Vacation

[Kitty]

Ok, summer is almost here and your wives and kids are planning their vacation destinations. If you are to go on a family vacation, what preperations do you put in place so you will enjoy your time away from the mat?


If you go for a week or more do you allow another to gain key access? If not what do you do in order to maintain? We have found, (thankfully) that the coin boxes cannot go without being emptied for more than a week, some stores cannot go more than a few days........changers need filling in between the week too. What are the plans stans?

We have yet to figure out what will happen when we all go to Vegas..........what do you guys do in the event you want time away?

[Andy]

I flew into New Orleans for the last clean show at about 9am the first day, shared the cab ride to the convention center with two other guys that I just met at the airport, I spent the entire day at the show and took the last plane out that same night. All work no play.

[Anonymous]

Its nice that card systems don't need to have quarters removed

[Kitty]

That is a great concept with the card system, and I truly believe if retrofitting was not so expensive, every mat owner would go toward the card systems. The +'s are many, however that initial sticker shock can actually give one a coronary.

[Gary C]

I have an employee that I trust with the keys. Last time I did not even do a count on her. If she did steal some cash I don't want to know. Now before you all have heart failure the deposit was about the same as usual so why sweat it and worry. Life is too short to worry about it and vacations are to much fun to miss out on. So go and if you get a few bucks skimmed in the Process just concider it part of the cost of the vaca. and enjoy it. I do treat my employes very well so I hope none of them steal from me.

Gary

[Bruce]

I have a family member I leave in charge with the keys,
I trust her with my life. But like Gary, I dont want to know
if she is skimming. Im just happy the place dosent fall
down when Im gone, and I get to go away for a couple
of weeks.

[Kitty]

ROchester? Is this between Syr and Niagara? Could you be in the Coinwash.com Summer 2003 Documentary?


I think I just named my vacation!

[buddy]

I can have my relatives take care of taking out change and filling in the Change Machine. However, I am more woried about emergencies that might pop-up when I am on vacation - like pipe bursting or change machines going out of order etc.

[Sean326]

I'm still getting used to everythings capacity, coin boxes changer and vendrite.

I've taken 3 trips in two months. at the end of the first one the out of change light went on as I walked in the door.

The next one I gave the keys to the changer and my best 2 machines (Milnors) to a trusted friend, it went fine but I won't do it again.

The last one was a bus. trip, my wife stayed home and rotated the quarters.

my long term plan is (since I travel every month) to add a second big changer and a second vendrite that should get me 7 days, one or two machines may overflow but they mostly just stop
when full.

I experimented on a rainy Wed. Greenwalds just stop functioning when the quarters clog in the twist slot. Coin drops on the maytags just get clogged, Milnors are a mess ...quarters overflow into the back of the machine.

If you obsess about these things while on the beach you just need to order annother margarita.

[pete f]

I am going to Vegas with a little bit of prep, I have a guy I trust that will have the whole key bag. He has never seen them, so does not know what goes to what. If I get a call I will walk him thru the situation via cell phones...

Take some time when you can, the mat will always be there when you get back, and as a rule, they are fairly immune to small problems for a few days.., like you won't loose your customers if a couple machines are OOO for a few days a year..

[CharlieS]

I give them to my Director of Maintenance, who does my collection for the week. He's always nervous as a cat whenever I do, because all of the cash terrrifies him. However, I trust him. Sometimes you just have to do that. All of my collection boxes have keys which are protected blanks, and are very difficult to get copies for, as I've discovered when some went bad. I've also never taught him how to clear the audit on the changers, and so far as I know he has no idea they even have an audit function. His numbers have always been in line with what I expect.

Nonetheless, I only do this when needed, and normally am the only one with access.

Charlie

[Kitty]

Director of Maintenance, what a nice sounding title.

At a black tie event last winter, Dave's wife and I were in the ladies room where we encountered some women, mostly older than us who we have not seen since my restaurant days. Of course they were polite and asked about the children and what I was doing with myself. After discussing the children, where we had moved, yada yada I told her I was "managing Laundromats" the reply of the woman was simple, and they exited in a hurry because there was not much to say after that...........Daves wife thought we must find a new and exciting title for me, so I do not immediately end any future social conversations.........Any ideas?


Kitty :)

[Anonymous]

Dave's wife's lesbian girl friend - that would raise some eyebrows

Dave's mistress - that would raise them too.

Operations manager for a multi location retail operation - too tame.

[Duane]

Kitty,

You are a .....

Multi facility independant apparel purification manager.

[Kitty]

Duane, Sounds Important! Works for me..............

[Andy]

Vestments Remediation Agent

[Kitty]

We have a few months before my 20 year high school class reunion, a really good title will be most helpful with the line of BS I am going to have to feed 200 classmates and spouses soon.......I am the reunion coordinator so I could use a really well rounded title...............I like the last two thus far.:)

[Fred50]

Keep it simple!

Vice President (or Executive Vice President or President) of Operations for a chain of retail stores or just plain President.

The more contrived the title, the less the importance - usually :-)

[pete f]

Kitty, Mark has the best title possibility. I know I have dated quite a bit in the last year or two and when I mention I own some laundromats I normaly get a bad reaction. I guess the woman I have met want a corporate climbing monkey, I am more of a beach bum that works some kind of person...
The last girl did not care what I did,, her I like..

If anyone asks now it will be President of a retail chain of textile related business interests.. You would do well with VP of the same or Executive Operations manager of the same

[Andy]

Operations Director for a commercial textile processing firm, I am responsible for 6 (or whatever number sounds good) facilities.

[Duane]

But these are much more fun!


How about.... Washer Rancher

Or... Dryer Tamer

I can see you with a wip and chair....


Or you could be "VP over monetary collections"


Sock matching mama?

Independant garment consultant.

Executive Vice Pres. of utilities consumption for BD Inc.

[IvQ]

Think about all the stay at home spouses who are attending the reunion and are trying to come up with some nifty title like, um, "President, Engineering and Logistics." :D In the end, just say what you do and be proud! Someone's got to do it! The payout comes in many gratifying ways. Besides, how many of them can change out dryer belts, tend to payroll, procurement and moderate an internet forum for an industry. You go, girl! Meow!

[Kitty]

Thank you IVQ, I have never lacked with confidence, but I do need a better title in order to maintain a decent converstation with whomever in a social enviroment. I may be multitalented in many areas, but I need to be able to convey all those talent in an interesting fashion versus the foresure allstopping of any conversation once "manager" to multi laundromats comes up. :)

I like the Executive Operations Manager........Full of BS

[Andy]

Currency Specialists

I like this one so much I might take it myself

[Kitty]

Currency Specialist will definatley keep a conversation going as "currency" always gains immediate attention!

[Andy]

Currency Specialist and Director of Floor Operations

borrow this one from wall street

[NJ Jon]

Kitty -

Serior VP of Finance of a privately held investment corporation.

If anybody asks further, smile nicely, and say you are not there to beat your own chest, and ask how they and their children are doing.

Maintain the mystique and have a good time fending off the prying questions! Always smile and make non-commital answers when asked direct questions.

NJ Jon

[Sean326]

you could go with a more european theme and be the
"Managing Director" It sounds sophisticated.

[Anonymous]

Why are people so hung up on titles in this world? As Mark said the simple title is usually the real power not the made up 10 word one. As a business owner I could be president, CEO, etc... but I choose to go with the simple title of General Manager. It is always better to have a title where you can tell someone that you have to go to your boss for approval. When you claim to be president then they expect an answer on the spot.

[Kitty]

When wearing a beautiful floor length black gown at a society dinner fundraiser in my town, I could have used a better title. When asked "what are you doing these days" at these hoyty toyty events a title with a little more meat to it could have made for better conversation. Instead the women simply stated, "how nice" and immediately left as there was not much more to say after I said what I was doing......:)

[Anonymous]

Why do you want to associate with people that have that type of attitude? The hell with them, you are who you are and do what you do and if they think lessor of you because of it who the hell cares?

[Kitty]

Don't get me wrong, I can fit in just fine, and have a good conversation as well, and don't care what one thinks. I for one play by my rules, and it is all about Me.......all I was asking was for a better "name" for me and my position. Not wanting to be something I am not, just would rather have a better way of describing my position when socializing outside my usual atmosphere. A better way of describing this glorious position is all I need! :)

[mike]

Hello, !

Is there anything higher in life than "moderator plus" ?

I don't think so !

Kitty, when you decide on a title, let me know, and I'll send you a pin with it on.

[JSVLaundry]

Head Color Cordinator for a textile company

[Kitty]

I do have a title, but it is the one my husband uses and frankly some may be offended.......so instead I will use either, Currency Specialist or Executive Operations Manager.

Of course to my friends....I'm merely a pie taster in a pie factory..:)

[CharlieS]

Hah, What a fun thread! We needed this one.

Kitty, I know what you mean. It is nice to have a good title. I don't even have a business card, except for a simple one with my name, address, and phone. No business or title listed. I rarely carry them. Let's face it, its not a glamorous business, now is it!

However, after reading this thread, I went to a small block party for our street. I told several people I was a "Textile Renovation Consultant", since I couldn't remember that long title from below that I liked. Before letting them know that I was in the Laundromat business. Very respectful looks, if I do say so myself, right up to the point I explained my business.

Charlie

[Rondo]

When people ask I say "Laundomat Slave". I get funny looks, but it's a very fitting title.... It works for me.

[Anonymous]

When people ask what I do, I tell them over paid janitor.

[mike]

Kitty,

Just give them a wink and say

"I won't tell what I do, but I do see men's underwear"

leave them guessing ;-)

or

If I tell you what I do, I'll have to send you a bill for $50.
(inspiration from Kirby's story about the sheep herder)

[Quartermaster]

Kitty,

Tell them it's a Government Job.

You could tell them what you do, but then you would have to shoot them.