Hey, welcome to the next project I'm working on, card acceptance! I don't have the funds to install terminals at all 6 bays and 5 vacuums, so I am starting with 6 terminals. I was thinking doing the front 4 wash bays leaving the rear 2 cash only and doing 2 vacuums with inaccessible cash vaults. (I have to empty these often as they hold only so much behind the door before jamming.) Any reason not to do this and just go all 6 wash bays? Going count up, min $2, max $15, is this right for 2023? Thanks!
Adding Monex readers
- Thread starter KFPanda
- Start date
JMMUSTANG
car wash owner
Your main draw is for car washing.
Put credit cards in all bays.
Buy 1 credit card for your best vac and see how much customers use it.
Put credit cards in all bays.
Buy 1 credit card for your best vac and see how much customers use it.
Solid reasoning, maybe I can squeeze 1 more in the budget. Anyone use coleman timers? Is the documentation online somewhere? Going to have to know what wires to connect with the terminal and adjust pricing on the timers.
Yes, I think it just wires into power and to the coin pulse line to the timer (don't know which one that is). I want to reprogram everything on site to $1.50 to start, 30s per quarter. I need to get to learning the timers though because I have a couple with burnt out displays and can't program them, and some timers in the wash bay are on vac mode (just shows $ instead of scrolling 'insert $ to wash') Looks like previous owner was repairing these things as some have notes on them. Given the cost of these timers I would like to do the same if possible. I while back I found a pdf online with the right programming instructions but I can't find it now.
I looked into the led6s that KR is selling as a drop in replacement. I like them, looks like I'd have many more options and the display is way better and i love the idea of the remote, but 2.5k is a lot to throw in right now. They do just drop in though so hopefully adding CC will boost sales enough I can look at that before bigger projects like adding foam guns and air dryers.
MEP001
Well-known member
Just making sure this isn't a miscommunication, you don't need the LED6S for your bays, just the regular LED6 which are a lot less expensive.
Ah ok, the KR site suggested you needed the S to replace the coleman timers
* I misread, they were talking about the coleman vacs
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Do you think it would look bad having 2 dixmor and 4 coleman timers in the bays?
MEP001
Well-known member
I doubt anyone would care enough that it would be an issue. You might have people preferring the Dixmor bays because they can read the timer better.
MEP001
Well-known member
I just looked on Kleen-Rite's site, and the LED6 has gone WAY up in price, now only $34 less than the LED6S. If it were me, I'd get the LED6S which can be used in a Coleman vac or a bay, then you only need to keep one type as backup.
I can justify 2 now and move the 2 coleman timers on vac mode currently in bays to the vacs with busted led timers. That fixes 4 things. Doing the other 4 bays makes my life easier, and customers would like it but not sure it would help me recoup the Monex buy any quicker so I'm inclined to wait a couple/few months to to the other 4.
*Context- currently business at the wash is in the dumps, maybe $1200 a month, dramatically less than what prev owner was pulling before changeover right when COVID hit. I've been I'm care of the wash but really was only given the basic info (where to fill soap, collect change, etc). Was able to keep foam brush working good but soap wax and tire cleaner never worked that well so it's been a gradual decline until early this year when foam brush died and so basically only rinse worked. That really tanked business and I finally dug into the workings of everything to turn it around. As of right now all functions on the dial are doing their proper function and well.
MEP001
Well-known member
I ran a wash about in that state, making about the same amount. I cranked the chemicals up good and strong, fixed the spot free and softener, kept it clean, and I'd run everything every day with coins to be sure it all worked. It took a few years, but those things alone took it from about $1200 a month gross to almost $14,000 a month. This was in the 90's at a 75¢ startup.
I need to do the main softener too. I have that down the list as it doesn't affect whether the customers come or how long they stay.
Curious what operators are charging around you, here 1 guy is charging $1/min and one is charging .50/min. $1/min felt expensive when I went to try it out but is that 2023 prices?
MEP001
Well-known member
It depends on the area. Where I live 30 seconds per coin is about the most you'll find, $1.50 for 3 minutes or $2 for 4 minutes is common. Some are charging twice that for the same time. In San Antonio, there are still 50¢ car washes giving as much as two minutes to start. IMO you want to be the best wash AND charge the most.
Yeah that's the little guy with 4 bays off the main road right now. When I saw the price and then the pretty colored fragrant foam brush foam and also how busy it was, I was embarrassed and motivated at once to do better.
Sounds like $1.50 for 3 min cash/ $2 for 4 credit should be ok. Max $15 hopefully is not too high. Was also thinking about $1.25 for 2 min 30s cash/$2 for 4 credit to stay the cheapest cash start price around for a little while while I'm trying to gain customers? Currently at .33/min, 1.25 for 3:45 on wash, $1 to start on vacs.
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I'm at $2.75 for 3.5 minutes in the bays and $1.50 for 3.5 minutes on the vac's. Since the tunnel a 1/2 mile down the road out in 22 FREE vacuums last month my vacuum business is just about Zero. KFPanda how much are you currently charging?
Current pricing in area:
Me: 1.25 for 3.75 min in bay, $1 for 4 on vacs.
Competitor A: 1.50 for 3 min in bay (forgot to check wash) - tried the bay and no wax no tire cleaner and watery foam brush BUT good HP soap, a foam gun but no foam just liquid
Competitor B: $2.25 for 2.2 min in bay, $2 for idk how long on vac. 10 position with foam gun, everything worked great. Half the signs loomed like hell but didn't seem to bother the people there any.
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Mattwash
Member
Hello, I’m South of Houston in Dickinson. Took over an abandoned wash last year and remodeled it this spring. My goal was for the equipment to be reliable and my site to be safe and clean 24/7. I also added the Monex timers, programmed to countup in the wash bays and a set time at the vacuums.
Bays $3 = 4 min to start, every pulse is $0.25 = 20 seconds. $20 preauthori
Vacuums $2 = 4 min
Average cc charge in the Bays is $8
I was very hesitant to go at this price but decided to make the move. Only time I hear a complaint is when something malfunctions, which is pretty rare now. Like someone said above, crank up your chemicals! Every customer I’ve talked to tells me how much they love the high pressure and how well the chemicals work.
don’t be afraid to charge more! Someone in the area who once owned a several self serve car washes gave me a speech on pricing. I trusted him and gave it a shot. Big thing I noticed it drastically eliminated bucket washing. No regrets about my move.
