Better than Credit Card Alternative!!!

[mjwalsh]

Ya all --- from up here at yankee nordtah dakota,

We are trying to consider the best possible fit considering all facets of the biz. We are leaning towards an ATM because of the logistics of over 50 pieces of equipment within our laundromat that would require swipes in addition to the 6 bay car wash n 2 stall dog wash & 4 vacs. Right now, we have our hands full; trying to transition to dollar coins & near future validator bill & coupon acceptance in our bays. I honestly do not believe we have lost a single customer because of lack of card readers. The Etowah Vantage Coinco coupons could prove to be an attractive & creative way to accomplish similar objectives as the gift card - credit card approach. Time will tell ---- no experience yet on the public side ---so far I have been somewhat waiting for some feedback from other operators on the forum who already have that unique validator coupon setup in an actual public setting.

I am still hoping that a paypal option will occur via the customer's cell phone to turn the bay on with the proper electronic control with each bay having an ID etc. It seems like the customer could specify our equipment transaction text-email & the posted equipment ID --- from their phone & a purchased amount or an open ended count up amount. It looks like such a system could be made compatible with the Dixmor LED7s etc. I see less downside with that set up considering almost everyone has sending out text messaging capability with their cell phones nowadays. I would think PayPal could verify it came from a specific phone.

Visa & the banks could be kept happy because PayPal works with them. Any extra true leaders out there with both electronic & media savvy? Even the ones with readers already could be kept happy because it would be just another convenience item for the customer & even more straightforward & secure!

MJ

 

[pitzerwm]

Only headache with PayPal is the 3%+ fee. But I use it here and it works.

 

[mjwalsh]

Only headache with PayPal is the 3%+ fee. But I use it here and it works.

I wonder how that 3% currently stacks up overall costwise to all the other credit transaction costs for relatively small unsigned individual transactions.

I wonder if there is or could be another company that could function similarly with the phone as its gateway via email or whatever?

 

[MEP001]

I know someone who leased out a small block of land for someone to put up an ice machine. It takes credit cards with what I believe is an ePort wireless system, with the Mars credit card/bill acceptor combo. He says there is a very small percentage fee but no transaction fees at all, just $10 per month for the service. It seems ideal for a vacuum.

 

[Happycarz]

Eport is $9.95/mo plus 5% and $300-400 purchase for the equipment. This month they are offering the equipment for free and $12.95/mo. I don't know if the 5% still holds true. If you don't like it just send the Eport back to them.

 

[kempape]

can eport be used in self service carwash bay?tia kemp

 

[Earl Weiss]

Just ordered the coinco coupons. Already have and happy with the Vantage acceptors. Once it gets going perhaps I will look into a machine that will accept credit cards and dispense the coupons.

will be discounting the coupons in bulk. It's like an alternative to tokens, but no need to sort tokens and quarters. Already sorting bill denominations so it will be just like one more denomination. It seem like an alternative to dispensing tokens and better than dollar coins.

 

[MEP001]

can eport be used in self service carwash bay?tia kemp

There is at least one company that has an adaptor to convert the MDB of the ePort to work with a bay, but it won't work directly.

 

[mjwalsh]

Fun to imagine a potentially better approach! Is it not?

Just ordered the coinco coupons. Already have and happy with the Vantage acceptors. Once it gets going perhaps I will look into a machine that will accept credit cards and dispense the coupons.

will be discounting the coupons in bulk. It's like an alternative to tokens, but no need to sort tokens and quarters. Already sorting bill denominations so it will be just like one more denomination. It seem like an alternative to dispensing tokens and better than dollar coins.

Earl,

$3 & $7 were our choices. We got the first shipment or 100 each a little over a week ago so we have done nothing with them yet. One option is to put them in our 40+ selection spiral KleenRite Mega Vendor. A customer did want some coupons (used like a gift card) to give to some of their dog owner relatives & friends so they had a tactful way of encouraging them to making their dogs smell good.

We were charged $.20 each for coupons regardless of denomination specified. $3 coupon transaction costs calculates out to be 6.67% (ouch) assuming we order with another shipment. The $7 coupon transaction cost calculates out to be 2.86% (less pain)---- so how might that speak to them being able to compete with the more economic futuristic cell phone trigger? After some thought --- the futuristic cell phone trigger (with proper response stop capability) --- that I described at the beginning of the thread ----would have the ability to have "gift codes" which I think would be even more convenient for us & customer friendly than "gift cards" or coupons.

I wonder what car wash operators are paying for magnetic plastic gift cards because they would accomplish a similar objective as the coupon arrangement & the cell phone "gift code" potential.

MJ

 

[pitzerwm]

Are the coupons reusuable? that of course, would reduce the cost per transaction

 

[kempape]

the coupons can be set up to have different values for different validators,,, such as $2 off automatic fee ..$1value at vendor,,,. 50 cent value in self service bay ,etc,,,, of course, the coinco validators have to be programmed (factory) to accomplish this,,,im trying to get an autocashier to vend coupon(i talked to standard bout this),,,..shurvendor could sell packs of coupons.....or somethin like this,,,,mcdonalds sells a kinda similar thing with $5 coupon books(u get five $1 coupons for $5),,,the coupons could be-- ;, mailed to new residents, tossed in grocery bags/ attached to doorhangers/placed under windshield wipers etc.,,.is this a goofy or ultragoofy idea?,,,.kemp````

 

[kempape]

to clarify,,,, wen i mentioned autocashier vending a coupon, .... that would (potentially)'replace" a free vac token,,,,{the auto cashier not be a primary site to sell or dispence the coupons),,,,,i am not clear on exactly how durable the coinco coupons mite be,,,,( can they endure being stored in wallets , crumpled up,recycled,etc???,,,,if not then wat is the durability of mars coupons?( they are significantly more xpensive),,,,,and wil they ( or coinco coupons)consistenly vend out of bill dispensers without hanging up,experiencing hi rejection rates in validators, etc,,,----a freevac token mite not excite some customers ; but a coupon that get get a free soda , free self serv time, "wet wipe", disount on ice,,,etc might????,,,,kemp

 

[Earl Weiss]

Are the coupons reusuable? that of course, would reduce the cost per transaction

Yes the coupons are reuseable.

BTW I am also in the gasoline retailing nusiness, so I can only find car wash operators complaints about CC charges of nominal interest.

My initial / current Bulk sales plan is $24.00 of wash bucks for $20.00 which will be available from the Tunnel cashier. Someone suggested I do 25 for $20.00. Any thoughts?

 

[Earl Weiss]

the coupons can be set up to have different values for different validators,,, such as $2 off automatic fee ..$1value at vendor,,,. 50 cent value in self service bay ,etc,,,, of course, the coinco validators have to be programmed (factory) to accomplish this````

FWIW apparently the Vantage acceptors are programmed but not set up to accept the standard coupons which come in $! and $5 denominations. They are then accepted like bills of that denomination. Apparently you just hit some set iup buttons to allow the acceptance. will be doing it soon.

 

[mjwalsh]

Are the coupons reusuable? that of course, would reduce the cost per transaction

Bill & others,

Yes, & if they are not given away without any strings attached ---- there also could be some float like with tokens. I guess a potential problem is if the coupon gets sweated up & ruined in people's pockets there is a good chance they will want to trade it for a crisp new one. Whether the 20 cents cost per each will add up from that ---- is yet to be seen.

A nice scenario would be for them to turn a minimum of 10 times on average. That would mean just moving the decimal point 1 over to the left. Let's see ----- $.67 & $.27 base transactional costs is more encouraging. I suppose if they started looking too gross from reuse or whatever that would be poor advertising.

MJ