Earl Weiss
Well-known member
Can't help but wonder if this is one of those great ideas that few customers understand or take advantage of.
You say...???
You say...???
Car Wash Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Bonus / Grace Time
- Thread starter Earl Weiss
- Start date
mjwalsh
6 bay SS w/laundromat
Earl,
I will say on our PLC controlled self service dog wash ... a good portion of customers do appreciate the 60 second grace period that counts down in front of them on the touchscreen as soon as their time runs out. There is additional free cleanup (tub disinfectant) also during this time for those who are done. I think a grace period becomes more critical when the minimum start up is higher such as $5 or $10. We don't have card readers or smart phone pay on our payment consoles as of yet ... that of course ... we know is one of the pluses for count up credit card or count up smart phone pay.
Out of the two ... based on experience ... a very visible 60 second countdown "grace period" is more customer friendly than the last minute alert horn from our Dixmors that are on our self service bays & vacuums.
Mike
I will say on our PLC controlled self service dog wash ... a good portion of customers do appreciate the 60 second grace period that counts down in front of them on the touchscreen as soon as their time runs out. There is additional free cleanup (tub disinfectant) also during this time for those who are done. I think a grace period becomes more critical when the minimum start up is higher such as $5 or $10. We don't have card readers or smart phone pay on our payment consoles as of yet ... that of course ... we know is one of the pluses for count up credit card or count up smart phone pay.
Out of the two ... based on experience ... a very visible 60 second countdown "grace period" is more customer friendly than the last minute alert horn from our Dixmors that are on our self service bays & vacuums.
Mike
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
LED 7s are capable of Grace period programming... I guess you don't use it? (I don't but thinking about it. )
We had bonus time for a good 7 or 8 years and then dropped it a few years back when we rolled the time per coin back. I've only ever heard maybe 2 or 3 people comment and even notice. And these were the regulars that you see on a weekly basis...which would be the ones that notice, but that obviously like your place enough that they probably aren't going anywhere. Just my experience on the matter...
MEP001
Well-known member
I only know one operator who has ever tried any sort of bonus, and he set up his Dixmors to double the time once $5 was added without the time running out. He had signs and banners everywhere and still had to tell almost everyone about it because they'd keep letting it time out and adding more to restart.
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
There is a local guy who does it. Has signs saying $5.00 Bill 10 minutes, includes 2 minutes free. His start is $2.50 for 4 minutes. He also has signs explaining grace time, plus signs explaining everything else. Just wondering how much the customer base really pays attention to these signs.
I was thinking about putting a sign up for bonus time with a $5 bill. My question though is if someone puts 5-$1's in quick the LED7 will still give bonus time correct?? I want to push for more $5's. But I feel people will still use coins, tokens and singles and get the extra? I'm guessing there is no way to do a bonus time only for a $5 bill?
mjwalsh
6 bay SS w/laundromat
Based on a few years experience with the bonus time we set up for dollar coins on our Dixmor controlled Vacuums ... I am pretty sure that putting 5 dollar coins will also give the bonus time. Not so sure about $1 bills because it is a slower process than flipping 5 of the dollar coins in. When a customer puts 4 quarters in quickly they get the dollar coin bonus on our vacuums. It might have something to do with the settable 2 second delay we have on our vacuum Dixmors.
mike walsh www.kingkoin.com
cantbreak80
Maybe I need new clubs
One technique would use a Programmable Logic Relay (PLR).
Bill acceptors utilize pulses to trigger the timing device…4 pulses per dollar. These pulses are typically 10ms On, 10ms Off. Therefore, a $5 bill will deliver 20 pulses in 4 seconds…faster than the user can insert 5 $1 bills.
The PLR monitors the acceptor’s output pulses. If the 20 pulses require longer than 4 seconds, nothing happens. If the 20 pulse count takes less than 4.1 seconds, the PLR’s output for that bay is triggered, sending additional pulses to the timer. Bonus time!
You can even establish “Happy Hour” days and times when bonus time is provided!
One Siemens LOGO!/Idec Smartrelay (PLR) can provide this bonus time feature for up to 4 bays. With an I/O expansion module, the bay count goes to 8. A 2nd thru 5th generation PLR can be purchased rather inexpensively on eBay. The current model sells for around $145. Idec’s FL1F-B12RCA is 24v AC/DC powered…ideal for car wash control systems (no DC power supply or interfacing relays required.)
http://us.idec.com/Catalog/ProductS...L1F_SmartRelay&FamilyName=Programmable_Relays
mjwalsh
6 bay SS w/laundromat
With PLC ... it opens the door to so many more ... sometimes worthwhile options. With our Dog Wash we have Tuesday thru Thursday 10% off for more budget conscious customers. One thing to consider is to pay attention to potential "noise". Another approach should not be ruled out is using an open source development printed circuit board environment such as Arduino etc. That would be for those of us who don't mind a possible extra challenge over just going with the "trusty" Dixmors.
www.kingkoin.com
2Biz
Thread Killer!
I'm learning! My Next System won't have Interfacing Relays or Isolation Relays! It may not have the "WOW" appearance factor, but will be simplified significantly. I really like the "Thursday Special" feature you can incorporate using a PLR! Or maybe a 10:00pm to 5:00am "Special"... I just need to get past this lighting project first!
cantbreak80
Maybe I need new clubs
2Biz,
You only need to add 5 function blocks to each bay's circuit to do that "Thursday or late night special" thing.
(Retentive On-Delay, Memory Marker, an Up/Down counter, an Edge-Triggered Interval Time Delay, and another Q.)
But, you're gonna need to add the bill acceptors to the meter boxes, and a pair of coin pulse wires back to the PLR control panel. Then, you'd be on your way as a true "Multi-Tasker".
Dang...another chapter... you're gonna need a bigger binder.
You only need to add 5 function blocks to each bay's circuit to do that "Thursday or late night special" thing.
(Retentive On-Delay, Memory Marker, an Up/Down counter, an Edge-Triggered Interval Time Delay, and another Q.)
But, you're gonna need to add the bill acceptors to the meter boxes, and a pair of coin pulse wires back to the PLR control panel. Then, you'd be on your way as a true "Multi-Tasker".
Dang...another chapter... you're gonna need a bigger binder.
mjwalsh
6 bay SS w/laundromat
I gave up on the binder long ago! Good thing, I don't have room for a library! Hard Drives are cheap! Backup-Backup-Backup!
Its no wonder we never get any conversations going about how useful these PLR's are! You scare everybody away by talking in a different language!
2Biz & CantBreak80,
LOL ... aaah ... the advantages & disadvantages of the RainMaker ... savant like ...photographic memory!!! Is it always there when we need it?!!
mike
MEP001
Well-known member
I don't know about the LED 7, but the DX2000 will go to bonus time when $5 is reached regardless of how long it takes. I'd assume the LED 7 works the same.
I.B. Washincars
Car Washer Emeritus
The LED7 works that way too.
mjwalsh
6 bay SS w/laundromat
Something to consider, until you test the LED7 for the bonus to work for the way you want it ... it might be affected by the delay time & minimum amount required that is set where the timer actually starts using up the time which obviously is before the bonus time.
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
What about CC Count up. If it hits $5.00 will Bonus time kick in? How about for 20 quarters?
I could see a cc or quarter customer getting upset that their $5.00 did not give Bonus time.
