Soft Mount Front Loaders

[Avery]

Hi: I have a basement at my location and would like to add a few of these instead of pouring a platform. What is your take on softmount front loaders? I know Continental makes a few models. Does anyone own a softmount? What has your experience been like? Are other companies making them now? Would you buy them? Any comments would be great. Thanks.

[Duane]

Avery,

I have 30 of the Maytag Neptunes and my customers love them. The new models have a 5 year all parts warranty. They save money on utilities and dry time.

When comparing prices, take the price of the machine, freight and installation all into consideration when determining price per unit. One machine may be a few dollars cheaper, but they may try to make it up on the other charges.

Also, make sure the distributor you choose can give you good service when and if needed.

Duane.

[PeterH]

Hey Avery,

I recently saw the new Continental Aurora 18# soft mount washers. I was very impressed with them, and with the price also. I understand they will also be coming out with a 30# Aurora. My favorite brand, Wascomat, makes softmount washers for coin stores, but they are cost prohibitive.

The drawback that you will hear from most owners is that you can potentially loose money in the dryers if you install hi-speed extract washers, and that the best application is when the number of washers in your store surpasses the number of dryers. Then, the hi-extract washers help reduce dryer bottlenecks.

There are a lot of owners out there who are happy with their Neptunes, Horizons, and WE-16's.

[scottj]

We recently moved 1 of our mats. It is outfitted with all frontloaders and Neptunes. We changed our dryer pricing structure and has worked great. 30lb dryers cost $1.00 to dry and 75lb cost $2.50 . Dry time is 30 minutes. Signs explain overloaded dryers and bulkier items will require more quarters. Additional time runs 8min. and 3min for a quarter. Dryer revenue is up, no complaints about dryers not drying and what amazed me the most was no real complaints about new pricing.

[trek]

Does anyone have any comments or experience with the Huebsch 18# front loaders? I'm looking at getting a few of them for one of my stores, and was impressed with the design, but have been unable to locate anyone that has had any maintenance problems with them.

[sean326]

I just put in a bunch of new neptunes, they are great, once the customers got used to them they love em.

[brucefla]

I have 3 of the heubsch 18lb frontloaders and love em. They have see-through doors which people like. All in all I bought these used, (2yrs old) and have put approx 250 turns on each with zero problems

[epic02]

If they put see through doors on the neptune doors I would definatly buy them. I think people would like to see the machine working. IM just waiting.

[Jefflange]

Yea glass doors on the neptune would be great. Customers could then see that there is no water in the machine. They would be very happy with that.

[Duane]

I have 30 of the Neptunes and not having the glass doesn't seem to bother my customers.

If it did have glass everyone would complain about not having any water in the washer. You would have to raise the water levels or lose customers.


With 17% utility bills last year I'll take a complaint or two about not having a glass door if I have to.....

[petefritz]

I will assume by soft mount front loaders you mean real washers, not the neptune./horizen type small washers.
There has been discussion about the cost of sonic tubes vs the extra cost of large soft mount fronts at coinwash.com Where I live there are no basements so I have no real say one way or another.

[Scott9876]

Duane, what is the equipment mix at your store?

[Duane]

Remember that my demographics has a large student base.

30 Neptunes
4 35lb
1 50lb

12 stacked 30lb dryers (24 pockets)

Doing research to add a 50 or 75lb dryer.

[Scott9876]

Ok, thanks. The store I'm looking at has 18 tops & 16 single-pocket dryers. It has a basement and I don't want to go through the hassle and expense of pouring foundations. Continental has double & triple-load soft-mount fronts w/300g extract speed that I think I will go with. The double-load Aurora can be stacked with a 20 lb dryer; no one likes this set-up but with space limitations I think it would work for me. They also have larger non-coin soft mounts for wdf & commercial accounts. I haven't searched the forum for any opinions on continental yet; that's my next step.

[PeterH]

IPSO also has softmount 12#, 18# and 30# washers.