Thank you all...

[Palmyra Jim]

Well, it finally happened!!!! I signed away my house and my life to two established laundromats! What a journey.

You guys have been awesome in getting me here.

I did not bring any employees with me and am doing both stores myself. As exhausted as I am (16 hour days with no days off since last Thursday) I am glad I did not hire anyone. Now I now exactly what I am hiring someone for. The previous help took 3 hours to do what I am doing in 1.5 hours (night cleaning) and the attendants were more for customer contact than real cleaning (This is good to know).

I have met lots of wonderful people, know I have to learn Spanish, and have received my first compliment on how much better the place looks already!

Number one complaint....no public bathroom. First change, Unlock the bathroom, buy supplies, and wait to see how much "shrinkage" I will get. Funny, the only thing taken so far was a roll of Paper Towels taken while I was there and not while I wasn't*S*.

Thanks again folks.

Regards,
Jim

[VicG]

Wow, congrats !

How big are the stores ? How many machines ?

I am a newbie , just purchased my Mat in April.

Vic

[Monarch]

How about one of our token or coin operated lock for that restroom? Might help to control it a bit?!

Norman

[Gatorlenny]

Keep the bathroom door locked! It will save you a 1000 gallons of water a month, and believe me the stuff that goes on in a bathroom when you are not there is amazing. No homeless, drug deals, tp will not get stolen, and I for one will just not clean up that kind of mess you will soon see.

And congratulations on your purchase!

[pete f]

having a public bathroom is the worst part of this business. Depending on locale, you may be able to keep it open, and clean, or you will have to keep it locked. Or buy a coin op from Norman. I had 3 mats on them at one time. If you keep it very clean the customers do not mind spending the quarter to use it, they understand for the most part.

[fishmanz]

Good luck with the new biz Jim.

[Palmyra Jim]

I just checked on the coin entrance. Apparently it is illegal to charge people to use a bathroom in NYS!. The previous owner had a machine that didn't even work. He left it on because the locking screws were too much of a pain to take out. He read a huge editorial about himself in one of the local papers.

So far, people have been pretty good about keeping it clean and I hope not to have some of the problems associated with an urban environment.

I will post a sign that says, "Patrons Only" and that may cut down on some of the off street traffic. I had someone ask for water yesterday. Their water delivery was delayed for two days because of storms! I will charge for that if she keeps coming back.

Thanks again.

Jim

[ericnyc]

I just checked on the coin entrance. Apparently it is illegal to charge people to use a bathroom in NYS!.

Doublecheck on that. There are a few paid bathrooms in Manhattan.

[Mungo Spike]

I put a professionally made sign on my locked bathroom that says 'OFFICE.' It's hilarious to watch street people walk around the whole laundromat looking for a bathroom, and then leave because they can't find one.
We have a key at the counter for customers. The combination of sign and key eliminates almost all of the unwanted traffic to the bathroom, and the bathroom is spotlessly clean most of the time.

[Palmyra Jim]

great Idea...I may do that on my unlocked bathroom to deter non-patrons who visiting tourists who just want to use the bathroom......