PA System

[Danlaundry]

Does anyone have a PA (Public Address System) in their store? One could play messages like in Home Depot does… Thank you for shopping Home Depot as always NO KIDS RUNNING IN STORE, SKATEBOARDING, SCREAMING!!!!...... Thank you come again.
If so how has it worked out and where can one buy a nice PA?

[MrMachine]

I've had PA systems in my Mats for many years.

The primary benefit is when the mat is busy you can announce for example, that dryer #23 has stopped, please take your laundry out.

This is very useful to avoid fights because some customers hate when others touch their laundry, even though they are wrong in letting their machines sit idle during a busy time.
It keeps the authority and control of the machines with us, rather than another customer emptying a machine triggering a fight.

And if a customer returns from shopping at another store to find their laundry in a cart and asks "who the F%#@ touched my laundry", insisting that they were in the store the whole time, the other customers will chime in and say: "No, they announced your machine over the loudspeakers".

Over the years, we've had some fun with the PA's also.
I've "MC'd" people who sing songs for example, getting applause from the others.
I've cracked jokes, etc.
One of my favorites: When we announce that a washer or dryer has stopped, we say: "If the machine isn't emptied in 2 minutes, we're gonna sell the laundry on E-Bay....."

Once we had a 3 year old kid who kept screaming and crying. You know, the "terrible two's that really lasts up to 5 years old".
He was getting on everyone's nerves, so I got on the PA and said: "That's what I sound like when I pay the water bill for this store".
The customers burst out laughing.

Get one at Radio Shack.

[chad]

I have one as well, pretty cool. I call in from my cell phone and do it. cost me like $500

[TuckBoy]

I have one. I use Skype on auto pickup on the store computer. I have it setup to talk only but could be used as a two way. I use it to ask people to get their kids off the tables. You should see the people's faces---it is like being Oz.

[mjwalsh]

Way back in 1982, we bought & installed a used 5 zone TalkaPhone 2 way loudspeaker system that is still is in our laundromat & in our car wash bays. It was mainly useful for letting people know remotely that they could pick up the pay phone receiver because someone was trying to call them. Cell phones have diminished that specific use though.

I see the value that the others commented on how they were & are using their PAs. Also, the sound is a good complement to surveillance video for loud noises especially when you can remotely pick up potential sounds of vandalism or other disturbances. We have not ruled out updating & improving our system. Horns are OK but not good enough for music. Our new 60 inch TV has 5 speakers that can be volume controlled by the customers so that could be a consideration in any potential update.

mike

[EJ333]

Originally Posted by chad

I have one as well, pretty cool. I call in from my cell phone and do it. cost me like $500

Chad,

Can you tell us where you can purchase this set-up ? Thanks

[chad]

my local alarm guy that does alarm and door locks was able to do it for me. It's cool I can just use my cell phone to call in. It's a pretty loud PA.