Smartphone Payment App presentation @ ICA

[Kimberly Berg]

If you're interested in adding a payment app at your self-serve car wash, I'll be giving an AWESOME presentation on my experience with Coinless. I'm presenting at 8am on Tuesday May 9th, Room W203 & W204.

For the record, I'm not being paid by Coinless. WCA asked me to present, not Coinless. I installed the app 8 months ago, and excited to share my research, experience & customer testimonials.

 

[Mattwash]

Hello Kimberly, in January I added the Monex cc system. I am also looking to add Coinless. Do you have any images of what all your platform looks like at each bay?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Kimberly Berg]

Hello Kimberly, in January I added the Monex cc system. I am also looking to add Coinless. Do you have any images of what all your platform looks like at each bay?

Thanks,
Matt

Hi Matt, here's 2 photos showing the WIFI devices (for the bays) connected in the pump room & custom Coinless signs in the bays. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Mattwash]

I like this idea a lot. In the short term, I would like to offer a rewards program and eventually I want to have a membership program.

I read your other thread about the number of people you have had download the app. Since you’ve had it over the last 9 months, how many active users do you have? Also do you accept credit cards via another platform?

 

[TMoliver]

Kimberly, Are your meters old Livingston or Magic Wand meters? I was just wandering as I have not seen many still in use.
TMO

 

[Kimberly Berg]

I like this idea a lot. In the short term, I would like to offer a rewards program and eventually I want to have a membership program.

I read your other thread about the number of people you have had download the app. Since you’ve had it over the last 9 months, how many active users do you have? Also do you accept credit cards via another platform?

Hi Matt, we have a single ePort credit card reader (at the cash machine) where customers can purchase $1 tokens for everything. Switching to tokens stopped the quarter theft we had 10 years ago.

Coinless is the perfect addition for us, as sorting & cleaning tokens has become very labor intensive. Token prices are also increasing.

Here are my Coinless numbers:
1418 have downloaded the app
481 have only made 1 purchase
671 are considered inactive (haven't made a purchase in 90 days). I know there's some duplicity between 1 purchase & inactive numbers.
1627 app reviews (internal), with solid 4.5 stars. A lot of my regular customer are now using it & LOVE IT! I give $5 credit for new customers to download it. They are automatically enrolled in the Loyalty Program, where I give them another $5 credit for every $50 spent.

 

[Kimberly Berg]

Kimberly, Are your meters old Livingston or Magic Wand meters? I was just wandering as I have not seen many still in use.
TMO

Hi TMO, Unfortunately I don't know the history of my meters... My car wash was built in 1982 and I purchased it in 2003, without any supplier notes. I know my vacuums are MarkVII, made by Livingston, as I found an old label inside. My chemical tanks were made by Magic Wand, and still look great!

 

[TMoliver]

If the chemical tanks are Magic Wand, I would guess the meters are as well. The Fiberglass vac's I remember them from my time living in Kansas City and when MarkVII purchased the Roto rail and vacuum line from Livingston. That was a long time ago.

Have a great day

 

[Mattwash]

Hi Matt, we have a single ePort credit card reader (at the cash machine) where customers can purchase $1 tokens for everything. Switching to tokens stopped the quarter theft we had 10 years ago.

Coinless is the perfect addition for us, as sorting & cleaning tokens has become very labor intensive. Token prices are also increasing.

Here are my Coinless numbers:
1418 have downloaded the app
481 have only made 1 purchase
671 are considered inactive (haven't made a purchase in 90 days). I know there's some duplicity between 1 purchase & inactive numbers.
1627 app reviews (internal), with solid 4.5 stars. A lot of my regular customer are now using it & LOVE IT! I give $5 credit for new customers to download it. They are automatically enrolled in the Loyalty Program, where I give them another $5 credit for every $50 spent.

Half of my business is cash, with 2/3rds of the quarters coming from the patrons, the other 1/3 my coin changer. Thus, I’m hesitant to make the switch to tokens, feel in the long run digital is the way to go. Was contemplating getting rid of the quarters for my vacuums, just bc of the damage associated with one theft.

what all did you have to install at each bay?

 

[Kimberly Berg]

Half of my business is cash, with 2/3rds of the quarters coming from the patrons, the other 1/3 my coin changer. Thus, I’m hesitant to make the switch to tokens, feel in the long run digital is the way to go. Was contemplating getting rid of the quarters for my vacuums, just bc of the damage associated with one theft.

what all did you have to install at each bay?

1/2 my business is cash & 1/2 is credit cards. I thought Coinless would cut into that but it's not. My car wash is busier than ever & lots of new customers. When we had quarter theft 10 years ago, I considered going to $1 tokens, but was warned by my local car wash supplier that customers would spend their quarters elsewhere & tokens "would KILL my business!" I did a lot of research & talked to my regulars about the theft. I have the nicest SS car wash in a 50 mile radius, with very loyal customers. I went against the nay-sayers & converted to tokens in January 2015.

To prepare, I had to exchange the hopper wheel in my Hamilton to accept a larger coin, install electronic retrofit kit on 6 Laurel vending machines. Fortunately, I was already using the Slugbuster II coin acceptors in my bays & vacuums. I feel your pain about the vacuums... We had 2 stolen at my other car wash before we sold it. The great thing about the tokens was that it immediately stopped the quarter theft. I put signs on every machine. Good luck!!