What's new
By:
Car Wash Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Dry brush washers. I can’t keep doing this

Eric H

Eric H

Well-known member
I just had a guy here scrubbing his whole jeep down with a dry foam brush.
“Sorry sir, but the timer needs to be running if you want to use the equipment”.

“ARE YOU F***ing KIDDING ME! I came in to use your business and this is the way I get treated!”

Peeled out of here. I don’t even raise my voice anymore, I just stay calm. I can’t keep having these interactions with “customers”. Sooner or later someone is going to light me up on social media and I’m going to be vilified.
IM NOT LOOKING FOR SYMPATHY OR AFFIRMATION THAT I AM IN THE MORALLY CORRECT POSITION. Is there a better way to handle this?
I had a guy a couple of weeks ago come in and prep his car for almost 45 minutes. Then he pulls out a bucket with soapy water in it and starts bucket washing. “Sir, I’m sorry but there is no bucket washing here” and I point to my sign. He got angry, left and made an angry post on Nextdoor app. I wouldn’t have known about it except that a friend of a friend sent it to him and he called me to let me know.
Does anyone have a better way to handle these situations? I can’t bring myself to just turn my back and let happen
 
I had one throw a fit because I asked him not to throw the foam brush on the ground. There's nothing you can do but, remain calm and ask them not to abuse your property. don't think people pay a lot of attention to those social media posts anymore. There's so many of them most people see them for what they are.
 
You're doing it the right way! You don't want those people around and if they leave bad reviews, respond to them and explain on the public forum why it's not allowed. Good customers will understand and appreciate that you run a tight ship and don't put up with bullshit at your washes.

Thanks,
Lighthouse
 
Eric H said:
I just had a guy here scrubbing his whole jeep down with a dry foam brush.
“Sorry sir, but the timer needs to be running if you want to use the equipment”.

“ARE YOU F***ing KIDDING ME! I came in to use your business and this is the way I get treated!”

Peeled out of here. I don’t even raise my voice anymore, I just stay calm. I can’t keep having these interactions with “customers”. Sooner or later someone is going to light me up on social media and I’m going to be vilified.
IM NOT LOOKING FOR SYMPATHY OR AFFIRMATION THAT I AM IN THE MORALLY CORRECT POSITION. Is there a better way to handle this?
I had a guy a couple of weeks ago come in and prep his car for almost 45 minutes. Then he pulls out a bucket with soapy water in it and starts bucket washing. “Sir, I’m sorry but there is no bucket washing here” and I point to my sign. He got angry, left and made an angry post on Nextdoor app. I wouldn’t have known about it except that a friend of a friend sent it to him and he called me to let me know.
Does anyone have a better way to handle these situations? I can’t bring myself to just turn my back and let happen
Click to expand...
I used to get really pissed at people disrespecting the business to the point of almost getting into a fistfight when I was younger. One day after one of those alterations it dawned on me how much money and time I had spent wearing braces on my teeth and how quickly something like that can go sideways.
Now, I'm goal oriented.
If, for example, someone is parked in a bay smoking crack, using their phone, having sex, eating their lunch, taking a nap, sorting through stolen mail or a purse, performing mechanical work, having solo sex, dry brushing a car, drying a car, or just changing into their cross dress outfit, I remind myself of what the goal is:
To have a rapid, zero conflict resolution.

Even though I want to grab these people by the neck and toss them off of the property, I usually walk up and find something I can compliment. Their car, their technique, the weather and then say "Hey partner, is there any way I can get you to pull over to the shade by the (fill in the blank for the location you're at) and finish up your project? We rent wash equipment here and we can't do that while you're in this spot." 95% of the time they jump into action and leave. Ill follow up with a joke like "Thanks man, I'd move the building if I could, I appreciate it." For the other 5% that tell me to love myself, I just take step back and say "The surveillance company already called the sheriff on you for loitering and obstructing the business. I was just trying help you out, take care bro." and walk away. Waiting an additional minute or two out of their sight lets the idea of a police contact ferment in their tiny brains and they leave.
 
Last edited:
edredtop said:
I used to get really pissed at people disrespecting the business to the point of almost getting into a fistfight when I was younger. One day after one of those alterations it dawned on me how much money and time I had spent wearing braces on my teeth and how quickly something like that can go sideways.
Now, I'm goal oriented.
If, for example, someone is parked in a bay smoking crack, using their phone, having sex, eating their lunch, taking a nap, sorting through stolen mail or a purse, performing mechanical work, having solo sex, dry brushing a car, drying a car, or just changing into their cross dress outfit, I remind myself of what the goal is:
To have a rapid, zero conflict resolution.

Even though I want to grab these people by the neck and toss them off of the property, I usually walk up and find something I can compliment. Their car, their technique, the weather and then say "Hey partner, is there any way I can get you to pull over to the shade by the (fill in the blank for the location you're at) and finish up your project? We rent wash equipment here and we can't do that while you're in this spot." 95% of the time they jump into action and leave. Ill follow up with a joke like "Thanks man, I'd move the building if I could, I appreciate it." For the other 5% that tell me to love myself, I just take step back and say "The surveillance company already called the sheriff on you for loitering and obstructing the business. I was just trying help you out, take care bro." and walk away. Waiting an additional minute or two out of their sight lets the idea of a police contact ferment in their tiny brains and they leave.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this! It really made my day.
 
I try to keep my price higher than the other SS washes. People who want quality will pay for it. Those looking for a cheap price will find it and go there. I still have to point out rules but if they are getting free services from me, I can't afford the, anyway.
 
DISAGREE, edredtop! This is why the Country is in the shape it is.....people caving to these $hitbags. My goal everyday is to see how many idiots I can pi$$ off. I do not need or want them on my property. Nor do I care what they post on some crap website or review posts. Proof is in the pudding-- my sales are higher than ever.

Stupid people need to be told they are stupid.
 
washnvac said:
DISAGREE, edredtop! This is why the Country is in the shape it is.....people caving to these $hitbags. My goal everyday is to see how many idiots I can pi$$ off. I do not need or want them on my property. Nor do I care what they post on some crap website or review posts. Proof is in the pudding-- my sales are higher than ever.

Stupid people need to be told they are stupid.
Click to expand...
OOookay... It's MY fault the country is in bad shape.:rolleyes:
Nowhere in my council to Eric did I "cave" nor did I proffer an opinion about social media.
I offered a different pathway to achieve a shared goal.

One can choose to be full of piss and vinegar and hope the vessel it's carried in doesn't get cracked or broken.
Hope is not in my business model.
Sustainable, durable growth is.
I don't see how having heated confrontations with unknown people, unknown group/gang size, with unknown morals and values, and unknown skill sets is a long-term successful strategy for health, happiness, and financial gain.
In the past, I've gotten into it with people to the point I was shaking mad, knowing if I acted on my anger, I'd be handing them the keys to my house and business.
Hours and sometimes days later the thought of the interaction would shoot adrenalin through my system and make my heart race all over again.
I'm done with those days.
I've lost three friends in this business to heart attacks and a stroke. It's my goal to not replicate or compound those type of injuries with unneeded stress.
If you've ever shot a pistol, you'd know that the slightest movement of the muzzle before you shoot, makes a major change downrange at the target.
I don't think you are going to have much success trying to change the trajectory of a human being that has been off target for their whole life let alone an entire country.
I share your passion for business and our beloved America, but I believe the smallest, tiniest bit of correction at the beginning of a problem gets you on target way more effectively than swinging a telephone pole at it on the other end.
But hey, to each his own...
 
1. If using foam brush without soap I tell them this is not good for there car. The dirt will scratch without the soap lubricating and rinsing. Its the old WIFM Principle What is in it for me. This tells them it's in their interest not to do this.
2. Signs that say use of bay limited to time meter is running,
3. If people are waiting and meter not running I tell person to please finish up in a few minutes. Works better than "Leave Now"
 
Axxlrod said:
Increase your start price. If you increase it to $5 for example, you will still get $10 from the bucket washers. $5 to fill their bucket; $5 to rinse/SF.
Click to expand...
I’m at $5 for 5 minutes.
A guy the week before brought his own bucket already filled with water.
Mostly I needed to vent. I know I said in my original post that I didn’t need affirmation but reality is that I just needed some affirmation that I was doing the right thing in spite of the negative reactions
 
edredtop said:
As far as proposed solutions, I noticed there is a glaringly obvious absence in this thread.
That would be this item.
Anybody use them? 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...

There are older threads on those Viagra brushes, and IIRC it was a mixed bag like just about everything on here. Some said they liked them, others complained that they took too long to get stiff and were noticeably heavier than the normal handles. Maybe the 3.0 version has addressed those issues. Go ahead and try some and then report back to the rest of us. 😁
 
Eric H said:
I’m at $5 for 5 minutes.
A guy the week before brought his own bucket already filled with water.
Mostly I needed to vent. I know I said in my original post that I didn’t need affirmation but reality is that I just needed some affirmation that I was doing the right thing in spite of the negative reactions
Click to expand...
Already filled with water???

Well, that's a new one for me. Never heard of a customer bringing their own water in a bucket.
 
Axxlrod said:
Already filled with water???

Well, that's a new one for me. Never heard of a customer bringing their own water in a bucket.
Click to expand...
I had a guy bring his own soap and bucket of water. He then went to put the whopping $1.75 in to rinse and there was a coin jam. He was so mad he started stabbing the dixmor led7 with the wand, then slammed the spray gun onto the concrete. I might still have the video
 
I remember a member here from long ago that saw a guy bring in his own stuff like that. It was a slow day so he decided to have some fun, and put a jumper wire inside the equipment room so that it would dispense soap when rinse was selected. He rolled laughing as he watched his cameras as the bum spun the dial like a slot machine trying to get rinse.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top