Tonyab73

The seller is my boss. She's selling her hair salon to me and offered to sell the tanning bed along with the salon. I've worked for her for 15 years and she's never had a problem with the bed that I'm aware of. I'm still struggling as to what I shld do about the bed. Not only is she asking $800 for the bed but it needs new bulbs too. I'm lookn at dropping atleast another $400/500 for the bulbs.

parrot head

If that bed was there when you started working for her, 15 years, it isn't worth much at all.
Fifty bucks, maybe, being it lights up. How bout' the acrylics, do they need replacing? Dumpster food at best.

tanu01

Out with the old............ In with the newer........

Tonyab73

The acrylic was replaced about 3/4 mos ago so I'm good as far as that. So my question now is, where can I find a commercial, medium pressure bed for a reasonable amount of money? I don't mind a used bed but i wld like something with a warranty. My other question is, do I hav to hav a commercial bed and what's the difference between a commercial and residential bed??

Tonyab73

As u can probably tell, I don't kno a lot about tanning beds. I do hair for a living so this is foreign to me. In the last 5 or 6 years tanning has dropped off drastically so that's another reason I don't want to sink a lot of money into a bed.

Black Sun

She is stiffing you..15years or not...she just does not want to deal with removing it, and intends to get $800 for you to pay for her not bothering with it. If anything, the bed should be included as part of the sale, or negotiated that way..otherwise, tell her she could have it....you could find a better bed on Craigslist for the amount this piece of krap and new lamps would cost..

ps/ you will not find a pre-owned bed with a warranty....residential bed is usually low-powered, small, and certainly not a money generating equipment...bad idea

Where are you located? Any tanning distributors nearby? they could help with a pre-own bed, deliver, set-up..may even give a 30day warranty, but not more

If this is the only bed in the salon, and all you know and do is 'hair', do away with the bed..one bed, especially that caliber would not be worth taking up room, expense to upkeep..you will not make money off it...use the space for another 'chair' or lease space to a massage therapist..would bring in more $$

Tonyab73

I live in a small town north of Baton Rouge la. We hav a population of about 15,000 people and about 35 hair salons.lol!! I wld say about 20 of the salons offer tanning. To my knowledge, we don't hav tanning reps nearby. Maybe ur right about doing away with the bed altogether and just offer a different service. We don't hav a huge demand for massages in this area as we hav a dermatology clinic about 500 yrds from my salon that has a full spa and they offer massages. Not to mention, it's hard finding massage therapist. Most of them r in Baton Rouge. Thank u so much for all of ur advice!!!

Black Sun

Yes, do away with it...use the space for retail etc...20 hair salons in a town of 15K people is a very small pie cut up so many ways competing for tanners (not to mention if any 'tan only' salons are near-by)

Industry stats show 10% on average of any population uses a tanning bed...so you have to figure, that is 1500 people choosing 20 different places to tan...divide that up even more, not enough to pay the electric bill

Good luck with your new hair salon..concentrate on that alone, and make it the best you can (without the tanning bed)

sunsally

I warranty all the used equipment I sell.

That said - agree with most of the above. The unit isn't worth that money, but there is also a "hassle factor" - and cost - of having another one put in to replace it. If you get a more powerful bed - you will need to up the electric as well potentially (at more cost to you).

I'd look at the numbers. Is the tanning bed doing anything for the business? From what she makes from tanning - how long would it take to recoup the cost you spend to buy it?

If you decide it is worth having, but not worth upgrading - offer her something less. Get a quote on the price to relamp it and at least reduce your offer by this much with that reasoning.

Tonyab73

I offered her $500 for the bed but she turned it down and said she wld just put the bed at her house. Apparently she thinks its worth $800. I do believe I wld make my money back in one tanning season as our prices r the cheapest in town but my fear is the bed breaking and then I'm out of $1300/1400. Not sure if its worth the risk?!?!