Start up price $2.00 or $2.25 vs. coin and bill usage

[doublj70]

Hello All,
I multiple self serve locations that I have purchased, and renovated over the last 5 years. I have seen quite a bit of variation in the income of the different washes, which I'm sure has a lot to do with location, but I have another theory as well. It seems like the wash that the start up price is a dollar rounded $2.00, is doing better overall. At this location, the bill acceptors are packed full, and there are way less quarters used. At another location, after the remodel, I raised the start up to $2.25. The income has been flat, and the bill acceptors haven't caught on as well, and I still get more quarters used. My theory is that with the $2.00 start up, people stop thinking about spending quarters, and just get used to using bills, so if they need more time, they just put in another dollar instead of another quarter. So, even with the lower priced start up, people end up spending more for each wash....
Has anyone experienced something similar? I hate to go backwards, but I was thinking of dropping my $2.25 washes back to $2.00 to see what happens.

Thanks, John

 

[Jim L.]

Even dollar pricing has worked best for me...vacs, SS and auto.

 

[pitzerwm]

I too found that even start up is best.

 

[PaulLovesJamie]

My gut reaction to lowering prices is not good, I'd be hard pressed to do that.

I too have a very strong preference for round dollar pricing, but at some point you have to raise the start up price. I dont like $2.25, the one extra Q didnt seem to me to be worth the disadvantages of not being $2. So when I felt the need to go up from $2, we went to $2.50. It worked out well for us. When its time to go up again I'll go straight to $3.

If you have credit cards, would the Q increments would matter as much?

You did say "my theory is that..." -- what I'm trying to say is, it could be some other reason. For example, in my market a large number of people will use Qs no matter what I do. I continually tell the guys who work for me that 1 alternative is not an alternative at all, it does not give you a choice - its a decision in disguise. Come up with 3 reasons and 3 alternatives before you even think about making a decision. What are the other possibilities and options for this location?

 

[blurdgman]

Stay at $2 start up

Stay at $2 startup and then when increases are needed reduce the time for each dollar. We're up to $.75/ minute and business hasn't been affected. There are two dollar guys that come in but they're very few.