Car wash soap prices

M

Mr. Clean

The Man Who Knows The Man
Are they on the rise in your area?

Back last Fall, Meguiar's Gold Class soap was routinely priced at @ $6-$7/ 64 oz. at the local WM with good stock. Now there is no stock and those spots seem to be filled with the new Ultimate Wash & Wax. This is priced at $8.97/48 oz. bottle with a $5 mail-in rebate available. O'Reilly's and Pep Boys both had the 64 oz. bottles of GC in stock, priced at $9.59 and $9.99 respectively.

I made my way over to CarQuest where I purchased a gallon of DG's wash priced at $21.39 (+tax). Seems like I was paying less than $19/gallon last Summer/Fall.

I guess I need to get over to the AM distributor and see how those prices are.

Are prices trending up, or are we just seeing a temporary increase as the Spring clean-up season kicks off?
 
I hope it is just temporary. I have found that common things such as soap and upholstery shampoo seem to be creeping up in price a little. But the things that I would expect to be more have dropped. I just got a 200g bar of clay for $13 from my supplier. I remember last year that same clay was running $26.50...seems like the stuff we use more of is going up, and some of the other stuff is dropping a little.
 
I bought a 55 gal drum of PRO soap 3 years ago on sale for around $250. I've still got enough to last 3 more. I had the bright idea of busting it up into 1 gal jugs and selling it to customers or anyone else who wanted it. I didn't sell a single jug lmao.
 
Dunno...guess I could check my receipts. I usually have @ 1 gallon+ on the cart, plus a gallon container mixed for use in the foam gun. Maybe 8-10 gallons/year??? With the cold/wet Winter season, here at mid-March, I've probably only used @ 1 gallon.
 
mrclean81 said:
I bought a 55 gal drum of PRO soap 3 years ago on sale for around $250. I've still got enough to last 3 more. I had the bright idea of busting it up into 1 gal jugs and selling it to customers or anyone else who wanted it. I didn't sell a single jug lmao.
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It's been a while since I last queried, but IIRC it was cheaper to buy AM soap by the gallon than by the 5 gallon container. :confused: I'm not likely to purchase a 55 gallon drum anytime soon, but that was a good price/gallon. :)
 
Wallyworld has Megs Gold Class soap for $7+ tax here. They have a display towards the front of the store with several different car wash supplies :bigups


Dawn is still $1 @ Dollar General :notme:
 
Mr. Clean said:
It's been a while since I last queried, but IIRC it was cheaper to buy AM soap by the gallon than by the 5 gallon container. :confused: I'm not likely to purchase a 55 gallon drum anytime soon, but that was a good price/gallon. :)
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It dilutes 100:1 too. I can't get rid of this stuff.
 
mrclean81 said:
It dilutes 100:1 too. I can't get rid of this stuff.
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:eek: :rofl
I can't imagine. I only hope it is a good soap. While I have found very few really bad car wash soaps (most, if not all, actually do their job) there are definitely those that have been demoted to tire/wheel/wheel well washing only over the years. :)
 
(901) said:
Wallyworld has Megs Gold Class soap for $7+ tax here. They have a display towards the front of the store with several different car wash supplies :bigups
...
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It has seemingly disappeared from this area. Don't know if it is a distribution issue or other factors, like possibly pushing out the newer product.

Speaking of the newer product...anyone try the new Ultimate Wash & Wax soap yet?
 
Come on, guys! Quit the nickel and diming. ;)

You can go top drawer for very little money. Unless you truly have a high volume, $25 car wash business, why not spring for the best? :D

Here's an industry standard that advertises a 400:1 dilution ratio. IMO, you cannot beat this whole Meg's Detailer line:

Meguiars Hyper-Wash is a concetrated car wash for frequent or professional detailing. Super foaming, long lasting car shampoo from Meguiars.

But for my one to two paying customers per week, plus a dozen occasional family and friends, I'm sticking with my all-time fav: :)

Poorboy's World Super Slick & Suds Concentrated Car Wash 1 Gallon

I consider myself a low-priced bumper-to-bumper detailer with a clientele whose daily drivers are luxury sedans and high end SUVs. I charge from $100-$250 for a wash, clay, one step polish, sealant plus carnauba, and a quick interior cleaning. Engines, more extensive interior cleaning, serious leather treatment, more paint correction, etc., cost extra.

I haven't done any exotics, but sure wouldn't mind breaking into that market.

If I spend $10 on materials, including < 75 cents per wash, good line of polishes, glazes and waxes, and pro-rated pad wear, I consider it a good investment, showing the customer some premium products that they can't buy at Target. For a regular customer, I'll leave a premium microfiber towel and a small sample of Leather Stuff, Trim Restorer, etc, once in a while. Keep in mind, this is someone that I hope to gross $1,000 from over the course of a year.

I hope that I haven't offended anyone, but you guys talk like you're buying for commercial purposes. If so, charge an extra buck if you have to, but spring for the good stuff!
 
Mr. Clean said:
It has seemingly disappeared from this area. Don't know if it is a distribution issue or other factors, like possibly pushing out the newer product.

Speaking of the newer product...anyone try the new Ultimate Wash & Wax soap yet?
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Wallyworld has gone nuts :crazy2:

There selling AG products now :wow:

$35 tubs of wax right next to $6 TW. $7 applicator pads next to .99 cent pads. $15 QD next to $5 QD .......:huh:

I'm not quite sure what to think of there marketing strategy. I think they are trying to compete more with Target. I dunno :hmmm:

Either way, I'm willing to bet $100 it will fail before the Summer is over :cheers:



Any takers.......:howdy
 
No offense taken but I do run a steady, sometimes 7 day a week business. I've downsized a lot but still go through a lot of supplies. I don't pinch pennies when it comes the products and equipment I use. In fact the only otc stuff I have is a can of Mothers. The rest is Car Brite, Pro, or Auto Magic. However, after joining DC I've gotta try something from PB and see what everyone is talking about.
 
JohnHenry said:
Come on, guys! Quit the nickel and diming. ;)

You can go top drawer for very little money. Unless you truly have a high volume, $25 car wash business, why not spring for the best? :D

Here's an industry standard that advertises a 400:1 dilution ratio. IMO, you cannot beat this whole Meg's Detailer line:

Meguiars Hyper-Wash is a concetrated car wash for frequent or professional detailing. Super foaming, long lasting car shampoo from Meguiars.

But for my one to two paying customers per week, plus a dozen occasional family and friends, I'm sticking with my all-time fav: :)

Poorboy's World Super Slick & Suds Concentrated Car Wash 1 Gallon

I consider myself a low-priced bumper-to-bumper detailer with a clientele whose daily drivers are luxury sedans and high end SUVs. I charge from $100-$250 for a wash, clay, one step polish, sealant plus carnauba, and a quick interior cleaning. Engines, more extensive interior cleaning, serious leather treatment, more paint correction, etc., cost extra.

I haven't done any exotics, but sure wouldn't mind breaking into that market.

If I spend $10 on materials, including < 75 cents per wash, good line of polishes, glazes and waxes, and pro-rated pad wear, I consider it a good investment, showing the customer some premium products that they can't buy at Target. For a regular customer, I'll leave a premium microfiber towel and a small sample of Leather Stuff, Trim Restorer, etc, once in a while. Keep in mind, this is someone that I hope to gross $1,000 from over the course of a year.

I hope that I haven't offended anyone, but you guys talk like you're buying for commercial purposes. If so, charge an extra buck if you have to, but spring for the good stuff!
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No offense here JH :cheers:

It will take alot more then calling me a cheapskate to get me worked up :dnaughty

I agree, Poorboys Super Slick & Suds is da bomb and a little goes a long way :bigups

Fortunately for me I am able to get 90% of my supplies local. So my internet purchases are only once or twice a year. Having a Gallon of anything liquid will kill you on the shipping end :yikes:

As for my clients....They never seem to intrested when I start talking products/methods :thinking
 
(901) said:
Wallyworld has gone nuts :crazy2:

There selling AG products now :wow:

$35 tubs of wax right next to $6 TW. $7 applicator pads next to .99 cent pads. $15 QD next to $5 QD .......:huh:

I'm not quite sure what to think of there marketing strategy. I think they are trying to compete more with Target. I dunno :hmmm:

Either way, I'm willing to bet $100 it will fail before the Summer is over :cheers:



Any takers.......:howdy
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AG like Autogeek? Gimme some examples. I stay as far away from Wally world as possible, but MAY go in if I am tempted.
 
(901) said:
Wallyworld has gone nuts :crazy2:

There selling AG products now :wow:

$35 tubs of wax right next to $6 TW. $7 applicator pads next to .99 cent pads. $15 QD next to $5 QD .......:huh:

I'm not quite sure what to think of there marketing strategy. I think they are trying to compete more with Target. I dunno :hmmm:

Either way, I'm willing to bet $100 it will fail before the Summer is over :cheers:



Any takers.......:howdy
Click to expand...


My thought exactly!

I stop by three different WalMarts in my area, mainly to see how the AutoGlym line is moving (and to catch it at a stupid cheap price on the day WM gets tired of wasting the shelf space.)

Each of the three stores has two AG wax kits and one display box (12?) of the fancy finger-groove applicators. It does not appear that a single AutoGlym product has sold in these three locations.
 
I would like to know more about the dynamics of the OTC market and how vendors get their products on the shelves at the parts stores, Walmart, Kmart, Target, etc. Every spring we see product lines disappear and new ones reappear. Turtle Wax always has some promotion (like taking what essentially appears to be liquid cleaner wax and calling it liquid clay). There is also some "black" paint option (either colored wax or some glaze). Tire shines to be prolific....

Meguiars seems to be gaining shelf space at the expense of others and have multiple products selling for over $15.

I had heard that some vendors PAY to get their products on the shelves.
 
JohnHenry said:
Come on, guys! Quit the nickel and diming. ;)

You can go top drawer for very little money. Unless you truly have a high volume, $25 car wash business, why not spring for the best? :D

...
If I spend $10 on materials, including < 75 cents per wash, good line of polishes, glazes and waxes, and pro-rated pad wear, I consider it a good investment, showing the customer some premium products that they can't buy at Target. For a regular customer, I'll leave a premium microfiber towel and a small sample of Leather Stuff, Trim Restorer, etc, once in a while. Keep in mind, this is someone that I hope to gross $1,000 from over the course of a year.

I hope that I haven't offended anyone, but you guys talk like you're buying for commercial purposes. If so, charge an extra buck if you have to, but spring for the good stuff!
Click to expand...

Don't see anyone here taking offense because someone actually disagreed. Hope not cause I'm gonna disagee with you a bit. :D

The impetus for my post was it seemed that the price of Meguiar's GC, in particular, had increased by @ 50%. The DG's price increase wasn't as significant, but it was an increase. Looking at a $3 or $4 increase isn't exactly eye popping, it's the percentage of the increase that got my attention.

JMO, but Meg's GC and DG's wash soap are hardly bargain basement brands. AM's wash n wax soap isn't bad either, but I don't use those that often. And when it comes to paying premiums for things like wash soap and APCs doesn't mean you're getting double the performance. ;) Like some of the others, I also like the local availability option.

I have no one that asks what products I used on their vehicles, though I know those types are out there. I do appreciate your approach with giving the extra tangibile reminders of your service. I have handed out the occasional MF towel, as well. IMO, the very best "gimme" I came up with was handing out small keychain LED lights. I found several hundred for a deal. Everyone really likes those and they are always right there everytime they pick up their keys and everyone likes having a bright light available when needed.
 
Bunky said:
I would like to know more about the dynamics of the OTC market and how vendors get their products on the shelves at the parts stores, Walmart, Kmart, Target, etc. Every spring we see product lines disappear and new ones reappear. Turtle Wax always has some promotion (like taking what essentially appears to be liquid cleaner wax and calling it liquid clay). There is also some "black" paint option (either colored wax or some glaze). Tire shines to be prolific....

Meguiars seems to be gaining shelf space at the expense of others and have multiple products selling for over $15.

I had heard that some vendors PAY to get their products on the shelves.
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Actually in our local WM's Meguiar's shelf presence isn't anywhere near dominant.

As for shelf space, I have a similar understanding, though I don't know just how exactly. It is especially noticeable in grocery stores, where it is not just about linear shelf space, but placement as well. Eye level vs bottom shelf. I think Forrest (Mother's) as spoken to this subject before. Maybe he can post again. I'm also interested in seeing if Mother's is having similar price increases on their wash soap.
 
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