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Old 03-11-2006, 02:25 AM   #1 (permalink)
 
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only one bed... which one????

Hi guys, this is my first post. I'm opening a tanning business. well only one bed for now, but it's in a fullservice salon. Ok so I can only get one bed for now. which one? I'm pretty sure I want a 12 minute bed. I have a limit of 18k to spend. I don't want a piece of junk. I want something solid that looks cool, with a UVB rate comaparible to a dr meuller bed..2% or lower.
Thankyou!!!
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Old 03-11-2006, 07:16 AM   #2 (permalink)
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Re: only one bed... which one????

So is it a hair salon and you are adding a tanning bed?

Do you eventually plan/hope to add other tanning beds?

Are there other tanning salons in your town? What do they have?

What makes you think it should be a "12 minute bed"?

Do you have the electricity and Air conditioning to add anything you want?

Is it something you see clients coming to you regularly to use? Or more of something they could use while they waited for a service in the rest of your full-service salon?

Give us a little more info and we'll try to help!
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Old 03-11-2006, 08:38 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Re: only one bed... which one????

and have you given thought to how you are going to set the tan time? Computer, Software, T-Max, wind up egg timer??

(are you trying to say us 'tan only' salons are not 'full service';-) )
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Old 03-11-2006, 11:17 AM   #4 (permalink)
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Re: only one bed... which one????

So much to think about, hey stick.
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Old 03-11-2006, 12:14 PM   #5 (permalink)
 
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Re: only one bed... which one????

Actually pretty easy. $18K is more than enough $$$ too. I'd buy used, use a simple remote timer (t max or whatever is compatible) and just make sure you got the electricity, a/c requirements.

Where are you located before I start giving advice to my competition?
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Old 03-11-2006, 12:57 PM   #6 (permalink)
 
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Re: only one bed... which one????

Thanks for the responses. OK here are more details for ya. I'll try to answer all your questions.
I do intend to add at least 2 other beds, as soon as my finances allow it. how much I spend on the first one will determine the wait for the following ones.

there is one other tanning salon in town. They have a dr meuller bed..not sure which one, I'll go check. All I hear is orbits this and meuller that from my girlfriend that has used the other salon. She won't even consider using anything less so...
I'll be honest here. I was looking at ets sunstar 432 until i found this site. very glad I found it before I made my purchase. I'm learning a lot! I think? Lol

I figure with possibly only one bed to start I would want 12 minutes to do more people per hour+ more $ . again I am competing against a meuller 12 min bed.

I have a breaker box in the same room, so access to power is not a problem.

I would want the salons clientel to use the bed of course. while they wait.. sure ok, but I also want clients that would come to me regularly because I have a bed/beds that tans great, looks great, and is fast.

setting the time... I beleive thats the tmax thing right? a portable thing I can keep at my desk right? I don't know about software yet, but i will be running my mac down there, so it's possible I could go that way too.

I'm in alameda CA, no competition here! lol I'm gonna call meuller, tan america,heartland, and tanses for some prices real quick

thanks guys!!! I really aprecciate the help. I am a contractor in my other life, and nothing makes me madder than a cheap tool that does a poor job. I end up having to go buy the better tool anyway, and spending twice as much in the end than if I just bought the right one from the start. hopefully you guys can help me avoid that problem with my bed.
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Old 03-11-2006, 04:54 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Re: only one bed... which one????

For $18K, you could buy probably 85% of the tanning beds made. More if you went used.

SO - you probably don't want to go with a little "base bed" --- BUT -- can't necessarily just drop a big ol' VHR in there and have it work well for a lot of your customers unless they go to other salons first to build their base tan.

SO -- you either spend LESS --- OR --- consider High Pressure.

New HP is as much as $45K -- out of your budget. But used can be found, sometimes cheap. For example, looking for used Ultrabronz 812 or 818's. Low UVB (the "burning" ray), but a GREAT bed for someone to "drop in" for once a week or a few times/month. Commanding primo $$!

Or something like a stand-up HP -- like the Matrix V28. Again -- more than $18K, but I've seen used for that price sometimes (not often).

Dollar for dollar -- you will get the BEST return for that kind of money on a used high pressure bed. If not that, I might just use it to buy all 3 beds at once instead. Could get 1 nice (used?) 15 minute base bed and 2 mid-level (e.g. 160's on top, maybe facials) -- Tan America has some on their website now in the "Red tag" area -- the Santa Barbara's with facials and 160W in the canopy. For your budget, go with 2 of those, get a used 32 lamp base bed and you're set!

Or the HP.
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Old 03-11-2006, 05:02 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Re: only one bed... which one????

^^Completely agree with all of the above.^^ My advice for your situation is to put in a 42-50 160w reflector lamp lay down unit with facials and amenities (I like the Del Rey from Tan America for this category). Based on my relationships with other salons that have added tanning: base grade beds don't produce enough revenue/profit for the salon to justify the expense; stand-ups produce even less; and high-end monster beds will take forever to payoff. Whatever you decide, good luck. -Belvy
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Old 03-11-2006, 05:18 PM   #9 (permalink)
 
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Re: only one bed... which one????

$18,000? Should be able to get at least 3 decent units at U.S. Prices........
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Old 03-11-2006, 05:42 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Re: only one bed... which one????

^^ my 2 cents, as a contractor you probably know this, but just because you have space for more breakers in your electrical panel doesn't necessarily mean you have enough current capacity. total all your loads / add for new and future bed needs / add for any additional AC needed due to the beds, also check with the utility and have them check their feed and upstream capacity. If any of this is confusing, get a qualified electrical person to go through it.

Do you have 3 phase power? some larger beds take 3 phase
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