Intel486:

"It is just because the economy is different down here... this is the one of the poorest states"

I would have to disagree with it being about the economy. There are very few if any detailing business around here that do profesional work.

For an example, I worked with my father in his business. We use to do alot of cement work, brick and block. I can't believe the **** poor workmenship and craftsmenship you see in the cement, brick and block work back here. I guess most these people back here are just use to it so to them its not **** poor its just normal... sad but oh well.

To be honest I think that is one of the reasons people look at my truck and the "absolutely beauitful shine" (no Rockpick I did not mention it, LOL) it has and ask where did I get it done and then don't believe me when I say I did it.

 

My Ford truck is everything i wantded its sad i have some damm leak that the Dealer can't fix.

 

$1.25?? It's been $1.50 around here since forever.

I'm getting a power sprayer this Christmas though. Pretty cheap at $400 and seems like a lot of fun for those lazy summer days without anything to do. There are also many other uses for it besides washing the truck, like killing squirrels and birds.. LOL, just kidding.

 

Whew! I didn't know that I would get this type of response from this topic. I agree with some of you guys that prices have to be raised based on certain conditions such as rising cost. They just don't need to take away from the customer, such as dropping the alotted time. This will make people think twice about stopping at that particular business, which will eventually end up hurting the business. Especially if business keeps falling, they will end up going out of business. I used to work at a grocery store chain that was like this. They would raise their prices, and provide less customer service and business started getting slower. The cam pany had to close many stores because of this. They struggled and have finally started getting their business back. BTW, I don't work their anymore. Thank goodness.
My point is that you can't try and cheat the customer or the business will fail. This particular car wash has been in its location for as long as I can remember and it would be ashamed to see it go out of business. Even though I don't want to use it I will have to because their just are not too many others around my neiborhood, even if it is just to get the mud off the step bars. Thanks for all of you that gave me your input and keep them coming if you have anything else to add.

 

I live on the road for several months a year so I'm always at the mercy of whatever carwash happens to be available in the area I'm in. I've seen them all!! There are some nice ones, but the majority of them are filthy, have broken change machines, high prices, foaming brushes that are worn to the nub and don't foam to begin with, hoses that will not reach, or are so short they smack the side of the truck like a whip, Drains that smell like summer in a sewage treatment plant, etc etc.... I could go on and on, lol! I am thankful when I find a good one, and will give them my business no matter what the cost usually.
The absolute heaven of carwashes is Western Oklahoma City!! I could not believe my eyes! Within two miles of me were no less than 5 brand new, or extremely well run carwashes! All of them had reasonable prices and great equipment.
The bad ones make me glad to be at home, where my pressure washer, sheepskin mitt, 5 gallon bucket, and stock of cleaning supplies are waiting for me. I have been out on the road all year, and I will finally get home at the end of January. The truck has not been washed since October!! Let the deep cleaning begin!!,,,,98

 

does youre rear slider ever leak ?

 

Nope, must've got lucky?,,,98

 

Hey Mustang88, I couldnt have said it any better myself. I'm also a car wash owner and F150 guy. Looks to me like a lot of people think that all there is to running a good wash is collecting a bucket of quarters everyday. If it were only that simple. In addition to my full time job, I spent another 5-6 hours a day at the wash.. rain or shine. hot or cold. Its a constant battle of repairing what someone broke to cleaning up the 3000 nails someone washed out of the back of their truck. I dont think I've ever seen a self serve wash with prices too out of hand. Sure there are some pig holes out there, but for every dump i'd bet there are 5 good clean fully operating quality washes. People tend to only remember the bad and seldom the good. Next time you complain about that $1.50 you had to spend, think about what it is really going towards.. Today, a new car wash costs about $50000 a bay to build. thats right, a 6 bay self serve wash is going to run you $300000 to build. Add another $100000 each if you want an automatic. How bout the expenses.. $500 light bill, $1000 gas bill (to make that hot water) Water bill, sewer bill, the liability insurance, the $1000 dollars to get the pits pumped, the payment on that $300k building. add that all up, How many quarters is that?? a whole bunch. Yes, even when you bring your own 5 gallon bucket of water, its still going down MY sewer that I'm paying for. So when you think you're not hurting anything by bucket washing, please think again. There may not be a line behind you, but believe it or not that space you are in IS costing someone money and it does have to come from somewhere.. a quarter at a time..

OK, now my speech about foam brushes..... you are right, people do some very bad things with them.. but have you taken a minute to find out how to properly use them?? I cant tell you how many people i see come in with totally filthy cars and the first thing they do is grab the brush and grind the stuff into the car.. of course its going to scratch it.. I even have a big sign right next to the brush that says to wash the car with the high pressure first!! but hey, who has time to read a sign.. Then the sign say to check the brush for cleanliness before using.. 5 seconds with that high pressure hose on the brush is going to remove any left over dirt particles from the guy in front of you. Has anyone ever blasted out the brush before they use it?? i've never seen anyone but myself do it.. but hey, who has time for signs.. 99% of the car washes out there have step by step directions posted right there on the wall, from presoak to spot free rinse. If you choose to vary from those directions and dont get a good wash, its not the washes fault, its the guy who only wants to spend $1.50 and expects the car to be cleans fault.

Ok, its 1 in the morning and i've done my venting...

 

the reason this country exists is because it has an economic system that works.. I firmly believe that everyone has the right to make as much money as they can. If that means they can charge $5.00 instead of $1.25 or $1.50 or Intel can make $80 off of just a wax job, then more power to them.. I dont begrudge Bill Gates the money he has earned, or the Walton Family (WalMart) or Ross Perot or even Barbara Streisand (gag).. that is our system.. it works..
I'll get off my soapbox now
Dana

 

one50?? Your carwash uses HOT water?? Yours would be the first one in years that I've seen?
Truthfully though, most carwashes are in disrepair and filthy. A clean well run carwash is VERY hard to find.
Don't get me started on auto washes, one of them put a huge gouge in my bedlid, then refused responsibility for it. I will never go to one again because of that one bad place.,,,,98

 

We have several carwashes that will take your vehicle and and wash it for you. They run it through an automatic wash and then dry it and clean it out by hand. My friend at work to his Ford Ranger Splash to one and they ruined his tire. They have a track inside that should fit most tires, well the guy drove the truck in sideways and it got caught on the siderail and tore a chunk out of the side of his tire. He was able to get home from there. He went and got a new tire and took the bill where they refunded him the money for the tire. Even the full service ones will neglect your vehicle if you are not careful.

 

I've never had the brush mess up the paint on any of my vehicles, but like one50npump says I always make sure its clean before I do it. I know that if I were to not clean it when I'm done cleaning my muddy F100 it would be nasty, and I cannot assume that other people are considerate enough to clean it when done.

 

And to think I thought, or at least other people who see me do it, think I was odd for spraying down the brush before I use it. I had just figured it was common sence to do so. Then again when it comes to my truck and anybody or anything touching it I am quit the MORON and **** person about being VERY picky with it.

I agree there are not many well run car washes around any more. There are about 4 in my area that are slum and scum. I drive about 20 miles to a car wash that is well maintained and very clean. His place is aways PACKED with cars. Cost $2.50 for 4 minutes and I have NO problem paying that. When you switch it to soap, lots of soap comes out, when you switch it to rinse, in about 5 seconds its clear water and no soap.

The guy is just about always there cleaning and helping people with minor problems they may be having. He has 3 touchless bays that works excellent.

I don't mind paying the price for a quality service, but can not stand nor do I pay for crap equipment and filthy car washes. One of the car washes near me that is a complete whole changes $2.00 for 5 minutes. I might be tight with my cash, but I will pay the $2.50 for 4 minutes knowing everything works as advertised.

I can't wait till it gets warm again because I hate going to any car wash unless I have to, nothing is better then washing by hand no matter how good the car wash. Someday someone will finally figure out they can make more money on top of their business by building or have some opening space so people can wash by hand it they want to. It wouldn't be that hard. There is equipment that can measure water flow (gallons) so you could change according to that (i.e. $2 per gallon) and include a time limit as well. It's hard for me to wash by hand were I live and I wouldn't mind paying $5.00 for 15 - 20 minutes to wash mine by hand.