I never cease to be amazed

[Red Baron]

I rarely have a problem with ss bay customers using my Bug Brushes at the ACWs because my signage is pretty clear that they're for auto bay customers only. But once in awhile they do, and that will get them a friendly letter in the mail explaining why it's important for ss bay customers to not use the Bug Brush.

A van did that this morning, and obviously knew he wasn't supposed to because he quickly put the brush back in the barrel when I walked out of the ER and then drove into the ss bay and spent a buck fifty rinsing it off.

I ran his tag and it is the local Baptist Church.

 

[MEP001]

Where was he using the brush? Do you think he was planning to just scrub off the bugs and leave?

About a month ago a couple pulled their car into a bay and after a minuted pulled out again and parked near the drying shed. I saw them a few minutes later bucket-washing with a filthy rag and black water that didn't look like it even had soap in it. When I told them they couldn't do that outside the bay they did the same thing, spent only the start-up to rinse it off and left.

 

[Red Baron]

Where was he using the brush? Do you think he was planning to just scrub off the bugs and leave?

I dunno, but I don't allow them to use the Bug Brush even if they going to the ss bay next.

1. It gives other customers the idea that, hey, why pay to use his foamy brush when I can use the Bug Brush for free.
2. If auto bay customers only use it, the water/soap stays clean for a couple of days. If ss bay customers use it to scrub their whole car, I have to change the water out 3-4 times a day.
3. It holds up the line at the ACW.

 

[soapy]

Red, I have about the same policy as you do with my prescrub bucket for my automatics. Yesterday while I was in the equipment room I saw a guy pull up in his new Audi station wagon into one of the SS bays. He got a grocery bag out of his car filled with quart glass jars. He went to the prescrub bucket and started to fill all his bottles and put the lids on them and put them back in his bag. I walked out and asked him what he was doing and he told me he needed it to take home so he could clean his wheels. I made him put it all back and asked him never to to come again.

 

[MEP001]

That must be the same type of person who pulls up to a gas pump to use the squeegee and paper towels provided to clean his windows and doesn't even buy gas. About once a week I see someone do that at the station next to the wash.

I'd really like to do a tire brush in the bays, but I know I'll end up spending more replacing worn out brushes for people using them for free than it will bring in in extra revenue.

 

[Eric H]

I'd really like to do a tire brush in the bays, but I know I'll end up spending more replacing worn out brushes for people using them for free than it will bring in in extra revenue.

Thank you! You just talked me out of adding dedicated tire brushes. Now I'm saved the added expense and the high blood pressure I had not taken into consideration.

 

[Red Baron]

I was close to pulling the trigger on them, but then imagined how hard it was going to be to keep dopes from using them to scrub the grease off old engine blocks, etc.

 

[rph9168]

I was close to pulling the trigger on them, but then imagined how hard it was going to be to keep dopes from using them to scrub the grease off old engine blocks, etc.

That's what they use the foam brush for.

 

[MEP001]

Thank you! You just talked me out of adding dedicated tire brushes.

I still think it's a good idea, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it at a fully attended wash, but as it is I cringe whenever I see someone "double-teaming" with the foam brush and high pressure. So far I've only stopped three people from doing it; two were in work trucks (Let their company pay to wash, it isn't the guys washing whose money is being saved) and one jackass using it to knock mud out of the fenders while the other used the wand to do the same.

I'm thinking of a coily hose with a coated steel cable through the center that won't let the brush extend unless the function is selected.

 

[JustClean]

I'm thinking of a coily hose with a coated steel cable through the center that won't let the brush extend unless the function is selected.

That might work...on the other hand how would you prevent them from switching to brush quickly and then back to the other service?
I get them all the time plus not putting any money in while using the brush. I don't have any idea. I guess I have to live with it.

 

[MEP001]

My thoughts were to have a ratchet system released by a solenoid when the function is selected, then the tire brush can be pulled down and used. It would need a recoil spring to retract it automatically, and once the time ran out or another function is selected the ratchet would engage and the cable could no longer be pulled out. It might be too elaborate and expensive to make the installation worth doing, but I'd rather not have it at all than have it to be abused.