View Full Version : Repair Cost
buddy
10-12-2002, 11:31 PM
How much on average do you guys spend on Parts/Repair on the equipments?
Howard
10-13-2002, 12:36 AM
One answer:
Averages out to $3.66 a day for a ten year old laundromat with no equipment replacement.
My average is $2.16 per day or about $800 per year on equipment that ranges in age from 4 years to 9 years old.
I don't know if the last two answers were serious or not, but I average about $800 or $900. per month per store. (almost 10% of my gross !!) (too @##$$%^^&* much !!)
Kitty
10-13-2002, 08:14 AM
I'll have to look and see what the average is but I bet we are in a higher end. We have many new machines and some as old as 10-15 years. Some tops 20 years.........
Just go a bill the other day that about had me pass out. When the town had the mandatory water restrictions we turned back on to the well we were forced to go off of 5 years ago. (THe town still has not asked us to return to city water.) A few weeks back we noticed the water had a rusty look in it. Cusomters really did not notice, but the top tubs started to discolor as did some of the sopa containers of the fronts. Therefore , we new the 20 year old well, probably had a hole somerwher in the pipe. Call the local well guy, who has done all the work for us for years, and he comes and pulls up the old pipe, and replaces 3 cylinders of the steel/ cast? pipe.............Of course they had to have a crane and a crane driver and two workers, several hours of work. But not too bad. Easy acccess to the well and relatively an easy job. Got the bill.............4500 bucks! Needless to say, if the town says we have to go back on city water, it won't happen until we meet that expense using FREE water!!! City water has been running around 17oo a month. Using the well reduces the bill by 50%
JeffLange
10-13-2002, 09:33 AM
What type of repairs are you doing that cost $900 a month?
My repairs are just about everyting, but most those heubsch (speed queen) infamous stack dryers probably $500. a month on them alone.
I should admit that I don't do any repairs myself, not even belts ! I know that I should, but I am intimidated by equipment that I don't understand.(like the wheel :-)
My repair guy charges over $60 an hour,
JeffLange
10-13-2002, 10:03 AM
Maybe you should buy new machines? Your repairs would pay the loan.
Howard
10-13-2002, 12:57 PM
Why don't you make a deal with the repairman wherein you guarantee him a minimum labor amount per month in return for his fixing your equipment on a 48 hour turnaround call basis? You may be able to reduce your monthly expense. At least yu would have a better handle on the labor portion of your costs.
Then, find a discount parts house (like the sponser for this board) and pre-order your most used parts (extra belts, a spare IEI board, a spare computer board, etc.). Buy when they are on sale. Look over the internet for common parts on sale.
Even then, I can't imagine how you can spend $500 a month on dryers. Do you have 50 or more dryers?
Except for the gas valve, nothing in there costs that much! Most repairs are relatively easy and fast.
Even getting the parts repaired is relatively inexpensive.
Howard
10-13-2002, 01:01 PM
The $3.66 is a real average amount for the ten year old mat. It includes a lot of outside labor as well.
I also have a three year old mat that averages just under $1.00 a day and another (six years) that costs me about $2.15.
All of these involve different machines (except for all Wascomats) and different mixes, as well as availability of repairman (locale) or not.
Howard, unfortunately, the repairmen in this neck of the woods are real prima donnas, I have tried cheaper ones, and they haven't worked out. This guy won't cut me any deals, I've asked. He does me a favour by even servicing me !
He prefers doing repairs on hospital laundries, because they are clean and comfortable ! He picks and chooses.
Parts, well, I'm in Canada and import duty, customs broker fees and 2 sets of taxes on top of this means that I was paying $500. bucks Canadian for the heubsch computer that I see advertised on the net for US$120. (Almost $100. bucks of that is tax !) I recently (courtesy of this board) started to use D&E in New York for the rebuilds. (saves me a bundle)
I did make an order with one of the board sponsers, and they never followed up, I guess they were put off by the extra paperwork to ship to Canada, I can't say I blame them.
My figure of $2.16/day is real. I do my own repairs so this number is parts only. If I included my labor charges we would be talking more like $14/day.
buddy
10-14-2002, 08:38 AM
Mine is about $100 per month in parts. I do my own repair.
Recently I have trained one of my technically oriented attendant to just cleanout or rebuilt Wascomat Drain Valves becuse that seems to be the 80% of the problems with Wascomat Gen4 machines. I pay him fixed $50 /week and he fixes Drain Valve Problems. I provide him with parts and tools.
pete f
10-14-2002, 10:11 AM
I figure $100 a month in my budget, stuff gets thrown in the "repairs" coloum that probably belongs elsewhere. Real machine repairs about $400 a year or less. If you buy a couple computer boards in 1 year it kill you.
Anonymous
10-14-2002, 11:39 AM
Mike,
The first step is always admitting that you don't understand the fundamentals of the "wheel". It's your $, but as a self annointed tightwad-naive-whippersnapper i feel compelled to push you into understanding your equipment better. Lots of fixes only take 15 minutes and a $15 part on these SQ's. Ask lots of questions to this fix-it guy - tell him that's part of what your paying him for.
But if your paying 500 clams/month on these things and still making money - you must be doing OK.
I also have done the same as Buddy-trained one of my attendants to complete the easy repairs (drain valve plugs). I focus on the more complex jobs. If you have the right person I recommend this.
Kitty
10-14-2002, 04:48 PM
We just spent aroung 500 bucks today to Summit for a couple of wasco drain valves a timer and some other little gadgets.........The wasco timer was over 200. Where do you guys purchase these expensive parts??
Luckily the two dryer ADC computer boards are under waranty that just went......they are over 300 each!!!
JeffLange
10-14-2002, 04:53 PM
computers you can get rebuilt for less then $100
Kitty, I recently tried First Line Laundry Corp. in Conn. They have some of the cheapest parts I've seen. Their most recent flyer has wasco gen 4 timers for $120.00, wlc's for $13.00, relays for $17.00, motor & gears for drains for $17.00. The number is 1-866-98-PARTS
Kitty
10-14-2002, 08:48 PM
It won't help this time but I will forward that number to my rolodex for future use, thanks!! Kitty
David
10-15-2002, 08:09 AM
Down and Dirty - New Haven, Conn 888-363-2582. $50 min and can't sell in New England area. Flyer available. I seen their ad in Sept Journal. I've ordered a couple of times. No problems.
Parts Distributors - Lombard, IL 800-323-7181 Also ordered a couple of times. They are a little cheaper than Summit, but tend not to have hard-to-find-items. They will order it, but you get charged retail. Flyer available.
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