Car Wash Forum
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Troubling Trend
- Thread starter dusovt
- Start date
rph9168
Carwashguy
I guess it depends if you are a glass half full or glass half empty guy. I think the fact that people are keeping their vehicles longer means they are taking better care of them. In order to do that they tend to keep them cleaner and in better condition. This translates into getting their car washed and detailed more often than when they used to trade them in more frequently.
When I was General Manager of a car wash chain we saw that customers with older models in decent shape tended to buy packages and extra services more than most new model owners. We had an especially hard time with those on leases to purchase anything more than a basic wash because they felt they were not going to keep their vehicle that long.
When I was General Manager of a car wash chain we saw that customers with older models in decent shape tended to buy packages and extra services more than most new model owners. We had an especially hard time with those on leases to purchase anything more than a basic wash because they felt they were not going to keep their vehicle that long.
robert roman
Bob Roman
Trends are only troubling when people are unwilling to adapt to them.
For example, aftermarket sales of carwash products that protect are growing faster than carwash products that clean. One cause is people are keeping cars longer.
The younger generation has been offing carwash for over a decade, especially wands.
Growth now is in automated washing and products that protect vehicles.
For example, aftermarket sales of carwash products that protect are growing faster than carwash products that clean. One cause is people are keeping cars longer.
The younger generation has been offing carwash for over a decade, especially wands.
Growth now is in automated washing and products that protect vehicles.
mjwalsh
6 bay SS w/laundromat
I been giving people strict instructions that they can help avoid getting a heart attack with the heathy exercise of a wand style vs the sit in car & get fatter autowashes
Methinks I need a better way than just one on one!
robert roman
Bob Roman
“This trend is bunk.”
Sorry to disagree with you Waxman, but the correlation between wash frequency and vehicle age is well established.
There are also other trends that may not be favorable to carwash industry
Unlike the good old days when autos became engrained in society, more people today are looking for ways to eliminate the need and/or reduce the cost to own and operate a vehicle.
Consequently, there has been decline in total U.S. vehicle miles traveled, less vehicles on U.S. roads, more people using transit and growth in sales of mini-compacts, gas and electric powered mopeds and power-assisted bicycles.
Sorry to disagree with you Waxman, but the correlation between wash frequency and vehicle age is well established.
There are also other trends that may not be favorable to carwash industry
Unlike the good old days when autos became engrained in society, more people today are looking for ways to eliminate the need and/or reduce the cost to own and operate a vehicle.
Consequently, there has been decline in total U.S. vehicle miles traveled, less vehicles on U.S. roads, more people using transit and growth in sales of mini-compacts, gas and electric powered mopeds and power-assisted bicycles.
Waxman
Super Moderator
A trend is a generalization and those don't always apply to particular businesses in every instance. A prevailing nationwide trend may be felt in CA but less in FLA, for example.
We have to address the customers' needs. The need is there. People wash their bodies, clothes and autos. People like to feel sanitary and fresh, not scuzzy and unclean. What about that trend which has been established firmly since indoor plumbing was popularized?
Yes people are cutting back, but they are still driving, going on dates, to weddings, family reunions, driving clients around etc.
If car counts and revenues are down, it's easy to blame a trend. It's harder to get creative, determine the customer needs and if they are changing, adapt your business to a tighter economy and 'go out for business'. Offer value and make it easy for the customer to spend $ at your business and satisfy their need.
We have to address the customers' needs. The need is there. People wash their bodies, clothes and autos. People like to feel sanitary and fresh, not scuzzy and unclean. What about that trend which has been established firmly since indoor plumbing was popularized?
Yes people are cutting back, but they are still driving, going on dates, to weddings, family reunions, driving clients around etc.
If car counts and revenues are down, it's easy to blame a trend. It's harder to get creative, determine the customer needs and if they are changing, adapt your business to a tighter economy and 'go out for business'. Offer value and make it easy for the customer to spend $ at your business and satisfy their need.
Their is another trend I noticed today----the segment that sparingly washes-has the thinking that consumers must economize,recycle,and restrict there impact on the earth. This customer used a clean but ratty rag on his just cleaned very dirty car. I walked over with a free 50 cent towel and said-here is a free sample of the towel we vend. He asked if it could be used and cleaned for reuse. I said yes,but it is usually pretty dirty and was a throw away towel.He then asked if we had a reusable towel. I said the 75 cent towel was durable and could be washed and reused.
The trend is customers going greener and resenting having to use resources to clean their environmental wasting car.
The trend is customers going greener and resenting having to use resources to clean their environmental wasting car.
mjwalsh
6 bay SS w/laundromat
Scout,
I agree if the general public observes specific car washes & car washes in general as being wasteful & non environmentally friendly ... it could affect usage patterns.
When we show that the less water consumed vs home washing hopefully reflects value & reaches that percentage of people.
Encouraging the availability of recyclable dollar coins over non recycleable one dollar paper bills is another example that could resonate & show value.
Recycling a portion of the trash is a tough one since most of us are do not have that large of a margin to use up our payroll dollars that way. I know I have had favorable comments from customers when they saw that we allowed a responsible type of independent person to gather up all the aluminum over the years.
In our part of the country, during the winter if the customers do not get the road salt off their car, their vehicle will rust through quicker. So those people wanting or needing to hang onto their vehicles will wash more often. Some probably think in terms that it is more environmentally sound to preserve their vehicle not just by using protectants & non wand style car washes like Robert Roman suggests. Some polls & surveys are made by people with a conflict of interest so we have to be a bit careful.
mike
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjwalsh
Encouraging the availability of recyclable dollar coins over non recycleable one dollar paper bills is another example that could resonate & show value.
By that logic we should encourage credit card / smart phones only as the most environmentaly sound way to pay.
Originally Posted by mjwalsh
Encouraging the availability of recyclable dollar coins over non recycleable one dollar paper bills is another example that could resonate & show value.
By that logic we should encourage credit card / smart phones only as the most environmentaly sound way to pay.
Getting back on track back to the original poster. I think there is a lot to be said with what he’s trying to say. Its summer time the weather is absolutely beautiful, it hasn’t rained in weeks. I was driving down the freeway yesterday and just about every other car that passed me or I passed was filthy dirty. I stopped for gas last night and the young lady getting gas next to me her car was filthy dirty. I asked her when she last washed her car and she relied she couldn’t remember. I asked her if she thought that it needed to be washed and she said No it’s OK. That’s seems to be the attitude of the young motoring public, they seem to have more important things to do than keep a clean car.
mjwalsh
6 bay SS w/laundromat
Earl,
You might have a point with the smart phone interface ... when & if they become used widespread across the USA specifically for our sometimes very diversified facilities.
I have plenty of credible evidence that coins in general are recycled. It will be interesting to see your evidence on how many of the very frequently made & replaced, shredded & not shredded plastic card reach a recycle process. Back to the original poster & Scout's post ... that might not be wise to use your suggestion of cards being recycled as an overall image builder.
Randy,
It has been over 40 years we have been in the self service car wash business & over 50 in the self service laundry business. I know at one time people avoided laundromats at all cost & the image was at an all time low. That got turned around by finding money for nicer facilities & filling a niche with larger washers etc. It also seems the coin laundry assn & their affiliates have done more to improve that portion of our facility & definitely more to intervene against gross taxes than possibly some of our car wash assn's. Hopefully, that will not be taken in an overly negative way because that is not my intent. Having said that there is only so much they can do without proper support.
The laundromat comparison might have been not the perfect example because stinking filthy clothes tend to be more compelling to take care of then possibly vehicles. We rely on the variety of bugs on people's windshields & grills as a major driver of our business this time of year. If it is a lighter bug year the volume could be affected.
mike
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
Never said recycled. I said environmentaly friendly. I was taking into account energy consumption used for mining, refining, transportation, smelting. etc.
I too would like to see figures for not just recycling but produsing these items. I don't know that any exist. I was making a guess based upon weights. volumes and types of processes involved.
cleaning up mud
Member
I see so much crap come out of cars, new, old etc. I think most people old and young realize if you keep your car clean it will last longer. Unless your daddy pays for it, then who gives a ?
