Monthly club card contract

We have converted our traditional full-serv to flex-serv five months ago.Now we are about to introduce monthly club card for $30 unlimited washes one car and can add another car with additional $20.Please help us making a decision on following:
1. Monthly pass with 12 month contract or no contract at all?
2. How much extra should we charge from commercial cars i.e Taxis, driving schools etc.
Our prices are $5,$7(with undercarriage,extra wraps,top brush),$9(sealer wax,polish wax,rim cleaning),$13(tire shine,rainx)
Thanks

My opinion:

No contract - If it is a contract for 12 months then just sell them a one year pass. I sell 3 month or 1 year passes, this has worked great for me for years but I am considering adding a 1 month pass. I sell a pass for my base wash and one for my best wash.

dewey:

Is the 12 month less per month than the 3 month? And would the 3 month be less than the one month? I would think they would have to be otherwise there would be no incentive for people to go with a 12 month.

Next, no contract - unless you intend to take people to court.

As for you pricing of a club card, with 4 different price levels are you going to have 4 different club prices or is it just going to be a club card for the basic $5 with customers paying the difference each time for the services in your top washes?

We've done a monthly pass for since February of 07 and to date we've sold 860 passes. Of course we sell far more in the winter than the summer being in Cleveland. Our customers average 9-10 washes per month when they buy the card thanks to a handful of nut jobs who wash 20+ times a month. Thus we average $5+ per wash (our club card is $50 and everyone get the works - except Rain-X - our only ala carte service)

Yes the 1 year pass is less than 4 3 month passes. We give a discount if a customer renews their 3 month pass within 1 week of experation. We basicly give that same discount for a 1 year pass.

I like dewey's idea of selling 3 months pass, that way if somebody start abusing or washing thier car every day is going to get bored at some point after a month or so.Like Gym membership.

Guess again on people abusing it. We've got one customer who has bought it every month for 14 months and washes no less than 23 times a month every month. I often joke with him that I don't want to hear any complaints when the paint starts coming off. While he's the worst one, several others are in his category, washing anywhere between 15 and 20 times a month, that's a primary reason each card averages 10 times a month with the 9 times a month being the most common (median).

However, I also to let these nut jobs, er uh cutsomers know when I see them that if they wash there car that often, within a month or two there will be little if any wax left on their car and how important it is to detail it once a year if not twice. I explain it to them using the nu-finish wax commercial as an example. This is where they wax the car and then put it through 52 commercial car washes and it still beads (of course the consumer doesn't know they are using drying agent to make it bead but it sounds great). Well, that assumes 52 washes per year whereas they are achieving 52 washes every 2-3 months.

You simply have to face the fact and accept it that some knuckleheads are going to abuse the program. It just goes with ther territory. These are the same people you see at trying to sit at a buffet at lunch and stick around for dinner because its all you can eat.

Thanks chiefs for an idea on detailing

Yes some people do abuse it but really if you have the right mindset its not so bad.
1. If they are washing at your wash they are not washing at someone elses
2. I find customers are like bananas, they come in bunches. So when that "abuser" comes in maybe he triggers another couple of people to follow him in.
3. For everyone that comes in everyday there is one that barely comes in once a week.
4. really what does it cost to run a car through anyway? (More and more these days I know) your lights are already on your employees are there...

If your going to sell a UNLIMITED pass do not complain they are using it. If you don't have the stomach for it sell a limited pass, like a 3 times per week max or something. It may not be for every wash but it has worked for us for over 15 years, and remember when they have your pass in their pocket they won't be tempted to use anyone else, they are guaranteed loyal customers!

Its frustrating.We thought that monthly passes is going to be big hit but we only sold 2 passes in last 9 days.We only offer 3 month pass for$30/month.Any suggestions?
Thanks

If my math is correct they will need to wash more than once every 5 days at your wash to see any savings. Assuming $5 wash and $90 for 3 month pass. In my opinion that is not enough.

So Dewey what do you suggest, Selling on monthly basis without 3 months contract?One more thing we wash lot of cabs without any discount,and they are willing to pay aywhere between $75 to $80 for passes.

We dont have any cabs around us and only a few limos but I know some car washes charge more for a commercial pass (cabs limos etc) I don't think you need to sell a monthly pass just make it worth while for your customers to buy one.
1. Figure out what kind of discount your willing to give, example 1.00 off a wash
2. Determine how often people ON AVERAGE will wash their car
3. Figure out your price from there. example, avg person will wash 13 times in 3 months. 1.00 off wash is $4.00 so price for your 3 Month pass would be $52.00 Some will wash more some will wash less you need to figure out what works for you. If your customers can't easily see a savings and benifit from buying a pass they won't. I can wash my truck 10 times a day if I want but I probably avg around once a week. Your current pricing just is not enough of a savings in my opinion.

Thanks Dewey
We are going to try selling it on monthly basis.I'll keep you posted.