Prices at self service cw around the USA.

[Roz]

Well Rob has you all beat, $5 for 15 min ($1/2min otherwise)....located on a very busy road, in a nice shopping mall, in Fredericksburg VA. Would not believe the price per minute but I toured the place. Very clean (pristine), well run, attended wash as they have 2 IBAs with 5 SS bays (http://www.robscarwash.com/self-service.html).

 

[DiamondWash]

$3.50 for 5 mins

 

[Keith Baker]

I'm in the process right now of raising startup prices. Going from $2:50 for 4 minutes to $3.00 for 5 minutes. I have a couple of promotions for my tokens that can reduce the price by about 20% to 30%. Cryptopay is $5.00 startup for 8 minutes (count down)
I'm the first one around me to go to a $3.00 price point. I hope the competition follows me. I've just put in new coin boxes, Cryptopay, new wands and brushes.
Vacuums are $1.00 for 4 minutes and have been for several years. They do well and I'll leave that alone for another year or so.

 

[chaz]

I'm in the process right now of raising startup prices. Going from $2:50 for 4 minutes to $3.00 for 5 minutes. I have a couple of promotions for my tokens that can reduce the price by about 20% to 30%. Cryptopay is $5.00 startup for 8 minutes (count down)
I'm the first one around me to go to a $3.00 price point. I hope the competition follows me. I've just put in new coin boxes, Cryptopay, new wands and brushes.
Vacuums are $1.00 for 4 minutes and have been for several years. They do well and I'll leave that alone for another year or so.

I’m no math wizard.. but currently you are at .625 a minute (.625x4=$2.50) if you take .625x5 that would be $3.125 as your break even to your current price. So I think you are actually lowering (albeit raising your start price) your per minute price. I’d suggest go to $3.00 and stay at 4 min. (Let me know if I’m missing something)

Speaking of vacs... I suggest you go to $2 for 6min. Even a 50% loss in vac revenue (not likely) you’d still be ahead with mess and wear and tear

 

[Keith Baker]

Thanks Chaz, that's right I'm not raising the per minute price. I can cut the time back at a later date, hopefully when the competition comes up to match me. I'm doing this partly to start dispensing $1.00 coins. I'll still take quarters, but only if the customer brings them. I'm trying to get away from the twenty five cent mentality.


Your price suggestion for the vacs is exactly what I'll do when the time comes. But I'll let this price change sink in first. My vacs do real well, but I don't have to drive very far in three directions to see a sign that says Free Vacuums.

 

[Damoni88]

Lots of good info on here thank you guys flr all the replys. Gives me a good idea where i stand versus other carwashs and the different states.

 

[chaz]

Thanks Chaz, that's right I'm not raising the per minute price. I can cut the time back at a later date, hopefully when the competition comes up to match me. I'm doing this partly to start dispensing $1.00 coins. I'll still take quarters, but only if the customer brings them. I'm trying to get away from the twenty five cent mentality.


Your price suggestion for the vacs is exactly what I'll do when the time comes. But I'll let this price change sink in first. My vacs do real well, but I don't have to drive very far in three directions to see a sign that says Free Vacuums.

Obviously your call.... but like I said you are actually lowering your price!!!
As long as your place is nice and all works well....price is not huge consideration....at least in my area. I’m 3.00 for 4 minutes..been there four years. I was 2.00 for 4 min. I don’t have free vacs near me...but plenty of 1.00 for 4 min ....my vacs work well and quality customers appreciate that.

 

[soapy]

$3 for 3 minutes 30 seconds.

 

[MEP001]

I'm contemplating a start-up price increase and will most likely increase the time per coin hoping customers will really notice more time per start. I see too many of them letting the timer run out and continue to use the foam brush, too many just washing out their beds for $1.50, etc.

 

[scrubs3]

North/Central FL. CC and Cash same price. SS $3 for 5 mins, Vac $2 for 6 min. Count down on CC.

 

[chaz]

I'm contemplating a start-up price increase and will most likely increase the time per coin hoping customers will really notice more time per start. I see too many of them letting the timer run out and continue to use the foam brush, too many just washing out their beds for $1.50, etc.

$1.50?!?!?! Go to a $3 start.....you’ll chase the messy people away and keep the real customers.

 

[OurTown]

$1.50?!?!?! Go to a $3 start.....you’ll chase the messy people away and keep the real customers.

He's in Texas the "land of the cheapest self serve car washes".

 

[Keith Baker]

Obviously your call.... but like I said you are actually lowering your price!!!
As long as your place is nice and all works well....price is not huge consideration....at least in my area. I’m 3.00 for 4 minutes..been there four years. I was 2.00 for 4 min. I don’t have free vacs near me...but plenty of 1.00 for 4 min ....my vacs work well and quality customers appreciate that.

Thanks for the math lesson Chaz. I don't know how I could get by without someone explaining this to me.

Maybe you have a cartel in Cincinnati that gets together and sets prices, but I have to deal with competition. Changing my startup price will make mine the highest in at least 5 miles. If others follow me up to $3.00 then I'll drop back the time.

This way the mudders and bucket washer will pay more for the start up time.

 

[Alpine Dreams]

This way the mudders and bucket washer will pay more for the start up time.

This was my feeling as well when I chose a spray tip with less gallons per minute and lowered my pressure a bit. When I see a lot of mud, I feel a little better because I know it took them longer to spray it off. If I have to shovel it up, at least I get paid a bit more.

 

[Waxman]

One thing i never considered before was pump size. I had a cat 530 go bad and replaced it with a 5 series arimitsu. The 5 series pumps more gpm, which costs more to run. It also puts out more gpm at 1000 psi. That gets the car cleaner and takes the customer less time to wash / rinse. This is an important consideration regarding price per minute. I’m at $3 start for 3:12. $5 minimum cc

 

[OurTown]

It also puts out more gpm at 1000 psi.

Wouldn't the tip size keep it the same GPM output at the bay with the same psi no matter the pump?

 

[Waxman]

Wouldn't the tip size keep it the same GPM output at the bay with the same psi no matter the pump?

No i don’t think so.

 

[OurTown]

No i don’t think so.

Did you put in a bigger tip when you upgraded the pump?

 

[chaz]

Thanks for the math lesson Chaz. I don't know how I could get by without someone explaining this to me.

Maybe you have a cartel in Cincinnati that gets together and sets prices, but I have to deal with competition. Changing my startup price will make mine the highest in at least 5 miles. If others follow me up to $3.00 then I'll drop back the time.

This way the mudders and bucket washer will pay more for the start up time.

No cartel here. Obviously I’m not familiar with your area. I’m one of the highest on s/s and definitely the highest on vacs. I’m in business to make money. My equipment works, my soaps are great and my place is clean. When I make a price decision I’m less concerned about my competition and more concerned about any impact on my operation. For example when I doubled (to $2) my vac start and increased from 4 to 6 min....I figured even if I lost 1/2 my vac biz....I’d still be ahead based on less wear and tear and mess. My vac biz actually increased. So there you have it!

 

[MEP001]

No i don’t think so.

It does, if you put in a higher GPM pump but set the pressure the same and kept the same tip, you didn't change anything at the bay. The regulator just bypasses more water.