That's very helpful information. What was the reasoning behind 3/10 of 1%, just curious? Thank you!
Car Wash Forum
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Opinions on a new build, Please.
- Thread starter JJB
- Start date
Haha, fair enough. Thanks!
Waxman
Super Moderator
if he has a 4 year old razor, he has all the high-quality, modern equipment he needs to kick a$$ and produce amazingly clean cars. I know a guy with 10 year-old razors who consistently slays his competition. a new tunnel was built near him last year, and his car counts actually went up!
and as far as having extremely antiquated POS technology, I'm running a 20+ year-old hamilton gold line cashier for my razor and it's perfectly fine and reliable. You can upgrade these to include crypto pay, touch for wash, etc. so I'm not really sure that's a valid argument for the guy not being able to compete either.
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Yes and no. While his in bay wash equipment is good. It's my opinion that he would need to upgrade his dryers, support equipment, pos systems, vacuums, and trash capabilities to be able to compete with a top notch facility. But i definitely understand what you're saying. He would be able to upgrade those things at a fraction of our costs, and take a good portion of the business.
Waxman
Super Moderator
what's wrong with his blowers? Sometimes blowers can seem inadequate if the drying agent is not put on properly or if it is a poor quality I don't understand what you mean by Support equipment. what is that exactly? and what's wrong with his cashier to get into the automatic? maybe post some pictures of the competition so we can see what you're talking about.
i'm not trying to be a killjoy here, but I'd rather not see you make a $3 million mistake. The guy can put out some trash cans and hire a dumpster company in about five minutes. It seems like you're looking for reasons to pump up your project when at the basis of the argument, the numbers look like they really don't work. and this is comng from experienced car wash veterans telling you this so you need to look at the reality of the situation and not just pump yourself up with a "build it and they will come" mentality". I just don't think you even have enough potential customers to support a project that would cost 1/3 of what you will probably spend on this one.
Do you realize that half of people that own vehicles don't even wash the car… Ever?
Oh I'm definitely not trying to pump my project up if it won't work, not intentionally anyway. I'm not trying to make a multi million dollar mistake either, if the numbers don't work, they don't work. I'm fine with that, and on to the next project. I genuinely appreciate everyone's input on here, you've all been an immense help.
To address your questions, when he upgraded the wash, all he did was the actual wash equipment in the bay. The blowers are old, don't function half the time, and when they do they don't do a very good job. They also don't have a visible timer, which makes using them a challenge for the customer. Support equipment meaning the stuff in the mech. room as far as water softeners, pumps, RO, etc. The POS system is extremely antiquated. It does take cash and card, but it's almost impossible to get the bill collector to actually take your bills. The CC system doesn't use chips, tap pay, or any other modern methods, it's simply a magnetic strip reader. He also has no membership program or app. The vacuums are so old they barely function, and he has all trash receptacles blocked off because he got tired of dealing with people dumping household trash. Trash would definitely be an easy fix if he's willing to fix it.
To your last point, is that an actual statistic? Because, if so, no I did not realize that, lol. I wash my truck religiously, probably more than most, but I would have assumed most people do at least once in a while.
kentadel
Well-known member
We have washes in small communities, pop 1000 to 5000. Addressing your points, which are valid.
He will be forced to update his card readers to stay current and compliant. If he switches to a reader, like Nayax, he would instantly have an app.
Memberships in a small population community, with competition, is likely not viable.
Trash is a non factor in my opinion. When we remodeled we removed the trash cans but left a dumpster for customers a short ways from the vacs. By far one of our best decisions as the property stays cleaner with no smelly trash where customers vac. At one wash we have 3 fast food restaurants within a block, and none of them have a single trash can for a customer on their property.
You are listing his needs to better himself in the market. All added reasons to approach him to see if he would sell. As stated in above posts, sharing a small market is not ideal and you run the risk of him updating or selling to someone who will update after your business is going.
If he is established he has the ability to update his wash, lower his prices, and make it very difficult on any competition.
Good luck!
He will be forced to update his card readers to stay current and compliant. If he switches to a reader, like Nayax, he would instantly have an app.
Memberships in a small population community, with competition, is likely not viable.
Trash is a non factor in my opinion. When we remodeled we removed the trash cans but left a dumpster for customers a short ways from the vacs. By far one of our best decisions as the property stays cleaner with no smelly trash where customers vac. At one wash we have 3 fast food restaurants within a block, and none of them have a single trash can for a customer on their property.
You are listing his needs to better himself in the market. All added reasons to approach him to see if he would sell. As stated in above posts, sharing a small market is not ideal and you run the risk of him updating or selling to someone who will update after your business is going.
If he is established he has the ability to update his wash, lower his prices, and make it very difficult on any competition.
Good luck!
