YouTube Pinheads Putting Us At Risk?

[edredtop]

Wondering if our community has seen the videos posted on YouTube by several different owners that show every aspect of collecting, how the locks work, how often they collect, how many quarters the hoppers hold, how to get to the hoppers and the stackers, counting the money and revealing what their weekly totals are?
I've noticed many instances of real professionalism here on CWF where if someone has a lock issue for example, and another knows how to solve it, they DM each other and don't reveal the secrets to the general public.
I have been slack-jawed at the stupidity of some of the "influencers" flashing their cash and showing the nuances of the security we use and wondering how many of us are being vandalized or worse because a few pinheads want "likes" on their channels.

 

[UtahYoutubeGuy]

It looks like you stand alone on this @edredtop I understand the concern but i think your overthinking it. I dont do many "flash cash" videos but I wouldnt focus so much effort worrying about what might happen and go to work on your business.

 

[tdlconceptsllc]

Youtube investors & Covid has ruined the self serve buying market for sure in several aspects. I hate to say it but It did.
The Public has always thought if you owned a carwash all the coins and cash your rich. These videos on youtube just sealed the deal I see exactly what he is saying. Nothing is private like it used to be. This form has always wanted credentials before revealing information on locks and money handling.

 

[Randy]

I’ve watched a lot of the get rich quick car wash videos on YouTube and it pisses me off when I see an idiot YouTuber pull out a wad of cash and flash to the world to see “look this is what I made in the last 2 days” Most of them don’t own anything they are leasing the car wash. My brother who is also in the car wash business has been broken into over 8 times in the last 6 months. They finally caught the guy. When the detective was talking with him he said that “he saw on YouTube how much money these car washes make so I figured get his and besides they have insurance”. My brother had over $20,000 damages that insurance isn’t going to cover. In the last year I’ve gotten probably 9 letters from people wanting to buy my car wash. I always call them and feel them out. Every one of them has told me that they saw on YouTube how much money car washes make and how easy it is to be in the car wash business. When I tell them how I want for the car wash they always say I saw so and so on YouTube and he bought his car wash for nothing down. I had to laugh at the last letter I got was written on notebook paper in pencil, looked like a 5th grader wrote it. Most of the YouTuber’s that post car wash videos don’t know $hit about what there are talking about.

 

[edredtop]

It looks like you stand alone on this @edredtop I understand the concern but i think your overthinking it. I dont do many "flash cash" videos but I wouldnt focus so much effort worrying about what might happen and go to work on your business.

Since you're proud of your "flash cash" videos, would you provide a link to your channel?

 

[Greg Pack]

I will say that also they have done many operators a favor by making people aware of how good this business can be. As we know SS washes have fallen out of favor. I've had more interest in SS washes being purchased from younger people in the past couple of years than I have ever seen. And it seems many are actually bothering to learn the business and be true operators.

But their primary driver is making content and getting clicks. I saw a thread on another forum that said that the investment joy YouTube guy has made over 1.5million from youtube. Not bad!

 

[UtahYoutubeGuy]

Since you're proud of your "flash cash" videos, would you provide a link to your channel?

The Revestor

I decided to document my entreprenuerial endeavors. This is centralized around Real Estate and Passive Income. Follow along! https://linktr.ee/therevestor

www.youtube.com

 

[Big Chris]

^I've watched this guys stuff, it's not bad. Lots of hands on DIY repairs and improvements. I watched your air shammee install video before I installed my own. Do you own the wash you restored?

 

[edredtop]

Just to be clear about the purpose of this thread (or this comment), it's certainly not to on UtahYoutubeGuy (Nathan) for creating media that's informative, entertaining, or shares the hard work he's doing, nor am I singling him out specifically. My original post was to bring awareness to others in our community that a specific type of information is being divulged and the potential risk it poses. Some believe this type of media has created an elevated interest in our businesses to the point that people have slid notes under their equipment room door, which is great, but if we're to believe YouTuber's and the like are responsible for that kind of interest, shouldn't we also believe the criminal element is "interested" too?
Since Nathan was kind enough to share a link to his channel, we can use one of his videos to make the point:
In his episode 6 at 1:27 he explains his thoughts on how and why he thinks he was burglarized and that they didn't get very much for their efforts. ONE PERSON observed his actions and used the information to commit a criminal act against his property. Imagine what showing bill changer stackers stuffed with bills to millions on the internet can do? Or how the locks work, if they are front loaders or rear loaders, if it's a screw lock or, etc.... These are called "trade secrets" and should be protected from outsiders imho. At this point, it's understood the genie is out of the bottle, but we should all know what's going on and factor it in with our personal safety efforts.
It seems the younger generation doesn't understand why the Navy says "Loose Lips Sink Ships," why the Army and Marines use camouflage, or why a good defender's motto is "You can't attack what you're not aware of."

Some examples of "Influencers" that got bit by their own idiocy:

Social Media Influencer Robbed at Gunpoint, Thieves Reportedly Steal $1 Million Worth of Property | Complex

Instagram Star Gets ROBBED On Live; Flashing Money & Goons Pulled Up!! - MTO News

Kim Kardashian's Paris Robbers Used Her Social Media to Pull Off Heist - Newsweek

 

[traveler17]

Just to be clear about the purpose of this thread (or this comment), it's certainly not to on UtahYoutubeGuy (Nathan) for creating media that's informative, entertaining, or shares the hard work he's doing, nor am I singling him out specifically. My original post was to bring awareness to others in our community that a specific type of information is being divulged and the potential risk it poses. Some believe this type of media has created an elevated interest in our businesses to the point that people have slid notes under their equipment room door, which is great, but if we're to believe YouTuber's and the like are responsible for that kind of interest, shouldn't we also believe the criminal element is "interested" too?
Since Nathan was kind enough to share a link to his channel, we can use one of his videos to make the point:
In his episode 6 at 1:27 he explains his thoughts on how and why he thinks he was burglarized and that they didn't get very much for their efforts. ONE PERSON observed his actions and used the information to commit a criminal act against his property. Imagine what showing bill changer stackers stuffed with bills to millions on the internet can do? Or how the locks work, if they are front loaders or rear loaders, if it's a screw lock or, etc.... These are called "trade secrets" and should be protected from outsiders imho. At this point, it's understood the genie is out of the bottle, but we should all know what's going on and factor it in with our personal safety efforts.
It seems the younger generation doesn't understand why the Navy says "Loose Lips Sink Ships," why the Army and Marines use camouflage, or why a good defender's motto is "You can't attack what you're not aware of."

Some examples of "Influencers" that got bit by their own idiocy:

Social Media Influencer Robbed at Gunpoint, Thieves Reportedly Steal $1 Million Worth of Property | Complex

Instagram Star Gets ROBBED On Live; Flashing Money & Goons Pulled Up!! - MTO News

Kim Kardashian's Paris Robbers Used Her Social Media to Pull Off Heist - Newsweek

Couldn’t agree more!! Spot on!!

 

[kdotproctor]

Never provide collection intel!

I cannot find one reason to reveal such a thing, yet I can find so many reasons not to, starting with the safety of my family. I'm married with 2 children.

Im AL Bundy

Look, some influencers might actually be making bank per day at self serve washes located in huge cities, but so many YT & TikTok accounts are full of it, because their core passion is to become a monetized channel. Only then, can they earn income from their channel on YT.

I can understand someone showing the intricacies of the water softener and RO system. The control cabinets and festoon cable. The list goes on, but I would never give collection intel.

I have always liked the potential of having a monetized channel just to add another revenue stream, network, and it markets itself off the content. Let's film the work you are already doing in the first place. Obviously the film equipment and software costs aren't cheap and editing takes a ton of time, so I'm not knocking the commitment, it is another job of itself to earn in that way. I know it's hard work.

If i had a channel, I would let viewers take a look inside the hard work and many hats you wear when being a small operator and the true story of avg. mom & pop operator. Because in the end, there isn't some game changing, significant gain, not after all costs deducted (including your time). I'm 34, I have 2 locations in South Carolina, 30 miles apart in rural markets. Small towns, unincorporated areas, and farm land.

One location has a touchless IBA with canopy over pay station on pillars. The pay station is a doggone WS2 crypto pay and cash (I recently changed the polycarbonate displays that have faded and weathered, just before pollen season). The PS is also blocked in with rough face exterior.
Keep in mind, the top package after HP rinse includes tri, total body protectant, ceramic, SF rinse and stand alone dryer upon exiting bay. Opposite side of equipment room are 3 SS bays, upgraded the coin meters to alao include card payment years and years ago. Tire cleaner, foam brush, tri color, sealant, spot free. Vacuum islands. Super nice build out IMO. I can go on forever. It was constructed in 2002, when i was in middle school! I might create separate thread (cool tidbits).

2nd location is in slightly bigger town. Self serve washes around but not an automatic. So in 2014, an IBA was installed and one vac island. Canopy over WS2 pay station. Top package is also primo with a couple extra features.