Category: Products

I picked up my 2008 catalogs at the ICA meeting, I think that everyone should have one of each for self serve car washes or just a pressure washing business.  Why? because each company seems to have different products.  The new catalog I added this year was “CarWash Superstore” which I have never had but Greg really loves them.

Kim Supply kimsupply.com 1-800-444-2783

CarWash Superstore carwashsuperstore.com 1-877-663-9274

Windtrax.com “The Car Wash Store” windtrax.com 1-800-443-0676

Dultmeier Sales dultmeir.com 1-800-553-6975

Kleen-Rite Corp kleen-ritecorp.com 1-800-233-3873

I went over to Giant Industries booth who sells the high pressure guns that I use. The lady at the booth explained to me the difference between the stainless steel guns and the all brass gun. She said that the only difference was the discharge fitting was stainless and should provide better life to the gun.

She also gave me some towels and a “Moistwipe”.

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?

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. 

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.