Changes that make $$$$$$

[mac]

The wash I bought was the proverbial basket case. Hardly anything worked right and the prices had not changer since it was built 18 years ago. Three of the bays had cryptopay set up in count down mode. First I had to get every function working in all bays. That turned out to be more challenging than I thought. Then put card readers in the other bays and Dixmore timers to go to count up mode. Also raised the startup cost to $2. I didn't track the coin usage but the credit card use has increased a little over 60%. Turned up the pressure in all bays to 1400 psi and really lay the chemicals on thick. When you make mama happy, you know you're doing something right. It is so nice to have customers come up and say this is the best wash around, as you can actually see the chemicals come out. And I am still cheaper than my competitors.

 

[chaz]

Don’t know where us are located....but doubt you are my competitor. Also not sure time you offer for $2? I have noticed that a higher start price even with higher time...results in more income and less mess. I’m $3 start 4min in bay with credit, bills, quarters and dollar coins. I have count up on credit with average about $8. My changer dispenses dollar coins. I do not accept or dispense tokens. Vacs are cash only $2 for first 6 min

 

[Earl Weiss]

You might want to try Bonus time, a super bay or 2, A hand held dryer or 2, Depending on Vandalism concerns - Bill accepters in Bays.

 

[chaz]

So yeah....I’m gonna assume (Hope) you are $1/4min on vac. Simply raising this to $2 and increasing time to 6 min...you will see huge income increase In $ with no cost to implement ..the customers will have plenty of vac time so no rushing there. Do make sure and keep vac working well. I did this 3 years ago....very little complaints....and most are thrilled with good working vacs and plenty of time.....bonus it keeps some slobs away. You’d need to loose 1/2 your sales before it would be downside....and that’s not likely. I did have my sign guy make some yellow starburst stickers proclaiming “Now more time”

 

[mac]

My bays are $2 for 4 min and vacs are $1.50 for 5 min. What is nice is that the other wash owners in the area don’t have a clue and the EE just down the road keeps damaging cars.

 

[Randy]

My bays are $2 for 4 min and vacs are $1.50 for 5 min. What is nice is that the other wash owners in the area don’t have a clue and the EE just down the road keeps damaging cars.

Mac, raise your prices, your to low. Go to $2.50 for 4 minutes in the bays and $1.75 for 4 minutes on the vac's. I'm at $2.75 for 3.5 minutes in the bays and $1.75 for 3.5 minutes on the vac's. The place is clean and everything works all the time so why not make them pay for a clean facility.

 

[chaz]

Why not round up your pricing to even dollars....even if u increase time a bit.
I’m $2 for 6 min on vac and $3 for 4 min on s/s . Less time (in my experience) Leads to rushing and not necessarily more $

 

[mjwalsh]

I tend to be very much in line with Chaz except for one exception ... based on what tends to be my observation applying my specific geographic area:

Once you add the CC along with even the "easier to use & administer" Chaz's higher denomination coin approach ... as long as the CC is on equal footing with coin... cost wise for the customers ... they will almost 100% IMHO tend to use the CC. Why ... almost all CCs except for possibly gift cards ... have the "rewards hook" for the customer. Of course almost 100% of them will not turn down the "easy cashback"!!!

The other observation is that sooner or later the fact that a self service car wash can use the savings from "cash only" on more "helpful to the customer" needed hiring will come back to make IMHO the operator the eventual winner among local competition.