Is high speed washer worth the $$?

[anonymous]

More manfacturers are coming out with higher speed extract washers (hardmount & softmount) as opposed to normal extract speed of 70-81G-Force (i.e. Wascomat Gen6). Do you think high speed washer is worth the $$ now or later? What your experiences?

Here are some of the mfg. making high speed washers. Are there others that I have not listed?

Hardmount, Wascomat EXM..,65#, 80#, 235G-Force, avail now
Hardmount, Dexter V Series, 18# - 55#, 100G-Force, avail now
Hardmount, Dexter H Series, 25# - 55#, 200G-Force, avail 2004
Softmount, Maytag,WE-!6,Horizon, 16-18#, 200G-Force, avail now
Softmount, Cont-Girbau, HS-5008, 18#, 300G-Force, avail now
Softmount, Cont, H3020, 18# & 30#, 325G-Force, avail now
Softmount, IPSO, 18# - 35#, 360G-Force, avail now

[Anonymous]

That is a hard call. Technically they are better, but unless you can vend them at a higher price they will be a net revenue looser for you. The reason for that is that you will generate less dryer revenue, so without a higher vend price your total revenues will drop.

Now if you are constrained by dryer capacity they might help you out, but be careful. What is good for manufacturers and distributors is not always good for us owners.

[anonymous]

Kirby is right on the money. Why would you want to reduce dryer time if your customers are happy? I would not pay more. The only place it would be of benifit is in house WD&F or opm

Gary

[anonymous]

I agreed with Kirby that higher vend prices is a must to offset the loss in dryer revenue. It definitely depends on the locale and surrounding competition-- in Los Angeles, newly built large mats compete on below market prices and makes $$ by volume to stamp out smaller existing mats, i.e. new laundry built by PWS charges 69 cents for tops and 15 mins drying time for a quarter.

For what's worth: Advertised by local distributor that the high speed washers is worth the $$ are:

1. No need for 3-phase electrical connection. Amperage draw starts at 4 amps to 8 amps for 50+# washer.
2. Higher G-Force extract put less demand on existing dryers... effectively increasing drying capacity by 35%...enhancing value of store.
3. Increase savings due to low electrical usage - claimed over 50% saving

[anonymous]

In reply to Gary... My mat is under 1800 sq ft and dryer bottleneck during busy time was a problem. It had gotten better now since I replaced most of the single with stack dryers. However, in my locale, competition is definitely is bearing down and knocking every day (3,00 to 4,500 sq ft mat are common).

What is a good dryer to washer ratio? Is 1 to 1 the minimum?
One of the poster (Martin) back in 2001, offered dryer to washer ratio of 1:25 to 1:00, meaning for 1,000 lbs of wash capacity - you should have 1,250lbs of dryer capacity to reduce/minimize dryer bottleneck during busy times.

[anonymous]

E&R I wrote a long response and lost it. So just go to this site it may be of help.
Gary

http://www.com-law.net/findlaw/biz/unfare.htm

[vohraajay]

may also be worth if you're planning on doing large amount of w&F. I kindda like the idea of high speed for certain people - you know - those that want to get out as quickly as possible. But you may need to educate the customer a little. I talk to a laundromat owner who told me because of their water extractor machine, people come to them from distance. No 5 fingers are alike and no 5 customers are same. To get a competitive edge, a high speed washer or an extractor may be worth the investment.

ajay

[anonymous]

I agree with Ajay. Since standalone extractors are a rare find in MATS now a days, I have one in my Laundromat. If that thing is down for couple days, people starts complaining.

That competitive edge has helped me bring most of my cusomers back from two new Laundromat including one MEGA MAT.

I have 20 Washers and 13 STACKS (26 pockets) and on weekends and busy times I have people waiting for Dryers despite extractor. Extractor is generating about $100 a week. I vend Extractor for 25 cents and it runs for about 3 minutes.

[anonymous]

Buddy,
Ya gotta raise the price on that extractor. You can't even get a gumball for a quarter anymore. If it breaks, how many turns is it going to take to pay for parts? Extractor parts are not cheep!
dave.

[anonymous]

It used to be free. Recently I started charging them a quarter.

[PeterH]

I never quite understood this argument against hi-extract washers. If it takes 4 quarters now to dry a load, and then with the hi-spin washers it takes 2 quarters to dry, so you charge an extra 2 quarters in the wash, don't you actually make more money for using less gas in the dryers? If for every quarter used in a dryer you make 8 cents, wouldn't you recoup the 16 cent loss in the washers for charging more?

[anonymous]

PeterH, In therory that works but in the real world I think you will find it does not. The first thing the customer looks at when they start their laundry is the price on the washers not the dryers. Therefor a large percntage will walk out because the washers are priced to high, they won't take the time to see that it would be saved on the other side. Thats to far out for some people to figure they can only deal with whats in front of them. And if you continue the figures out then on 40 pd loaders you would have to add $1 to the load. I just don't see that working.

Gary

[Lar Hylobates]

The answer to the question is NO!

[CharlieS]

Another reason I like the Emeralds. I charge an extra 25 cents to get another 4 minutes of spin time. Customers love it, and the electricity to spin is cheaper than the gas to dry.

Charlie