Article: Comparing Card System Options

Planet Laundry, the website hosted by the CLA (Coin Laundry Association) has just had an article posted that does a great job of explaining the difference between the various card system 'options' an operator has. This goes through the motions of explaining offline card-only systems, online card-only systems (mag card vs. chip card), and a rundown of hybrid systems (card and coin on the same machine in the same store).

Currently there are several different “card systems” for self-service laundries – smart cards, mag-stripe cards, radio frequency ID (RFID) cards, credit cards, online systems, offline systems, etc. And the more choices there are, the more confusing it can be.

I’m going to attempt to cut through this tangled web and simplify the options available to today’s laundry owners.

Currently there are several different “card systems” for self-service laundries – smart cards, mag-stripe cards, radio frequency ID (RFID) cards, credit cards, online systems, offline systems, etc. And the more choices there are, the more confusing it can be.I’m going to attempt to cut through this tangled web and simplify the options available to today’s laundry owners... (continue reading)

Check it out! (direct link to the full article)

In the News: Dollar Coin is a flop?! Imagine that!

If your not in the coin laundromat industry or a coin collector, it's likely your asking yourself, "Whats a dollar coin? We have those?"

According to a recent report the US Treasury Department is sitting on over $1.1 billion dollars in inventory.

Paul Partyka from American Coin-Op wrote a nice follow-up article.

It's very little surprise that the adoption of the one-dollar coin was just late to the party here in the United States. Coin laundromat operators that have made the switch have regretted this decision and have had the same mixed feelings about using tokens. Coin are coins and they spend the SAME way that quarters do, there are just fewer of them in some cases. 

John Craig of Giant Laundromax in Minnesota said, "Dollar coin acceptance was supposed to be this great thing but it was a huge headache and very costly. It just upset customers and half the time they didn't even know what a dollar coin was. It wasn't until I added credit card acceptance with WashCard that I really found something my customers love using and they really appreciate the convenience and I'm convinced that they are spending more than before."

Article: Is a 'Hybrid Store' right for your Coin Laundromat?

There was a 2-part editorial written up by the folks from American Coin-Op magazine that explores the pros, cons, and the future of hybrid stores in the coin laundry industry. A 'hybrid store' is a store that takes coins AND takes cashless payment on either select machines or all machines (at the same time). 

When constructing a self-service laundry, many difficult decisions need to be made. What type of equipment mix do you favor? Does the layout have the proper customer flow? Do you want a coin or cashless store? 

To many owners, the coin/cashless question offered no middle ground. However, other payment options are now available. Can a “hybrid” system work for your laundry?

Representatives from companies offering hybrid systems share their views... Continue Reading>

Process Credit Cards from your iPhone/iPod using USAePay

Are you using the USAePay payment gateway? Want to use your same merchant account to process credit cards through a wireless handheld? USAePay now has a FREE app on the iTunes App Store that allows you to take your USAePay gateway account and take CC acceptance on the road. Do remote billing, sell people WashCards off-site, or sign up a Washpass at in the office of a potential customers place of business.

If you don't have a USAePay gateway (WashCard has a full integration with USAePay) you can still sign up for one and link it to your existing merchant account.

Car Wash Marketing and Promotions Training Video

The following video is a recording from a recent training session run by the Director of Marketing for WashCard Systems. It runs about 30 minutes and covers the primary marketing and promotional options in the Business Management Center for existing WashCard customers. We walk through how to set up accounts, discuss the discounting options, sales techniques for presenting fleet accounts, as well as examples of how other successful operators use the various promotional features within WashCard.

When you have additional questions or if would like to follow-up to schedule your own one-on-one marketing consultation please contact Ryan Carlson at ryan@washcard.com or phone him at 651-204-9144.

WashCard Customer Training: How to customize your marketing and promotions from Ryan Carlson on Vimeo.