RainX Experience

[bigleo48]

All,

I recently put in the RainX option in my touchless. Here's what I have observed.

First, this stuff is hard to rinse off completely. A slow Spot-Free final doesn't do it.

Second, it comes out kinda tacky, so it customers should not try to wipe down their cars (some still do, even after the SFR and it's not required...old habits are hard to break). Ecolabs says it takes 24hr to completely cure, so I don't think it should be put on if you think it might rain. It cured on my car overnight.

Third, car MUST be clean. So a more complete wash is required with no soap or tri-foam residue present.

Finally, on tests of my vehicle, I am impressed with the finish. The whole car looks very good, no spots, shines and for some reason makes my tires look dressed!?

So far 20% of my customers are choosing it without any marketing yet.

I'm still not sure how long it will last, do any of you know by experience? I want to market this as a hand wax replacement.

BigLeo

[Waxman]

Big Leo

A hand wax replacement it is not. It may or may not be a good product; that's really for you and your customers to decide. For me, it was not worth the high cost and I switched back to a different paint sealant in my IBA.

Perhaps a way to market it is something that extends paint protection in between hand waxing.

Don't get me wrong; I'm a proponent of all waxes/sealants and protectants in the car wash and even though I own a detail shop, too, I mainly use the car wash protectants on my own cars. However, when I wax a car by hand with my favorite product (which happens to be Mothers), there's little comparison to Rain X or any other car wash product I have seen. IMO you are saying; "try our double cheeseburger; it's a filet mignon replacement!"

[bigleo48]

Well put!

So how long did the RainX last for you?

Big Leo

[Waxman]

I noticed the effects for about 2 weeks on my own car. one of the things i liked most was the way it made the paint feel slippery and smooth when i put my hand on the window frame while driving.

[randy64]

[QUOTE=bigleo48;3176]



Third, car MUST be clean. So a more complete wash is required with no soap or tri-foam residue present.


Are you talking about a triple foam soap or clear coat? The reason I ask is Rain-X needs to be applied before any wax or C.C. products so it can bond to the cars finish.

[Wash-A-Roo]

I bought the banner and the rainx pennants and made a new top wash thats 2.00 more than the "last" top wash. I got menu boards that have a "RAINX WASH" on them. Last Saturday we washes 198 cars and 70 of them were the rainx wash. 70 x 2= $140 extra dollars!!!almost paid for the rainx the first day....and customers love it!!! Has been getting better ever since. I feel like its a great product and yes there r cheaper products that bead even better (scotchplaid body guard)....but they don't have the rainx name and thats what customers see. Go all out with rainx banners and stuff, I even call it the rainx wash.

[Greg Pack]

I bought the banner and the rainx pennants and made a new top wash thats 2.00 more than the "last" top wash. I got menu boards that have a "RAINX WASH" on them. .

I just got $200 worth of free merchandising RAINX material from my distributor. They said it is an ecolab promotion. You might want to check on that and get your free promo stuff.

[Wash-A-Roo]

I'll be asking about that!!! I also added ranx to both my self serves. People love the stuff!

[Andy]

Who do you guys buy the RainX from?

[Axxlrod]

When I bought my first drum of Rain-x, I got to pick $500 worth of free promotional materials from the Rain-x catalog.

[JMMUSTANG]

I'll be asking about that!!! I also added ranx to both my self serves. People love the stuff!

Andy did you replace your clear coat/wax in the s.s. bays with rain-x or have it as an additional service?

[Wash-A-Roo]

I put it in place of the high pressure wax.

[Wash-A-Roo]

who r yall getting rainx from....im getting ripped on the free stuff!

[bigleo48]

[QUOTE=bigleo48;3176]



Third, car MUST be clean. So a more complete wash is required with no soap or tri-foam residue present.


Are you talking about a triple foam soap or clear coat? The reason I ask is Rain-X needs to be applied before any wax or C.C. products so it can bond to the cars finish.
_________________________________________
Randy, I was informed by my distributor that RainX can be applied after the 3x foam polish as long as the pH is neutral. What has been your experience?

[Greg Pack]

who r yall getting rainx from....im getting ripped on the free stuff!

If your equipment supplier doesn't know about it, call your regional ecolab rep and tell him to "educate" your distributor. I thought promo stuff was $400 last year but $500 may be right. I was told $200 this year.

[Greg Pack]

[QUOTE=randy64;3222]
_________________________________________
Randy, I was informed by my distributor that RainX can be applied after the 3x foam polish as long as the pH is neutral. What has been your experience?

We have been applying rain x after tricolor and then HP rinse. We then finish with SFR. It seems to work fine that way. It's very durable.

[randy64]

[QUOTE=randy64;3222]
_________________________________________
Randy, I was informed by my distributor that RainX can be applied after the 3x foam polish as long as the pH is neutral. What has been your experience?

Well, I don't setup washes that way so I have no experience. Here is why...Rain-x bonds rapidly to vehicle surface and the longer you can leave it in contact with the surface the better your results will be. In the Eco-Lab Technical Product Information Sheet it says "apply prior to drying agents, sealants and RO water or final rinse" it also states, "Greater distance/time from first rinse will enhance results"
Since you are using a 3x POLISH I would recomend Rain-x first.
I havn't heard anything about the tripple foam ph being a factor but I don't claim to know everything, the longer I do this job the less I know.
You could always try it the recommended way and see if you like it better. Thanks

[BayWatch]

RainX IS the next big thing. It is a great product and I am usually wary on chemicals. It shines everything on the car and yes the car must be clean first, however sales are up, way up, since installation and the best part is the way it sells itself. Yes, some materials were free, but we bought more with the increased revenue, and now we dont have to sell it like McDonald's would if they could. The name is what makes this stuff, well worth the time spent on install and the sticker shock. $1000 turned into $8000. Forget tax lien certificates, I want in on RainX.

[BayWatch]

Oh, and if it cant be rinsed off, you likely have it too concentrated. Just because your distributor says 1 oz per car isnt always true. I have run less and it works just fine.

[Greg Pack]

I'm diluting it through a hydrominder with yellow or purple tip, then appying it through a non foaming rain arch type applicator. I'm using almost 2 oz or raw product per car. I follow that with a slow pass of spot free rinse. I've had no problems with rinsing or buildup.

[randy64]

I'm diluting it through a hydrominder with yellow or purple tip, then appying it through a non foaming rain arch type applicator. I'm using almost 2 oz or raw product per car. I follow that with a slow pass of spot free rinse. I've had no problems with rinsing or buildup.

You are using way way to much. you can get good results with 1/2 oz to 1 oz. Make your dist. change it. At 2 oz you are throwing a quarter away every time somebody uses it. In this instance more is not better.

[RykoPro]

[QUOTE=bigleo48;3294]

Well, I don't setup washes that way so I have no experience. Here is why...Rain-x bonds rapidly to vehicle surface and the longer you can leave it in contact with the surface the better your results will be. In the Eco-Lab Technical Product Information Sheet it says "apply prior to drying agents, sealants and RO water or final rinse" it also states, "Greater distance/time from first rinse will enhance results"
Since you are using a 3x POLISH I would recomend Rain-x first.
I havn't heard anything about the tripple foam ph being a factor but I don't claim to know everything, the longer I do this job the less I know.
You could always try it the recommended way and see if you like it better. Thanks


We use Ryko Rain Shield and it is best to apply it last with only an RO pass to follow. No need to use any other wax product before or after. If you want the tri-wax show, it should be applied before the Rain Shield. Like many other knock off Surface sealants, the Rain Shield works better than the original. We apply with 90 PSI of air injected into the product.

[randy64]

[QUOTE=randy64;3328]


We use Ryko Rain Shield and it is best to apply it last with only an RO pass to follow. No need to use any other wax product before or after. If you want the tri-wax show, it should be applied before the Rain Shield. Like many other knock off Surface sealants, the Rain Shield works better than the original. We apply with 90 PSI of air injected into the product.

It sounds like your calling Rain-X a knock off, Rain shield is the knock off. It compares more to Blue Coral's Velocity C.C. polish that it does to Rain-X. Since it doesn't compare to Rain-X you can't compare the application process. It only makes sense that if you are trying to bond to clear coat there shouldn't be anything on it. Not all 3x's are for show either, we offer a lo ph 3x conditioner to aid in drying and a 3x C.C. protectant which does what it says.

[rph9168]

RainX may be the best name for the "super sealants" but it is not the best one out there. Many of the so-called knock offs work much better and use less product. With any of them it is best to apply them after the tri foams are rinsed off. You can use less product as several posters have pointed out and the product works a little faster.

Tri foam conditioners do little more than clean the surface a little. Lo pH conditioners not only give additional cleaning but also lower the surface alkalinity which assists in the drying process. Sealants or clear coat protectants are distilled spirit based with water based silicones that offer some protection and assistance in drying. Foaming clear coat protectants can also be used as a tri foam. They offer similar qualities of a clear coat protectant with the addition of a foam "show". They are great to use as for at least one of the tri foams if you are having rinsing issues since they dissipate quickly and rinse much more easily than tri foam conditioners.

[RykoPro]

Randy,
You need to reread my post, I said:"Like many other knock off Surface sealants, the Rain Shield works better than the original." Rain-X is the original and is not the best of the surface sealants. It has the name recognition that can be good or bad. Some people will not want Rain-X on there car and may misunderstand the IBA version concept.
Rain shield is comparable to Rain-X, these are the new surface sealants and not the clear coat sealants of old.
We normally use tri foam wax as a show (not tri foam detergent) since it has dyes and needs to be rinsed with a good wax, CC protectorate or surface sealant. I am referring to the Ryko product line only.

[randy64]

In your opinion the Rain Shield is is best, in my opinion Rain-X is. No big suprise there we both make part of our living by selling them, so we hardly have an objective point of view. I have heard bad things about both products, generally they can be attributed to not being set up correctly. (too much will leave a residue)
So if we can agree to disagree and all other things are equal it comes down to name recognition, and Rain-X has it.

[rph9168]

The RainX name has some benefit but not as much as their suppliers would have operators believe. Some motorists view it as a window treatment which the retail product still is. Suppliers also boast about revenure increases when using the product but I have seen significant revenue increases also from operators that choose an alternative product.

I know RainX supplies a marketing package with the initial purchase of the product but instead of paying such a high price for the product for each drum, an operator could probably devote the difference paid overall to additional marketing and achieve equal or better results for the money. I am not intending to knock Rain X but their superiority complex is getting old. There are many ways to increase revenues at a wash with RainX only one of the options.

[RykoPro]

In your opinion the Rain Shield is is best, in my opinion Rain-X is. No big suprise there we both make part of our living by selling them, so we hardly have an objective point of view. I have heard bad things about both products, generally they can be attributed to not being set up correctly. (too much will leave a residue)
So if we can agree to disagree and all other things are equal it comes down to name recognition, and Rain-X has it.

Randy,
I have to agree with RPH as I stated the name recognition could be a negative or a positive. I did not say Rain Shield was the best, I said like other products it is better than Rain-X. Side by side comparisons have shown the Rain shield and other knock offs last longer per application. Most chemical companies took the Rain-x formula and improved it. Ryko has a free 5 gallon offer for anyone to try, check out the website and try the side by side for yourself to see. Make sure you inject air at 90 PSI to get the full effect.

[Greg Pack]

You are using way way to much. you can get good results with 1/2 oz to 1 oz. Make your dist. change it. At 2 oz you are throwing a quarter away every time somebody uses it. In this instance more is not better.


I have little control over the application process. All I can really do is change the strength of the solution and the speed of the gantry. We tried setting up with a pink tip and did not get satisfactory results. A purple was 90+% effective but it is 98% effective by moving to a yellow tip. However, we have eventually moved it back to purple as it seems to be plenty for the regulars. At these concentrations it produces a noticeable smell and nice orange tint. The local tunnels are applying it at close to this concentration (through foaming applicators)too as their dilution ratios and cost per car is only slightly lower than mine. I would agree that more is not always better but I have yet to see any build-up and the extra quarter it cost me is worth it to ensure th customer feels they are getting their money's worth($2.00 upgrade). My nearest IBA competitor is also using rain x and I bet they are spending half what I am per car. You can tell it too, my cars look much better than theirs.

[rph9168]

Greg,

Does your RainX arch use K-Nozzles? That would improve the show. Have you tried using a foaming clear coat protectant for at least one of your foams? If not you might be able to reduce the RainX and still get as good or better results.

[wash free or die]

Randy,
You need to reread my post, I said:"Like many other knock off Surface sealants, the Rain Shield works better than the original." Rain-X is the original and is not the best of the surface sealants. It has the name recognition that can be good or bad. Some people will not want Rain-X on there car and may misunderstand the IBA version concept.
Rain shield is comparable to Rain-X, these are the new surface sealants and not the clear coat sealants of old.
We normally use tri foam wax as a show (not tri foam detergent) since it has dyes and needs to be rinsed with a good wax, CC protectorate or surface sealant. I am referring to the Ryko product line only.

Actually, Rain-X is a knock-off, not the original of the surface sealants. Simoniz created the first, Double Bond with Teflon. I've used it since it first came out and have never seen a reason to switch to a knock-off. Unlike Rain-X, it's reasonably priced, it works as well as any premium sealant out there, has the most powerful marketing name in Teflon, and offers a $3.00 rebate to my customers.

[RykoPro]

Actually, Rain-X is a knock-off, not the original of the surface sealants. Simoniz created the first, Double Bond with Teflon. I've used it since it first came out and have never seen a reason to switch to a knock-off. Unlike Rain-X, it's reasonably priced, it works as well as any premium sealant out there, has the most powerful marketing name in Teflon, and offers a $3.00 rebate to my customers.


How does the rebate work?

[rph9168]

Wash Free of Die,

Have you tried or priced any of the other "super sealants? While the SImoniz Double Bond program seems like good marketing, the product does not perform as well as the super sealants on the market today. It is more like a foaming clear coat protectant than a super sealant. While the Teflon name may draw attention to the product it does not do anything in the way of protection or shine. Teflon is a powder that needs to be heated to be "melted down" after which it returns to a solid state when it cools down. While RainX might cost a little more, the other super sealants cost much less than Double Bond.

Bottom line, what works for you and your customers is great. Most of the brand named products cost more than the others. In addition to the benefit of being able to use the brand names, their marketing programs are already packaged. Spending some of the money saved by using the other brands on their own marketing gives an operator the ability to create a program they can customize to meet their individual needs.

In either case the key is repeat business. The better the product performance the better chance of customers buying it again. Marketing encourages them to purchase the service while performance keeps them coming back.

[BayWatch]

I always love a good distributor fight.

[wash free or die]

How does the rebate work?


Basically, we give the customer a Simoniz-supplied rebate form which they can fill out and return to Simoniz for $3.00. Since we only charge $3.00 for Double Bond, it essentially makes it free for the customer.

[wash free or die]

Wash Free of Die,

Have you tried or priced any of the other "super sealants? While the SImoniz Double Bond program seems like good marketing, the product does not perform as well as the super sealants on the market today. It is more like a foaming clear coat protectant than a super sealant. While the Teflon name may draw attention to the product it does not do anything in the way of protection or shine. Teflon is a powder that needs to be heated to be "melted down" after which it returns to a solid state when it cools down. While RainX might cost a little more, the other super sealants cost much less than Double Bond.

Bottom line, what works for you and your customers is great. Most of the brand named products cost more than the others. In addition to the benefit of being able to use the brand names, their marketing programs are already packaged. Spending some of the money saved by using the other brands on their own marketing gives an operator the ability to create a program they can customize to meet their individual needs.

In either case the key is repeat business. The better the product performance the better chance of customers buying it again. Marketing encourages them to purchase the service while performance keeps them coming back.

I agree with you that the use of "Teflon" is no more than a marketing gimmick, but I beg to differ with you on the performance. Rain-X is a good product, and it works, but in my experience, no better than Double Bond and it costs a lot more, literally twice as much. I've tried a couple of the others out there as well. (Armor All, Lustra) They all seem to be comparably priced and perform about the same. And honestly, if there was one out there much lower in cost, I'd be pretty skeptical of it's performance.

[BayWatch]

OK lets get some facts. What is the cost per oz we are paying for RainX, WeatherShield, Durabond, etc and how many oz/car. I know the larger drum you buy the cheaper/oz it is, lets just stick to what you are buying.

I use RainX at a cost of $0.28/oz and use anywhere from half oz to one oz/car.

[wash free or die]

OK lets get some facts. What is the cost per oz we are paying for RainX, WeatherShield, Durabond, etc and how many oz/car. I know the larger drum you buy the cheaper/oz it is, lets just stick to what you are buying.

I use RainX at a cost of $0.28/oz and use anywhere from half oz to one oz/car.


I pay $535.00 total for a 30 gal. drum of Teflon Double Bond. That's $0.14/oz. and applied at the same rate. Again, literally half the cost of Rain-X.

[bigleo48]

An update to my original post. A regular customer with two very-high end vehicles has used my wash with the rainx option and called me up to let me know that his wife who drives one of the cars imediately saw a big difference and they are both sold on it. That's the first time a customer has taken the time to call me and discuss one product of a wash with such emotion. Hopefully the word will spread fast.

[RykoPro]

Quote:
Originally Posted by BayWatch
OK lets get some facts. What is the cost per oz we are paying for RainX, WeatherShield, Durabond, etc and how many oz/car. I know the larger drum you buy the cheaper/oz it is, lets just stick to what you are buying.

I use RainX at a cost of $0.28/oz and use anywhere from half oz to one oz/car.


I pay $535.00 total for a 30 gal. drum of Teflon Double Bond. That's $0.14/oz. and applied at the same rate. Again, literally half the cost of Rain-X.

We sell Ryko Rain Shield at $0.18 per ounce, so for just a little more you could be using a surface sealant. You may even be able to reduce the amount per car if you can apply it as designed (90 PSI of air injected with the water).

[RykoPro]

An update to my original post. A regular customer with two very-high end vehicles has used my wash with the rainx option and called me up to let me know that his wife who drives one of the cars imediately saw a big difference and they are both sold on it. That's the first time a customer has taken the time to call me and discuss one product of a wash with such emotion. Hopefully the word will spread fast.

Big,
I had the same reaction, even from the technicians! They work on car washes everyday so they do not get real excited about much, but this product really made them talk. One tech used to call me everytime it rained, he would describe how he did not need the wipers and how it beaded. One of our newer sites is a tunnel where we apply trifoam wax, a FWR from a rain mainifold, Rain Shield and then RO with in a six foot distance. The car is dry on one end and still getting tri foam on the other! I tried to get a picture of this but it did not show the full effect. The owner of the site has a 4 year old black SUV and he noticed the extra shine right away. I, like our customers and technicians, am sold on these new surface sealants!

This may be less than 6 foot!

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7810/img0395gs4.jpg
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/5964/img0396mb7.jpg

[randy64]

Did ryko come out with new rinse arches or are those somebody elses

[RykoPro]

Those are the new "rocket" tunnel arches.

[sonicsoft]

Missing the Point


Isn?t the whole point of RAIN-X or ?multi-surface protectants, clear coats, or pay waxes driving revenue? How much do you guys charge for Rain-X? How many actually include it in a package?

What I?ve seen in my market is operators charging $5.00, are capturing even 30% of your customers with a $5.00 add-on?

I went with the Simoniz Teflon & Vision Clear arch made by TSS. We incorporated their entire top package program.

My pricing used to be

$13 - $14.50 - $19.00

I?m now at $13.00 15.00 $19.00 $24.00.

Previously my package break down was:

$13.00 ? 55% $14.50 ? 15% $19.00 ? 30%

Now I?m at:

$13.00 ? 55% $15.00 ? 10% $19.00 ? 20% $24.00 ? 15%

By incorporating a $3.00 mail in rebate with litter bag, and my wash packages designed to drive people to a logical conclusion of realizing that the Super Sonic Wash is the best value, I?ve raised my $ per car by

550 @ $13 = $7,150.00 550 @ $13 = $7,150.00

100 @ $14 = $1,450.00 100 @ $15 = $1,500.00

300 @ $19 = $5,700.00 200 @ $19 = $3,800.00

150 @ $24 = $3,600.00

1000 @ 14.30 = $14,300.00 100 @ $16.05 = $16,050.00

Now the above numbers are just a fraction (1/10) of what actually happened, but my $ per car rose by $1.00 incorporating Simoniz's top Package program, marketing signage, and TSS Teflon Arch. The $3.00 mail in rebate does wonders for convincing a customer to purchase the top package.

At the end of the day isn?t that the goal with any pay wax service?

I guarantee there is not a Rain-X operator out there that can match the money I?ve made on the above as opposed to a single item. I chose to go with an entire marketing system.

BTW Teflon is a great product, and the Vision Clear works awesome. How great a name is Vision Clear? The light that came with my arch makes it idiot proof.

I also have an exterior express where we have done the same thing.

[dewey9876]

Can I get any updates on Rain X or any other of these products? I am considering adding this service to my tunnel, just trying to figure out if it is worth it.
How does it work with reclaim?
Is there really a noticable difference between rain x and a regular sealer wax?
Does eco lab offer any help with purchasing equipment -(arch pumps etc)
Thanks for any help or insight

[RykoPro]

Rain-x is not the best "Surface Sealants" available even though they are the ones who started the whole thing. There are many other brands that work much better. A good surface sealant will produce a noticeable difference over even a high quality clear coat protectorate. Ryko's Razberry Clear Coat concentrate is actually the same price as their "Rain Shield". The Rain Shield does work best when "foamed' up with 90 PSI and a RO rinse afterwards. Everyone I know who has seen a properly set up Rain shield application has been VERY impressed with the results.

[bcwang]

Why is it of all the IBA units I've seen in my area, nearly all the touch free units offer rain-x, while none of the friction units offer it.

I'd assume rain-x works better when you can get the car as clean as possible before applying it, which seems like it would suit the friction washes better. Is there some problem with it getting on the wash material of a friction wash?

[washhut]

[QUOTE=bigleo48;3294]

Well, I don't setup washes that way so I have no experience. Here is why...Rain-x bonds rapidly to vehicle surface and the longer you can leave it in contact with the surface the better your results will be. In the Eco-Lab Technical Product Information Sheet it says "apply prior to drying agents, sealants and RO water or final rinse" it also states, "Greater distance/time from first rinse will enhance results"
Since you are using a 3x POLISH I would recomend Rain-x first.
I havn't heard anything about the tripple foam ph being a factor but I don't claim to know everything, the longer I do this job the less I know.
You could always try it the recommended way and see if you like it better. Thanks

Randy, do you know where to find that information sheet (besides from Ecolab distributor)? If not, is there some way you could send me a message with a copy?

[Jimmy Buffett]

I have been using CarBrite chemicals and have been very happy with them. Their product is called Element Shield. The price is comparable to the Ryko, more than Simonize and less than Rainx. Does anyone have any experience with Element Shield? I'm excited about adding a new product to the auto.