New Touchless Tunnel

[Sudzie]

We just uploaded the first video of our new touchless tunnel this was taken in Feb 12 just before we opened. We were still dialing things in but very satisfied with our quality. My hope is to upload a new one in a short bit to show a couple of neat things we did. Also a couple of changes to some of the HP equipment. BTW I know chain speed is slow. It was running at 45 CPH so we could get timing down. We are now running at 80 CPH with great results.

Stay tuned......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woXaH6QrWYk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[mac]

Well good luck with your new wash. I was around a while back when touchless tunnels were in vogue, and think most failed because of chemical quality and reclaim issues. Whose soap are you using?

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Looks really good! What is the length of the tunnel? What was your total investment for that?

 

[Sudzie]

Mac - We started out using Simoniz, lots of samples (still use Simoniz at our other wash). Good but not what I was looking for. Then switched over to C.A.R. Products (Thunder & Lightning) good depth of shine and clean finish, without the inherent problems of higher titrations. Understand that no one will get all cars totally clean with touchless and I except and promote that. With continued customer education about the limits of Touchless washing we are receiving really good feed back from the Touchless crowd. This segment of customer base is pretty vocal, and truly voice, their opinions. Crazy, some customers coming out of the Touchless tunnel wonder why we opened this wash saying our cloth wash cleans the best around of any. And then the next customer or two LOVES this wash and ask when we are going Touchless at our other wash. Go figure? I guess we are now meeting our markets demand.

 

[Sudzie]

Bubbles Galore - The tunnel is 100 Ft running at 80 CPH. Total as in everything? Well then there's the land $150K. Then we had to bring in 6000 yards of fill for the site work (did the site work ourselves) $192K. The building (It's really nice) $223K. Equipment (Every thing in) $323K. Total $888K. Oh ya, Chiropractor and Masseuse $625. (Not in the total)

 

[captain cw]

Nice looking set up. Are the arches also Motor City? The look like Belanger.

 

[Jeff_L]

Looks nice.

Might want to tell that guy in the truck that all debris should be cleaned out before entering the wash.

 

[Sudzie]

Captin CW - The arches are Belanger along with the conveyor.

Jeff L - As far as the leaves, not so much of a problem. With this customer (he's a lobster man) it was the spoils from his bait barrels left in the truck bed. What a stench!!! But by the looks of it he likes a clean truck and he always gets our $19 Works Wash.

 

[briteauto]

Mac - We started out using Simoniz, lots of samples (still use Simoniz at our other wash). Good but not what I was looking for. Then switched over to C.A.R. Products (Thunder & Lightning) good depth of shine and clean finish, without the inherent problems of higher titrations. Understand that no one will get all cars totally clean with touchless and I except and promote that. With continued customer education about the limits of Touchless washing we are receiving really good feed back from the Touchless crowd. This segment of customer base is pretty vocal, and truly voice, their opinions. Crazy, some customers coming out of the Touchless tunnel wonder why we opened this wash saying our cloth wash cleans the best around of any. And then the next customer or two LOVES this wash and ask when we are going Touchless at our other wash. Go figure? I guess we are now meeting our markets demand.

Great looking tunnel - good luck.

What other C.A.R. products are you using - for ccp, polish, etc.?

 

[cdreed06]

That is really cool... good luck!

 

[Kirb]

Looks great!!! Good Luck!!

 

[Sudzie]

Briteauto - Braker for wheels, Thunder for Low PH, Lighting for High PH, Maxi Foam for our Drag Foam that also uses 2 colors of there Foaming Polish Conditioner, BrillaNCe 10 ft after the Drag Foam to bring the PH down just prior to the Axis HP, Foaming Citrus Sealant, Super Sealant is Repel glass & body, Drying Agent is Desert Dri, Then a rain arch to for final setting rinse. Tire Dressing is Reflections, Right now Cost Per Car is .78 cents for our Works Wash.

 

[Waxman]

I'll stop in when I go through Kittery. I'm in Maine several times a year to visit relatives and friends. Looking forward to it!

 

[Sudzie]

Waxman - shoot me an e-mail when you think you'll be up and I'll show you the wash. dwoods@wfi.bz

 

[Buzzie8]

Nice wash! I was curious what you were using to educate your customers on the limitations of touchless washing? I struggle with this all the time.

 

[Sudzie]

Buzzie8 - At this point we have not needed to do anything proactive ie: signage or handouts. We have developed a small handout but as of yet we have not seen the need to use it. (part of our 7P's practice). We do love to chat with our customers especially the ones that get out after their wash to check things out. When a vehicle comes out of the wash and fails to impress. We will of course run it back through with our works wash and part of the time that does the trick. If it still doesn't pass (usually do to the fact the vehicle is not washed often or not garaged and parked under the trees) we will give the customer a works at our softouch wash a couple of miles away. There are times when we are suspect of how the results will be, we go check it out at the exit and if needed ask the customer if we can run it through again. Another chance to chat to a customer.

We do keep track of the plate #'s on rewashes to limit abuse. With that said, during this whole process we understand that the customer just wants a clean car and we want to fill that desire. We talk to the customer to educate them on car washing, good, bad, and indifferent. Most, not all appreciate this and we see them come back. Some more often than they previously did. With this wash (touchless) we wanted to fill the niche that wasn't being served in our local market. We believe that is the person that doesn't want things touching their car but not so fanatic that they tuck their car in at night. We have found that as the word gets out about this wash, customers are traveling further from outside our market for a good and quick touchfree wash. Bottom line, an educated customer is a better customer and they usually spend more money.

Ps. The percentage of what we would call failed quality runs about 2.75% per month right now at our touchfree wash and .80% at our softouch wash. Can we say detail customers.

 

[Washmee]

My closest competitor went back to friction several years ago after doing everything in his power to convince customers that touchless was the way to go. When he first went touchless he was sure that customers would flock to his wash because touchless was "safer" for their car. After 10 years of pulling his hair out trying to get consistent wash quality, he put back the friction components in his wash. He found that only a small percentage of his customers came there because the wash was touchless. A much larger percentage just wanted a clean car and good service. When he put back the friction equipment he figures he lost a few customers, but he barely heard a word from 99% of the rest. He told me finally realized that he went touchless for his own biases, thinking that he would never have to deal with damage claims. It turned out that getting a consistent clean car was more important than having to deal with a few misguided customers who think the scratch they got at the parking lot was his fault.

 

[briteauto]

I'm sure Sudzie has closely weighed his options when opening a touchless tunnel. He's not a first time operator and is obviously aware of the considerations of a touchless wash and the demographic he is serving. Since he already has a friction tunnel close by, he's got handle on the entire market.

Great looking operation, Sudzie. I'd love to see the building if you could post a picture or two. I probably won't make it to Maine anytime soon.

Mike

 

[Sudzie]

Briteauto - Thanks Mike for the supporting words. Just got back from Vegas and when the sun returns I'll take some shots and post. Hopefully the grass seed won't get washed out.

 

[Sudzie]

Briteauto - The sun came out yesterday for a short bit and I snaped a couple of shots for you but can't get them posted. If you would like to give me your e-mail I can send them.