Bad Car Wash PR or ???

[Earl Weiss]

If you think $500+ is too much to detail an oil-dipped BRAND NEW Audi SUV, then my guess is you've never cleaned such a mess. Big difference between getting the oil off with some thinner and making it so it looks like the mess never happened. Lady (customer) deserves the latter; you guys are way off on this one!

Your guess would be wrong. Over the decades before using water based fluid I was unfortuneate enough to have hydraulic oil leaks at various places a dozen or more times. Since these were conveyors and not IBA that usualy meant several cars had oil on them before we realized there was a problem.

Each and every time we took the car to the side and did a hand wash. Put a couple of guys on it and the customer was good to go in 20 minutes. Never, ever had someone return saying they were not satisfied with that resolution.

 

[Waxman]

Good to know! BTW; you must do one helluva hand wash!!!

That Audi looked pretty bad to me, but your experience must be right.

 

[rph9168]

Since this was an automatic the vehicle was stationary as it got the hydraulic fluid bath. Usually on a conveyor the vehicle is moving and does not get as much fluid on it even if the leak is over a mitter. I have seen many hydraulic leaks in the past but this one looked much worse than most of them.

As far as detailing it I think $500 may be a little steep but if they needed to work on all the nooks and crannies it probably took a lot of time. It should not have needed any interior work though.

In some states there would be an implied contract if the customer accepted the $100 and free wash so I am not sure she could go to small claims court on this one.

In any event, situations like this do not help our industry but I doubt that operator really cared about that.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Since this was an automatic the vehicle was stationary as it got the hydraulic fluid bath. Usually on a conveyor the vehicle is moving and does not get as much fluid on it even if the leak is over a mitter. I have seen many hydraulic leaks in the past but this one looked much worse than most of them.

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You may be right. With the conveyor, since it gets on all thee equipment as well we do a much nicer job of spreading it evenly

 

[Washmee]

Since this was an automatic the vehicle was stationary as it got the hydraulic fluid bath. Usually on a conveyor the vehicle is moving and does not get as much fluid on it even if the leak is over a mitter. I have seen many hydraulic leaks in the past but this one looked much worse than most of them.

It wasn't an automatic, it was a conveyor wash.

 

[rph9168]

She said in the video that the car had stopped when it was sprayed so I would think it would have the same effect as an automatic.

 

[dogwasher]

I don't like the fact that she just handed over her car to the detail shop without getting a quote from them or at least a estimated figure not to exceed so she could then call the car wash that caused the damage to let him know what was going on.

 

[mac]

Not sure how this plays into it here, but consider the fact that she is 1. Attractive 2. Intelligent. She flew rotary wing aircraft for the Guard (NOT choppers). 3. It is a nice new car.

 

[Waxman]

I don't like the fact that she just handed over her car to the detail shop without getting a quote from them or at least a estimated figure not to exceed so she could then call the car wash that caused the damage to let him know what was going on.

On the other hand, this is a BRAND NEW Audi SUV that she bought herself after returning from a tour of duty overseas.

What's wrong with getting it taken care of before it ruins the finish??? Then the operator's insurance co. is on the hook for a complete re-paint, which costs thousands of dollars to do properly.


Unless Earl W can paint a car himself for $100! I KID!!!!

 

[Earl Weiss]

Unless Earl W can paint a car himself for $100! I KID!!!!

Dang, a gallon of paint and roller shouldn't cost more than $39.95