Cranky Bait

[Cranky Bait]

When do you replace your toploader machines? How long do you keep them in service (number of years)? It appears at my Mat that everyone only wants to use the toploaders and then overstuff them. I am a Newbie and was wondering do you charge less for your frontloaders to steer people away from the toploaders? If you do replace toploaders what are your favorites?

Cranky Bait

[Gary C]

I am replacing mine with Neptunes.
So far the response has been good.
Gary

[Kitty]

Ive seen 25+ tops in great working condition but they limited use. If you have good traffic, replace the tops with higher vend larger front loads. In my market the 35-40lb machines are the most desired and they vend for over 50% more than a top. It costs more for the large fronts than the neptune, find out who is your customer? Families, singles?

[pete f]

I hope you are getting a boost of business off the Fly -in every year. I think the mats in Lakeland, Fl pick up some biz.
Your question is one you may have to answer yourself. Without knowing your machine mix, customer base, or competitive factors, it is hard to give any advice. In general keeping your mat updated is a good idea, and if you have an older mat, it was designed for the 60's, 70's, then replacing tops with bigger front loaders is probably a good idea. There are soft mount front load, neptune, Ipso, Conti. They all have their plus and not so plus.

as a rule, if your tops look like they are old, then it is time to replace them. As a bonus you may be able to raise price easy if you bring in new machines.

[Cranky Bait]

My toploaders are seven years old and I have 10 of them servicing is a problem because break downs are way to common. All my other machines are frontloaders and they range from 20 lbs to 50 lbs. Whenever I am at my Mat almost all of the toploaders are turning. Some of my smaller frontloaders (farthest from the dryers) may only turn a few times a week. I was wondering what is the life expectancy of a toploader? I like the Neptune idea but my older clients say that they hate bending down to get into the frontloaders (I do have them on raised pedestals) but they still are not happy with the frontloaders. I was thinking about raising the price of the toploaders to the price of our lowest price frontloaders so cost is not an option. Ideas on this?

[pete f]

what brand are your tops? Really, 7 years is about the life of a top, then it starts needing attention. But some brands seem to last much longer, like Maytag, SQ, though SQ I am not so sure about anymore.

I say if you have good TPD on tops why take them away! Sell the ones you got, maybe you can get $200-$300, then buy new ones, and raise the price. People who like tops will pay any price, they just do not like front load machines.

[Glenn]

They use toploaders because they're cheaper. They know frontloaders wash better. Over the last 5 or so years, the appliance stores have done an excellent job of educating the public. Just hang around the appliance sections at Sears or Lowes, the frontloaders are the stars. I only have 5 toploaders and 36 frontloaders 18 to 50 Lb. The toploaders are always running, except 3 days a week when all frontloaders are reduced 50 cents. On those days the 18 lb frontloaders cost the same as my toploaders. The toploaders go unused. Fine with me. I regret installing any toploaders. TYhey will be the last ones I ever buy.