Wobble Head Foam Brush Revisited

[bigleo48]

I watched my first customer try to wash his car using the wobble head. He was holding the brush head with one hand the the handle with the other. It was very funny as he had to contort in all kinds of ways to get a various parts of the car!

 

[JustClean]

I watched my first customer try to wash his car using the wobble head. He was holding the brush head with one hand the the handle with the other. It was very funny as he had to contort in all kinds of ways to get a various parts of the car!

Did he give up eventually?

 

[bigleo48]

They were a tag team, so I'm not sure if he was done or quit. However, we do see people trying to use it, then read the sign, then put money in the machine.

Both make me smile...

 

[sudzy]

Studies and experiences like these have shown, the silent attendant speaks volumes to the non paying customer and eventually retrains them in the proper use of the foam brush.

 

[MEP001]

Studies and experiences like these have shown, the silent attendant speaks volumes to the non paying customer and eventually retrains them in the proper use of the foam brush.

What studies? Please link.

You're affiliated with Poly Pro Systems of America, Inc., right?

 

[bigleo48]

After a few months, here what I'm seeing.

No complaints except for a few elderly customers who complain about the weight.

This is what I did not expect to see. People still use the brush without soap and muck around with it and its limp, barely usable head like they always have. I rarely see anybody that is doing this, give up and put the brush back. I think I could put steel wool on the end of the brush and people would still brush down their whole car and destroy the paint. They don't seem to clue in that its not working and they are not getting anywhere with cleaning the car...like driving for miles with a flat and being completely oblivious to the problem. They just plug along...very odd. I watched one sixty something lady spend 15 minutes brushing down her new car, then taking a 12oz water bottle from her purse and trying to rinse the whole car. Absolutely astounding!

 

[bigleo48]

Shortly after writing this I see a new way some customers are getting around it. A tag team couple start presoaking the car. After about 20 seconds, the one with the brush turns it on, dumps some soap on the car, then switches back to presoak. Since it takes a bout 15 to 20 seconds for the brush to go limp as there is still some soap coming out, he proceeds to brush down the car. Once the brush go limp, he presses foambrush for a few seconds or so and keeps going.

This doesn't bother me much, but I think the people at wobblehead under estimate the customer.

 

[mjc3333]

bigleo,

Are you sorry that you purchased the wobble head brushes, or is it too early with what you have described as "getting around" the wobble head design?

Mike

 

[bigleo48]

I do like the brush and I shouldn't be surprised that customers find their way around it.

However at $150 each, I don't see the value in it. At say $50...I would do it again.

 

[Jeff_L]

I think it's a great idea, but you're right, people will find a way around it. I thought you were going to say the tag team couple had one hold the handle while the other held the head and work together that way.

What we should develop is a handle locking device which secures the brush to the wall until the foam brush option is selected. Once time runs out or foaming brush is de-selected, then have a retracting cable which pins it back to the wall.

 

[MEP001]

What we should develop is a handle locking device which secures the brush to the wall until the foam brush option is selected. Once time runs out or foaming brush is de-selected, then have a retracting cable which pins it back to the wall.

I've had the same thought, especially in regards to a tire brush. I just know that if I install such a system, people will still bring their own tire/wheel cleaner and use the brush for free. I might experiment with some sort of counterweighted system and use a coily hose to the brush with a cable running through the center of the coil, and a release system that unlocks when the function is selected, then they can't pull the hose down from the wall when it's off.

 

[JustClean]

I've had the same thought, especially in regards to a tire brush. I just know that if I install such a system, people will still bring their own tire/wheel cleaner and use the brush for free. I might experiment with some sort of counterweighted system and use a coily hose to the brush with a cable running through the center of the coil, and a release system that unlocks when the function is selected, then they can't pull the hose down from the wall when it's off.

That would be good. But they might quickly turn on the bubble brush, use it and keep using it while the time has run out. Or alternatively making a contact that no other service will work unless the brush is in its holder. But this could create more problems than what it's worth. I guess the idea of that Viagra brush is good but propably better would be if the bristles came out when inserting money. As soon as the time runs out the bristles disappear.

 

[Earl Weiss]

I've had the same thought, especially in regards to a tire brush. I just know that if I install such a system, people will still bring their own tire/wheel cleaner and use the brush for free. I might experiment with some sort of counterweighted system and use a coily hose to the brush with a cable running through the center of the coil, and a release system that unlocks when the function is selected, then they can't pull the hose down from the wall when it's off.

You can use the wobble head handle for the trie brush as well.

 

[MEP001]

That would be good. But they might quickly turn on the bubble brush, use it and keep using it while the time has run out.

If what I have in my mind will work at all, the plan is to have a ratcheting return so the cable inside the coily hose will be pulling gently all the time. The ratchet will release with the timer running, but as soon as time runs out or the function is switched the ratchet will engage and not allow the cable to be pulled down any further. It would require two people and a good amount of coordination to cheat this system. I'm sure some will figure it out, but the ones I'd be most keen to stop are the ones that try to wash for just one start-up cycle.

 

[JustClean]

If what I have in my mind will work at all, the plan is to have a ratcheting return so the cable inside the coily hose will be pulling gently all the time. The ratchet will release with the timer running, but as soon as time runs out or the function is switched the ratchet will engage and not allow the cable to be pulled down any further. It would require two people and a good amount of coordination to cheat this system. I'm sure some will figure it out, but the ones I'd be most keen to stop are the ones that try to wash for just one start-up cycle.

MEP. that's a great idea! I hope you can make it work. It would also prevent kids from playing with the brush on the ground. The only drawback I can see is the permanent pull of the cable: I have a Mosmatic vacuum boom. It had an expensive spring pull-up system. I had to take it out because people complained that it was just too hard to pull while vacuuming. If possible I wouldn't use a spring but use some weight in a pipe that pulls the cable.

BTW
Talking about the coily hose here: Often the hose of the bubble brush is hitting customers cars when they are cleaning. I wonder if a coily hose would be the better option for a brush. Any experience with this before I spend my hard earned money trying it?

 

[Earl Weiss]

MEP.

BTW
Talking about the coily hose here: Often the hose of the bubble brush is hitting customers cars when they are cleaning. I wonder if a coily hose would be the better option for a brush. Any experience with this before I spend my hard earned money trying it?

Most coily hoses are not as durable as FB hoses. In fact I use HP hoses because regular FB hoses tend to crimp at the handle when stored which stops thhe weep.

Anyway, would a hose a couple of feet shorter work?

 

[mjc3333]

BTW
Talking about the coil hose here: Often the hose of the bubble brush is hitting customers cars when they are cleaning. I wonder if a coil hose would be the better option for a brush. Any experience with this before I spend my hard earned money trying it?

I've tried the coiled hose at a competitors wash that was connected to a mosmatic z boom and hated it. The coiled hose would not only hit the car, be me as well. It was very hard to use.

I've also used a straight hose connected to a mosmatic z boom for the foam brush and had much better results.

I would never use the coiled hose for foam brush even on a 180 degree wall mounted boom.

 

[DavidM]

We tried the coily hose a few years ago. It actually makes the slapping problem much worse.

We recently added the wobble head at our locations. So far, we are happy with the decision.
Two customers complained that they didn't like the new "floppy" brush. It seems that neither of them had ever used a foam brush with it actually turned on.

David

 

[I.B. Washincars]

What is the slapping "problem"? I've been seeing and hearing the hoses slap the cars for 32 years and have yet to have an issue with it. Never had a customer complain or have one damage a car. I don't get it.

 

[MEP001]

I don't really view it as a problem myself, although I do cringe a little when I'm washing my own car and hear it slap on the side. I don't like it even though I know it won't harm it. The slapping noise from the coily hose is worse.

In fact I use HP hoses because regular FB hoses tend to crimp at the handle when stored which stops thhe weep.

Adding a 45° elbow between the hose and a swivel will help that. I use the GoodYear Gorilla Grip hose for foam brush and tri-foam gun hoses - it lasts about four years and doesn't kink.