I wanted to start a new thread on this to get the most input possible. At my carwash it seems not a single person knows how to hang up a vaccum hose. I am replacing all hoses, cuffs, and claws, new overlays so my question is should i raise prices? Right now im at $1.25/4min. Also i have a serious problem with customers just throwing trash on the ground instead of walking 2 steps to throw in the trash can. Also customers are vacuuming up water after heavy rain and it seems to be on every single vaccum. Makes the vaccums stink!!! Im in Louisiana and our prices our probrably really low if not the lowest in the country. Bays are $1.50/3mins. Any input from fellow carwash owners can help i love hearing about what someone else tried or did to help this situation a bit. Im retired Army so this just really infuriates me and my bp is high. Thanks in advance to all who try and help me solve this!!!
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Vaccums and prices.
- Thread starter Damoni88
- Start date
OurTown
Well-known member
Those are not the lowest prices in the country but yes raise your price. Someone needs to invent an auto retractable hose for us and we need a robotic trash picker too. Thanks for your service to our country.
People are just BA$TARDS!! They have no respect for anyone else’s property. They’ll just toss the hose on the ground, trash and whatever else that comes out of their car. We charge $1.50 for 3.5 minutes on the vac’s and $2.50 for 3.5 minutes in the bays. The last time I raised my prices I got no complaints, I’d raise my prices and not look back. I think it might be time to raise my prices again. We go to our car wash at 05:00 and are gone by 07:15 so we don’t have to interact with any of the customers.
chaz
Active member
EXACTLY. Though I give 6min for $2 on vacs
I went to $2 for 6 minutes a while ago. (Used to be $1 for 4 minutes). Although at first, a few folks griped about the $2 price, it was one of the best things I have done. People can actually get their car done in that time without racing, and most of them actually hang the hose up. I think the hose getting tossed on the ground is because they were almost done, and vac quits. This pi$$es them off, so they throw it on the ground.
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
"Right now im at $1.25/4min. .....Im in Louisiana and our prices our probrably really low if not the lowest in the country."
Chicagoland $1.00 for 4 minutes is common. Almost as EE with Free.
Chicagoland $1.00 for 4 minutes is common. Almost as EE with Free.
Thank you guys for all the comments. Makes me feel better about raising prices. Its just amazing to me how I can clean up and 10 mins later trash is on the ground and all 8 vac hoses are on the ground. I go to the carwash at 730 usually gone by 9 the back at 1330 till 1500 then my regular helper goes at 2000 then my cousin patrols at night to catch theives, so i know these idiots see the stuff clean and then just trash it. Really appreciate you guys comments makes me feel better about raising prices
It can be difficult to raise prices. When I do it I usually do something to that item. You said you’re replacing decals and hoses, I would say double check the bags, motors and seals to make sure you have strong suction. Then raise your price to at least $2 if not more. People serious about cleaning their car will enjoy not having to go put in some quarters every 3-4 minutes. The ones that complain, if at all, could be the non-hose hangers and trash on the ground people. You’re never going to train people to take care of your place, so raise the price and take that frustration to the bank.
Alpine Dreams
Member
This is my perception as well. I see a lot of my customers get frustrated at the beeping every few minutes in my bays. I'm tempted to make my startup price 4 or 5 dollars and give them 10 minutes. The people who want to spray oil out of their beds or clean a greasy piece of equipment may go elsewhere because they only need 2 or 3 minutes to wreck a bay.
With vacuums things would be no different. The cheapskates are gonna go to the next guy to suck urine or sewage out of their vehicles if you aren't the cheapest. I say sewage because I'm not sure what they suck out of their vehicles that makes the vacuums stink so badly.
Waxman
Super Moderator
I think that if a wash owner is contemplating a price increase, they probably should have raised them up about 6 months ago. The business should charge what the market will bear. I have hesitated to raise prices in the past. Then, when I finally increase them I get little or no pushback. I’m at $2/4min for vacs and $3 for 3:12 on SS bays. Auto is $8,9,10,12. Going to 10,12,13,15. We are in business to make a profit.
washnshine
Well-known member
When we raise our prices, we have to ask ourselves “what are the customers going to do”. It probably boils down to:
Go somewhere else - but we are already considering competition and quality and have already considered their alternatives.
Give us an earful- but we can all give it back to them with the cost if doing business etc, taxes, labor etc.
Stop washing altogether. Well, when they come to their senses and start washing again, I don’t want them at my place because they will have the ten bags of trash to throw out and all sorts of crap to vacuum out of their car, for which will get a measly $2!
Go somewhere else - but we are already considering competition and quality and have already considered their alternatives.
Give us an earful- but we can all give it back to them with the cost if doing business etc, taxes, labor etc.
Stop washing altogether. Well, when they come to their senses and start washing again, I don’t want them at my place because they will have the ten bags of trash to throw out and all sorts of crap to vacuum out of their car, for which will get a measly $2!
soonermajic
Well-known member
NE Tx is $1/4 minutes on SS
.50/4minutes on vacs.
We are nearly half what you are. I also have a bunch of sorry customers...& a bunch of great customers
.50/4minutes on vacs.
We are nearly half what you are. I also have a bunch of sorry customers...& a bunch of great customers
chaz
Active member
WOW!!! At those prices I think I’d be better off just getting a job somewhere. I assume your facility is all paid off...but even then dos t sound like you are gonna be very profitable?????
OurTown
Well-known member
There are a few around here that are almost that cheap but they are really run down. Hardly anyone goes there and it is hard to believe that they could even cover their fixed costs.
Same goes for my wash. I have the most updated wash in the center of town. Somedays/most you can not get into a bay/vac. All my equipment is up to date every single vac is some sort of combo vac. So i have taken in the fact with all the great comments to raise my prices and i relaized i would have to loose over 1/2 my customers for me to be at a loss. I love this buisness but, the trash and vac hoses ALWAYS ON THE GROUND just makes me sick. They have a trash wash about 4 miles down the road they can go to that doesnt even have vendors, no one is ever there, in a bad neighborhood and pay the .25 for 1 min for all i care and i do let customers know this and i also tell them "see you next week" 