Friction vs Touchless

Are there any comparsion surveys on profit from a friction vs touchless? Which do customers prefer? Is one better than the other in certain situations???

Here is the real question on friction vs touchless, do customers prefer their car clean or not clean after the car wash? Plain and simple, touchless does not clean cars to the customers satisfaction. If it did, everybody would be touchless.

I disagree. A good gantry style automatic that measures and profiles the car, with the combination of the right chemistry, will clean 95% plus of the cars on the road to the customers' satisfaction, even wheels and tires. My only real weakness in my touchless is problems dealing with heavy eyebrow. I have available for the customers windshield squuegess to deal with that. Now, I think it easier to clean with friction, but a WELL RUN touchless can develop a very good fan base.

I know people that run both touchless and friction units. Both can do well. Both types have their fans and foes. Friction units are more effecient and may be more suitable in certain situations. But you will have to be willing to handle the occasional damage claims.

One of the most important things I would look at is your comeptition. In my area, 95% of C-store run friction. We also have expresses in my area so I think offering touchless makes more sense for me.

If this discussion concerns rollovers, than yes, touchless is a viable option. However, at the line speeds of most exterior express washes, 120-150 cph, a touchless conveyor is unable to clean with any effectiveness unless the tunnel is 200'+ in length with multiple presoaks and multiple high pressure units.

but the question is which drives more dollars? Any good data on that?

This is a subject that has been discussed many times on a lot of occasions. I agree with asjaffa. But the customers that are in your area and what they are use to, I think is what makes or breaks you. In-bay friction just does not do well in the conservative Midwest. These people just don't want a machine touching the car they love. To answer the question as to what brings in more money. Well if people are not coming in then your of course not making any money, but it may clean the hell out of cars. If people are use to friction then I say that its the best way to go. But if most all machines in the area are touch less, then you better look hard at touch less. I would not want to try to change the customer base. Now this I think holds true with in bay only. Tunnels, are another story. Touch less in a tunnel, your going to use more water, more soap to clean. Bottom line, a friction, soft-touch would be the way to go. You not using as much city utility's.

Hey OldTimer! Great Points!
I wish the International Car Wash Association would do a study on touchless vs friction. I noticed on the Big Kahuna Self Serve video they have both modes side by side. I wish people that had both could compare their number again each mode of washing. Almost like a nationwide study, maybe there are trends in different regions of the US.

Hmm; the old 'friction vs. touchless' debate. Here's how I see it: every wash style has pros and cons. Even hand washing! The goal is to serve your customers the best you can and grow your customer base by creating a satisfied customer. Many people see touch free washing as safer than friction washing, at least in my area(Northeast). So I put in a touchless machine. I experimented for a couple months with water temp., pressure, chemical types and strengths, dwell times, and gantry speed. The results? I put out a nice, clean, shiny, dry car often enough to keep customers coming back for more. They also buy my top wash most often. My main problem is wash speed when lines are long. I may someday remedy this with a second IBA. I very much doubt I'd install a friction machine, but I never say never!

I wish there was data to see that picked up on regional trends that lean a certain way. It might be intesting data and surprise alot of folks.

I think IBA's still have that old stigma of being a "stratch-the-hell-out-of-your-car-gas station-brisle-type-car-wash". So in my situation I really promote myself at touchless, signage and everything says touchless.

So I am touchless all the way. No complains here.

I prefer the wording 'Touch Free' as opposed to "touch less'. May seem nit picky, but I think the word 'free' is more aappealing than the word 'less'.

Just one guy's 2 cents.

Good point Waxman.

I have been to many sites where there are one of each. Owner's almost without question tell me their frictions do 3 to 1 -vs- their touch free systems.

Just My 2 Cents...

(Hey, how come it's "my 2 cents" when it's only "a penny for your thoughts", I'm getting ripped off here!)

I would consider an IBA with soft cloth, perhaps. I'd have to do some research, but a wash with both would have all the bases covered for IBA's.

Something to think about.

I also think it's regional as far as customer preference. Climate, demographics and competition must greatly affect customer appeal of each type wash.

The new Auto Laundry News IBA survey is out. It states: "16% of respondents use friction equipment, down from 18% last year, while 82% are touch free, up from 78% last year."

It also puts new wash costs at $572,500. This # makes me happy that I had a budget and stuck to it. Yes, my wash is modest compared to some, but it keeps my monthly 'nut' easier to crack!

Hey Dave, I agree with you, spend less and then on the bad months your not left sratching your head. I guess somewhere in the past decades we decided car washes needed more of a wow factor, I don't get it either.

I got to my touchless this morning at 8:15 and a regular IBA customer was in the SS bay washing. He chastised me for being late! (my IBA was closed over- nite due to recent break-in attempt).

I'm psyched to be getting regulars who like my wash enough to use it over and over again and come first thing sat. am.

I woulda been here earlier, but I'm tired!

Ha! Great Pic, Waxman!

That's me almost a year ago, when my car wash was brand spankin new.

I was at the wash 84 hours/week in the beginning.

I'm happy to report that I've learned to take a day off now and then to see my family and tighten up my grip on sanity.

Anyone who thinks this business is easy or you just show up weekly to empty full coin vaults, please email me directly!

Still love the biz, though.

So the only advantage a touch-less has is that its touch-less? Which is easier to maintain?