dcjjp2

I agree with Angelcat, We did Mystic as an afterthought, but since adding last year the booth has just about paid for itself in under 1 year. Just yesterday because of all of the inauguration balls in town we did close to 60 Mystic tans. Already did 6 this morning in 2 hours of being open. Very profitable.

synthesized

here's the skinny on resale value; If a Mystic unit comes up for sale, it's grabbed cause it's in demand. Why?, proven perfomer. The rest only hold value in relationship to their manufacturers ability to finance their marketing plans. Value based on perception. Where would you prefer to invest?.

Here's what I've seen over and over again. A marginal salon takes the huge leap and gets the Mystic. They go many a sleepless night as the financial obligations sink in. But, as the financing period moves along, they realize that the Mystic is actually paying their bills, and in many cases (if not most), the Mystic is outperforming their UV (I'm talkin total revenues, not just unit comparison). In the end, they understand that with pain comes gain, and they simply aren't going to sell their sunless unit.

With that being said, there are numerous salons that can't hang on, but you'll find a line up of parties seeking the elusive used Mystic, hoping for a deal.

_________________

Here's another value consideration; take a booth, any booth, if it becomes injured, used, or otherwise 'not new', what are the cost implications to 'renew'. A booth that can be 'renewed' with least expense, will have a greater base resale value.[ This Message was edited by: synthesized on 2005-01-20 10:33 ]

TheMagicalTouch-UK

Quote:
On 2005-01-20 09:25:00, Beachbum110 wrote:
TMT-UK,

Thanks for that insight... we also like the Magic Tan unit (in the maroon color). The Mystic booths (old design) are just to big. We don't want to buy used, we have to! I'm not investing $20k for fear it will sit idle and the ROI will be long... however we continue to get calls asking if we offer spray tanning and it kills us to say no. If these units are awesome then why am I finding deals (here and ebay) on Magig Tan Booth between $12 and $15k? Seems the original owners of these $29k investemts lost their shirts.

How is the Magic Tan unit in terms of maintantence?

I talk to a few of our students and they said girls who spray tanned went to the school dance looking like a carrot. One girl got the solution all over her boyfriends white tux... from sweating while dancing. We are afraid to turn out smelly carrot looking people, but I think I'm leaving money on the table by not offering spray tanning in our salon.

Is it bad from a client to get a spray tan and then lay in a bed, will it ruin the acylics... or just make them use a booth?

Thanks again for your insight.


Firstly, like I said, TRY them yourself........ Obviously you are a tanning professional, with your own business. I'd lay money on the fact that you know what looks like a good tan and a bad tan.

As for the resale value, here in the UK, there aren't any second hand units.

Obviously, the UK is much much smaller than the US. From information I can gather via 'Nearest Locations' on the internet, we only have 25 Mystics compared to 36 of the Magic Tan Units in this country.

Seems to me that the UK market is all for the Magic..... (obviously there are other manufacturers as well).

Like someone has already said, the solution really does make a difference. They are NOT all the same with different names.........

After all said and done, it's a 'Fake' tan..... It will wear off, over time. Of course it will mark light coloured fabrics. Anyone who says that it won't is a liar..... As for the girls when marked the guys tux, don't believe everything your hear...

TMT, UK

ramcat

Quote:
On 2005-01-20 10:29:00, synthesized wrote:
here's the skinny on resale value; If a Mystic unit comes up for sale, it's grabbed cause it's in demand. Why?, proven perfomer. The rest only hold value in relationship to their manufacturers ability to finance their marketing plans. Value based on perception. Where would you prefer to invest?.

[ This Message was edited by: synthesized on 2005-01-20 10:33 ]

I find it hard to belive that you honestly believe this hype. It's in demand because of being a proven performer? The rest hold value due to marketing? I know you like your booth, but lets get real. Mystic and Magic have been in the business longer than most and have poured lots of $ into advertising. Their only value is in recognition of the name. Value of anything is not related to marketing. I've never seen anyone buy a used BMW over a Ford just because of the name. We all look for it's ability to perform. MHO

synthesized

I agree and basically that's what I've said, Disagree if you like. 'Their only value is in recognition of the name.' I agree once again. Consider this, if an idea is an assemblance of proven, usefull technology, and that idea is packaged under a registerded name and sold as such, you will value it based on that, not if it's nozzles are steel or if it delivers an electrostatic charge. And this ain't hype. Hype is trying to shag me by convincing me that your nuerological system attracts tanning mist to your body.

Quote:Value of anything is not related to marketing. I've never seen anyone buy a used BMW over a Ford just because of the name. We all look for it's ability to perform.

this further strengthens my above comments. The name exemplifies the value within, and percieved value is higher.

But alas, there is one caveat, and that is; if the product/service truley provides for a need, it will enjoy longevity, if not, it is merely a fad with a measured life span. The part I find interesting is this; if you have a machine that performs and a viable market is exposed from that, then along comes a bunch of imitaters that sour that market, what then is the value of the players in the market. Any guesses?, It's simple, look around and you will see exactly the answer.

I look back on this post and I'm thinking, why am I debating this with you, you effectively nullify your own position, with, well, with your own position.

ramcat

Debating this issue is like talking to my wife. She hears what I am trying to say, then entertains her own version and attempts to put words in my mouth, or her interpretation of my words.

Imitators? I think I have just been insulted. If I am an imitator, then every auto in the world is also. Of course we know that there are variations ov every make and model, but I presume that that is OK for cars, and planes, and trains, and computers, etc...etc...

Never mind that they newer versions are always improvement on the basic model. And why hasen't the basic model been changed? It is cheaper to build it that way. Ecomomics, plane and simple. Others improve and still stay within the same price range.

Your own arguement proves that quality and ecomomics will determine the true value of the future of new and used models.

BTW. I haven't had this much fun since I disagreed with Neon. Thanks.

missmojorising

$25,000.00 01-01-2004/12-31-2004 Big Blue Box revenue. $3600.00 in solution cost for the year. It's basically paid for itself and that is always a good thing.

synthesized

Quote:Debating this issue is like talking to my wife. She hears what I am trying to say, then entertains her own version and attempts to put words in my mouth, or her interpretation of my words.


You wish. Notice the ample use of 'quotes'. These are your words I'm referring to, not my intrepetation.

If you make money whilst riding someone else's coattails, I wouldn't take it as an insult. If however one 'muddles' the market and drives away consumers, reconsider that last comment. Obviously I am not implying that you specifically are doing this. But one of my previous posts expressed concerns about consumers being driven out of the market by less than ideal products/services.

With the unit that I refer to, there has been no change in the principal system, because it works. Notice all the other units have a large variety of 'configurations' as they try to figure out how to do it. Nozzles here, nozzles there, dance up and down, wipe on/wipe off. When you divide the field, it's like night and day.

anyway, we aren't giving Magic Tan fair representation here. They may have some angle as to why their's is better. Any suggestions as to how theirs might be better than yours?.

ramcat

On this post I agree. most units out there have the customer dancing in the booth like a fairy in the woods.

You comment on others making money from the others coattail. If I remember my history, Mystic, Magic and a few others are products of the original and not by these copiers. As to the system that works, I really beliece that almost any system will work if you let it soak you in solution. What matters to the salon owner is how they will make a profit ans the amount of that profit.

Your booth will allow about 25 tans per gallon of solution. Not bad but the client is wet and has to towel off. Mine produces about 32 tans per gallon and the customer is almost dry coming out of the booth. No towel needed. This also saves on laundry and the cost of towels. The results are basically the same afterwards.

In either case we both demand that customer service be provided and that is what will, in the end, keep the customer happy and returning to the salon.

Why would I even want to consider Magic and their representation? I don't like them either. They don't hold a candle to the quality.

Your turn.

MATT A

Ram don't you use a five gallon drum? And they still need a towel no matter what. I love the revenue sunless brings in.