Car wash - ripping us off?

**Chris** · 25-07-2007, 10:17 AM

Ok - water restrictions and all.................

I took my car to a franchised car wash firm, as i have done at many locations many times, and one thing bugs me........

Just as you are midway through rinsing your car, a squirt of soap will come out from nowhere (you will be on the rinse cycle when this happens)

Is it just me? or is this a rort??

your thoughts?

**GasoLane** · 25-07-2007, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Ok - water restrictions and all.................

I took my car to a franchised car wash firm, as i have done at many locations many times, and one thing bugs me........

Just as you are midway through rinsing your car, a squirt of soap will come out from nowhere (you will be on the rinse cycle when this happens)

Is it just me? or is this a rort??

your thoughts?

Easy, find out who owns the site and complain.

**Chris** · 25-07-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Easy, find out who owns the site and complain.

just seems to be every one i go to is the same, you will he halfway through washing your car, and ho hum here comes just enough soap to make you have to tip more coins in.

V3RSAC3 · 25-07-2007, 12:24 PM

so you finish washing down you're car with that "spot free rinse"??

i wash my soap off with the "high pressure wax" ... i find that it gives you a great finish, and doesn't smear when drying down ...

LTDHO · 25-07-2007, 01:04 PM

You will find that the soap will come out eventually.

It is a rip.

What can you do?

phoon · 25-07-2007, 02:19 PM

Some car washes are ripping you off in more ways than one. I had been going to the same car wash for a couple of years. Every time cost$8. level 5 restrictions came in where you cant wash your car at home and guess what, all of a sudden it now costs $14. What they have done is reduced the amount of time a $2 coin will give you. Have now changed to another car wash and its back to $8 again. Profiteering is alive and well.

DOC · 25-07-2007, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTDHO

You will find that the soap will come out eventually.
It is a rip.
What can you do?

It is a very easy answer, do it at home, buy a karcher, install a rain water tank, if you cant install a rain water tank there are other methods for getting hold of some water / ways to wash / maintain it. example link, also drop in and see Dave over in the Waxit forum, i thought i was a clever puppy, but he has some great products to help with quick detailing / waterless wash etc, that will save all of your greif.

MeLLy · 25-07-2007, 02:32 PM

That has never happened to me, i have always used the wash bays for my car...
I use that big soap brush and no it hasnt scratched my car at all, then my own spounge to get off what i missed b4...then a high pressure wash and wax....never ever have had any squirt of soap on my car so i would have to do it again...I've used 3 different places here in adelaide to...And it never costs me more than $4 and thats for the vac aswell.
Wierd...

FRDGAL · 25-07-2007, 02:59 PM

It is a rip! I reckon this one near my place is rigged. When I switch between cycles, I have to wait a good maybe 10-15 seconds before it changes over. That's my money in there & that's time that I've paid for being wasted everytime I switch it to the next step! And, I swear the timing is a bit fishy aswell. For example, I'll look at how much time I have left and it will be say, 3 minutes, then honest to god not 20 seconds later, it's down to a minute. What the hell??!!!

:

One day I'll snap. Haven't seen the guy there recently. Next time I go, if he's there, it's on!

ing_sm

Mark351 · 25-07-2007, 03:17 PM

I never use the soap options when I wash my car. I take a bucket instead. Rinse it down to remove the loose stuff, half fill my bucket with water, then use the brush foam which I fling all over the car (it's the fun bit!) without touching the car with the brush itself, and drop some foam into the half-filled bucket. Hand wash with a sponge of my own, then rinse off again once I'm done. Never any problems with unexpected soap bursts!

Most car wash places don't like you using buckets and your own sponge because of the down time between rinses when you're not spending money, but no one has ever comlained about it at my local wash.

pauljh74 · 25-07-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOC

It is a very easy answer, do it at home, buy a karcher, install a rain water tank, if you cant install a rain water tank there are other methods for getting hold of some water / ways to wash / maintain it. example link, also drop in and see Dave over in the Waxit forum, i thought i was a clever puppy, but he has some great products to help with quick detailing / waterless wash etc, that will save all of your greif.

I bought 2 60 litre rubbish bins and tip the water from the rinse cycle of the washing machine into the bins with a watering can. Using the Karcher I already had it draws the water from the bin via the hose and I use about 30 litres of my grey water a wash. I get to take my time in the driveway of my home too.

WOLF · 25-07-2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Ok - water restrictions and all.................

I took my car to a franchised car wash firm, as i have done at many locations many times, and one thing bugs me........

Just as you are midway through rinsing your car, a squirt of soap will come out from nowhere (you will be on the rinse cycle when this happens)

Is it just me? or is this a rort??

your thoughts?

yes its just you

philstoj · 25-07-2007, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOC

It is a very easy answer, do it at home, buy a karcher, install a rain water tank, if you cant install a rain water tank there are other methods for getting hold of some water / ways to wash / maintain it. example link, also drop in and see Dave over in the Waxit forum, i thought i was a clever puppy, but he has some great products to help with quick detailing / waterless wash etc, that will save all of your greif.

I recently (yesterday lol) washed my car like in the link you put up in the driveway Pete, used a few buckets of warm water, a couple of hand pump sprayers etc, worked a treat, and the ute was absolutly filthy and turned out excellent, no swirls or marks at all, better than any of the carwash joints.

I found using a MF cloth for the washing to be the best, much better than mitts and sponges, and with this method, didnt use bugger all water aswell.

As to the car wash places, lol, yeah they are a rip mate, and i cant stand the soap they use these days, smells like cheap laundry powder.

T3ts50 · 25-07-2007, 05:02 PM

I find that the wax takes a long time to come out, which wastes about a minute or so.

[Tonko] · 25-07-2007, 05:08 PM

You have to take into account the time it takes to get the soap or whatever in and out of the lines, it cant just run out instantly ~10 - 15 seconds worth...

DOC · 25-07-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philstoj

I recently (yesterday lol) washed my car like in the link you put up in the driveway Pete, used a few buckets of warm water, a couple of hand pump sprayers etc, worked a treat, and the ute was absolutly filthy and turned out excellent, no swirls or marks at all, better than any of the carwash joints.

I found using a MF cloth for the washing to be the best, much better than mitts and sponges, and with this method, didnt use bugger all water aswell.

As to the car wash places, lol, yeah they are a rip mate, and i cant stand the soap they use these days, smells like cheap laundry powder.

Good stuff, im looking at a hand pump sprayer as the next step or cartcher, but no mater what water delivery you use the applications are the same, my car is fully cleaned in the shed, rain hail or sun with little to no mess, easily done with a few practice shots.

DOC · 25-07-2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pauljh74

I bought 2 60 litre rubbish bins and tip the water from the rinse cycle of the washing machine into the bins with a watering can. Using the Karcher I already had it draws the water from the bin via the hose and I use about 30 litres of my grey water a wash. I get to take my time in the driveway of my home too.

pauljh74, if possible try and set up a carbon filter ( like the general household ones used for drinking water ) to run that water through, I'm not 100% grey water straight will be to good, but may be wrong on this, other options is catching the overflow water from our air conditioners during summer, and or buying that bulk bottled water at $2 a big tub full, I'd rather spend $2 and bring my water home in peace and wash the car.

Dave might be able to confirm the grey water, will pop him a link

RACINGdork · 25-07-2007, 05:42 PM

ANYONE in the knox area can come and use my water tank and take their time...... i only charge $20 hehe

my water tank is the best thing i ever bought, 3000lt, fully automated pump and will fill up in 1 decent rainy day. total cost $1300 fully complete fitting the tank ourselves.

Dave_Waxit · 25-07-2007, 06:15 PM

Hi all,

Thanks for the link Doc, this subject is becoming very common on all sorts of forums and car clubs.

Using untreated grey water is not a great idea as it will contain varying amounts of soaps and other detergents which with continued use will damage the paint on your car. Many of these products even contain sodium and fairly high concentrations of chlorine. As Doc says, at least filter the water prior to use. Camping and hardware stores sell suitable carbon filters.

The success of Waterless products depends on the operator and the quality of towels used. I find the best method is to spray the panel, then wipe gently with a damp microfibre towel in one direction, rinse the towel and wipe again. Then use a dry towel to totally dry off the panel . With this method marring and swirls are kept to an absolute minimum. Buy Waterless which don't contain waxes and work on paint that is cool to touch.

There are also water saving or as to use their correct name Rinseless Wash products.

I do know of few people using Spring Water, 25 litres for $10.00 is enough to wash most cars.

Cheers
Dave.

holmsy · 25-07-2007, 06:25 PM

only problem i have found with car wash places is that you put on high pressure soap spray and the soap comes after 30 seconds or so when iv already done the rear end of the car so i have to go back over it.

phoon · 25-07-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOC

It is a very easy answer, do it at home, buy a karcher, install a rain water tank, if you cant install a rain water tank there are other methods for getting hold of some water / ways to wash / maintain it. example link, also drop in and see Dave over in the Waxit forum, i thought i was a clever puppy, but he has some great products to help with quick detailing / waterless wash etc, that will save all of your greif.

I hear what your saying Doc, but you cant hook your Karcher up to taps (no outside water use allowed) heavy fines in Qld. I have rain water tanks, but it hasnt rained here for so long, they are dry and I havent found a waterless wash yet that I think is any good. What options left are to go to a car wash as much as I dont like them.

Cheers

Jeff

FORD3V · 25-07-2007, 06:41 PM

My local drive through car wash,put there charges up from $12 to $20 for the exact same "wash and wax" just after water restrictions came in, here in S.A.

Havnt been there since,I would rather take my time and use a sponge and bucket for that price.

XR8Master · 25-07-2007, 06:54 PM

What an uproar, its quite amusing listening to people furious about a few cents at there local carwash, the same people who blindly pay an extra $5000+ in tax contributions then they have to and purchase products from Mr Rental.

The facts are that you CAN wash your own car at HOME, carwashes are a commodity, if you cant afford the 15 seconds you loose in gurni then invest it in a bucket and sponge from the crazy clarks warehouse.

BLDNUT01 · 25-07-2007, 07:12 PM

In victoria your not allowed to wash your car at home except to clean windows and lights or take bird poo off but i love th way these car wash places take 30 to 60 sec for it to change from soap to rinse to wax might have to bring the bucket and sponge to the car wash next time for a hand wash then just rinse off and see if they get upset

XR8Master · 25-07-2007, 07:14 PM

The Carwash can take 30,60 or an hour to change as the water they use is recylced

AC/DC · 25-07-2007, 08:33 PM

I just use the hose on FULL BLAST at home on the driveway for as long as I want !

Love it in North Queensland........

AC/DC

kremmen · 25-07-2007, 08:40 PM

This carwash is Superb. Expensive, but you get what you pay for......

http://www.bubblesnbabes.com.au/

http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring...e-car-wash.htm

holmsy · 25-07-2007, 08:48 PM

im thinking of simply putting some buckets out with mesh over the top to stop dirt etc. when it rains it fills them up and i have a couple of washs worth of water :p

FPV8U · 25-07-2007, 09:15 PM

The one good thing about the Floods is a can wash my car again, they do come up so much better at home.

phoon · 26-07-2007, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR8Master

What an uproar, its quite amusing listening to people furious about a few cents at there local carwash, the same people who blindly pay an extra $5000+ in tax contributions then they have to and purchase products from Mr Rental.

The facts are that you CAN wash your own car at HOME, carwashes are a commodity, if you cant afford the 15 seconds you loose in gurni then invest it in a bucket and sponge from the crazy clarks warehouse.

its not about the few cents or few dollars, its about the profiteering that goes on with some businesses. These car washes would have seen an enormous increase in through traffic when water restrictions came in, which relates directly to profits, to then almost double the price to do the same job without increased costs to themselves, is profiteering plain and simple. I simply found an honest car wash that didnt increase prices.