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Big decision on SoftGloss: Need advice please

soonermajic

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I am seriously thinking about putting in Rykos new SoftGloss. w/ their Nov special of $99k. To do what I want, with plumbing/elctric, it will be about $133. I have the paystation & dryers already, it includes a nice TSS sign, wheel blasters w/ tire chemical delivery, adding custom brushes. It has the LED light show. It will be extremely nice.

Here's my setup: I have Ryko OHD (touchless inverted L). It does a below avg job, & I am putting this SoftGloss in the bay right beside it. There is 1 other IBA @ the Oil/Lube place, that does a very avg job. We get 85% of the town's business. My prices are $1 more on each pkg. I have a prepper, who preps ENTIRE vehicle before the touchless does it's thing. So, the cars already have a "friction" wash, & when they come out they look awesome! Only 5% of our customer's don't want my prepper brushing it.

During pollen season (30 days) & then probably 60 more days/year, our line is LONG (4--7 cars deep all day). We can only do about 70 cpd on those days. The customers do NOT come before or after prepper hours (about 36 cpd is what we do, & about 3 of those is what we do after hours). On those 90 days a year, we have quite a few drive offs, & some complaining of the long wait (I totally understand). Town has 7100 pop, & is somewhat isolated (tunnel is 55 miles away & not coming near here).

My price pts will be $8, $10 & $12. My loan will be 6 yrs $2000/mo. I figure another $500 for chems & more water. Therefore I need to make @ least $3000/mo to make this work. I think I will realize some pretty good tax advantages to. Would need to average 10 cpd, year round. The town absolutely LOVES my prepper, & he is simply the BEST employee there is! I pay him VERY well.

Do you guys think I should pull the trigger, or just ride this thing out for a few years? 1 issues: I do not know if Ryko will do a huge promo like this ever again. If I knew they would, it'd be a no-brainer & I'd wait. I've had this wash 6 mos, & business is improving slowly, town is steady & holding. I own the only 2 SS washes in town & the only real choice for a good Automatic wash as well. This wash is by far the best location in the town as well. But, the crazy long waits sometimes scare me, about a guy with deep pockets just putting down half a million & really hurting me.
 

Car_Wash_Guy

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I'm heavily considering replacing my older SoftGloss 2 with this deal. I'm happy with the performance of my SG, and it's been pretty rock solid. I know many consider it the workhorse of the IBA friction market.

My machine is 11 years old, and even though the car count is low, the price and tax advantages might be too good to pass up. I'm not sure if this deal includes it, but I would like the foam curtain and LED lights.

Are you planning on increasing prices or just putting out an advertising blitz to draw more customers?
 

chaz

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If you can raise your top wash to say $14....plus make sure u have great soaps like JBS your return would be much sooner. Bigger issue...is your prep guy. If he can be pulled off prepping....that would be huge especially once the word gets out that after hours washes are just as good. Can you use the guy as a cleanup guy, in the oil area....I know it’s not easy decision...but reduced labor costs would be huge.
 

soonermajic

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My competitor is $5,$6 & $7. Although his doesn't clean well, I don't feel comfortable being $14 on top. Heck, $12 is $4 higher than my top wash when bought 6 months ago (June 2018).
My prepper is loved & respected by the entire town. when he started, 4 yrs ago, wash did 17 cpd. We now do 35 cpd, & it is all due to him.! Wife had breast cancer surgery & in 2 days I took in over $600 in donations for him. This is a definitely economically disadvantaged area to!
Also, I work/live 44 miles away, & need someone there to run the place. He is paid VERY well by me, but earns it. He also does most of our repairs. But, I could save over $35k/yr in labor...but I'd prolly use up 90% of it in repairs, lost revenue...not to mention the stress of not having him. So, he's a stress reliever for us!
 

chaz

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If you can raise your top wash to say $14....plus make sure u have great soaps like JBS your return would be much sooner. Bigger issue...is your prep guy. If he can be pulled off prepping....that would be huge especially once the word gets out that after hours washes are just as good. Can you use the guy as a cleanup guy, in the oil area....I know it’s not easy decision...but reduced labor costs would be huge.
 

chaz

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I thought you said you own the only SS (2 of them) in the market, and the other auto does even a worse job than yours? I’d u at adding the second...newer auto and keeping the old....I’m certainly push the needle on the price point on the wash. If folks are getting a better at all times they won’t mind paying more. They can choose the prep guy bay or the new was bay. Also maybe just make sure you have real good soaps with the current wash. I totally understand your allegiance and trust in the prep guy...
 

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At minimum you should increase your night time washes. You have a peep guy already. Even 150 foot express tunnels still prep. I am all touchless but people who have both friction and touchfree day about 60% of the people use the friction. If you don't do it someone else will.
 

soonermajic

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I wanted to do Blue/Yellow brushes, but that is considered "custom". I can only get Yellow, Blue, or Blue/Red colors. My wash is Forest Green, but planned on switching to Blue/Yellow. I may just switch to Blue/Red, as it will save me $3500 on brushes.
Do you think I should pay the extra?
 

chaz

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I bet they’d at least split the difference on the up charge if it would close the sale. For me I’d go with one of the standard colors. About the only one that will notice is you. That is unless you are planning many locations and the colors are going to be a big part of your branding. $3,500 is a lot of washes.
 

soonermajic

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Ok, I pulled the trigger on friday. I also got double startup of free soaps/wax/chems. All in all I'd say I got about $80k in savings! We had already talked about doing this, 2 more years down the road, but this was too good to pass up. I think Soapy is correct: @ a minimum, I see us definitely increasing nightime & early morning sales. 6 years @ 5% monthly mortgage will be about $2000, so if I avg 300 washes/mo x $11=$3300. Should profit about $1000. 6 years later should be making about $4000 more/mo (w/ increased popularity).

Am I missing something...?
 

chaz

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Obviously as the wash gets older...you’ll need to budget for more maintenance expense.

Assuming the new wash does a great job...are you still planning to hand wash/prep all cars? Cause if your customers still see you doing that during the daytime...I doubt you’d increase nighttime confidence.

Seems like 10 car a day average is conservative....and that’s not a bad approach
 
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Congrats on the purchase. I'm sure it will do well for you. I am interested in converting a SS bay to an IBA. Do you know the bay size requirements for the SoftGloss? I am trying to figure out what the build out will entail.
 

Rfreeman

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Congrats Coach!

Post some pics of your new machine when you get it.

Main Street, I believe on Ryko's website they have the minimum bay requirements for their machines.
 

soonermajic

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thanks Freeman,

oddly enough, on Rykos website I cannot find the dimensions for the SoftGloss. I only see the vehicle max/min.

I will post pics as we are doing it. I am converting a SS bay, which is right beside my touchless Ryko OHD.

My prepper will stay on the touchless OHD bay. I think it will help, especially on days where the line is crazy long (thus causing customers to leave mad). Also 5 weeks of pollen season. I guess you gotta get those customers in, on the days they really want it.

"U$e it or lo$e it"
 
Etowah

OurTown

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Congrats on the purchase. I'm sure it will do well for you. I am interested in converting a SS bay to an IBA. Do you know the bay size requirements for the SoftGloss? I am trying to figure out what the build out will entail.
On the Maxx 5 the minimum bay length is 34' 4" and the minimum width is 15' 2". I didn't see anything about min height.
 

OurTown

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The Maxx 5 is the five brush friction only machine. The Maxx 3 is the three brush and can get the touchless option.
 

MGSMN

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I didn't see anything about min height.
Height - min 11'4 ... With the top brush up and spinning the machines height is 11' 1 1/2".

My recommendation on a machine with on board dry - H 12', W 16', L 36'-(38' with 2' track extensions) this is with maximum machine travel end to end with the brushes spinning. More length for bay obstructions (door track, bollards) or a stand alone dryer in the bay.
 

soonermajic

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Mine has stand alone dryers. Get them washed & exit to dry...

Are those dimensions much different?
 
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