QUICK!! Quick!!! Help! Need to decide on Front or Top's...

[Sunflower]

Many of you know that we just bought a mat and are remodeling it. (That's the short version.)

My husband pulled out 12 top loaders (10 are 13 yr old GE's) last night. He refuses to put them back in. Says they're cobbled together in every way and REEK.

We're going to replace them with hardmount front's---we think. We need a brand that's going to LAST. We know we will have to pay for it BUT is it worth it. We're way out in the boondocks. ...Can't find anyone to sell me re-furbished around here... (West Coast)

( think one of you Pete's out there told me I'm crazy for putting in fronts as opposed to tops...)

If we buy something that we must have serviced by a "pro" they will have a minimum drive of 4 hours.

GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THE BEST. We'd rather pay for quality and less headaches.

JUST NEED MORE OPINIONS. Thanks, Anna

[Sunflower]

I found the poll on washing machine brands so ignore this post! Thanks, Anna

[Kitty]

Sunflower WHO IS YOUR CUSTOMER?

Sorry, You have to be the one to tell us this. Then we can help you determine what mix of equip you need. You have to elaborate more clearly your market and your demographic area, the competitors and the customer base.

You'll get some answers. But when you do, heed the advice. It will be the smartest move you make.

Kitty

[Sunflower]

Hi Kitty,

We are not in a low income area. There are 2 small apartment buildings. It's a Mom Pop resort valley -- early retiree area. Major recreation including horseback riding, hunting, camping, fishing, etc. While some locals will use the place my gut feeling is... appeal to the folks with gigantic $500.00 King comforters and 300.00 horse blankets, etc. etc.... Low hispanic count. It's like a baby Sun Valley or Baby Vale...

We have no competition to speak of.... Just 2 nice small mats inside of RV parks out of town and 1 very small underneath of a store in a town 10 miles away. We bought the only mat that is easily accessible. It's next door to the local grocery store and one of the top realters....

We also have showers which appeal to the tourists and hunters...

Also, due to the custom house construction for these folks there are a lot of construction men. I hear they like to bring their work clothes in and save their own washers.

So the area is not full of people without washing equip. And about 50% of the residents are early retirees. (It will be interesting when the next city stats come out...)

We have no idea what to expect when we get this place up and running because we don't know if the previous $ numbers were true (and they were ugly-low) and the place was run down, down, down!!!

Shwew! There's my thoughts! Does that help? We are the only mat in our town. Non-seasonal pop of about 1000-1500 with neighboring small towns.

[pete f]

I forgot what you have now, I thought we went over ideas. What is the water supply? sewer? Those with high costs like to use more fronts. Sounds like you need a combination. Some large fronts, and med size ones and the rest tops. Small town mats don't usually load up on large washers.

[Sunflower]

...And then I realized I can buy re-built machines and have them shipped from the East Coast. (Shall we say DUH!!!!)

[DuboisLaundry]

how many construction types? will they all come at the same time?
a 35# or bigger for them
several medium fronts too for sleeping bags etc
as few tops as possible to keep your own costs down
more smaller fronts than anything else I would say, priced to compete with the tops

off the top of my head
seasoned veterans may have better ideas

[Sunflower]

We're at the point of going w/8 or 10 Huebsch 20lb Fronts and a 40lb and retaining 2-4 tops (much to my disdain) because I think there are people who are diehards for those things and I'm going off the advice of some "elders" here. (But I personally think they are nothing more than a glorified homeowner unit-the glorification would be in the coin box attachment.)

So now we will have 2 Big machines and 10-13 small fronts plus tops and 12 dryers and 3 showers.

I like your previous sleeping bag advice. -Anna

[Sunflower]

how many construction types? will they all come at the same time?
a 35# or bigger for them
several medium fronts too for sleeping bags etc
as few tops as possible to keep your own costs down
more smaller fronts than anything else I would say, priced to compete with the tops


Oh yeah, and we decided to go new. Huebsch. 3 yr / 5 yr warranty. They will all come at the same time from the distributor who is 4 hours away. He will install free. And while he's here we'll have him work on the other machines currently here.

So, 8-10 20lbs and 1 40lb to go w/what we already have. And we're thinking 2.75 per front. 1.75 per top (were 1.50) and 5.00 for both the 40 and 50.

[Anonymous]

They must be charging alot for the equipment if they are installing for free.

[Sunflower]

2300 per 20lber