Coin Timers For Coin-Op Tanning Salon

[SunkissedTropicalTanning]

We have a coin operated tanning salon and we are presently using Wyvern 2000R timers which have been giving us problems from day one. We have changed out every timer at least once if not twice when they were under warranty but we are fed up and want to change them to another timer. We are set up to take one dollar coins and quarters not smart cards. Can anyone else who is set up as coin operated give us suggestions for new timers?

[EliteMike]

There are some really cool options out there that would be much better than coin-op. Although I'm sure they get really costly. Problem with coin-op is you let the tanner have total control. Someone else I'm sure will chime in

[SunkissedTropicalTanning]

We have been doing this for 4 years and so far so good. We do educate our tanners and have security cameras throughout the building which is key to making this work. We are open 12 hours a day so the only time that the tanners have total control is at night when we are closed. Again the cameras are keeping everyone honest. Now if I can just get timers that don't rip people off or not work at all I'd be a happy salon owner.

[EliteMike]

You may want to look into the systems that are currently available to 24 hour salons

What state are you in?

[SunkissedTropicalTanning]

Pennsylvania. We've been looking at all types of systems and don't want to get another 10 timers that are junk. We are planning on adding a couple more beds at the end of the year and need to get the timer situation straightened out first.

[EliteMike]

so by what you said you are 24 hours right?

Does being 24 hours really drive in that much more business than being open 12, if it doesn't, take the cheap way out and go with tmax

[SunkissedTropicalTanning]

Being available 24 hours has generated a lot more customers. We get people who work 2nd and 3rd shift as well as people who come in before going to work or school. We are located by a college but most of our overnight people are people who work or come in after they put their kids to bed. All of the tanning salons in our area are coin-op but only one which is in another college town is available 24 hours. We also live above our salon so we are in the building when the office is closed which is another reason it works for us.

[tuscantan]

ah...I bet you got alot of good recordings on your cameras...college town eh, how many times have you had to "pick" up after someone?

[SunkissedTropicalTanning]

Not as often as you would think! I can honestly say that in 4 years I still have a couple of fingers on one hand left to count!

[frankie]

Some states do not allow this. The security issue is too great. Are you in a non regulated state? This issue will be pushed by many salon owners that feel a 24 hour tanning salon will hurt our industry.

How do others feel about a 24 hour tanning salon coming to a area near you? I do know some of the people running for the ITA spots have very strong feels about this. I know because that is the reason they got my vote.

When I say security I mean for the customers. I do know someone got raped in the parking lot of a 24 hour tan and I have someone looking for that article. What if the bed caught on fire? How do you know they have their eyewear? How do you check that if you are not there? How do you know the bed is getting cleaned after each use? So many questions when a customer is in the salon alone.

BTW my insurance company would not insure me if I did this.

[EliteMike]

PA is unregulated and this is one thing I hope changes. Regulation is at least needed to stop this

[SunkissedTropicalTanning]

Look I know that being a 24 hour coin-op salon is not high on list of salon owners but in the area we are in it is the way that all of the salons operate. We operate under most of the rules of a regulated state except for the ones we can't such as the bed cleaning when we are not here. We do educate our tanners, we do have a security system in place, we are located across the street from our local police department, we are located between 2 other businesses on a main street and we live in the building.

I knew that asking the questions about timers was probably going to go this way but I am a salon owner who has paid her dues for 4 years and finally paid off the leases and want to expand. This is not a side business this is my job and passion and I am proud of the way we run our business. We get compliments all the time on our cleanliness and mix of beds and how we treat our customers.

I'll take all of the comments but I know that there are other coin-op salon owners on this site and still need to know if their timers work and what they are.

[EliteMike]

Someone has to know the makers of the system that actualy checks skin typing. No amount of education you do will stop some college chick from going extra time

[Brian Oshman]

Just go for a computer based system. This will regulate the usage that the customer can use. You can have a barcode or swipe card and it would control the ability to over expose.

[SunkissedTropicalTanning]

What type of system is that? One where the customer uses a smart card in the timer? What difference would that be from coin timers?

[frankie]

It is a Federal law they must have eyewear. How do you control this? This needs to be addressed and if your state is ever regulated I don`t think it will matter what type of coin-operated timers you have. I don`t mean to come on like I am being mean I just think a 24 hour tanning salon is an accident waiting to happen. We have enough media attention as it is.

Mike if you will email me I will tell you who the board members are (if elected) and you can call them to discuss. silversuntan@gmail.com

[SunkissedTropicalTanning]

Look I understand the concern and you have to understand that an "accident" would not help my business in any way. I have gone through the other salons in my area that are coin-op and frankly I feel that they fall under all of your concerns as they aren't monitored and aren't clean. All I can say is that until the time my salon can't be coin-op due to regulations then I will continue to operate in the safest manner and do my business and the tanning industry proud.

As far as the eyewear we have signs posted in and out of all the rooms with all of the federal regualtions listed and we have the eyepro signs up which usually get the attention of tanners who never used to use eyewear. I know it's not a perfect setup but it does work.

[Brian Oshman]

It is a Federal Law that the bed is provided with eyewear during the sale of it and some states make it a regulation but there is no way of actually governing this as you would have to go in and undress them, place the goggles on their face, and sit there and watch them the whole session to ensure that they keep them on their eyeballs.

You know that even though it is a viable argument, the lack of an attendant will not change the fact that the customer will do whatever they want in the room including not wearing eye protection and there is nothing you or the Government can do about it. The only thing that you can control is the session time. A computer can do the same thing.

You would have to purchase sessions during business hours but a well writen program would ensure no overuse or overexposure as you would program in that the account can only be activated once a day and will only add incremental time to the session based on initial history entered at time of purchase so the customer could only add maybe one or two minutes a day from their initial activation, and also subtract a minute or two based on the gap in usage. Of course it would also be fingerprint protected to eliminate transfer.

The only advantage to having an attendant is to clean the bed and sell auxilary items but this could also be vended out.

The ones that are scared of 24 hour tanning are the ones not offering it to the public.

[frankie]

Yea you are right Brian I am finished with this topic. Do whatever. Hopefully all states will be regulated soon and we will not to be having this discussion.

[theislandtan]

This is really interesting. I wonder if Ga allows this?