TanToday - Tanning Salon Business Forum » Salon Products, Equipment and Services » Sunless

[DesertTan]

I am in the process of purchasing a new versa spa, and i was approached about buying a used cal tan tower for less than half the cost. I have use the versa and really liked it, but for the price difference I am wondering if it is worth it. Does anyone have any opinions on this. Thanks :Confused:

[GTStudio]

I have used the versa spa dozens of times as a client. Love it, as a new owner though, not liking the price too much when the used mystics go for 5 Gs. I used a Cal Tan Autobronzer and decided that I liked the color just as well as the Versa so I got a great deal on a used one. It's just as easy for the client to use as the Versa also. Only two standing positions, like old school mystic, instead of four like Versa. Drying tower doesn't quite work as well as Versas blow dry but you can keep pressing the button on the dry tower to restart the air flow. It takes me two cycles to dry so no big deal really.

Cons though are that the Cal Tan will spray overspray everywhere; floor, walls, ceiling, furniture, everything. The room has to have a closed ceiling and paint the room a dark color. Also, earlier models don't have the ability to set spray levels through Tmax. You send time to the unit through Tmax but have to walk back to the booth to set the spray level. For me however, I decided some extra cleaning and walking was worth the savings for now.

If I gave any false info please correct me someone. Let me know if you have any other Qs.

[DesertTan]

Thank you for your information. I like the look of the versa, and like the color got from it also, I have never tanned in the cal tan. The price is half the cost of a new one. It just seems like there is nothing to the cal tan units, but with money so tight it's hard to pass up if they are going to do the same job. Thanks

[SUNNYDAYS]

Sunless tanning is not as popular as it used to be. If you can get the Autobronzer cheaper than the Versaspa I would go with it. The faster you can have the unit paid off the faster you will make money. I thought I saw a Autobronzer listed on one of the boards for 5k.

[GTStudio]

You are right, there is not much to the Autobronzer. It has the two towers, tan and dry, and the overspray wall and floor plate. That's it. It also requires no hookup to a water supply. You are forced to use Cal Tans sunless solution bc you have to insert a new chip into the unit when you add more solution, and Cal Tan gives you the chip when you order more solution. Some don't like being forced into one solution brand but I love their sunless solution. They have four options of sunless solution so you do have a few choices.

[SUNNYDAYS]

There is a way around using Cal Tans solution, just talk to anyone that services the unit and they will tell you how to charge it with other solution.

[GTStudio]

Thanks Sunnydays. I didn't know that. If I decide to change later I will look into that. It is nice to have options

[Colbsterman]

SUNNYDAYS is 100% correct!! You may also want to look into a used Mystic Booth. Spoke with a guy yesterday from TanToday and he had a very nice used booth for only $3500...Mystic that is.

[Chris]

You can fill the unit without the cards, but you can't clear the liquid low level or reset the partial sprays. You don't have to use CalTan solution in your Autobronzer, Caltan will send you the fill cards without the purchase of solution. Call 800-sun care x 2207.
If you have a lot of over spray from the autobronzer, you need to make sure the electrostatic is working properly(fuse F5), the unit is properly grounded, the juice pressure should be set at 9psi and the atomizing air is set to 12 psi. Spray times should be set at 2.5 for L1, 3.0 for L2 and 3.5 for L3. Also make sure there aren't any ac vents or returns in the room. All the settings are for use with Caltan solution, if you use something else you will have to find the correct settings on your own. A different solution may be thicker or thinner, and may eat o-rings in the unit.

[bjhcpa]

Originally Posted by SUNNYDAYS

Sunless tanning is not as popular as it used to be. If you can get the Autobronzer cheaper than the Versaspa I would go with it. The faster you can have the unit paid off the faster you will make money. I thought I saw a Autobronzer listed on one of the boards for 5k.

Not sure where you get sunless is not as popular as it used to be but we are adding a second vspa unit to a few of our stores because one is not enough. Many of the big chains now add 2 units as standard to their new stores..(suntancity, palm beach, planet tan, etc). Sunless is definetly not on the decline.

The autobronzer is a failed unit, that is why they are 5k. Nobody talks about it anymore, its hasnt been displayed at the shows in years, and there is not a single chain that is using them.

Doesnt do you much good if you save some money upfront but do a 1/4 of the sales you would do with a vspa or even a mymyst. I know salons that had old blue box mystics doing $500. a month in spray tanning with that are now doing $5000 a month with a versaspa.