Increase to $3 to start

[Wheels]

I wonder if anyone has experience with the overall percentage increase in sales if I increase from $2 to $3 start on my wash. I assume I may lose some customers over the increase. Can I expect a 10%, 20%, 25% increase?

 

[Mattwash]

I wonder if anyone has experience with the overall percentage increase in sales if I increase from $2 to $3 start on my wash. I assume I may lose some customers over the increase. Can I expect a 10%, 20%, 25% increase?

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]

We have been $6 for 5 minutes cash or credit since Jan 2023 and sales up 12% year to date.

 

[Waxman]

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.

 

[CarWashBoy]

I know every market is different, but with inflation where it is, interest rates where they are, the cost of good 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.
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[CarWashBoy]

I agree 100%.

 

[Mattwash]

I know every market is different, but with inflation where it is, interest rates where they are, the cost of good 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.

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]

We have been $6 for 5 minutes cash or credit since Jan 2023 and sales up 12% year to date.

Impressive! This is very reassuring to hear!!

 

[tdlconceptsllc]

$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]

One of the few studies I could find on national water rates. Utility water bills increased 43% from 2012-2021.

Up 43% over Last Decade, Water Rates Rising Faster than Other Household Utility Bills - Bluefield Research

Boston, Massachusetts: New analysis shows water rate growth currently outpacing other household utility services (e.g., power, gas) at an average of 4.2% per year. As such, the combined water & wastewater bill for a typical U.S. household has swelled to 43.2% from 2012 to 2021, an indicator of...

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.

 

[RAAOO7]

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]

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

I agree with you completely.
The car wash isn’t supposed to be a hobby. What are your vacuums priced at?

 

[RAAOO7]

$2 - 6 minutes . 50 % of customers only use about 5 minutes and leave time remaining.

 

[OurTown]

$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

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]

I know every market is different, but with inflation where it is, interest rates where they are, the cost of good 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.

$2 - 6 minutes . 50 % of customers only use about 5 minutes and leave time remaining.

Our Vacs are 3$ for 3 minutes. Avg vac revenue per customer is $5.75. been that way for over 2 years.

 

[tdlconceptsllc]

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.

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.

 

[Keno]

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.

 

[HeyVern]

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]

I wonder if anyone has experience with the overall percentage increase in sales if I increase from $2 to $3 start on my wash. I assume I may lose some customers over the increase. Can I expect a 10%, 20%, 25% increase?

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)

 

[Mattwash]

When timer stops in my bay, I changed the dixmor where the customer can deposit a quarter within the next 20 seconds to restart the timer.