The Magic Card.........

[ThePoetSuede]

1) I am looking for a card system which can be used on both my washers & dryers and throughout my mat from vending machines to the bathroom door. Please provide some insight, names, etc. Forget the overall cost for a moment, talk about the cards themselves individual card cost, flexibility if a card vendor wants to charge more for their card, durability and flexibilty. Advise on some basic pros & cons.

2) I know about incremental cost changes and having discounts at different times of the days but how about when the card has a glich, do all my washers go down? That kind of stuff.

3) And finally lets talk about a couple of the leaders in this field. No real comparisons needed simply who offers what. Which system seems more user friendly to both the user and the owner. And finally are mag strips considered the best option? Stay away from proprietery systems?

This is a hand full but we can't keep chatting about which washer to buy!
Thanks, The Poet Suede

[Duane]

All in my opinion....

Mag stripe card systems offer the best value.

Cards can cost from $0.25 to $1.00 depending on your options.

There are a few mag stripe card systems. EasyCard and CCI are two of the more common.

I have the CCI system and it runs my whole store. From vending machines, bathroom door, pool and air hockey tables, megatouch game and I even have it hooked up to a box that controls the channels on the TVs in the store. Oh, it also runs the washer and dryers too!

Depending on the environment (attended or unattended) a card system works better on some equipment than others. I have a full Maytag store that is unattended 24/7 and have no problems. Other card stores with different equipment are better to have an attendant on site.

If you are building from the ground up, then a card system is the way to go. Really not much more expensive than all those coin slides, lock boxes and changers on the wall.

Duane.

www.LMARIES.com (http://www.LMARIES.com)

[yankee]

If you want card system go with Mag stripe card system
DO NOT BUY SMART CARD(THEY ARE DUMB CARD FOR LAUNDROMAT)
if you have lots of money buy CCI card system,they are best,
if you want to save money go with Easy card they are 2ed best card system

[brucehwalker]

Smart cards are $3.00 each. They have their advantages, but the cost is rather high. I pass mine along to the customer. Everything in my store runs on them. Snack, drink, soap, washerer and dryers. I've seen one in CA that opened the bathroom door.

[mattapoisett]

We also use the Smart Card. I think it is great when it comes to getting reports because everything is networked. The cards are expensive but we charge our customers a deposit of $1.00 if the customers <font color="blue"> </font color> <font color="white"> </font color> <font color="blue"> </font color> do not want thier card we will refund them the $1.00 and what is left on the card. We also have found cards in the trash so I put a drop box out for unwanted cards and people actually have left quite alot of cards in it so I clear them and recycle them. It helps in the cost of the card.

[Duane]

I get my cards for about 50 cents each. I don't charge the customers for the card.

My whole store is on the card, including the bathroom door, pool and air hockey tables and the TV channel changer.

Do any of you smart card stores have problems with tearing (chip damage)?

[brucehwalker]

The chip doesn't tear, but sometimes the card gets bent or the data is corrupt. If they abuse it they just buy a new card. If it is corrupt I replace it.

The way I like to sell the card is "The card is free, there is just a $3 deposit. If you return the card, I refund the deposit and the value left on the card under $5. Otherwise the card is yours to keep as long you you do laundry here."

I give out bonus bucks so I try to limit the refund amount.

[yankee]

brucehwalker,



What type smart card system do you have?
How much cost of card to you?
I am looking to buy card system
thanks

[brucehwalker]

I have the Speed Queen netmaster system- Smart Cards. Cards cost 2.99 each from my distributor.

[hotwash]

ESD HAS MAG SWIPE SYSTEM WITH CHIP BACKUP IN THE SYSTEM I AM GETTING FOR A NEW MAT

[Duane]

Hotwash,

Have you checked the prices of their cards?

Do the comparison before buying.

Duane.