bmattivi
Member
what type of touch free do you use
In your opinion. Touch free has a definite place in the car wash business. It appeals to many customers and is a viable business model for many operators. Many customers will opt for touch free over friction. Touch free machines can safely and effectively operate unattended and often enjoy zero damage claims.It is a no brainer--friction with foam material. Friction is way better than touchfree. Place two cameras at entrance, two in the bay- (one high and one low), and one at the exit. That will elimate bogus claims. Any claims that you do have (and there will be a few) will be offset by the higher frequency in use, and by the higher price you can charge for the service.
Washnvac-Sorry....in my opinion the new friction with foam is much better than touchfree. I do have a touchfree next to a new foam machine. The foam is currently winning 3 to 1. Regards.
Not just his opinion, but the public's opinion. Nothing wrong with touchless they just cost A LOT more to operate and when put side by side with a brush machine they almost always wash less cars than the brush wash. I have yet to hear of a side by side with the touchless washing more than the brush. We have many sites running unattended with both touchless and brush washes.In your opinion. Touch free has a definite place in the car wash business. It appeals to many customers and is a viable business model for many operators. Many customers will opt for touch free over friction. Touch free machines can safely and effectively operate unattended and often enjoy zero damage claims.
I'm new to the whole IBAs, so pardon the green-ness. What attention does the friction need on a daily basis that a touchfree does not?This particular location I just bought in December. It already had a water wizard touchfree. I added the new foam machine at the end of December. So it has come 3 to 1 in a short time. There is another car wash in close proxmity with two D & S touchfrees. The wizard actually does a decent job. I also have three other washes in the general area, all with friction IBAs. I am the only friction guy around. Everyone else within a 35 miles radius is touchfree, except 2 tunnels about five miles from me. I can tell you, friction IBAs should have daily attention. I am hands on; by my washes most everyday, or by dial in. If your place is not attended to daily, you may want to do touchfree. I do agree with you that friction simply does a better job. Yes, there is a claim here and there, but they are minimal relative to the huge imcome potential. Ofcourse....just my opinion.
Gator-I hate to spoil the party, but I had a pair of touch and touchless Automatics side by side for a year. Our touchless doubled the volume of the brush, soft gloss foam, and never caused a damage claim.