Can we talk about how hopelessly outdated laundry machines are?

[johnjohn320]

I'm talking about public, coin-op laundry machines. Every facility I visit, whether in my apartment complex, a laundromat, or whatever, is all the same. The machines are not only coin-operated only, but they're quarter-operated only! It's 2011, what gives? Every other machine in the world (vending machines, parking meters, etc) has gotten with the times. Many of them you can even swipe debit/credit cards. They certainly take paper money and other coinage. Why do I still have to go to the bank to get rolls of quarters to clean my clothes?

 

[Ns1]

why do you hate the poor?

 

[spidey07]

Hi, I'm a laundry mat owner. This is my business. I make money by providing a service. Now the machines I have provide that service and customers seem to be happy to pay me for that service. I bought the machines a long time ago and they have been fully depreciated so their cost to me is zero other than some maintenance.

A customer once gave me the bright idea of buying all new equipment. I ran the numbers and his idea was terrible, his idea. I would be out of business within 6 months from the added capital and associated depreciation and operational expense of the new machines so I kicked him square in the nuts and told him good day.

 

[Tim]

Because you only have suck-arse laundry mats in your area. The one I go to has a machine that you either load money, or your CC into, and it gives you a prepaid card which you can recharge or toss when you're done. Pop your card into washer/dryer, press button... done.

 

[dainthomas]

Hi, I'm a laundry mat owner. This is my business. I make money by providing a service. Now the machines I have provide that service and customers seem to be happy to pay me for that service. I bought the machines a long time ago and they have been fully depreciated so their cost to me is zero other than some maintenance.

A customer once gave me the bright idea of buying all new equipment. I ran the numbers and his idea was terrible, his idea. I would be out of business within 6 months from the added capital and associated depreciation and operational expense of the new machines so I kicked him square in the nuts and told him good day.

this

 

[FoBoT]

cliff notes of spidey's post:

if it was a good business move, he'd of already done it

 

[Lifted]

Because you only have suck-arse laundry mats in your area. The one I go to has a machine that you either load money, or your CC into, and it gives you a prepaid card which you can recharge or toss when you're done. Pop your card into washer/dryer, press button... done.

This.

I do like my old apartments coin op though as they were so cheap. $1 wash and 75 cent dry. The machines using prepaid card will undoubtedly charge more. I guess it's a trade-off to some extent, but I like having a way to spend my daily loose pocket change (the quarters anyway).

 

[Drako]

cliff notes of spidey's post:

if it was a good business move, he'd of already done it

This.

OP does not understand operating margin. A laundromat typically has low return on sales.

 

[IronWing]

When I reflect upon all the things that sucked about being poor, having to use laundry mats rises to the top.

 

[spidey07]

When I reflect upon all the things that sucked about being poor, having to use laundry mats rises to the top.

Two things that made me feel like I had truly arrived.

A garage and a washer/dryer.

 

[lxskllr]

When I reflect upon all the things that sucked about being poor, having to use laundry mats rises to the top.

I never minded. You get to meet some interesting people, and I like funky old buildings.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

At the college I attended, they rigged old machines to work off the ID cards they gave you; was kind of nice but I imagine even that wouldn't be worth it from a running a business standpoint..

 

[CRXican]

lol

as if people needing laundry mats have credit and credit cards

 

[IronWing]

I never minded. You get to meet some interesting people, and I like funky old buildings.

Smokers, god damn smokers smoking in the laundry mat. God damn smokers smoking in the laundry mat where I am trying to get my clothes clean. That and the lady who held her little boy up so he could pee in the trash can even though there was a functional bathroom twenty feet away.

 

[Ns1]

Smokers, god damn smokers smoking in the laundry mat. God damn smokers smoking in the laundry mat where I am trying to get my clothes clean. That and the lady who held her little boy up so he could pee in the trash can even though there was a functional bathroom twenty feet away.

 

[PingSpike]

He's probably just waiting for that old tank to break down before he replaces it, and it just never happens so he's getting better return from that old pile than he would if he replaced it. I'd say that is the correct move unless we're talking about one of those fancy overpriced apartment buildings with super high rent.

 

[lxskllr]

Smokers, god damn smokers smoking in the laundry mat. God damn smokers smoking in the laundry mat where I am trying to get my clothes clean. That and the lady who held her little boy up so he could pee in the trash can even though there was a functional bathroom twenty feet away.

See? That's interesting! :^D

 

[guyver01]

you dont need to replace your laundry machines with ones that take credit cards.

replace your bill changer

 

[spidey07]

you dont need to replace your laundry machines with ones that take credit cards.

replace your bill changer

]

Who would be stupid enough to use their credit card for cash?

 

[lxskllr]

Who would be stupid enough to use their credit card for cash?

Someone who wants to do their laundry?

 

[disappoint]

Smokers, god damn smokers smoking in the laundry mat.
God damn smokers smoking in the laundry mat where I am trying to get my clothes clean.
God damn smokers smoking in the laundry mat where I am trying to get my clothes clean and smoke.
God damn smokers smoking in the laundry mat where I am trying to get my clothes clean and smoke. I need oxygen where I smoke god dammit.

 

[guyver01]

Who would be stupid enough to use their credit card for cash?

if you're unemployed, you get your payment on a visa debit card

unemployed still need to do laundry.

 

[Perknose]

When I reflect upon all the things that sucked about being poor, having to use laundry mats rises to the top.

https://www.google.com/search?q=laun...ient=firefox-a

 

[iGas]

It cost money to replace mechanical coin operated slider to electronics debit cards, and not only that the bank charge a fees for the usage.

 

[TwiceOver]

I'm more interested in knowing when NFC will take over so I can just wave my phone in front of stuff to make a purchase.