Vac Upgrades...What Would You Do?

[Bubbles Galore]

Ok guys...I have a little bit of extra cash and want to do some upgrades to my 6 vacuums. Here are the 2 options as I see them:

1. Standard + Crevice + Dualer - The average cost per vacuum is going to be roughly $140 a piece. I'm thinking the ROI would be fairly quick, but is only a gut instinct. The only other intangible I see is how I would accommodate the additional hose, but that shouldn't be too difficult.
2. Coin & Credit Card Acceptance - This obviously would be more costly to the tune of roughly $800 plus the faceplate. (Side question, can the D/H vac timer including the display be changed out with the LED 7 timer from Dixmor? This would keep me from having to replace my faceplate if it is possible) I intend on using the Cryptopay timer with and LED 7 timer and an IDX x-10 acceptor. I'm still up in the air if I will see a decent ROI on this investment.

Let's hear some discussion...I am excited to do some upgrades, but want to make sure I am doing the right thing and who better to ask than my fellow operators!

 

[MEP001]

Do you have any fragrance/vacs or shampoo/vacs?

If I read the documentation right, the Cryptopay system has a coin pulse output and can be programmed to send a fixed number of pulses per swipe, or continue sending pulses until the CC button is pressed. That means you don't need to replace your timer unless you specifically want it to read in count-up mode.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Do you have any fragrance/vacs or shampoo/vacs?

If I read the documentation right, the Cryptopay system has a coin pulse output and can be programmed to send a fixed number of pulses per swipe, or continue sending pulses until the CC button is pressed. That means you don't need to replace your timer unless you specifically want it to read in count-up mode.

No, I do not have any combo vacs at this time. I read that as well on their web site. With my self serve bays being count up, I wanted to keep the same format to help reduce confusion. So, is credit card upgrades your recommendation?

 

[Earl Weiss]

My upgrade preferences:

1 or more combos if you have the funds and traffic.

2. Dualers - Easy and not too expensive.

3. Bill acceptors if the retrofit is not too tough. Luv taking out 1's and 5s instead of just quarters.

I would have a tough time justifying CC acceptance for a $1.00 Vac. Perhaps for a combo.

 

[madscientist]

#2.

Credit card acceptance can not be viewed only in terms of ROI. This is true especially since you accept credit cards in your bays, and have therefore programmed many of your customers to show up at your wash without cash.

It was not too long ago when people were building SS bays without even considering cc acceptance. Nowadays you wouldn't dream of building one without that option. Of course, nowadays nobody dreams of building SS washes anymore but the reasoning still stands.

Regarding choice #1, will the new vacuum tools bring in new customers? Or just give current customers more options? Seems to me like either way you go the ROI is not a big factor. Both upgrades will probably do more for customer retention.

 

[MudMoney]

I've got combo's and dualers and the income runs neck and neck,both produce more than a stand alone vac.As far as hanging the extra hose go to hard ware store and look over the selection on hanging shovels, brooms,etc.Drill into the tank on the side and use nylon type locking nuts.I use a yellow 1 1/2 inch hose to contrast with my 2 " blue hose.I also use a 3' copper weiding rod to reach the clogs as you will get more of them.I did modifiy my dualer to make it easier to remove hoses,by going to muffler shop and having adapter made to slid hoses over instead of being inside unit.

 

[Earl Weiss]

I also use a 3' copper weiding rod to reach the clogs as you will get more of them.I did modifiy my dualer to make it easier to remove hoses,by going to muffler shop and having adapter made to slid hoses over instead of being inside unit.

Since I rarely have a clog I can't help but wonder if your modification lead to more clogs since debris will hit the edge of the pipe the hoses slide over and perhaps get caught.

 

[Earl Weiss]

.As far as hanging the extra hose go to hard ware store and look over the selection on hanging shovels, brooms,etc..

Or, you can be lazy like me. Since I ordered the Dualers and Hose Kit and stickers from KR I just ordered this

http://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-1334-stainless-steel-foamy-handle-holderor-to-keep-hose-back.aspx

I made the bends 90 degrees which was easy. Just put it in a vice.

 

[MEP001]

No, I do not have any combo vacs at this time. I read that as well on their web site. With my self serve bays being count up, I wanted to keep the same format to help reduce confusion. So, is credit card upgrades your recommendation?

For plain vacs, I'd also put CC acceptance at the bottom of the upgrade list.

If the extra funds you're talking about are enough to add CC acceptance to all your vacs, you should have enough for at least one combo vac. FWIW, we have three (All frag/shampoo/vac), and each one grosses enough to pay for itself over again about every 18 months. Operational costs are minimal, maybe $200 a year for all the liquids.

At some point I'll probably add CC acceptance to the combo vacs, but probably have it charge $2 per swipe (Current start-up is $1 in quarters) and just help customers figure it out.

Regarding choice #1, will the new vacuum tools bring in new customers? Or just give current customers more options? Seems to me like either way you go the ROI is not a big factor. Both upgrades will probably do more for customer retention.

I would think the dualer would go farther as a revenue generator, but I agree that neither should be looked at from a ROI perspective.

 

[Mel(NC)]

Save your money up and buy a combo. My one combo unit brings in almost as much as my three std vacs. I have a cc acceptor on my combo unit and it barely brings in enough to cover the monthly service fee.

 

[bigleo48]

Bubbles,

First, your website doesn't work, so I can't see you current setup.

I love vacs....highest margins!

Have a good hard look at you vacs and see how appealing they look and how well they function. I'm with most of the guys with going to the combo machines. But also look at the vac islands, canopies, lighting, mat tepees etc. You can also look at something that sets you apart, like a rug beater, some vendors right at the vacs with the most popular items. I would also consider an air machine (makes me about $100 a month with little cost). A stand alone fragrance machine or shampooer can do well also.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Bubbles,

First, your website doesn't work, so I can't see you current setup.

You are correct, I am working with a design house right now to get it set up properly for some of the new value add features I am working on.

I love vacs....highest margins!

Have a good hard look at you vacs and see how appealing they look and how well they function. I'm with most of the guys with going to the combo machines. But also look at the vac islands, canopies, lighting, mat tepees etc. You can also look at something that sets you apart, like a rug beater, some vendors right at the vacs with the most popular items. I would also consider an air machine (makes me about $100 a month with little cost). A stand alone fragrance machine or shampooer can do well also.

I agree, my vacuums need an aesthetic upgrade to be more visually appealing, but I do know that my customers are constantly complimenting my vacuums and how they always have good suction and such. The one upgrade that is going in this weekend will be dualers on all 6 of my vacuums. This will be the beginnings of my vac island upgrades and feel this will help to further set us apart from the competition and retain as much business as possible. I would like to save up for some combo vacuums, but will need some time as I refuse to finance things like that.

Jim Gosnell from Etowah Valley has talked with me about a 3 motor vac that has a typical start up with 2 motors and then there is a turbo button that can be used to start the 3rd motor and the time/price adjust accordingly. I have always thought this was a good option and may look into doing this as well.

 

[Ric]

Hey John,

Do you still have the round D/H vacs? I have some and a few years ago we stripped the decals from them, shined them up, had new decals custom made to match our decor, new bags, hoses, etc. They look and perform like new. They actually are a well built vac. I also have a combo vac. One is plenty...last week someone used the shampoo brush to scrub up spilled paint and ruined the brush. They also vacuumed up the paint. It ran out the clean out door all over the vac island. Parts are expensive and the shampooer does very little winter business here in the snow belt. I wouldn't do it again.

 

[MEP001]

Do you still have the round D/H vacs? I have some and a few years ago we stripped the decals from them, shined them up, had new decals custom made to match our decor, new bags, hoses, etc. They look and perform like new.

I've done that too, and it makes quite a difference when customers think you put in new vacs. Unless they're beat or scuffed up, Klean-Wall will make them look like new, and custom decals will make them look different and inviting.

One is plenty...last week someone used the shampoo brush to scrub up spilled paint and ruined the brush. They also vacuumed up the paint. It ran out the clean out door all over the vac island.

I had that happen last week too - at least they left the vac hose looped on the hanger so the paint pooled in the bottom loop and dried there.

Parts are expensive and the shampooer does very little winter business here in the snow belt.

FWIW, the hose assemblies last close to four years with one brush refill in between. I assemble them myself with hose more durable than what Fragramatics uses and it comes out a lot cheaper.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Hey John,

Do you still have the round D/H vacs? I have some and a few years ago we stripped the decals from them, shined them up, had new decals custom made to match our decor, new bags, hoses, etc. They look and perform like new. They actually are a well built vac. I also have a combo vac. One is plenty...last week someone used the shampoo brush to scrub up spilled paint and ruined the brush. They also vacuumed up the paint. It ran out the clean out door all over the vac island. Parts are expensive and the shampooer does very little winter business here in the snow belt. I wouldn't do it again.

Hi Ric, yes I have the D/H vacs as well. I intend to shine them up nice while I am installing the dualers. I will keep my eyes peeled for a used combo vac, but I agree with you, they don't typically get a lot of use. When i had the stand alone carpet unit, it created far more issues for me than it brought in business. I'm sure a new unit would have less issues, I am just not seeing a big demand for one from my customers.

 

[JMMUSTANG]

"Jim Gosnell from Etowah Valley has talked with me about a 3 motor vac that has a typical start up with 2 motors and then there is a turbo button that can be used to start the 3rd motor and the time/price adjust accordingly. I have always thought this was a good option and may look into doing this as well."

I would go with Jim's suggestion as long as the decals specify the differences in the options.
Charge $1.00 for 2 motor and $1.50 for 3 motors.
I would give 4 minutes for the 2 motor and 6 minutes for the 3 motor option. Actual cost of electricity is not much.
I have 7 combo's, 5 Reg. vacs and 1 Mega Vac.
If I had to do it over I would have ALL Mega Vacs.
Mega Vacs have very little problems.
Combo's always have maintenance issues. Combo's income does go down in the winter.
Over the whole year the Mega Vac income is substantially more than the other reg. vacs and combo's.
Maybe Jim could add an additional holder for a dueler and crevice tool/hose?

 

[Earl Weiss]

Reading some comments I can't help but wonder if there is a difference for the Vac and specificaly Combo vac usage at SS vs EE.

FWIW I have Coleman Combos. (15 among 4 locations) Very few issues. Every couple of years I need to replace a Shampoo or scent hose. Once in a while a compressor. Other issues are virtualy no more tham a regular vac.

Now lets say an 8 Bay SS does "Industry average" of $1500 / mo / bay and average is $3.00 customer. I know it's a rash generalization but lets use it for the moment. That comes out to 4000 customers / washes a month. Now, an EE may be doing easily double that. So, with double the exposure all ancilary items will tend to do better.

I'll leave it to guyus with IBA to say how this would affect my guess.

Could this be why some like it more than others? Higher exposure makes the return better for some?

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I would go with Jim's suggestion as long as the decals specify the differences in the options.
Charge $1.00 for 2 motor and $1.50 for 3 motors.
I would give 4 minutes for the 2 motor and 6 minutes for the 3 motor option. Actual cost of electricity is not much.
I have 7 combo's, 5 Reg. vacs and 1 Mega Vac.
If I had to do it over I would have ALL Mega Vacs.
Mega Vacs have very little problems.
Combo's always have maintenance issues. Combo's income does go down in the winter.
Over the whole year the Mega Vac income is substantially more than the other reg. vacs and combo's.
Maybe Jim could add an additional holder for a dueler and crevice tool/hose?

I would like to do this for all my vacs, but can't justify the cost of using his quickpay system. Is there another vac timer that would offer this level of functionality? i.e. adjusting the pricing on the fly based on whether the turbo button is pressed?

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I am getting ready to install my dualers tomorrow and am still scratching my head as to how I'm going to hang both hoses??? Ideas anyone??? I'm hoping to be able to pick something up from Home Depot or the like since I want to have them finished tomorrow.

 

[JustClean]

I am getting ready to install my dualers tomorrow and am still scratching my head as to how I'm going to hang both hoses??? Ideas anyone??? I'm hoping to be able to pick something up from Home Depot or the like since I want to have them finished tomorrow.

Instead of adding the dualer with two hoses, etc. it would be nice to see someone come up with a better nozzle. On two of my vacs I made my own crevice tool by heating up irrigation pipe. That is a bit of a compromise but people seem to like it.