Just purchased a car wash, need a new IBA.

[dannysaturday]

I just purchased a run down but operation site with 4 SS bays and 2 IBA bays. Currently one of the bays has a working PDQ G5s and the other bay is housing 2 Broken G5s's that are partially taken apart. My plan is to keep the working G5s up and running for now, but the other bay purchase a new wash. I'm pretty sold on buying a Razor vs. the Laser 360p. I need to get a new Water softener and RO system also. Any advise? It's in the North Florida Area. This is my first car wash purchase.

 

[Greg Pack]

Consider a soft cloth unit

 

[Kipster]

Where in North Fla. are you located ?

 

[dannysaturday]

I've looked at the PDQ shoreline tandem, a lot of my customer base prefer touch free though.

Fernandina.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

I've looked at the PDQ shoreline tandem, a lot of my customer base prefer touch free though.

Fernandina.

Listen to Greg Pack, he is very wise. If a lot of your customer base likes touchless, by all means keep one G5. After having a friction unit you will find that a lot (probably most) will prefer it over a touchless.

 

[dannysaturday]

Thanks, any thoughts on the WW Profile machine? I might do a profile then upgrade the G5 to a Razor in a year.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

I bought a new auto a few months ago to replace a Mark VII/Wesumat that was destroyed by a vehicle strike. My first choice was the WW Profile, but a new Mark VII was 25K less. I wasn't willing to kick in the 25K so I went with the Mark VII. The Wesumat was a total POS, but the new Mark VII has been a pleasant surprise, being almost flawless.

 

[Greg Pack]

You, being new to the business will likely need some on site tech support. Is the WW dealer local?

 

[robert roman]

“I just purchased a run down but operation site….” “Any advise? It's in the North Florida Area. This is my first car wash purchase.”

We are rapidly approaching the rainy and hurricane season, and the busy season doesn’t start until after Christmas.

So, I suggest you stop spending money.

This is the time of year to conserve and focus resources you have on the necessities like softener and RO.

For example, sell the junk to help pay for the above.

Borrowing money for new machine now before you make any real money will only put you in jeopardy.

 

[dannysaturday]

I'll do some research on that machine, thanks.

The WW dealer is about an hour from my site, I've talked with him on the phone a lot already and seems very knowledgeable. I have the opportunity to purchase a used 2014 Laser 360 with about 22k washes on it for a good price. Would that be something to consider or is it a no brainier just to go with new?

Even though it is the slow season, I still want to get the place up to standards asap, do it all at once. I have to replace the softener and RO also. Its a pretty run down site. I'm not financing any equipment so it doesn't make as big of a difference to me.

 

[Roz]

I came back from visiting WW factory (located in De Pere, WI) for customer training. Took a tour of the manufacturing or assembly floor as well as watched their test units in operation many times. We were as a small group of new Razor owners from all over the country. (a) My customers love our new Razor (ver 3 not the latest ver 4 shown at ICA which looks even better). The Razor replaced an old Mark VII. (b) I would not hesitate to purchase a WW Profile as a second IBA given what I learned in the two day course. People at WW are sharp, nice, and very willing to educate the customer on their products. The remote access to handle a customer issue is terrific and easy to use.

Every now and then a customer will call with an issue (always been road tar on the base area of the car). I just give them a rewash and explain the issue with road tar and all car washing machines. The customers love the fact that I can respond to them while they are at the wash even if I am not there.

Go with WW.....

 

[robert roman]

“Even though it is the slow season, I still want to get the place up to standards asap, do it all at once…..Its a pretty run down site.”

Although the feeding frenzy encourages you to buy equipment, no one has asked why a 4 + 2 is a pretty run down site to begin with.

Since four or five wands and one in-bay are atypical, two in-bays suggest robust demand and yet there is only one in-bay that works and one dry bay containing two junk units.

This doesn’t happen by accident.

 

[rph9168]

Makes no real sense to go with another touch free unit. Offering both a friction and touch free wash will expand your customer base.

 

[mac]

Out of curiosity, why do you need a new RO? If your old one is there you can usually just replace some parts and save a few thousand

 

[mac]

Robert there is no shortage of washes sold by a salesman to uneducated investors.

 

[dannysaturday]

Thanks for the info. I'm still doing a little more research but am leaning towards WW over PDQ. The previous owner has had other priorities the last 6 years or so and really done the bare min at the car wash to keep it open. I think the 1 friction and 1 touch less would be a better idea also. Just need to do some more research. I've got a quote for rebuilding the RO system and will hopefully be able to vs. buying new.

 

[soonermajic]

I came back from visiting WW factory (located in De Pere, WI) for customer training. Took a tour of the manufacturing or assembly floor as well as watched their test units in operation many times. We were as a small group of new Razor owners from all over the country. (a) My customers love our new Razor (ver 3 not the latest ver 4 shown at ICA which looks even better). The Razor replaced an old Mark VII. (b) I would not hesitate to purchase a WW Profile as a second IBA given what I learned in the two day course. People at WW are sharp, nice, and very willing to educate the customer on their products. The remote access to handle a customer issue is terrific and easy to use.

Every now and then a customer will call with an issue (always been road tar on the base area of the car). I just give them a rewash and explain the issue with road tar and all car washing machines. The customers love the fact that I can respond to them while they are at the wash even if I am not there.

Go with WW.....

What specifically did you learn, that would make you lean to WW Profile (Max I guess)? Isn't it a slightly slower 3 brush?

 

[robert roman]

Yeah, the guy is researching equipment instead of researching why the owner gave up on this site to pursue other interests that make money. LOL

Maybe the folks encouraging him to buy new equipment are getting a bird dog.

 

[dannysaturday]

Yeah, the guy is researching equipment instead of researching why the owner gave up on this site to pursue other interests that make money. LOL

Maybe the folks encouraging him to buy new equipment are getting a bird dog.

I've personally known the previous owner for a while. He's an older gentlemen that's retired, had a family tragedy a few years ago and lost interest. I have the numbers from before and it was doing great. It's a great site, the land alone is worth 70% of what I paid. I'm not worried about the site, just want to get new and improved equipment and bring it back do what it was doing before he let it go.

 

[MEP001]

I've personally known the previous owner for a while. He's an older gentlemen that's retired, had a family tragedy a few years ago and lost interest. I have the numbers from before and it was doing great. It's a great site, the land alone is worth 70% of what I paid. I'm not worried about the site, just want to get new and improved equipment and bring it back do what it was doing before he let it go.

You might have to ignore the guy. His views are very myopic, he may even be right on occasion, but if you don't listen to him his attitude becomes "I'll be laughing at you when you fail."