View Full Version : new dryer pricing question
I just installed some new dryers and am having a problem getting the customers to use one of them. I had 10 double stack old ADC dryers and pulled out 4 and replaced them 1
Dexter 55lb single and 2 SQ double stacks. The SQ Doubles are capturing ~40% of my dryer revenue but the customers last week barely used the bigger Dexter, only $3. I vend the stackes at .25 for 9min and the Dexter at .25 for 4 1/2 min, Ive place a sign above the dryer stating that it is double the size of the stack dryers and will dry clothes faster for less cost but still no effect. Has anyone else had the same problem? or any suggestions on how to increase the usage?
Thanks
Burley
08-25-2004, 05:27 PM
Do the math:
Dexter: 4.5 min @ $.25 (or 9 min @ $.50)
Stack SQ: 9 min @ $.25
Why would the customers want to pay double unless they truely have large items? The fact is they won't. For example, last year before I opened my mat, I was washing loads at a nearby mat to test the equipment. I have 2 large loads of towels that I had washed in 2 different double load machines. When I was done, I put both of them into a 30 pound stack dryer. It all fit easily so why pay for a bigger machine. I think I saved money and I bet customers do to.
Do you have any 50+ pound washers for real large items/loads? Then these people may use the larger Dexter dryer.
Bubbles
08-25-2004, 11:42 PM
Very interesting.
I have 30 stack drums and 9 75# Wasco dryers.
$.29 for 8 min on stack drums.
$.29 for 5 min on 75# drums.
The big dryers are always busy. My employees steer the customers who have large loads or comforters/sleeping bags to the larger drums.
Perhaps a sign over your big dryer stating that it is "Best for Comforters/Sleeping Bags" would be worth a try.
One of the reasons my biggies are so popular is that I have 9 40# washers and 4 55# washers in my mix. Also, the dryer doors are 3 feet wide, so there's no doubt in the customers' minds that these units are whopping-big and well worth the price.
Ann
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
petefritz
08-26-2004, 04:46 AM
If it does not sell, the price is to high....
Try the 50 at 6 mins.
PeterH
08-27-2004, 02:18 PM
I think there are a couple things going on here. One is that you are mixing brands. Now you have something people can compare and pick favorites. And people will wait for their favorites, or worse, leave and come back later.
The second thing is that you only installed 1 big dryer. Perhaps if you had installed two or three 55#'s into the space, people washing bigger loads would be drawn to them. As it is now, you have only one, which may be percieved as being overpriced, sitting next to two new SQ dryers that are percieved as a better value and do a better job than your old stacks. I think you need to look hard at your situation and work towards getting a better mix.
When I installed my five 50# dryers, I had to explain to people that they do hold 2-3 loads, so while they seem more expensive, they are actually saving money when they load them up properly. It took a while, but they came around.
To fix things right now, I would raise the time on the 55# to about 6 mins/.25.
Just curious: why didn't you get Dexter stacks with your 55#, or why didn't you get an SQ 50# with your stacks?
Burley
08-29-2004, 01:43 AM
DRAM!!! HELLO----wake up!! Are you out there?
All of these fine people provided input to help you and asked followup questions, yet, no response from Dram?
Maybe DRAM went on vacation? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
I wanted to stay with SQ but my doors are 36" and the SQ 50" is 38 5/8, the Dexter was able to make it through the door frame after the door frame was removed. I went SQ stacks because the cost was 10% lower and the warranty was 3 years, and searching this thread there did not appear to be a consensus on who had the best dryer. I will probally be replacing the rest of my old ADC's in the nest couple of years and depending on how the SQ's and Dexter hold up will probally sway me to either stay with SQ stacks or try the Dexter stacks. My store is small ~1300Sq Ft with 15 tops, 5 Double FL and 3 triple FL's so I think 1 50lb single may be enough for now. I will be increasing the dry time to 6 min and posting a sign for the customers aout the increasing dry time.
Thanks for the feedback.
The feedback has been great, I have been spending time with the kids before they go back to school and have been off the net more than usual. No vacation this summer.
Burley
08-30-2004, 01:47 AM
Hang in there DRAM and good luck to you.......it is always better to spend time with the kids than it is staring at a computer screen and typing away!
JamesWash
08-30-2004, 03:15 AM
In short, your price is not right.
mrcoinop
08-31-2004, 01:54 AM
cut your stack dryer price down to 7 min and 5 min 55lb just my 2 cents
JamesWash
08-31-2004, 02:42 AM
mrcoinop, that makes more sense.
I increased the dry time to 6min on the 55lb dryer, as just a general question when the thread talks about .25 for 9min does it mean 9min dry with a cool down included or do you calculate the 9min as 7min dry with a 2min cool down. My dryers are 9min but 2min of the 9min is cool down, so are my dryers 9min or 7min?
Thanks for all of the feedback....
millenniumplus
08-31-2004, 11:39 AM
When we refer to minutes per .25cents we mean total minutes including kool down time.
We offer 8minutes per .25cents of which 1 of those 8 minutes are for kool down.We find
that 1minute does a more than satisfactory job of kooling down. Not sure what someone
else might suggest but it's our opinion you should calculate your total minutes (9minutes).
For the purpose of this thread you can break it down but for the purpose of advertising
would say go with the 9minutes.