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!

What was your worst customer?

MEP001

MEP001

Well-known member
This was one of my worst. Woman was in a bay on a busy day taking her time cleaning trash out of her car. At least she put it in a trash can. Then had the nerve to ask me for money to wash her car. She ended up asking another customer for the startup amount and just rinsed it. She wasn't bitchy or demanding or rude, but wtf?
 
MEP001 said:
This was one of my worst. Woman was in a bay on a busy day taking her time cleaning trash out of her car. At least she put it in a trash can. Then had the nerve to ask me for money to wash her car. She ended up asking another customer for the startup amount and just rinsed it. She wasn't bitchy or demanding or rude, but wtf?
Click to expand...
When you figure your acquisition cost per customer, she would be 100%! 😂
 
We blew a line on our Pressure washer so it was sitting next to my automatic bay without hoses or lines attached while I ran to pick up a new HP line. This is 2pm on a Thurs with 3 other employees within 25-50 yards so I thought (wrongly) that it was safe. A scumbag rolled up in my auto bay line, loaded up our $3500 pressure washer into the side of their paint-less Dodge minivan when nobody was looking, bought the base wash with cash, then left. Technically this falls into the category of "customer" I guess haha.
 
Had a guy driving what looked like a home made cage on his pick up -- like maybe something that an insulation crew might drive. It looks straight up beverly hillbillies. He goes into my IBA and and the equipment gets caught under his cage. He then goes forward and reverse trying to get the IBA off of the truck until the wash collapses and traps the vehicle in the bay. You get the picture. But a month or two later his insurance calls -- he made a damage claim. I laughed and sent him my bill.
 
High school boy caught boom hose and ripped it down, of course I ripped him for not paying attention. He said he would pay the damages.Week later I call his dad for my money, won't pay as I yelled @ his son. I put dad's name up on my electronic sign board demanding payment, had my money next day.
 
I had a guy who I watched stick the wand in his trailer's stake post, then got in his truck and drove off. Ripped the welded fitting completely out of the boom. I didn't even say anything, but I wasn't happy because of his stupidity. He refused to give me his ID and insurance, and when I called the cops he told them I was rude.

He did it a second time a couple months later. Didn't break anything that time, but I kept an eye out for him ready to ban him from the property.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sjb
I had a guy last week call and said he needed a refund. Seems he had used the credit card swiper in 3 different bays. He read the sign that said $4 minimum on the card swipers. He said he figured that was like a cover charge and that he could not use the bay until the timer worked its way up to $4. He got bored waiting in the bays for the minimum to be met so he moved to the next bay hoping that it did not have the minimum. He did this 3 rimes until he decide he would wait in the third bay until the $4 had been met then he started to wash his car.
 
soapy said:
I had a guy last week call and said he needed a refund. Seems he had used the credit card swiper in 3 different bays. He read the sign that said $4 minimum on the card swipers. He said he figured that was like a cover charge and that he could not use the bay until the timer worked its way up to $4. He got bored waiting in the bays for the minimum to be met so he moved to the next bay hoping that it did not have the minimum. He did this 3 rimes until he decide he would wait in the third bay until the $4 had been met then he started to wash his car.
Click to expand...


We have this issue regularly. People's brains are fried these days.
 
Had a guy back in March who violated his monthly contract he had with us so we canceled his membership. He wanted a refund for that month, but we told him no because he violated his contract. He then became very rude and ignorant towards us. We asked him to leave but he refused to leave. We ended up calling the sheriff and had him banned and escorted off of the property.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sjb
This one happened today. Bays were all full and people waiting. I see one bay on the end not being used so I go out to check it. It is full of cow manure a couple inches deep and all over the walls. I was just getting back from lunch and did not see who did it but from the cameras I could see no one waiting for that bay. I walk out to clean it up and before I can get there a guy in a Jeep with no top has jumped out in his sandals and already swiped his card. I said hey can I clean this up first so you don't have to wash in this. He says' YOu'r a little F---n late. then when he is done he says I should give him money back. I said, If your mama did not teach you how to stay out of deep shit I don't know why that's my problem.
 
We had a customer inside our IBA bay get out of their vehicle mid wash, move to the rear of the vehicle and leave a huge dump on the floor. Fortunately just before we were there so we could clean it before another customer appeared. We were able to track the person down from the video and get a message to them that the action was caught on 4K cameras and not appreciated. Person was shocked (and a bit embarrassed) that we were able to track them down in the same day. Always good to have friends/customers in the right places to help with the tracking.
 
I had a 💩 last week. Had a Burger King bag for a hat but the flies gave it away before I got up to it. Checked the cameras and it was a dude that sometimes naps in his truck in the bay. He had expressed his appreciation of my efforts to rehab the place earlier in the day. Yesterday I was driving up and I saw a lady pull up to the one vacuum not working and shake her head. I told her the other ones work and she proceeded to tell me how the bay was messed up and only gave her 55 seconds for 1.50. Her car is wet and dirty. I offer to get her back to a bay and put time on but she declined. Timer in the bay she complained about was fine. She didn't realize I run the joint when she said that, sucks she would make up crap to another prospective customer like that.
 
How about leaving multiple google reviews about how the card swipers never work, none of the settings ever works and the owner doesn't care.
I have never talked to the guy, but this site has been card only the last two years so I'm able to see his history by search and all his swiped say insufficient funds decline. LOL!
I did reply on google to his comment letting him know that was why his card never works.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top