When it comes to making a major purchase like laundry equipment, everyone wants to get a good deal. However, a cheap washer or dryer is not necessarily a “good deal.” We often have to explain that due to inefficiencies and maintenance, the cheapest or least expensive machines can end up costing your hotel or long-term care facility more over the life of the machine. The price tag on your equipment rarely corresponds to how much the machine will actually cost you. Laundry managers need to understand this when comparing industrial laundry equipment. Let’s take a look at the concepts of “price” and “cost” in the laundry industry.
- Price is the amount required to purchase a unit of equipment.
- Cost is the amount associated with operating the machine. This includes utilities, labor, maintenance and linen replacement—essentially return on investment (ROI).
Laundry Equipment Price and Cost Review
For example, you choose the cheapest washer-spinner or dryer on the market. It may get the job done, but it is limited compared to others when it comes to important features like high spin speeds, fast drying times, and laundry monitoring/management tools. While you may save money up front, you could end up spending thousands more over the life of the machine. Without features like:
- Energy-efficient technologies, including those mentioned above, can help you reduce your water and energy consumption throughout the life of your laundry. Without them, you’ll likely see a much higher utility bill that can add up over the life of the machine.
- Features that optimize your washing and drying settings, such as OPTispray and OPTidry , help prevent damage to your laundry. Without them, you may end up incurring additional costs to replace your laundry over time.
- Sometimes a lower price can be a sign of poor quality parts and materials - they have to pay for the cost somewhere, right? While a washer-extractor may work fine from the start, these machines can wear out faster, again costing thousands in repairs, replacement parts, and downtime in your laundry room.
- A laundry management system like yishiwashing allows you to view critical machine performance data. This gives you the ability to use this data to improve the performance of your entire operation, helping to reduce operating and labor costs and avoid costly problems in the future.
On the other hand, if you decide to invest more in a more advanced industrial washer or dryer with these additional laundry features, it may be a different story. Sure, your initial outlay may be higher, but the costs associated with performance, maintenance, and labor will be significantly reduced. Often, you will find that high-performance industrial laundry equipment also comes with better warranties and ongoing service, which can also help you get more value out of your machine. You get a higher quality product, as well as the support of a team of laundry experts who can help with laundry room design, maintenance, and more.
Of course, what features you need will vary greatly depending on your industry and laundry operation. If you are planning to purchase new laundry equipment for your hotel, long-term care facility, or other type of laundry facility, it is important to understand this concept of price versus cost so you know what features are worth paying for and which machine will be best for you. Have questions? Our team is always happy to help and discuss pricing and financing options.
