Pricing

[Debra Gorgos]

When is the best time to increase prices at your self serve? Do you warn customers first? Also, have you ever regretted raising prices?

 

[DiamondWash]

I increased my prices first of the year went to $3.50 for 5 mins and no I didn't warn customers beforehand, all seems to be going well so far, I know we don't have the amount of PITA customers anymore.

 

[chaz]

Best time: when you are ready to make more money. I’m among the highest in my area for s/s, touchless, and vac. I do what’s right for my biz. Always keeping equipment in working order and always taking care of calls and issues. It’s been two years since I raised my vacs from $1 to $2 and the time from 4 to 6 minutes. Even with a doubling of start price, I’d have to loose 1/2 of my vac biz and that was unlikely and in fact my vac biz is up with less mess.

I do not “warn”of a price increase. Not like a customer can stock up. I do change out my price signage with new professional decals with the new pricing etc.

I’ve never regretted a price change. I’ve also always gone with a price increase as opposed to a time decrease

 

[Robert2181]

I agree with Diamond & chaz's post.
But would also add that we are in business to offer a service at a profit.

I cannot think of to many business's that give the customer notice. Our cost goes up just as fast and sometimes much more than many others. Prices are raised accordingly.

 

[JGinther]

When is the best time to increase prices at your self serve? Do you warn customers first? Also, have you ever regretted raising prices?

When you buy a new truck.

 

[Randy]

We raise our prices when our operating costs go up to the point that it cuts into our profit. The only warning we give our customers that we are going to raise our prices is when we put on the new decals showing the new price. We have never regretted raising our prices. I think that most car washes, especially the ones in the Mid-west and down South are of the mindset that if they keep their prices low they’ll get more business. That’s about the worse way thinking, we call that “Stink’n think’n” you should charge enough to make a decent profit so you can reinvest in your business. I don’t know of to many people who will drive across town to save .50 on a 6 pack of beer or on a Latte, so why run a cheap car wash. The last couple of price increases we’ve gotten no customer complaints about the price increase.

 

[soapy]

I just got a Google review this week ranting about how I just keep raising my prices all the time and the car wash is not a good value anymore. He was posting about my IBAs. Truth is I have not raised my automatic prices in over 10 years. I guess I should raise them to stay in line with expectations.

 

[OurTown]

We have only owned our wash for about a year now so we are not experts on when to raise prices. If I had to guess when it should be raised is during the slow season because I think when most of your customers come back when business picks up they can't remember how much it cost before. I doubt anyone warns their customers of a price increase at a car wash. We raised our self serve price about 50% 4 months ago and only 2 people commented on it but didn't complain.

 

[MEP001]

I've raised prices at different washes probably 20 times over the years. No one complained except the people I was glad to be rid of anyway.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Right after my closest and top notch competition with better street exposure raised his.

 

[Brybrew]

I try to show a justification for the price increase. I’m getting ready to increase my self serve this fall once I install credit card swipers. I’ll also update new graphics and do a really good cleaning with new guns and hoses etc. At least when they see it, most will understand Its a natural increase and I’m not doing it just for the sake if an increase. You could look at bay dryers, or a new paint job etc. just to give some visual value to the updated pricing.