Is this possibly the "New" thing that will turn the SS industry around?

[Greg Pack]

A few of us operators in the South have talked about it for a couple of years. Finally someone had the 'nads to try it:

In Savannah, Georgia an old eight bay SS car wash is in the process of being rehabbed. It will be shown on a bus tour during the SECWA roadshow February 14-15th, 2009.

What's so different about this facility? It's going to be a gated facility. The customer will pay a fixed amount ($5 or $6 ) at a paystation to get into the facility. Once in they will be able to wash and vac till their heart's content.

This makes a SS carwash a "real deal" again. Pay $5 and leave with a spotless, shiny vehicle, inside and out. Would you go there to clean your car? I would.

If you're interested in seeing this idea implemented, consider going to the Savanna Road Show. Tickets are $129 for non-members, Paula Deen's company is catering lunch (nitroglycerin tabs will be provided) and it's BOGO, so you can bring a friend. Here's the link:

http://secwa.org/events/roadshow01.html

Any comments about this concept?

 

[soapy]

This is not really a new concept. In Canada they have several indoor self service car washes that work like this. You pull into a large building and get a ticket with a time stamp. Then you are free to use the facility as long as you want. When leaving you take the time stamp ( similar to what you get in a parking lot) and the total time used is figured and then you pay based on the time. This works in the winters very well since it is so cold up there and a large heated building is provided for normal do it yourself car washers.

 

[Whale of a Wash]

I love the idea, Hope it works. it would tend to turn away the unwanteds really fast. It would also produce more money per car. The only drawback would be finding someone to be straight with the money. NO Coinchangers, No CC;s in bays. Could be some cost savings, with less equipment having to be vandalproof.

 

[Earl Weiss]

I love the idea, Hope it works. it would tend to turn away the unwanteds really fast. It would also produce more money per car. The only drawback would be finding someone to be straight with the money. NO Coinchangers, No CC;s in bays. Could be some cost savings, with less equipment having to be vandalproof.

At $5-$6 it may or may not be a money maker . As with many things, time will tell. I can see many marketing options such as monthly passes, fleet sales, wash books etc.

 

[Greg Pack]

Yes, just one money collection point. CC's could be accepted. Heavy equipment & trucks could be kept out with a height arch. Less dumping to deal with, drug dealers will have to find somewhere else to go unless they want to pay $5 to make a transaction. The washdown is free so I think it's reasonable to ask mess makers to help keep the bays clean.

There are several six bay washes in my town grossing 3-4K a month, even less. Only 40 Customers a day at $5 would gross $6000 per month. Maybe $5 on weekdays and $6 on weekends? How about a 19.95 monthly account?

What else?

 

[mjwalsh]

Back in 1982, there was a 14 stall car wash indoor facility like Soapy described built here in Bismarck called Wash n Wrench. All the vacs were inside etc. & they could dry or work on their cars as long as wanted. They could pay with VISA or cash for the total time same as a parking ramp format.

In 1982 dollars it was over 700K to build with SBA involved. After several years a Federal Marshall was there because of mortgage payment issues. Not to put them in a bad light, I am not sure what other factors were involved. I know that there was a sudden influx of over forty SS bays in town all within a few years at that time. We updated our equipment in 1987. It looks like we will do some serious updating again this year.

 

[Greg Pack]

Unlike the facility up north you guys described, the customer will pay one price. IMO, that's the appeal. no more playing "beat the clock" Just like at an all you can eat buffet there's no reason to leave hungry. There's no reason to leave with a dirty car.

I don't think this concept will be a boon to construction of new wash, but I might be wrong. locally, we're getting to the point here in the next year where some washes could probably be picked up for 100-150K. You could probably convert to this format for 25K

 

[Red Baron]

I like the concept but a few issues come to mind:

1. Customer would not be motivated to turn the dial to off, leaving the pump bypassing or pumping out tire cleaner for extended periods.

2. That's all I guess.

I met a wash owner in vbegas who installed wrought iron fence around his wash and closes at 10pm.

 

[Greg Pack]

What if I could install loop detectors in the floor? The signal from the loop would be required for the bay to operate. That would keep help kids from causing problems. I would likely install a non-accumulating timer with push button to start. One push will give four minutes of wash time. If they drive off, the loop will sense that and cut the bay off. It doesn't accumulate so they can't hit the button five times for twenty minutes, etc.

The one thing I can't figure out is how to prevent trailers. Trailers could potentially be bad news and personally I would just want to keep those out.


There will be operational issues and chemical costs, etc will have to be manged properly. An inexpensive line of chemicals would be needed. I'm in the south and would probably not use hot water, etc. I would hope eventually everyone would get "tired" of washing the **** out of their car and would just settle into a normal routine after a few months.

 

[pitzerwm]

I seem to remember that concept being tried in the 80s when I had just got into the business. Thinking of all of the potential headaches, I'd think that this would need an attendant to monitor it as well as train people. Maybe in conjunction with a detailing business or a Quick Lube, where you had people around anyway.

 

[Washmee]

We had one here in the late 70's. It was closed down by the city as a nuisance. During the winter months, the homeless were using it as a shelter and harassing customers. Finally, there was a shooting inside, that was the last straw.

 

[MEP001]

Customer would not be motivated to turn the dial to off, leaving the pump bypassing or pumping out tire cleaner for extended periods.

I'm not sure about how to do it with tire cleaner, but a flow switch and timer could be used with the high-pressure to shut the pump off if it's left running without being used for a certain length of time.

What if I could install loop detectors in the floor?

That's not such a big deal, especially now that they have a "loop plate" that you can bolt to the floor and only requires one thin trench for the wires. It's probably the best idea to prevent what you mentioned, which is kids turning everything on and leaving it running.

The one thing I can't figure out is how to prevent trailers. Trailers could potentially be bad news and personally I would just want to keep those out.

What if the only way to make this work is to have it attended? It would be too easy for people to "cheat" an automated pay system by, for example, bringing in two cars and one following the other out closely enough that the gate wouldn't close. Someone in a booth or an attendant on-site would have to stop trailers before they enter.

Someone locally has done the "double time" thing for cash customers, and it has worked out very well for him.

 

[Sequoia]

Gated entry

Interesting concept but I couldn't implement it as I can't effectively fence off my entire property. So I'd have motorcycles arriving through the planters, every kid in town washing his bicycle, and I have visions of kids in two adjoining bays having water gun fights.

But I agree it is an interesting concept. Would like to see the results from some modern attempts at this method.

 

[Greg Pack]

Sequoia, loops installed so that bay wouldn't turn on if there isn't sufficient mass of metal. This would prevent kids from playing, bikes, etc.

Trailers and cheaters: Build a two gated "rat trap" system with 24' or so between each gate.

Gate 1 is open and about 19 feet behind paystation. Loop is installed so customer is warned if vehicle is too long.

Customer pays. Rear gate will drop before front gate opens. This will however not stop a motorcycle from hitching a ride with a car. It also doesn't prevent an entire group of four motorcycles from trying that.

On this note: I have a friend that has a mega time wash with loops installed. He disconnected the loops. I asked him about people cheating the system and two washing for the price of one,etc.. His response was that he hoped that happened. Basically he said " I want them to feel like they're cheating me, that they're beating the system. I want them to tell all their friends how they beat the system, so their friends will come and try to beat the system too. And I'll get their money" Now that is unorthodox thinking but he has a point. Now I realize this is different because he got a minimum of 4.00 for each startup and we're talking about people getting in for free. But there is "some" marketing potential there, and maybe there is a way to prevent this from happening too much short of attendants.

My idea may be completely different from what is being built in Savannah. I will know more after attending the road show. This is indeed an unorthodox concept and would likely require you to reject anything but cars, trucks, SUVs. But that is 95% of the business for me anyway, if not more. But this may be a "purple cow" that gets people talking about washing at a SS again.

 

[carwashexpress]

As the "ginea pig " I would first like to say that this is not a new idea. As some have said it has been done many times in the "barn" washes in the north. This idea has been a topic among us SECWA guys for two or three years. I am the one who has finally decided to do it. We are currently in the middle of renovation. The masonry and iron fence will be done by next Wednesday. We are replacing all of the timers on our vacs and Eight SS bays with non-accumulating timers so that a kid could not run a bay crazy. We are replacing all vac motors and re decaling everything. My new pylon road sign will say "Wash All u Want One Low Price".
The entrance price will be $6.00 . We are also adding triple foam from Etowah Valley. We are rebuilding two Hamilton ACW cashiers and will dispense dollar coins for change. We are installing WashCard system that will allow high speed processing as well as our prepaid/postpay house card acceptance. With other locations in the area already on our Unlimited WashPass , we will also allow our UWP customers entry into the gated SS, RFID technology allows us to ensure vehicle specific security.

We are taking a twenty year old SS that produces $70,000 per year and converting it into a site that we expect will produce $100,000 to $125,000 per year. We are spending about $40,000 the renovation and should see a great ROI.

As stated before , this site will be on the SECWA RoadShow on Feb 15 , 2010. I plan to host a Roundtable discussion on our Memphis Road Show this summer after I Have some hard data. Check it out at SECWA.org .

Any ideas or comments on this would be greatly appreciated. I used to monitor the forum a lot in my early years , but haven't been on in a while. I had to register again as I could not remember login info.
I look forward to your opinions.

Robert Greene
rgreene@carwashxpressinc.com

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I think that most operators would agree that it really is no longer feasible to just conduct business as usual! I am not sure that my site would be optimal for this type of setup, but I will be keeping an open mind about it...

 

[dcarwash]

Competition

Our main competition is still the express tunnels. In our town they give a wash and dry with free unlimited vacuums (under shaded canopys) for $3. It is fast and does a good job.

 

[carwashexpress]

The idea of paying one price and receiving unlimited amounts of a product or service has worked for many industries. Who hasn't been to an all you can eat buffet and taken it on as a personal goal to break the owner. The only problem is that after leaving we begin to feel so miserable that we vow to never eat that much again. But if the food was good , most of us would probably visit the place again. There is a perceived value there. If I want to eat more , I can . Because the food is already cooked , I can grab a plate and eat a good meal in less time than grabbing an Extra Value Meal. Again , there is a perceived value there.

In recent days , wireless cel phone companies are also beginning to charge one price for unlimited services or even usage. The whole point is to gain a large customer base that will pay every month regardless of usage. This creates a levelized revenue stream .Yes , there are some who will over use the plan but most will not.

We plan to do both. By charging one low price ( we have settled on $6) , the customer will see a value. Let's face it , we have added tri foam , dryers and even tire shine to our bays to increase revenue streams . We have also made it more convenient for our customers to spend money by adding bill acceptors and credit card acceptance. But the fact is , we have forgotten about the other way to increase revenue , Get more customers to the facility. The perceived value should reach out and bring customers into the wash just as the Express tunnel has done. Our goal is to get washers out of there driveway and into a professional car wash.

Robert Greene
rgreene@carwashexpressinc.com

 

[carwashexpress]

We own a double in bay in town and are constructing of a 100ft express tunnel there also, we are including this gated SS to our Unlimited Wash Pass customers. If you join our club for one monthly fee , you will be able to wash in our two in bays , our express tunnel or our new gated SS any time you wish. This should create the revenue stream I am looking for . Our goal is to "wrap up" the market and have carwashers tied to us like a cel phone company. We have to get beyond soap and water and get to what matters , marketing our business. Forget what tire cleaner will cost. Think about the bank note , insurance , light bill , attendant costs , taxes , etc. that are all FIXED COSTS every month. Only chemical costs and water fluctuate with usage and these are minimal in the SS if done properly . We have done very well with our Unlimited Club at our 5/1 plus 125ft xpress site in the past year.

This may seem a risky venture to some. We have scheduled this in three phases.
Phase one(underway now about $40,000): install masonry traffic control fencing, gates and cashiers I already have. Facelift the facility incuding new road sign and install necessary electronics to allow use. N low pressure systems.Add WashCard and RFID to handle club marketing.

Phase Two(about $20,000): If successful , install new wall panels like extrutech , new high pressure system , add more vacs if necessary .

Phase three(about$50,000): Install dryers in the bays and upgrade cashiers to touch screens with full video capability. At this point we will go up on entry price.

The days of building a nice carwash and it being a producer on it's own are over. We must think outside the box and put our marketing hats on. I don't claim to be smarter than anyone else , but I do claim to not be afraid of trying something different. Many have talked about this idea for years. Boys , I am on the high dive and have just made my first bounce........

Robert Greene
rgreene@carwhexpressinc.com

 

[robert roman]

This is the type of innovation (adaptability) that there needs to be more of in the self-service segment.

I can't see how it won't work. Moreover, it would be a good tactic to counter an express exterior.

Yes, there will be some morons that will use "too" much. However, time, the lack thereof, continues to be increasingly important to most people.

Having a full-time professional attendant on site may also be a new norm for this segment rather than the exception.

Of course, the benefits will only come to those who try it. No risk, no gain.