We use Service Directions Inc
They are OK

http://www.servicedirections.com/index.php

Try Metered Appliance Company of Woodside,NY We had them for seven years and probably will renew with them. We got rid of Coinmach.

important: make sure whatever laundry company you chooses, renovates your laundry room (for free of course) - new floortiles, paintjob, table & chairs etc. also use side loading machines only and not top loaders - will save big $ water charges.

Goodness, we had a terrible time with Metered Appliances. Laundry card system frequently screwed up, and the company ignored calls from residents and management. We got out of our contract after only a year; we're now using MacGray and are happy with them so far.

The ONLY problem we had with Metered Appliance was with the money card. They solved the problem by putting in two money machines so that we had a spare at all times,at no cost to us. They responded to all service call within 24 hours. We found them good, and are in the process working out the details of a new contract.

One thing for sure we would NEVER use Coinmach.

We just renewed our contract with Hercules. They have been very attentive and helpful.

We use Fowler and are reasonably happy with them. That's not a glowing recommendation and is not intended to be, but there have been no disasters.

Your Coinmach contract is a problem and it sounds like you need to ask your lawyer about it. In particular, are you saying they won't even tell you when the contract expires?!

One key point: we insisted on a "Management Agreement" with Fowler rather than the standard contract, which gives us more leeway and gets rid of the objectionable clauses in most laundry contracts. The "Right of First Refusal" clause has been invalidated by the courts (Google the 2005 NYT article called "A Ruling on Contracts for Laundry Rooms"). Interestingly, the losing party in that case was Coinmach.

Automatic renewal is another headache you'll need to discuss with your lawyer. I *think* they have to send you written notice at renewal time, but I'm not sure.

NB - Contracts state that you must give your laundry co written notice within a certain time (e.g, 90 days) if you won't renew them. We gave Coinmach proper notice and went with Hercules this year, in fact we sent them 3 letters since Dec. They said they never got them, couldn't read the signed receipts we faxed them, wouldn't respond to calls from us or Hercules to remove their machines. The transition took much longer than it had to.

Our coop attorney finally called our rep and confirmed by email and letter to him that if they didn't remove their machines by (date), we'd uninstall and store them, and if they wanted them they had to come get them by (x date). That finally worked.

Check your legal position with your attorney and don't take any nonsense from Coinmach or let them waste your time. They'll give you a lot of excuses, if they reply at all. They did this to us, and I know other bldgs that had the same problem. Hercules renovated our laundry room, they'll been very attentive, and we're very pleased with them. Our prop mgr said some of his other bldgs use them and never had any complaints about them. Another laundry co I've heard of that's supposed to have a good reputation is Sepco.

1) if Coinmach cannot produce a contract then you are free and clear. anyhow you could threaten to sue them is they balk. get rid of them - they have a terrible reputation.

2) only 2 machines?? GET YOUR OWN ONES. seriously - get your own - research it - you can make good money for hte coop. and use the warrently onthe machines to have them fixed if they break. get very energy efficient ones and have a coinbox attached. you can do this!

Coinmach provides service, going above and beyond the call of duty, in my experience as a board director and co-op resident of many years.

Coinmach is #1 for a reason. They get the job done. There are some unfair comments here by folks who don't or won't sign their own names. When someone Anonymous says a negative about Coinmach that's meaningless. That could be a competitor for all we know.

In fact all these comments negating or praising one outfit or another without context are without meaning. What size building are you talking about? What is the paper trail of unresolved omplaints? Why dont you get new machines? It takes two to tango I've always found.

So back up your words, or back off.

Whoa! "Coinmach is #1 for a reason"? On what basis? Net revenue? Annual gross? Independent customer survey? This is such obvious company PR-speak, and it's clear to everyone here that you affiliated with the company.

"back up your words, or back off" is no way to speak to other people on this forum.

Messages like this have the opposite effect you're hoping for. People here take complaints with a grain of salt, and this thread has seen comments pro and con about numerous companies.

But I would never go with Coinmach now after such a transparent, defensive attempt at self-promotion.

Dear Sir or Madam,

This confident analysis of what is obvious, clear, pr speak, impact of bt postings, etc. is interesting.

Unfortunate your main conclusion is incorrect. I am not affiliated with Coinmach. Just a satisfied customer. Whether or not you - whoever you are - go with Coinmach, or a competitor, is your decision.

Let's try to be helpful to this forum's participants seeking fair and balanced information (I'm not affiliated with Fox News either) and stay with the issue(s) at hand.

After all, it all comes out in the wash. Have a pleasant day!

I notice you didn't answer my question: How do you "know" the company "is #1"?

What is the basis of that claim? I offered three examples of possibilities.

Did you perhaps read it in newspaper? A trade magazine article? Or, perhaps, a press release? Since no one outside a publicist says "Such-and-such is #1 for a reason."

Ask yourself how you "know" this supposed fact. Making vague and unsupported claims of market position shows an agenda -- and THAT is what's not "helpful to this forum's participants."

We have had a difficult time with Hi-Rise Laundry Service. It takes numerous calls from the property manager, superintendent, and residents before they will send a service crew to repair a broken machine. Of course, other coops may have had an entirely different experience, but that's ours.

We have had good experience with them. Like all laundry companies, they have their good and bad points, but in general, our residents are satisfied.

Inspired by this thread, we've placed a great story by Elizabeth Jensen on our front page, all about how to negotiate a great laundry-room contract -- even if you're still in mid-cycle.

Check it out:
"Laundry-Room Contracts: How Not to Get Soaked"

on the front page through Wed., July 30, and permalinked at

http://www.habitatmag.com/publication_content/featured_articles_updated_three_times_weekly__1/laundry_room_contracts

Where is the article now?

http://www.habitatmag.com/publication_content/2006_november/web_exclusive_adaptations/laundry_room_contracts

We bought our own coin op washer dryers thru this company much better service there website is selaundryequipment.com if this helps you