Considering installing new In-Bay Automatic

[rwharris]

I am looking at installing an in-bay automatic system, hoping to get some good feed back.

1. Best automatic system and why?
2. Brushes, touch-free or both?
3. Optional wheel cleaner?
4. Accept credit/debit cards or not?
5. Approximate population needed in order to support?

Any other helpful advise would be great.

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Waxman]

best system is subjective. folks here will tell you it's based on who the best distributor is in your area.

i like touch free for in bay automatics because there are very few damage claims and they can be set up to clean very well.

if i were looking at buying new, it'd be a toss up between belanger and wash world.

i'm not sold on optional wheel cleaner.

yes definitely accept credit and debit.

it's not only based on population; more on competition and specifics of site ( egress, visibility, daily traffic count, etc).

 

[Scrub Free]

I just put a deposit on 2 WW razors and I am excited to get them in. We did a ton of research cosiderd all options, friction or touch free etc...and ended up with these. I feel like we made the rite choice. Of course I think #1 be sure you have a reliable distributor.

 

[loewem]

I've got a LW 4000. PDQ tech support isn't as helpful as you'd hope. If they can't help you in a few minutes they'll tell you to contact your distributor. That's time, that's money, that's frustrating, etc. Because of this I wouldn't go with PDQ. I've heard good things about WW, both support and the equipment.

I'd go with a touchless system. I think many customers have the opinion that friction wash can damage the car.

Definitely credit cards. 80% of my automatic transactions are credit/debit.

I'd also suggest putting thought into the auto cashier you choose. I've got a hamilton goldline. Nice, but limited in function. Something that supports fleets, customer loyalty, good reporting, company provides good support, etc.

good luck

 

[mac]

You might want to look at the friction unit by Istobal. To give you an idea of how well it cleans, just google Istobal and Lamborghini. You will see their machine cleaning new $600,000 cars coming off the assembly line. Yes, the cars aren't that dirty but the machines clean without scratching. (This is a paid advertisement.)

 

[washnshine]

If you go with a touch free, get familiar with the different styles - inverted L, gantry, etc., as well as the type of nozzle technology - v-jet, turbo, 0 degree, etc. Also investigate machines that have the ability to apply solutions to more than one side of the car at once. For instance, the Belanger can have a dual arm set up that will apply lp solutions through two arms simultaneously. You may even be able to get another hp pump to apply hp through both arms at once - I'm not sure. Other machines like the Oasis and the Pettit also have simultaneous hp and lp applications.

If you go with a friction machine, I would get one that has high pressure manifolds to at least address the rocker, wheel and front areas of the car, but preferably the whole car. Assuming this will be an unattended wash, it will essentially act as an auto-prep, which is important to consistently clean cars with a variety of soils. Many modern friction machines have several high pressure nozzles either mounted directly on the machine or as a drive-in option. The Istobal, PDQ, Washworld, Ryko, Autec and others all have this, but it may be optional. I would be certain to make sure my machine was set up with hp prep/rinse options. I'm not talking about a machine that is a "choice wash", rather a dedicated friction machine with hp options to assist in cleaning.

 

[soapy]

Ryko just announced a special on their fully loaded soft gloss XS tri foam detergent, cold wax , rain shield, wheel scrub, on board dryer. Comes with complete install for$99,900. Big savings if you are looking for a good friction machine. I might pick one up as it is $30,000 cheaper than just 3 months ago.

 

[mac]

Another thought on touch free washes. There is no doubt that a good operator can make a touch free machine do a decent wash. But those operators are scarce. The vast majority of machines out there are in gas stations. Usually major chains. And the vast majority of those do a poor job of cleaning. That's just the way the market is now. So what would you guess is the average consumer's opinion of a touch free wash?

 

[Jeff_L]

I put one of each type in. True, I worry about the soft touch a lot more because I've seen some idiots try to go in with restricted vehicles such as ones with ladder racks and such. However, normal vehicles going in come our really clean. My clients go to one or the other consistently, I typically don't see someone alternate their wash cycles between them. This reassures me that I made the right choice in going with both as I'm addressing two different clients, ones who want to be touched and ones who don't.

Pick the brand your trusted distributor supports and carries spare parts for. I went with PDQ, there are two distributors close by and more than once they've saved me by having parts on hand. One of my other requirements for me personally was the need to remote network into the IBA and cashier. That way I can manipulate them from afar. It's saved me a lot of time by not having to drive up to the wash for something silly.

 

[robert roman]

Fundamental to capital investment is financial risk which is function of ownership and business operating risks.

Principal ownership risk of installing in-bay is re-sale risk. Will future conditions allow sale to 3rd party for expected price. In other words, would there be an exit.

Business operating risk of installing in-bay is competitive risk as in will the site produce sufficient gross sales.

Sufficient is a function of unmet demand and cost and can be determined by working backwards.

Assume plant is $125K or monthly $2,500. Based on 1.5 debt coverage, sufficient gross net would be $3,750. Based on expense of 40 percent, sufficient gross sales would be $9,375.

If average price is $8.50, the footfall would need to be 13,235 cars washed annually.

What is approximate population needed to support this?

If average person washes four times a year, roughly 3,300 unique individual consumers would be needed. Based on in-bay use of 17 percent, a population of 19,500 would be needed within a 10-mile radius (mature market).

Otherwise, sales volume would require daily traffic flow of at least 10,500 vehicles.

Hope this helps.

Not condescending, just damn good advice.

 

[washnshine]

Fundamental to capital investment is financial risk which is function of ownership and business operating risks.

Principal ownership risk of installing in-bay is re-sale risk. Will future conditions allow sale to 3rd party for expected price. In other words, would there be an exit.

Business operating risk of installing in-bay is competitive risk as in will the site produce sufficient gross sales.

Sufficient is a function of unmet demand and cost and can be determined by working backwards.

Assume plant is $125K or monthly $2,500. Based on 1.5 debt coverage, sufficient gross net would be $3,750. Based on expense of 40 percent, sufficient gross sales would be $9,375.

If average price is $8.50, the footfall would need to be 13,235 cars washed annually.

What is approximate population needed to support this?

If average person washes four times a year, roughly 3,300 unique individual consumers would be needed. Based on in-bay use of 17 percent, a population of 19,500 would be needed within a 10-mile radius (mature market).

Otherwise, sales volume would require daily traffic flow of at least 10,500 vehicles.

Hope this helps.

Not condescending, just damn good advice.

Thanks Bob - good numbers for everyone to look at.

To the original poster: If your average customer washes four times a year, you better get a friction unit!

 

[soonermajic]

WhoTheHel washes in an IBA, & only does it 4x/yr? I'd say it's FAR closer to 6x/yr, & that's conservative.

 

[Greg Pack]

Not enough info. Any tunnels or C-store washes in the market? Are the C-stores friction or touch free?

For the most reliable cleaning a friction unit with wheel brushes would be my pick. But if you have three C-stores within a couple of blocks or a tunnel down the road all doing friction, you might be best taking a contrarian stand and going touch free.

Credit cards are a must this day and age. In a few years I think the question will be "should I take cash or not?"

 

[Waxman]

Friction vs touch free is never a simple decision. I know friction washes well, but it's the fickle customer who decides what is best for their car. My wash is touchfree and has been in service for many years. It does a good job, but not perfect and the dirtier cars need friction.

A competitor built a new friction wash last year and hasn't gotten much traction that I have seen. He is in a C / C+ location ( off a side street). The wash is near my apartment building so I check it out often and never see much business.

 

[MEP001]

But if you have three C-stores within a couple of blocks or a tunnel down the road all doing friction, you might be best taking a contrarian stand and going touch free.

I might disagree, especially if the c-stores are touchless. We had a well-established touch-free auto doing as much as 9k a month, and a friction tunnel that opened a couple miles away took 80% of our business.