Car Wash Blog / Self Serve Industry Blog and Forum
The security camera dvr decided it wanted some attention. It wanted some “hdd reconstruction”, sounds like fun. My Rowe changer also quit working with a “REJECT-BILL S” or “REJECT-BILL 5” error? The funny thing about the error is that it is not in the Rowe manual.
I also talked to the Rowe booth distributors and have some more information to post later. Also a demo of how to change out the non-existing $5 bill upgrade board.
At my other wash I pulled up to an abandoned car.
I talked to the people in the Sonny’s booth and they said they are selling more self serve supplies. I am not really sure but while looking in their “2008 Auto Accessories” catalog I found my “I Love Jesus” and “Mossy Oak” air fresheners. So I will have to purchase them and see how they sell.
I always liked the “Cherry Bomb” air fresheners and the customizing idea, but never have done it. To customize one side (with their stock image on the other side) $.36, for 2 sides $.39 (also a one time setup for $75).
I went past Average Joe Auto care products and checked out “The Amazing Aroma-Disk”. This air freshener seems like a good idea if they sold a special vending machine that you never had to stock (which I asked them about), but you have to just use your current vendor. Average Joe’s web site says they cost $9.99 for 10 but they might sell through a distributor cheaper?
A large storm came through and the power went out, so I went to sleep. Our neighborhoods power is underground but the people with all the tress have above ground power, which caused all the problems.
As soon as I got to the Alabama line I saw a convertible Corvette motorcycle hybrid. When I pulled into the Alabama rest area I saw a helicopter about to land and some nice wood paneling. I also witnessed two of the most retarted people when it come to using a vending machine. Maybe the drink vending machine should have had a sign stating “make sure coin acceptor is attached to the vending machine you want to use”? Maybe not?
I did not make it to Birmingham today and needed to spend the night at a Days Inn in Tallahassee Florida. I started going through the information that I collected and realized that I got too much crap. I will be going through all my pictures of the ICA meeting and posting them soon (along with posting pictures and descriptions of products that I talked to vendors about). I also stopped at some car washes in Orlando and on the way to Tallahassee and plan to post those pictures soon.
I guess the hotel was in a bad part of town (last picture), maybe that is why it was the cheapest in town?
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I picked up a flier from a Florida rest area and realized that I needed to “Slow Down!” to protect black bears. Did you know that 160 bears were killed in 2007?
I was very tired after the party and still did not get over the drive to Orlando. So I took a break at Petro and noticed a common site, an out of order Rowe changer.
While visiting the Rowe booth at the ICA meeting, I noticed that all but one of the Rowe changers had Mars bill acceptor. Which is weird because the Rowe acceptor seems to have problems all the time. Did Rowe even figure this out?
Went to the Tommy party which was a lot of fun. But I stayed up too late and drank too many canned beverages? But we did go to a great steak place mid-party at Vito’s Chop Shop.
My sister (Melissa Wilson) was the only Spain Park girl that got a hit. Which ruined Savann Hennings from Springville no hitter. This is the game I was at before going to the ICA meeting.
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I checked out ATP Advanced Technology Products polyurethane tubing, which is nice and has a psi rating at 180 psi. Seems not to crimp and should not crack like my tubing is at Wylam. The poly tubing cost about double normal low pressure tubing.
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Credit card systems have been popular lately and the MEI system is really nice. They are selling retro kits for some Rowe changers (of course they do not sell one for my BC-200) the system just replaces the transporter and nothing else.
The CC system runs around $750 per setup (attaches onto a MEI bill acceptor not included) $165 for the credit card face plate (which is metal not plastic). It is a cellular CC system (which cost $10 a month) and cost 5% for an average ticket less the $10 and 2 3/4% of average above $10.
You could put one CC bill acceptor in you dual changer and then vend tokens. (Like the bi-metal tokens from TokensDirect.) The only problem with the system is that each system needs all the parts and can not share. So if you wanted to install one in every bay then you have to purchase everything over again for each bay. Also $10 a month per system/bay.
I also checked out the Wash Verify CC system which it nice and can be installed in any environment and not even on a meter box. Also you can repair individual pieces on the cc swipe, but the server it Windows XP and uses an Internet connection.