DEXTER easy card petefritz

[gmat]

I am considering Dexter washers for a new mat, I would like to use the easy card system and I am concerned with the fact that my competition is coin, we are hispanic dominated my rep says that hispanics are more use to cards than coin. I don't want to rely on his word. Has anybody in a hispanic area with coin competition broke out of the box here? also I would like some feed back from petefritz, I have read your posts as far back as possible and would like to know how you like Dexter washers and dryers. do you have the problem with lint buildup on the roof, if this is not your best choice for dryers can you suggest a brand.

[Howard]

I've had an Easycard system for quite a while now in an are that is mostly hispanic. Converted from coin to card with no problem, and since then two of my competitors have installed card systems as well. Go for it the advantages will far outweigh your concerns.

[petefritz]

I have Dexter in 3 mats, but have decided to put in Maytag in #4 I am working on now. I am also going to use the ESD mag system with the touch screen. I may have gone easy cardf if I had used Dexter, but they did not have 2 things I wanted, the first ability to use the card on the soap vender, and a bathroom door lock and the ability to take debit & credit cards. The reason I have changed brands is not so much Dexter are bad, but there are things I demand in my operation that I believe the Maytag ( hard mounts, no neptunes) will make easier. Also, the Maytag has the turbo wash model now, that can save me $$ on water/sewer bills. They cost substantaily more, particuarly on the smaller 18#, 25# models. only time will tell if my decsion is right.

[Harv]

<font color="blue"> I may have gone easy cardf if I had used Dexter, but they did not have 2 things I wanted, the first ability to use the card on the soap vender, and a bathroom door lock and the ability to take debit &amp; credit cards </font color>

I understand the debit/credit card part, Pete, but I'm not clear on the soap vendor and bathroom door lock. Are you saying you can't convert an existing soap vendor to Easy Card? I was planning on getting Vend-Rite's Vend Master 360 Debit soap vendor. My Dexter distributor and Easy Card rep both tell me that that will work fine with Easy Card.

And didn't Duane say that he's successfully incorporated a card activated door lock on his bathroom? If he can do it with the CCI system, it should also be doable with Easy Card.

If there really is a problem here, it's better I find out now than after I place the orders. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[gmat]

Exactly..I had just finished reviewing my notes after reading pete's response to check if I had missed something. maybe you can charge a penny to use the restroom. I think that maybe any card system will work with just about any manufacturer. anyway what about any Dexter dryer problems ie; lint build-up on roof or other trouble.

[Harv]

<font color="blue">maybe you can charge a penny to use the restroom </font color>

Actually, my thinking was that you simply require a card to open the door, but there is no charge. And with a card system, you could even verify that the user is a real customer (i.e. check to see if that card has been used for doing any laundry in recent history /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) -- just to keep a non-customer from putting one dollar on a card and having access to your bathroom any time they please.

Fact is, since my mat isn't built yet, I have no idea what kind of restroom abuse problems will crop up, if any. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[gmat]

Harv, I agree with you, the restroom comment was intended for PF. anyway,..Howard, it is one thing to convert an existing clientele to card. My concern is starting a new mat with no clientele and a coin store across the street. we all know that people are creatures of habit, I am convinced that once they try it they will like it but who knows. I will try my best to entice them with whatever promo's I can. I hate the thought of spending the money for the card and be forced to abandon the idea as I have heard of this happening, so it may be smarter to stay coin, then later make the change (no pun intended)

[Howard]

Conversion after the fact is costly - and a mistake for several reasons. When you equip a new store with a card system you save money on your equipment by ordering it without coinmechs or coin boxes. You also save money in not purchasing change machines. Second, as you point out, customers are creatures of habit. If you put coins in and later go to cards there will be some that will complain. BUT if you start with cards you will have a new store that they want to use and will accept whatever payment system is there with no real second thoughts. As long as there is someone there to explain it to them and show them how it benefits THEM then you should have no problems.

[gmat]

Howard, that is a very good point and I thank you for your time.
gmat

[JamesD]

CCI can be used with any vending machine that is MDB-compatible. You can hook it up to any door to allow access (bathroom door, front door after-hours access, etc) with no charge to the customer.

[Duane]

James,

Open up your vending machine and take a look at the MDB interface card that is between your card reader and the vending machine and see what it says at the bottom.....

Duane.

[petefritz]

I may be wrong about the soap machien issue, I did not get soild info from my distrib on it. Maybe someone with Easy Card can say for sure, I may have spoken mis=informed. As for the bath door, ESD make a door unit ready to go. I did not get conclusive answers from my distrib on that factor either.

[petefritz]

I agree with Howard, start with card is better than to convert later. There are some saving, buying machines without boxes or coin drops, and not buying a couple changers. Still, the card systems are expensive, 35k+, even with the savings.

What I don't understand is why you would want to build a store across the street from an existing one. Has there been a population boost recently to warrant another store?? If you think you can build something better and they will come because of that, you are sorely mistaken.

[gmat]

We have had the population boost and it shows signs of continuing, I am betting on them coming if I build it. when I say that these mats are busy I mean packed. I hear the owner across (his store is older than 20yrs) is concerned about this new mat he admits to 70% of his biz is coming from the side where I would be. He also built his new mat very near to an old one and is turning7+ after 4 months. This is a hard decission to make because I feel that this location is so good but maybe I should look for another where I could buy the building. If this fails it will not kill me I would take use of the tax advantages although it will take several years to eat-up even after the carryback. But maybe I am trying to convince myself.