I didn't see any threads about vacuum prices (at least not with a quick search). Mine are $1.25 for 3 minutes. I'm thinking about bumping that up to $1.50. The machines are relatively new if that helps. I've been trying to look at what other places nearby are charging for vacs and I'm definitely on the low side. I want to be the best deal in town but still have to make a profit at some point. If I go to $1.50, would you leave it at 3 minutes?
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Vacuum prices
- Thread starter CaptnBuck
- Start date
Would you recommend a leap to $2 for 5 minutes like Keno, or something a smaller bump like $1.50? I think the $2 for 5 minutes would be fine as long as the time is pitched as the selling point. "A little more money for a lot more time!" (though an extra 2 minutes might not be considered 'a lot'). It makes it $0.40 instead of $0.416 a minute...
I'd go up slow, $1.50 now for 3 minutes and raise it again to $1.75 for 3 minutes maybe in the spring or fall.
Dan kamsickas
GinSan Technician
Jump it to $2 in January.
Yeah, they are in good working order and are still fairly new. They have manufacture dates from 2022. Only real problem has been a clogged hose were someone vacuumed up some long deck screws and the door gaskets could use replacing. I'll get that done.
Islandwash
Active member
No matter how fast or slow you get there. $2. for 5 minutes is a fair price for customers and us. Just look sat fast food soda prices as a comparison.
This. I went from $1.25 for 4 mins straight to $2 for 5 mins. Or maybe 6 mins I can’t remember. No complaints and I’m surprised how much I make from those. Recently replaced all gaskets and that helped a ton.
This is where we will end up eventually, next year sometime
Waxman
Super Moderator
I wouldn't overthink it. It's two dollars. You can barely buy a soda for that nowadays. The customer is not that price sensitive as we think. I am definitely premium priced with almost everything at the car wash with the exception of some vending items that are still fairly low. I barely ever hear any complaints from customers.
MudMoney
Well-known member
Northwestern Energy CO in my area calculated my dual motor vacuums cost 26 cents an hour to run, pretty cheap ! Granted there is filter replacement, maintence, etc . Huge money maker @ $ 2 for 4 minutes. And there are owners giving away that service that has huge profit margin. Go Figure.
AnalyticWash
Well-known member
Customers that complain over a $2 vacuum are not the customers you want using your car wash.
Also, if you take cards, microtransactions are expensive. You are probably paying 15-16 cents (or more) in processing fees on a single vac transaction.
Also, if you take cards, microtransactions are expensive. You are probably paying 15-16 cents (or more) in processing fees on a single vac transaction.
edredtop
Well-known member
Yep.
All of my price increases occur when we have several days of inclement weather as well as any heavy maintenance that requires a bay to be down.
6 blocks down the street from my car wash I have a recently remodeled tunnel that installed 16 Free vacuums that anyone can drive up and use, you don’t have to wash to use the Free vacuums. Before they installed the Free vacuums my vacuum business was pretty good. Now my vacuum business is down about a 2/3 of what it was before they reopened with the Free vacuums. Now that gasoline has taken another big jump I’m holding off before raising my prices again.
$3 for 5 minutes went from $2 to $3 3 years ago. Not a word from anybody. About a third of the credit card customers are 2,3,4 swipes!
