Signage? Less is more?

[Bubbles Galore]

I'm going to go through and do a deep clean in my bays this spring and will be taking down most of my current signage which doesn't look that good anyway. I hate the cluttered look, so I want to put up signs that actually merit being up. What signs do you have that are considered "essential?"

 

[RockyMountain]

Good Question- and one more...

Also, is it law that signs have to be posted warning people about degreasing and oil changing? Is that a state by state thing?

 

[dclark3344]

I have the menu board in my bay that Coleman sells, it is problably 24 x 40 and list all the functions with a brief description and a pic of the delivery device(foam brush, high pressure wand and foam gun). I also have a hook and sign for the high pressure hose which states "please hook high pressure hose on hook when finished the mirror you save may be your own". I love it now when someone hooks a mirror and breaks it off. I had one guy last week that actually hooked is door and folded it all the way back to his fender. LOL I think he was checking out a little hottie that was vacuuming out her car and he was hanging out the door. He really made an impression.

 

[Randy]

I?ve got 3 signs in my bays. A Foam brush sign, a Menu sign and a high pressure gun sign. I clean them with bathroom shower cleaner about every 2 or 3 months.

It?s not against the law in the state of Washington to change your oil in a car wash bay or degrease your engine.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I have the menu board sign, the engine degreaser sign, the HP sign, the changer located at front of building sign, the FB sign, the mat holder sign, the pictoral signs that show the different functions on the old Mustang. To me it seems like too much. I will probably replace the menu board and the FB sign.

 

[mac]

I like to keep signange to a minimum. I've seen bays where the walls were literally covered with signs and it just looks bad. The more signage you have, the less they are read. Don't believe me? Put up a small sign under your menu sign that says free $20 bill to anyone just asking the attendent on a bust day. You will be there all day and not get one request. On a side note, I've started to have custom signs made instead of the catalogue ones. You can combine your wash look into them, there are no strips to come off later, and they cost about the same.

 

[rph9168]

I have to disagree with most of the comments on bay signage. Take a look at most retail stores. They use a lot of signage even when there is a salesperson on duty. Look at fast food outlets. They have pictures of the items on the menu instead of wording. I agree that most people don't read signs (if fact many are incapable of it) so using attractive pictures of the services available becomes even more essential. The real problem with bay signage is that it becomes outdated or "ratty looking" if you don't stay on top of it.

I can see where the bay looks nice a clean with little or no signage and you can probably keep it cleaner easier since there will be less usage of the equipment when customers are only encouraged to use it by the items on the meter box or direction sign.

 

[jloebker]

I prefer the pictoral signs that show the application on the car. The signs that I took down immediately, were all the NO SIGNS.I.E. NO MUD, NO DIRT, NO MESS, NO PEE-N NO POOPIN, = No Customers.

 

[boywonder]

More signage is not the answer. I have 4 total. I have the Instruction board, shut off engine sign, foam brush, and triple foam. Its not how many, its about getting the message across. I used the signs for my triple foam that came with the package not very informative. Made my own signs and increased the Triple Foam 10 fold. I love selling signs, but get the message across.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

At this point the concensus is that visual is better. I can understand that. Who wants to stand there and read about how to wash a car? I have eight bays though and I don't want to get bent over a barrell by having custom signs made up.

 

[rph9168]

Check with your chemical supplier. Many manufacturers have signage programs with allowances based on the number of bays and amount purchased. Custom signs can get real pricey but some of the local signage companies might cut you a deal based in how many you need. KR also has signs but I think they get them from TSS so you might want to call them direct.

 

[pitzerwm]

Even if the signs are not read, in a legal situation, if you have a sign covering the issue, you will have a better shot at winning in court. Been there done that. I agree that you should try to make all signs positive, or at least have a minimum of negative signs. In the Library, you will find the signs that I used effectively with the negative parts and messes in the bays.

 

[dclark3344]

I prefer the pictoral signs that show the application on the car. The signs that I took down immediately, were all the NO SIGNS.I.E. NO MUD, NO DIRT, NO MESS, NO PEE-N NO POOPIN, = No Customers.

This reminded me of a Marketing Teacher at the University and a loyal customer that asked me to address his class and tell them why my carwash is so busy and all my competition does not do half as much business as I do. (4 brand new ones in 5 years within 3 miles). This was one of the things he noticed and I had not touched on, the NEGATIVE SIGNS. We try to accomodate everyones wash needs and asked them to be considerate of the next customer. The guys that wash out their pickup beds we politely ask them to pull up in the bay and wash out their beds into the pit so we do not get nails and debris in the drive area. Sometimes there are A$$holes that get offended and threaten to leave and never come back and I just reply that all my other customers will appreciate that. Good luck in finding a carwash that will accomodate you trashing their facility.
One redneck had just washed out a bunch of nails out in the drive area. I asked him where he lived and when he asked why I told him I wanted to return his nails to his driveway since he did not have a problem scattering them over mine. He just looked puzzled esp when I pulled out a paper and pen and recited his tag number to myself. Funny he wanted to know if he could borrow a broom and dust pan. I know the post is on signs I am a little ADD

 

[Ric]

Here's what I did. http://forum.autocareforum.net/showthread.php?t=2147
That's all the bay signage I have. The mat clamps are labeled. I like to keep it simple and fun, customers then tend to read it. I've adjusted my price/time since these photos but the concept is still the same.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Here's a good example. I have a 12 x 12 sign in my bays that reads something along the lines of: management is not responsible for any damage from the use of our engine/tire cleaner blah blah blah. Is something like that really an issue any more? Granted, this sign is probably 20 years old, but really?

I hate it when I have customers ask me if the tire cleaner is really safe. I spray it all over my hand to prove that its safe, then they feel more comfortable spraying it on their car. It just seems like the 'negative' signs cause more headaches then they are worth.

 

[JMMUSTANG]

I did the same thing a while back.
I made sure that my instructional signs were bilingual.
After 32 years in the business I posted for the first time caution signs about the floor may be slippery or icy when wet and high pressure guns, use at there own risk.
Also that the bubble brushes do not work in freezing weather.
I had a guy recently that complained to me that he wanted all his money back($5) because the bubble brush didn't work, the temp. was 12 degrees the wind chill was below zero. I looked at his car and it was clean with ice all over it. I showed him the sign and he started laughing and said it probably wasn't a good idea to be washing his car when it was that cold.
He was at the car wash last weekend (27 degerees) using the brush.
There are just times when my brushes will freeze no matter what I do and invariably a customer will try using them when it's frozen with ice cicles hanging from them.
With the economy the way it is I am worried that some people might try to get a fast buck too.

 

[ScottV]

Jloebker,

"No Pee-n, No Pooping??" You running a car wash or a rest area?

I guess I havent caught anyone trying to do that yet!

ScottV

 

[Ghetto Wash]

Jloebker,

"No Pee-n, No Pooping??" You running a car wash or a rest area?

I guess I havent caught anyone trying to do that yet!

ScottV

With 5 locations, I catch someone ****ing at least once a week. Have even gone to court over it when the guy was charged with indecent exposure.

And the Pooping..............
This happens also.
Someone once crapped in a bay, picked it up and shoved it deep in both my changer validators. Nasty job to clean those.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Good Lord! I guess your name is only appropriate. Yuck!

 

[coolguy]

In Bay signage

Are there sites that SELL car wash signage?