A Study in Honesty & Human Behavior

[Big Chris]

I put these mums out in front of the pay stations for my automatics.
What is the over/under on how long they last before they get vandalized or stolen?

 

[washnshine]

They look nice - so does your building. Really depends on the neighborhood and clientele, but bad things can happen anywhere. I hope they last the season.

 

[Eric H]

In my market they don’t make it through the weekend. I have an extremely broad customer base. I’d put money on an over 58-67yo white “blonde” woman driving a Lexus or other higher end SUV to grab these.

 

[Waxman]

I think to be fair you need to put them in a bigger heavier planter for them to last. They are kind of screaming "hey free plants....take me" by just sitting there in a little plastic pot they come in from the store. I'm not saying it's right to steal I'm saying don't make it too easy for people.

 

[Axxlrod]

I've had flowers in large 3ft tall pots guarding my awning posts for years. I think somebody tried to to steal one once, but only managed to knock it over. Too heavy to lift.

 

[Big Chris]

Eric H,
You're profiling abilities are amazing.

 

[Big Chris]

They look nice - so does your building. Really depends on the neighborhood and clientele, but bad things can happen anywhere. I hope they last the season.

Thanks for the compliment!

 

[washnshine]

I think to be fair you need to put them in a bigger heavier planter for them to last. They are kind of screaming "hey free plants....take me" by just sitting there in a little plastic pot they come in from the store. I'm not saying it's right to steal I'm saying don't make it too easy for people.

I hear what you are saying about the bigger planters and I agree. Here’s a funny story though - this happened to my wife’s grandfather who used to live in The Bronx. He had flowers that were actually planted in the ground in front of his house dug up and stolen!

 

[edredtop]

Putting a Red Head inside the pot would've been my style. Then I'd post videos of all the Lexus ladies trying to pick it up...
Looks nice though.

 

[Roz]

Not worth the effort as most customers will not care about the plants. Get a 30 gal or 55 gal container, 1/2 fill with salt water and place a container cover with advertising for your top wash on them. Maybe they help you drive people to the top package and you increase revenue.

 

[gomerpyle]

I have put out four pots for the last couple of years. So far so good. If they get vandalized I take the view that they gave some joy for a while. I'm on the main street of my small town. I feel an obligation to try and represent the town with some beauty.

There's always some kid doing stupid stuff but I think they survive the season.

 

[MudMoney]

I used oak barrels cut in half filled with dirt then potting soil,lots of flowers. Positioning them front of bays and entry. Biggest draw back was over spray from bays killed them about mid summer, attendant employee would spray them off during day. Once in while kid would pull flowers to give to mother washing in bay. Made deal with flower shop to plant and replace as needed, other positive note car wash would be featured front page of newspaper .Fall season , replaced with corn stalks and place goose and duck decoys , I would wire them down. After 15 years got tired of the hassle and quit,not sure if customers noticed.

 

[Roz]

We thought about planting fig trees and blackberry bushes around the property. May still do so in the spring. Fig trees grow quickly (about 3’ a year) as do blackberry. I am sure I will not see any of the fruits but could become a nice talking piece in town.

 

[edredtop]

We thought about planting fig trees and blackberry bushes around the property. May still do so in the spring. Fig trees grow quickly (about 3’ a year) as do blackberry. I am sure I will not see any of the fruits but could become a nice talking piece in town.

We have a large city owned bus stop/parking lot next to us.The planners put in grape vines on the fence to make it look nice. The bird crap, squirrel damage and homeless that came with it is unreal.

 

[traveler17]

I had 5 small lantana that I planted a few years back After they became fully grown , had someone pull one up. I felt more violated than someone busting up a couple vacs. Grown man w a Covid mask .

 

[Big Chris]

Whelp we made it almost week so far. I stopped by the local nursery and grabbed some bigger mums and larger black commercial planters. I filled the commercial planter with gravel. Must weigh 40lbs. I used some nylon rope and tied the two pots together through their drainage holes.
My thought here is if someone's going to try and take one they'll have to take both at the same time and that should be entertaining enough to watch on the surveillance video.

I like the way they look, they play nicely along with the colors of the wash. I'm trying to class up the place.

 

[floppgean]

Great idea and it looks classy!

 

[Big Chris]

Great idea and it looks classy!

Thanks!!

 

[Randy]

I'd like to put out some nice potted Mums at my car wash but they wouldn't last a week in my area. Last car wash we built, we had to plant some trees along the front. The day we planted the trees they came in the night and pulled 3 of them up, the trees had a root ball of about 3' and were about 10' tall. Bastards!

 

[water guy]

Place for them to put there cigarettes