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Increase to $3 to start
- Thread starter Wheels
- Start date
Mattwash
Active member
Not sure about increase in sales. But when I remodeled my wash, I did starting price of $3/4min. Occasionally someone will say something or someone will drive through and leave after looking at the price/sign. The only self serve close by is a couple miles away on the opposite side of town, has watered down chemicals and starting price is $3.75. Everyone I talk to tells me how good my chemicals are and how clean my place is compared to theirs. If you’re providing a superior service wouldn’t be afraid to set it to $3. Just my two cents.
CarWashBoy
Active member
We have been $6 for 5 minutes cash or credit since Jan 2023 and sales up 12% year to date.
Waxman
Super Moderator
I know every market is different, but with inflation where it is, interest rates where they are, the cost of goods sold increasing, why isn't everyone at five dollars to start? It's not that much money guys. I've been at five dollars now going on two years and I have had very few if any customer complaints. I wish I had done it a year earlier.
A fountain soda at a restaurant is more than two dollars. Think about it.
A fountain soda at a restaurant is more than two dollars. Think about it.
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CarWashBoy
Active member
CarWashBoy
Active member
I agree 100%.
Mattwash
Active member
I’m not opposed to that price. I was in the middle of a remodel and slowly adding items. Definitely going to take a look at price increases after the new year.
Mattwash
Active member
Impressive! This is very reassuring to hear!!
tdlconceptsllc
Well-known member
$3 for 4min is the new Industry Standard like in 2001 it was $2.00 for 4mins. If my competition wasn’t giving it away for free at $1.50 I would be $3 myself
Mattwash
Active member
One of the few studies I could find on national water rates. Utility water bills increased 43% from 2012-2021.
www.bluefieldresearch.com
Now take into consideration how much have chemicals, energy, and equipment/repair parts increased over the last decade? We should probably be at much higher rates.
U.S. Municipal Utility Water Rates Index 2024: Drinking Water & Sewer - Bluefield Research
U.S. Municipal Drinking Water & Sewer: Annual Utility Rate Index, 2024
www.bluefieldresearch.com
Now take into consideration how much have chemicals, energy, and equipment/repair parts increased over the last decade? We should probably be at much higher rates.
just went from $4 to $5, in two weeks only one person asked about if the price went up. Most of my customers spend more than $5 so it doesnt make any difference to them. Only the cheapskate people that want to spend the minimum and mess up your place. You cant even buy gum and a soda anymore for $5. I don't want anyone on my lot unless they are going to spend minimum $5 & up. Im in the business to make $$$$ not eat top ramen and give everything away for free
Mattwash
Active member
I agree with you completely.
The car wash isn’t supposed to be a hobby. What are your vacuums priced at?
OurTown
Well-known member
We have been at $3 start for several years and have a competitor that is still at $1.50 and we do well against them. I can't wrap my mind around how they are willing to stay that low with all the cost increases in the last few years.
CarWashBoy
Active member
Our Vacs are 3$ for 3 minutes. Avg vac revenue per customer is $5.75. been that way for over 2 years.
tdlconceptsllc
Well-known member
I Just recently went to $2.50 this summer in 2020 It was $1 when i bought the place and renovated with everything you could offer for a Self Serve and been going up since. There like the cheapest operators in the state at $1.50 and have there own market on top of everything they could charge $5 start up easy.
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Depends on the area, we are at $3 for 4 mins bays and $2 for 6 mins vac. Also customer perception is to be considered also. A lot will just look at start price and not cost per minute. I know an operator that won't raise his start price because of this, and I've seen it personally. He is at $2 start for 2 mins with pay vacs, his customers still think he is "cheaper" than the guy down the road at $5 for 5 mins with free vacs.
Most washes around me don't post the time only the start price. The three closest to me are $1.25 to start.
FuturaFan
Member
No. We decreased ours from $3 to $2. Increased traffic after that. People don't like forgetting to put in quarters and having to put back in $3. From what I've noticed, when we had $3 start, some customers that put money in stop on the wax setting because they don't want to put in another $3. We have 1 second for 1 cent, ($0.25 for 25 seconds)
