Wascomat 140g vs. Dexter 200g

[thinkclean]

Does anyone have real world experience in comparing Dexter's line of express machines to Wascomat's line of SU machines? Specs indicate that Dexter can extract water at 200g vs. Wascomat's 140g extraction. I've read online that the difference isn't as noticeable in real world usage from a customers pov. This is the assumption that both machines produce a noticeable improvement from the standard 90-100g extraction capabilities offered by numerous manufacturers.

[Howard]

Why do you want that improvement? I am serious about that. Unless you need to do this to compete you will be paying extra money for washers that reduce your dryer income. Great deal for the distributor, maybe not such a great deal for the owner.

[thinkclean]

It’s a fair point to bring up. I’m evaluating a rehab opportunity in Northern NJ. The store has potential if not for the maintenance intensive 15-20yr washers turning customers away. The area is a cluster of towns densely populated (16 sq miles) with its share of competition commensurate with the demographics. Three comps are big with newer equipment and two of them are open 24 hours. I’ve noticed that the area has not embraced high extraction machines probably for the same question you posted. I’m looking at the possibility of targeting customers who want to spend less time by differentiating a store with high extraction machines to cut dry time. I would also differentiate the capacity mix to skew bigger i.e. 25/40/55 to further enhance the value proposition. Energy isn’t getting any cheaper and dryers aren’t drying any better so rhetorically I wonder is it insane to envision by 2019 dryers will be priced at 5mins a quarter?

Getting back on topic does anyone have experience with Dexter Express outperforming Wascomat SU line of machines?

TIA!

[Howard]

You concept is a good one, but the question is will you be able to get customers to pay you a premium for the wash to make up for what revenue you may loose due to shorter dry times. If the net result is you save the customers time but cost yourself money it is a great deal for the customer but maybe not the best value proposition for you the owner.

[BCW]

thinkclean, dryers being priced at 5min. per quarter by 2019? I'm a little surprised at that statement is all. I'm in no way belittling you, or provoking you. I have been at that price for a little over a year now. Down from 6min per quarter. I agree with Howard. Don't go with high extract express machines. They are way to expensive and your dryer revenue will suffer. I would go with Dexter, absolutly.

Tom

[thinkclean]

[ QUOTE ]
You concept is a good one, but the question is will you be able to get customers to pay you a premium for the wash to make up for what revenue you may loose due to shorter dry times. If the net result is you save the customers time but cost yourself money it is a great deal for the customer but maybe not the best value proposition for you the owner.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hear you and I'm weighing the pros and cons. Perhaps increasing the number of customers is a different way of thinking than maximizing income per customer. I would not be thinking this way if the comps in the area do not have newer equipment.

[thinkclean]

[ QUOTE ]
thinkclean, dryers being priced at 5min. per quarter by 2019? I'm a little surprised at that statement is all. I'm in no way belittling you, or provoking you. I have been at that price for a little over a year now. Down from 6min per quarter. I agree with Howard. Don't go with high extract express machines. They are way to expensive and your dryer revenue will suffer. I would go with Dexter, absolutly.

Tom

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Tom. I think it's great that you are a price leader and I would like to be too. Out here the average is 8 mins and outliers are 7 and 10 mins. Which begs the old question what is that I offer that a newer mat down three blocks doesn't offer for less money?

[Self_Suds_WV]

Green is in - use the new machines to sell your customers on the fact that they are not only saving money and time (reduced dry time) but the planet (less natural gas used to dry their clothes). Many studies have shown customers are willing to pay a premium for GREEN products/services.

[Jefflange]

The Green my Ghetto customers care about are the Benjamins. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[Howard]

[ QUOTE ]
Green is in - use the new machines to sell your customers on the fact that they are not only saving money and time (reduced dry time) but the planet (less natural gas used to dry their clothes). Many studies have shown customers are willing to pay a premium for GREEN products/services.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not for most laundry customers, they could give a rats rear end about green -- at least in my neck of the woods, and me think you mean Verde [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]