Considering free towel dry after IBA??

[pitzerwm]

Without an attendant, how would you keep the SS people from using them?

 

[MEP001]

I buy my towels at Costco which seem to be a slightly better quality than Sams towels.

I tried the towels from Costco and didn't like them as much as the Sam's ones. They looked and felt a little better quality and were more consistent in size, but they were much more linty and not nearly as absorbent.

Someone else posted a link to these guys: http://www.maxtexinc.com/industrial/food/100_cotton_bar_towel.shtml I keep meaning to order some of each size and type to try them but haven't yet.

 

[Greg Pack]

Without an attendant, how would you keep the SS people from using them?

I don't think you can.

 

[dogwasher]

I too got the towel cart idea from Soapy and others and it has worked well. I'm in a good neighborhood. It is rarely abused and I have many people that come for that freebie. I buy my towels at Costco which seem to be a slightly better quality than Sams towels. I throw a pack of them in the washer with a single bottle of Rit Black Dye and they come out a dark blue. I do have a sign requesting customers use only two, which is usually adequate for them. I would say that 30% of my customers (depending on the weather) utilize this service and have had quite a few compliments. It is very rarely abused, but like I said, I'm in a good neighborhood- I can put out a box of complimentary mints on the towel cart and it takes two weeks for the customers to go through them.

I did try offering free spray glass cleaner with the towel service but they did disappear too much. I think people forgot and left them in their car too often. I would go by and find one missing, quite often it would show back up a few days later.

CF - How do you advertize this towel service? Do you just post a small sign on the push cart?

Thanks!

 

[BBE]

bumping an old topic here. Was anyone able to locate a picture of this set up? Do you have some kind of awning set up in your lot with the towel drying station set up underneath it?

 

[dogwasher]

bumping an old topic here. Was anyone able to locate a picture of this set up? Do you have some kind of awning set up in your lot with the towel drying station set up underneath it?

Basic set up. Two shelf cart. One bin for clean towels and another for dirty towels. I Put a sign attached to the cart describing what all the customers should do.
Pro: customers love it I have had more than one say they come to our wash because of the free towel usage.
Cons: Don't buy the micro fiber they will steal them, buy just the white cotton towels. Read the complete post. The cost of replacement towels is well worth it as its not much ...think of it as spending money on advertizing.

 

[cwguy.com]

This picture is from 2006..... also this is from a random car wash.
Link: http://cwguy.com/?p=1270

 

[Waxman]

We use a rubbermaid cart; clean towels on top; keep them in a cut down 55 gal bucket. Dirty go in a laundry basket on bottom shelf of cart.

We use the bulk terry from ERC wiping in a 50lb box. Great value for us.

Pros; this idea catches on quickly and builds loyalty really well.

Cons; it takes attention and work to keep towels clean and stocked. buying in bulk is necessary because some towels are lost on a regular basis and must be replaced.

That is why we switched to the 50lb box of terry towels from ERC Wiping; we're able to keep plenty on hand.

The towel dry cart is a customer favorite. Completes the wash experience for many a customer. I'd never try limiting it to auto wash customers only. That'd be like poking a hornets nest!!!!!!!!!

 

[dogwasher]

Wax M is correct some SS customers do use them..problem with that is they need more than one or two because they have not gone threw a power dry! You have to deal with it because again it appears the customers love this inexpensive offering...its not much to give up for the payback you receive (my opinion of course)