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More and more companies offer car wash technology and car wash construction. The range of solutions can be overwhelming – in this article we show you what to look for at the pre-investment stage and how to make the best choice.
Choosing the partner with whom you will carry out your touchless car wash investment can be a difficult and complex decision. More and more companies offer car wash technology and car wash construction. The range of solutions can be overwhelming – in this article we show you what to look for at the pre-investment stage and how to make the best choice. The suggestions below are guidelines that will help you analyse the offers available on the car wash market much more efficiently. Every company tries to present itself in the best possible light, and offers from different companies often seem to differ hardly at all. The key word here is “hardly”, because the devil is in the details – details that can hurt your finances badly later on, when the car wash is in operation.
What to look for
When comparing different car wash manufacturers, pay attention to the sales staff: do you have a dedicated adviser, what are their skills, do they know the industry well and can they point out not only the advantages but also the disadvantages of particular solutions, rather than giving the typical answer: “you’ll be satisfied”.
When comparing several offers, don’t look at the price alone. The differences do not come from the manufacturers’ margins but from the subassemblies used and cheaper components. Savings at the start often turn out to be illusory. Breakdowns and downtime caused by cheap solutions can be very expensive. You can always ask the companies for exactly the same configurations.
Make sure that the specifications of the individual machines are technically comparable: power, capacity and who manufactured them.
Also pay attention to extra costs. Are transport and installation included in the price? In the case of a container car wash, is the container included or charged separately? There are no standard pricing rules, so companies present their prices in different ways. It may turn out that another 10–20% has to be added to the “final” price.
Car wash manufacturers also often cut corners on the quality of warranty support. It is a good idea to check how much service visits cost and what spare parts cost in the event of a breakdown. Find out how long you will have to wait for service and replacement components. It is also important what happens after the warranty expires – whether the terms offered earlier stay the same.
You can also assess a company’s reliability by visiting its headquarters. During the meeting you will have a chance to talk to the sales staff and see exactly what else the company bases its business on.
It is a good idea to go to industry trade fairs. Such events take place in many countries, and you can meet many car wash manufacturers there. It saves a lot of time, and you will have the chance to talk to company representatives (and even owners – they often attend industry events in person).
How much does a car wash cost – ask for a price
This article was published as part of the series “Don’t get cheated – buy a car wash with your eyes open” – see all posts