner and although one can argue it has some benefits of preparing surface for a wax it essentially has no real useful purpose in a SS. Many operators use these products because they are the cheapest to buy and put on a great show during application. However, I think customers quickly figures out there is no real benefit to the product and quits using them after a few tries, hence the "triple foam doesn't make any money" comment often said by many operators.

Triple foam waxes /polishes are more expensive than soaps and often don't foam as well, so a lot of operators don't use them. But they can increase the level of gloss and have good water shedding ability. I wouldn't use anything less.

The last class is what I consider the premium foaming products with polymers. They really weren't designed for the SS environment in mind but as an added services at tunnels. They work wonderfully and customers will notice the difference. These are products such as RAIN-X or some "premium shine" polymers that usually advertise as containing carnuba (which ironically is a marketing gimmick). I will say these products are expensive: often $20/gallon or more at the retail level. So I can't even say they are very profitable as a stand alone function. But when you calculate in rinse time and a better final product that brings customers back I personally feel it is worth it. A couple of years ago I swapped from a wax type product to a premium polymer product and usage seems to have gone up quite a bit. In addition, I get a lot of comments about the waxes I use.