big machines worth it?

[Anonymous]

I have a very small mat, 1200 square feet or so. I've got the following equipment mix:

12 TL at $1.25 (the going rate around here)
4 super-load II, $2.50 (25 lb??)
2 SC25, $2.50 (25 lb)
3 SC27, $2.75 (advertised as 30 lb)
1 ipso we-165, $4 (advertised as 40, think it is 35)
6 single-pocket dryers
7 stack dryers

Would replacing 4 toploaders with 3 50 pound-or-so machines make any sense? I could vend it for $5, maybe get 2tpd for a total of $30 per day. I run about 3.8 tpd on my tops, people seem to love them.

I'm thinking I could pick up some comforter/bedspread homeowner type business, since my demographics has lots more homeowner types than rental types.

Any thoughts?

[dougyg]

I think larger machines is a good move. Personally I would install 1 or maybe 2 to see what usage you get. 50 lber's are not cheap. Also you will need to think about placement, electric, drainage, what type of base put it on etc, especially if you are thinking about puting the new machines where the top loaders are.

[jeha66]

My mat is smaller than yours, 7 neptunes, 2 30#'s, and 1 50#. The 50# defintitely gets the least amount of action. I vend at $3.50 for 35#'s and $4.50 for the 50#. I ran a special in Dec. and put my 50# at $3.50, the same as my 35#'s, but I still didn't get much response. I don't think my customers differentiate between the 30# and the 50#. I think I would have been better off with another 30# instead of a 50#.
Jeff

[geo]

My 40# at $3.25 got more use then 55# at $4.50.

Geo

[Anonymous]

My mat is smaller than yours, 7 neptunes, 2 30#'s, and 1 50#. The 50# defintitely gets the least amount of action. I vend at $3.50 for 35#'s and $4.50 for the 50#. I ran a special in Dec. and put my 50# at $3.50, the same as my 35#'s, but I still didn't get much response. I don't think my customers differentiate between the 30# and the 50#. I think I would have been better off with another 30# instead of a 50#.
Jeff

Hey Jeff

How do you make any money with so few machines? Around here most of the mats have a least 30 washers and 30 dryers. Dont you get all backed up on the busy days?

[jeha66]

My mat is in a small rural area. The bigger mats around me have only 14-18 washers. I will probably put in more machines in the summer. I just wanted to get it open and start making quarters.

[Anonymous]

Another angle to consider.....Having the larger washers has allowed us to expand our commercial laundry business without adversely impacting throughput for our walk-in clientele.

[Ken]

The going rate for 50# washer in Chicagoland area from $3( yes! $3) to $4.50,a few free dry stores charge more then $4.50 in the south side Chicago.I have not seen any "pay dry" stores charge $5 for 50# in this area.

[pete f]

I lean towards Dougs comments. Try 1, or 2, see how they do. You can change out some tops to neptunes or hard mount 18's to get something in that range. Looks like you have adecent mix, if the coin boxes are equally full don't mess with it to much...

[Anonymous]

I guess I'm reaching for how I can grow my income given the small size of my store, thinking a different mix could increase my dollars per turn.

Maybe I'm better off trying to get new customers in with the existing machine mix, rather than plunking down cash on different machines.

Or I could quit worrying and just count quarters!

[Ken]

It depent on your market.
If your customers always wait for the 35/40# washer,add some big one.
If not,don't warry about .
You have 5 different washers,all different size,do you think your customers will spend the extra $1 for the extra 10-15#?unless the 50# washer look much bigger then 35/40 lb washer.

[DirtyLaundry]

35# are perfect for large laundries, comforters, and sleeping bags, ect. I have tops, neptunes, 25#s, 35#s, and 50#s. The 35#s do the best TPD for me.

[Anonymous]

This is an interesting question since I just put in my first 55# machine last week. I have tops, neptunes, 6 25#, 9 35# and now a 55#. My customers love the new 55#. The first weekend I had 9 TPD. This week it's still going at 7 TPD. A lot of my customers like to put all their laundry in the big machine and be done with it. I am working on a promotion for next month for blankets, comforters and other big items. I hope the TPD stays up there.

[dzender]

You're looking at it wrong. Use the bigger machines to attract new customers to your store.

Current customers will continue to use what they are used to until they are training to use something else and shown the value in it. Kinda like when you got them to break the habit of using the store down the street and they now come to your store.

I've got 2-60# machines at $5.50, 10-30# machines at $3.50, 6-18# machines at $2.25 and 12 TL-$1.50. The TL are water hogs and we've gotten customers to switch over to the 30 and 50 pound machines by showing them how to save money...

The 60# ($5.50) machines equal roughly 6 TL ($1.50 * 6 = $9.00) - the customer saves $3.50 in washing and saves in drying as the front loaders spin much faster releasing more water and requiring less drying time.

With the 60# machines we run specials along with our WDF services - any comforter $10.00. We do 8-12 comforters a day. My cost is very minimal. We can also do more larger WDF fold loads for less money. It's all about utility savings for me.

Hope this helps. Training the customer, educating them and breaking their habits will only help you in the long run and it's well worth it.