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What would you be doing? I myself would have been a teacher. I have a teaching degree. What happened was the lure of the family business was too much for me to turn away.

I've come to believe there is no such thing as a big enough equipment room. Whatever the size, it's going to get filled.

Here's my take on self-service, full-service and express exteriors. Personally, I would not build a self-serve today. It's a slow dollar to build up on, and the costs are so high. I don't believe self-serve will become extinct. We live in a culture nowadays where people are going away from...

Those are the ones that irritate me, too. Our car washes have a phone number posted up for people to call. We have an Internet presence. They spend more time on their review than on trying to find a solution.

In Maryland, that would be a heat wave right now, LOL.

It's so tone-deaf of the government to consider this during a pandemic. It's all to get the yokels excited. The yokels don't realize this pandemic is hastening automation as it is. A $15 minimum wage will accelerate that further.

We have always done count up at our self-serve car washes, so I cannot do a vs. count down. However, I feel it's easier for the customer to understand that way.

I'm looking at all the express conveyors popping up, owners putting in millions and millions, and know they are going to fizzle out so quickly. Sonny's has the sales team selling the pot of gold.

For our car washes, 100% membership-based would be an epic fail. On non-precipitory days, anywhere from 30% to 60% of our customers are not members. That would be a lot of money to turn away and aggravation from people.

We have a car wash that has five self-serve and two touch-free IBAS. Before 2016, we would put 3 hours a day Monday through Thursday. Fridays were five hour days. Saturdays were 5.5 hours. Sundays were six. What changed when 2016 arrived was we started our membership program. We needed to be...

The retired self-serve employee has been a boon for us. We have two guys working for us in their 80s, one 86, the other 82. The 82-year-old is also mechanical, which is a major plus. We also have a 77 year-old as well. Most of our help has come through networking.

They're still around. Early last month, I had them repair a hopper for me. There is a guy named Chuck White who works for them. Chuck can be reached at 978-758-8879. He might be able to help you or get you directed to someone.

We're a 24/7 car wash with touch-free IBAs, vacuums and self-serve. If it's below 20, we will close.

The tire gel brush does intrigue me.

I understand those who are looking to blame one person or one thing for the COVID crisis. Lives have been upended, and they want someone or something to pay. However, COVID has shown itself to be too big for a world of nearly 8 billion to fix. That is not to say there is no blame to around...

I'm with you on PDQ. Years ago, we sent our Access Unit bill dispensers to be repaired. They could never get them going. David West of Washtech fame went on a tour in the Maryland area with some PDQ executives. I told them about the problem. They were so dismissive. Last year, we had a problem...

Dirk, for your Laserwash 4000, use RDM Electronics for your repairs. Your distributor for PDQ will probably charge a fortune for new parts and for repairs. Their number is 800.282.5183

We have "OPEN 24/7" on our doors. I cannot say that it helped us. What actually helped us with that issue is our membership program. Non-members see members going in.

Increase wise, I haven't seen anything yet. Once in a while, Kleen Rite runs short on JBS Action Dry. That has happened during COVID but is nothing new. What was new a few weeks ago was that they did not have the Armor All products we order (4 ounce tire foam cans and original protectant). I...

I emboldened the above because I feel it fits in with a bigger expectation of unrealistic expectations. So many potential investors and newbie owners have them about our industry. They think they will print money year round and the business will hum along mechanically. That is not realistic. I'm...