Life Expectancy

[Anonymous]

I'm going to do a walk through today of a possible place I'm thinking of buying. My question might be a loaded one but here it is. What is the life expectancy of commercial eqiupment? 10 years, 15 years? A ballpark figure is what I'm looking for. Thanks in advance.

antcave

[anonymous]

This is a tuff one because there are many variables

I have in my mat Wascomat W-74 that where built 1988-90
and still work fine. Many people rebuild replace bearings
My guess Dryers 15-20 years Washers 15-20 years
Use will vary from Mat to Mat so 1 years use in 1 place could
be 2-3 year some where else.

Obviously the older machines will have a greater chance of
break down and higher maintence costs (repair parts)

[anonymous]

If you have good machines,you are willing to fix ,parts are avaliable,they will last for a long time.
I still see a lot 1950,60's dryers ,60,70s washers in laundromats,still make money.Some old stainless washers,dryers still look great.
Loaction is the key to buy a store.

[n175h]

I'm with Ken on this. I have 10 Norge 50lb dryers 1968 models. These things were originally installed with dime meters. I've priced them 50% higher than my newer American stacks and the customers line up to use them. I cut the btu input down to 90k. I hardly ever have to work on them. I have only done one bearing job on one machine in 37 years. That is increadible. Huebsch parts fit them. They have new SetOMatic countdown timers and the fronts still shine like new. I constantly throw parts at the American stacks, and have you priced a computer for an American stack? Yikes!@!!

What more could I ask for? My distributor is constantly trying to get me to scrap them. Why should I?

Now, on the other hand, if I tried to sell my store to you, you would probably run away shaking your head considering a buy on such old equipment.

My front loaders are 1993 Maytag/Unimac. I just do a bearing/seal job at the first whisper of a roar. I take the machine out to the driveway, clean it all up, recoat the frame with POR-15 and put it all back in about 6 hours. The stainless fronts still shine up like new with baby oil once per week.

As for tops, I replace them about each 8 years. The soft mount Maytag fronts---I don't know yet. They don't look like they will last 8 years. I may have made a mistake buying those.

If I replaced my American ADG230's I would buy the 360x2. The consensus on this board has been they are the most popular stack right now. I really like the way they look and the configuration of the lint tray and controls.

David

[anonymous]

Loaction is the key to buy a store.

Ken, I know from reading this group that lo action is certainly not the key to buying a store.

:p

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the responses; they helped a lot and answered most of my questions. I figured that if you can at least still get parts for them, then you should be in good shape for the near future.

Thanks Again

[pete f]

Ken, I know from reading this group that lo action is certainly not the key to buying a store.

:p


I think you should rethink this statement.

3 words, location, location, location. rent, rent, rent is the next, maybe should be the first.

on equipment,, I guess it depends on local market conditions. 1 store here using 70's equipment has low revenues. I know it is better, tougher, easier to work on, but old stuff is inefficient, and people like new stuff. Together that means higher revenue from newer, more efficient equipment, a win win situation. I still have a few super 20's around, so it is not you have to replace everything, but in all the years I have always been rewarded by updating. Hard mounts, 10-15 years, dryers 20 years, tops 10 years. Plan on re investing always.
here is a clue, browse site and see what the used stuff is worth. I have junked perfectly good operating equipment becuase I could not get more than scrap iron value as used.

[anonymous]

Location is key for me.When I look into a store,I always check what I can change,what I can not change.
I can not change location,parking.....,hard to change the lease.
I can change machines,pumbing.....
When I bought my frist store,I knew I had to replace 100% machines,but it has 3 phase service , good pumbing,cheap rent,large parking lot and great location, a few dealers thought I was crazy since all the machines were very junky.The store is still the best store for me,I will buy a cheap junky store with good location,parking and rent any day.New stores are nice but most are too expensive for me.Eq dealers always try to push new machines,if you talk to them,they will tell you replace top loader every 5-7 years,dryers 10 years,front load washers 8-10 years.I visited a few store own by dealers,some have new machines,some still have 1960s stuff.

[Anonymous]

I am new to all of this and I am working on starting a new mat. The store isnt even bult yet. My question is I notice the mention of several different types but no mention of the speed queen what are the oppions of this type of machine ?
Thanks
Joe

[anonymous]

Old SQ/Hubsch dryer with chain ,old SQ top loader with 2 belts will last you forever.
I feel SQ improve the stack dryer but make the single dryer,top loader not as good as old one.I don't have any SQ front loader,I think SQ front loader's bearing design is not very good.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Ken was starting to think my ? offened lol

[anonymous]

Loaction. Lo action. Low action.