Walgreens account

[Aqua Pro]

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong section of the boards. I wasn't quite sure where to post it. I "C-C'ed" it to a couple areas besides here.


My question. Has anyone done any work for Walgreen’s (or any other commercial chain for that matter) cleaning coolers? Walgreen’s corporate contacted me and want me to take on some stores in my area. Two things they want/need done. 1) Remove all perishable items from racks in the coolers, place racks outside and power wash the racks, concrete interior floor, walls and curtains using a degreaser. Wash it all down the sanitary and place racks back in place and then re-stock the racks. 2) Acid wash the coils on the HVAC units outside.

I need advice/help/tips. Like every other facet of my business, whenever I plan on doing new work/offering new service, I make it a point to learn as much about it as I can. BTW. I was told that the average store would take about 5.5 hours and the price is set at $250.00 a store which is a lot lower labor rate than I am used to. BUT maybe the "pros" out there that have done this type of work will tell me they/I can do it in 2 or 3 hours and "Here’s' how....."


Thanks again in advance to any and all help.
My number is 630-723-9296 if you would rather call.
-Tom McMillan

[MMI Enterprises]

Unversed here but.... what are these?.. 10 door Anthony type walkin fridges..not freezers right?..

Why they want outside condensor acid washed? I could see litely blowing off the inside evaporative coils but they want you to mess with performing the fridge repairmans duties outside? Those guys don't use pwerwashers, they use them comb things and sprays to clean them far as I ever saw....disconnect breakers and be careful not to break anything if you do this for them... Think ya ought to run though is my take if it really takes that long. I would want to keep the racks inside while washing and have it all go down the inside drains.

[grizzley]

$250 for 5.5 hours of work? $45 per hour? They better be giving you all the food on those shelves! I cant think of any "pros" to this situation.....

[dpaull]

Originally Posted by Aqua Pro

...using a degreaser.... Wash it all down the sanitary ...

Better check the regulations on that one. I'm not sure if they're local or federal, but I'm pretty sure you aren't allowed to rinse anything down the sanitary...at least around here you're not.

Me personally, I'd pass on this job. $250 doesn't sound worth it to me. Although we have to eat and if things are slow then by all means, you do what you gotta do to eat.

[Tmrrptr]

Aqua, I don't even think I'd reply to them.

Well, I take that back. Tell 'em you're gonna send your uncle, who is a health inspector, over to check things out and assess the job for you and you'll get back to them after his report.

These big corporations seem to be real jerks.
r

[FLORIN]

Even if you could do it in three hours I still think it would not be worth it. Thats alot of moving stuff around and stacking and restocking of shelves.

[HotShot]

Hell No!!!

would be my reply to them

[Deck Guy]

Tell them to hire whoever they can find for $250, then call you when he quits showing up and you will give them a bid for what it should cost, and for what it will take for a professional to do the job properly.

They'd be better off paying their stock boy to remove and replace the groceries anyway. Not to mention, how will they know where anything goes after you blast all the shelf tags off the racks?? Better have a store plan-o-gram handy.

[anthony szabo]

Tom,
Let's say you did the work and at any time frame. You will not see your money in a timely manor I would bet!

At lets say $65 an hour who pay for fuel cost, labor cost, chemical cost, pro rated insurance cost, pro rated vehicle cost, pro rated office cost, etc.

Be careful Tom,

Tony

[One Tough Pressure]

My concern is that the food will be out for up to 5.5 hours. Size of the coolers is important as well.
The first one could take you longer, but after that, it would be much faster. Just because they say that is the price, does not mean it is solid. they are setting a price, but like the Post office and their fleet washing, will find out it is more.
Look into it mor and see what else they require. Stop by a local store and speak to the manager about it and request to see the cooler and other areas of concern.

Originally Posted by dpaull

Better check the regulations on that one. I'm not sure if they're local or federal, but I'm pretty sure you aren't allowed to rinse anything down the sanitary...at least around here you're not.

Where do you guys put water? They may have restrictions on it in your area, but it is by City or County, not Federal.

[dpaull]

We have to either reclaim, or divert water to where it will not be washed down the sewer or enter any US body of water (ie. the grass where it can evaporate).

We actually aren't even allowed to let rain water enter the sanitary system. We have to build it up like 3 inches off the ground.

[Aqua Pro]

Update...I received a packet of info via fax outlining the scope of work to be done. Turns out that the women I spoke to on the phone gave me bad info. I WILL NOT be cleaning the coils outside. They want me to use a duster/small hand vac to clean off the surface of the interior hvac vents/returns. (usually about 8 vents/2 returns), In addition, clean off the interior stainless kick plates. As fas as the coolers are concerned, it's only the dairy racks that need to be emptied and restocked and these are to be done usually when the store is at low stock status. Any overstock on the cooler floor would be moved by store personal. All perishables go into the freezer until done.

Yes I am aware of the clean water act and will have to investigate the ins/outs of where the wastewater is going and no I really don't NEED the work. My line of thought was......Get my employees to move stock off/on racks, dust vents while a lead guy or myself powerwashes the racks/floors. Make a little side money in the process and hope to eventually land the flatwork outside. My oldest son and wife could do these stores in their free time if they wanted. HMMM, I dunno, $250 aint squat for that much work. I would normally run as well but now that I know it has nothing to do with exterior HVAC, I could see getting a store done in 2-2 1/2 hours with a helper. Times that by 50 stores twice a year and I just got a $25,000 raise (minus overhead)

My main question was/is has anyone else done a walgreens cooler? Sounds to me like no. From what I found out today BTW, is that crews are currently doing the Walgreens in Florida and heading to Georgia next. Currently there are something like 420 walgreen stores in my area with NO-ONE to do them. A trained, dedicated crew handling those accounts full time twice a year would yield over $200,000 in additional revenue.

Maybe I'm delusional! LOL....we'll see what happens....thanks for the input though everyone..

P.S- What's up Tony S! I was just thinking aboutcha....almost called you today actually before I seen your post. Hope all is well..D.C with Henry/Everette/Pete was a blast!

cya

[MMI Enterprises]

Thomas,

There is an upsale to this deal that you can force.
Freezer/fridge slabs generally have to pass the water sprinkle test to most health inspectors. The slab must be sealed basically to the outside world and to cross contamination so they want to see beeded water when they go in them. Although beeded water is not the end all proof of a sealed concrete substrate it sure can go along way to get you some more money. Each location could stand a seal or reseal every year or so at anywhere from $100 to $200 each... I unversed in powerwashing one but have sealed them..good luck.

[One Tough Pressure]

Originally Posted by dpaull

We have to either reclaim, or divert water to where it will not be washed down the sewer or enter any US body of water (ie. the grass where it can evaporate).

We actually aren't even allowed to let rain water enter the sanitary system. We have to build it up like 3 inches off the ground.

Sanitary goes to the treatment palnt and storm goes to the Body of water.

[dpaull]

Originally Posted by One Tough Pressure

Sanitary goes to the treatment palnt and storm goes to the Body of water.

Are you asking me or telling me this? I'm fully aware what goes where.