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travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2011 2:01:48 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse What are your thoughts? Whould you use a station and take the option of buying a car wash when you get a discount on gas prices. Example $.10 off the price when you buy a wash. I am thinking of offering the discount at my location. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated. [Edited by: travelzonecente at 11/2/2011 2:02:34 PM EST]

travelzonecente

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Riverside

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Message Posted: Nov 2, 2011 2:01:48 PM

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What are your thoughts? Whould you use a station and take the option of buying a car wash when you get a discount on gas prices. Example $.10 off the price when you buy a wash.
I am thinking of offering the discount at my location. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.

[Edited by: travelzonecente at 11/2/2011 2:02:34 PM EST]

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TXBruin All-Star Author San Antonio Posts:661 Points:461,625 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jan 28, 2013 9:59:18 AM Ignore TXBruin Report Abuse no
hawaiiansupaman Champion Author Hawaii Posts:1,730 Points:1,815,635 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2012 8:13:34 PM Ignore hawaiiansupaman Report Abuse How is it doing? Are you making more money? How do you measure the effectiveness of the offering?
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2012 5:29:18 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse I have, I am doing reverse marketing... Giving discount on the Car Wash rather than the gas. With any fuel purchase you get $3.00 off any car wash package.
DanFMA Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:1,106 Points:1,071,510 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Nov 24, 2012 6:22:46 AM Ignore DanFMA Report Abuse We get a discount on car wash when buying gas.
hawaiiansupaman Champion Author Hawaii Posts:1,730 Points:1,815,635 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Nov 23, 2012 4:17:12 PM Ignore hawaiiansupaman Report Abuse OK. It's been over a year and you haven't done anything yet? Must be a tough decision. Why not survey all your customers and see what they say? Can you offer a "stackable" rewards program? A stackable program is one where the consumer can accumulate discounts that don't expire and can be added together or stacked. It's the same idea as a "punch card" but uses modern technology. More sophisticated programs allow the consumer to use or accumulate their rewards by simply swiping a proprietary rewards card. The retailer is limited only by their imagination on how to utilize this tool. The acquired data can also be used to fine tune their operation.
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Nov 23, 2012 12:46:44 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse I think the reverse discount is better.. Selling Car wash at a lowered price when you fill up makes more sense.
PhilnTX All-Star Author Dallas Posts:656 Points:435,330 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 12:22:13 PM Ignore PhilnTX Report Abuse Station in Greenville has regular at $2.89 with a drive through car wash.
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 10:39:05 AM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse I am doing the reverse.. I will take off $3.00 of a full service wash if you buy 8 dollars of gas
dvc2 All-Star Author Oakland Posts:937 Points:447,340 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:55:36 AM Ignore dvc2 Report Abuse A station near me offers .25 cents off a gallon.
nycztony85 Veteran Author New York Posts:330 Points:44,380 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2012 1:02:10 AM Ignore nycztony85 Report Abuse sure
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Nov 20, 2012 11:25:33 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse Save $3.00 off full service carwash when you purchase 8 gallons
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:55:52 AM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse only when the car needs it...it is good to save... every penny counts
alphanyr Champion Author Connecticut Posts:4,820 Points:674,775 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:38:04 AM Ignore alphanyr Report Abuse no
kevrob1972 Champion Author Maine Posts:1,004 Points:613,975 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:23:08 AM Ignore kevrob1972 Report Abuse I have used it once.
1007 All-Star Author Michigan Posts:562 Points:997,015 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2012 7:45:26 PM Ignore 1007 Report Abuse yes and save the receipt and get a wash when I need a wash. If another station has aprice that is lower I buy at the lower price.
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2012 1:43:55 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse Only when the car needs a wash
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,654 Points:2,359,970 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Nov 11, 2012 12:56:36 AM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse I have but only if I really need the car wash, not just for the discount, no purpose in that to save $.10 when the wash costs $6.00 minimum.
estroh Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,609 Points:730,800 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Nov 11, 2012 12:28:31 AM Ignore estroh Report Abuse Nope
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Nov 10, 2012 2:18:57 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse car wash detials are working out...
crmedic Champion Author Arkansas Posts:2,658 Points:223,925 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Nov 6, 2012 8:18:47 AM Ignore crmedic Report Abuse no
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Nov 4, 2012 11:58:38 AM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse Still working out the car wash discount to see if it makes sense
butcherc Champion Author Florida Posts:1,593 Points:349,025 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2012 12:16:08 AM Ignore butcherc Report Abuse no I hand wash my car
BIRDlE Champion Author Omaha Posts:1,093 Points:1,599,315 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 11:29:51 PM Ignore BIRDlE Report Abuse no
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 10:37:41 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse A full service car wash not the coin ops
TMartin7101 Sophomore Author Providence Posts:188 Points:389,980 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:34:17 PM Ignore TMartin7101 Report Abuse I would never get a car wash from a gas station, its like beating your car with a weedwacker..
JCM54 Veteran Author Los Angeles Posts:395 Points:162,520 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 11:08:39 PM Ignore JCM54 Report Abuse No, specially if it's a week day.
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 8:25:41 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse Trying something new... will update discount soon
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Oct 20, 2012 1:11:22 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse Texaco... you should know the bottle of techron in the tank would be better than the additive concentration they add at the terminal... My sources tell me that the amount is in ounces that they add to the tanker... 8,000 gallons. the Bottle concentration is stronger than that my friend
alphanyr Champion Author Connecticut Posts:4,820 Points:674,775 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Oct 20, 2012 8:05:15 AM Ignore alphanyr Report Abuse no
Texacoguy Champion Author Tampa Posts:1,186 Points:73,090 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Oct 20, 2012 7:32:46 AM Ignore Texacoguy Report Abuse Not necessarily. The additive that is added at the rack is a completely different concentration than what you buy in a bottle. I would be very very curious to know what the difference in detergency properties would be between, say, 10 gallons of Chevron gasoline, vs. 10 gallons of fuel with no detergent additive with a bottle of Techron added...
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Oct 19, 2012 8:19:24 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse buying a bottle is better than the amount in the gas you buy at Chevron...
Commute2 Champion Author District of Columbia Posts:1,163 Points:88,035 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Oct 19, 2012 3:35:04 AM Ignore Commute2 Report Abuse No
brerrabbitTX Champion Author Houston Posts:1,029 Points:18,265 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 18, 2012 10:49:01 AM Ignore brerrabbitTX Report Abuse By the way I don't add Techron to my gas. I gave that as an example. The example being that if I want it I will just go buy Chevron gas which already has the Techron in it, and the cost of that will be less than lower priced gas plus a bottle of Techron.
alphanyr Champion Author Connecticut Posts:4,820 Points:674,775 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Oct 17, 2012 5:57:41 PM Ignore alphanyr Report Abuse no
brerrabbitTX Champion Author Houston Posts:1,029 Points:18,265 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 17, 2012 5:45:53 PM Ignore brerrabbitTX Report Abuse I don't analyze to much at all. Everyone else in this world and on this board thinks of all gas in terms of price per gallon. So if that's the way everyone thinks, then they should think of all costs related to driving in terms of cost per gallon. I know that what would bother dealers like yourself the most including those that have invested in a car wash facility is my final statement from the previous post. Gas $4.00 a gallon with free car wash Gas $3.50 a gallon without a carwash. What would you buy? But at the end of the day isn't that what your selling?
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Oct 17, 2012 10:29:55 AM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse Brerrabbit you analysed a bit too much...Why too much thought process... I like it that you add Techron to your tank.... You only need it every 3,000 miles or so, and you are right gas is gas...
brerrabbitTX Champion Author Houston Posts:1,029 Points:18,265 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 3:43:52 PM Ignore brerrabbitTX Report Abuse I look at all purchase of gas with or without discount the same way. This holds true for car washes, extra additive, or anything else they are pushing. Gas is $3.50 as posted. I drive a small Ford Ranger pick up. Average gas purchase is 10 gallons. If normal car wash is $6 then that's 60 cents a gallon. Offer me a 10 cent discount and I just paid 50 cents a gallon more for gas. Go to a big box retailer buy gas at 15 cents cheaper than the Chevron next door. Because I don't trust the additive package in the gas I bought I put a $4 bottle of Techroline in the tank. Cost me 40 cents a gallon for additive. I could have just bought Chevron gas for 25 cents a gallon cheaper and got the same thing. Go to Wal Mart (Murphy's) to buy gas at $3.50 a gallon. POS offers me extra additive with great detergent qualities for $3. That's 30 cents a gallon and the Shell across the street has tier 1 additive that is just as good or better than Murphy's and the price of gas is $3.60. Cost me 20 cents a gallon. An Exxon offers free coffee and sweet roll if I buy ten gallons. Gas is $3.60 a gallon. Cost of breakfast without fill up $3. That's 30 cents a gallon. Station across the street is 3.40 a gallon but I was planning on buying coffee and a doughnut anyway. I buy at Exxon and save effectively 10 cents a gallon. Basically that's how I look at every offer. What is the cost per gallon to add things on or get things free. Only when I see the added things as something I was going to do anyway regardless of any offer out there do I value them into the equation. So getting a $6 car wash for $5 is of no value to me if I had not planned on washing my truck to begin with and is just a way to take more money out of my pocket. If the price per gallon of the add ons were explict and on the retailers sign you would probably go buy gas at another station. Think about it if a sign said the opposite of the discount scenario. Gas $4.00 a gallon with free car wash Gas $3.50 a gallon without a carwash. What would you buy? [Edited by: brerrabbitTX at 10/11/2012 3:49:58 PM EST]
PithyOpiner Champion Author Stockton Posts:16,200 Points:1,596,570 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 2:15:02 PM Ignore PithyOpiner Report Abuse I think you should offer a car wash. But, instead of a car wash, employ local high school girls in bikinis to wash the cars. Let them keep half of the proceeds and use the other half to offset your water and other costs. You will get a lot of guys of all ages stopping in for a car wash and most will get gas, too. You will give the girls a great part time job out in the fresh air, entertain your customers and attract more business to your station. It's a win-win for everybody.
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 12:07:08 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse ARCO sites are planing to have Dual pricing... lets see if the pilot program works
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 24, 2012 11:01:51 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse It is just an upsell... but every penny counts
pepeMI All-Star Author Michigan Posts:912 Points:180,015 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Sep 9, 2012 7:09:31 AM Ignore pepeMI Report Abuse Not likely. The circumstances would probably be something like: I'm traveling, need gas, car needs washing badly and the wash price isn't inflated.
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 8, 2012 3:59:00 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse It works when the car wash is a full service and you need a wash. Other whys you are correct it is an upsell
_Sparty_ Champion Author Chicago Posts:2,006 Points:689,915 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 1:34:43 PM Ignore _Sparty_ Report Abuse The math never works. It's simply a marketing upsell for a subpar wash.
rick_evans Champion Author Boston Posts:3,720 Points:1,032,755 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:56:30 PM Ignore rick_evans Report Abuse When I need a car wash and am low on gas I use the local Shell station which gives a $0.25 per gallon discount.
ayscfr Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:371 Points:172,150 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 12:44:53 PM Ignore ayscfr Report Abuse Depends on the wash cost.
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 7, 2012 10:37:36 AM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse I hope so..But Tesoro price point might not be the same as ARCO
manaknight14 All-Star Author Pennsylvania Posts:538 Points:429,135 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 9:42:55 PM Ignore manaknight14 Report Abuse Hopefully Tesoro being in the picture will enable you to get some dual-price POS equipment, because I am sure that being able to discount the gas price will be a lot more marketable than discounting the car wash.
travelzonecente Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,842 Points:1,090,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 4:39:53 PM Ignore travelzonecente Report Abuse Still working out the promotion
RallyeRed Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,390 Points:850,535 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 11:03:12 AM Ignore RallyeRed Report Abuse My dealership washes my car for free, so discount gas + car wash price is still more expensive.
cheap2010skate Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,806 Points:635,535 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Sep 4, 2012 4:23:29 PM Ignore cheap2010skate Report Abuse There is a place in Tampa and Lutz that offer $3 carwash with free vacuum, so I usually don't need to pay $6 for carwash at a gas station.