peach

I think that everyone on this site knows that 100 watt bulbs are 20 minute and 160 watt are 15 minute. I have been calling them
"bulbs" for 21 years now and will continue to do so. Only salons who are on their way to extinction change bulbs once a year. And
meters are not a substitute for a business plan that ensures that your customer gets a good tan year round.

sunsally

And again, since this is 100% false, good guess most people do NOT follow this thinking!

100w beds can be found in 30, 20, 15, 14, 12 and 10 min time frames. That I know of.

160W units can be found in 15, 12, 11, 10, and perhaps lower.

The maximum allowable TIME on the unit has nothing to do with the lamp wattage.

And meters ARE the business plan!! They are what allows you to see when your lamps are starting to decrease in effectiveness, so you can change them in order to allow your customers to consistently get a great tan - no matter what time of year.

Oh my.......... shaking my head..........

peach

Sunsally, when trying to make your point, you make a habit out of pointing out the exceptions to the rule and not the rule itself. That is a mark of someone who intends to be contrary, not someone who is truly trying to help those who do not know.

The rule is that 160 watt bulbs (15 minute) have a lower useful life in hours than a typical 100 watt (20 minute) bulb. The flaws in using meters have already been discussed-they are useful but never would I use a bulb past its useful life as defined by the manufacturer just because the meter says it is OK. if others think that is the way to go, fine, to each his own. I have used my methodology for 21 years now, and I have seen a lot of competitors large and small come and go.

peach

If you graph the life of any bulb, it looks like a mountain; at some point in its life, it is on the down hill side of its useful life. A salon own must decide-will I change bulbs on the top of the mountain or somewhere on the down hill side. They will also have to accept their customers opinion of whether they are getting their moneys worth. "You don't get a second chance to make a first impression".
Customers don't give a ___ about what your meter says....

parrot head

And this tit for tat peeing match goes on. No one salon is like another, and no hard rules can be established as to when you need to change lamps. As far as a salon that changes lamps less then once a year, is on their way out---hogwash. My business sucks, but I could run this business for another 20 years,( I might need a walker at 92 years old) if I could remain netting what I net now. I am absolutely debt free, so I don't need to make a lot of money. I changed lamps last January, and most likely won't have to change lamps until next September. I have meters, don't use them, and what dictates when I change lamps, is when the customers say they are not getting any color, or 800 hours on my 100W lamps. 500 hours on my 140W and 160W lamps, whichever come first. I have used my methodology for over 28 years now, and I have seen many competitors, all small come and go.

peach

Customers only care about results; whatever it takes to get that out of your equipment- buck boosters, meters, bulbs- do it...........There are some people on these sites who have anointed themselves, gurus of tanning who just want try to make themselves look good by making others look bad.

parrot head

Whatever works, works.

peach

My suggestion to all owners is to lay in all of your beds on a regular basis. Know how they perform, and do what it takes to get the most out of your equipment all year long; not just in the tanning season.

Good salons have a balanced equipment offering, they run their beds at the proper voltage, and have good acrylics and bulbs.

To me, the critical months are the off months. How many tanners can you keep from August - January? That determined if you will be successful or not. My philosophy is that your beds performance matters MORE in the off season. Many times that determines whether that customer renews in August or waits until January.