Crazy customer - now what?

[Big Chris]

We closed for 3 days in Jan when the temps went well below zero.

In front of each bay was a full sized traffic cone with a laminated sign on it that read " Closed Too Cold/Cerrado Demasiado Frio"

On the morning of the 4th day (where temps were finally going to rise into the teens) I arrived at the wash before my 9-5 to open us back up, only to discover that people were using a self serve bay. Upon reviewing the camera footage, earlier that morning around 6am, a customer had moved the cone, opened a bay, and began using it.

So unlike you, I had a customer open for me. Funny thing is, within minutes of opening, I had lines 3 deep.

 

[Randy]

We closed for 3 days in Jan when the temps went well below zero.

In front of each bay was a full sized traffic cone with a laminated sign on it that read " Closed Too Cold/Cerrado Demasiado Frio"

On the morning of the 4th day (where temps were finally going to rise into the teens) I arrived at the wash before my 9-5 to discover that a people were using a self serve bay. Upon reviewing the camera footage, earlier that morning around 6am, a customer had moved the cone, opened a bay, and began using it.

So unlike you, I had a customer open for me. Funny thing is, within minutes of opening, I had lines 3 deep.

That's why we always turn off the power to the bays when we close down the bays during freezing weather, keep the dumb public out the wash.

 

[Waxman]

That's why we always turn off the power to the bays when we close down the bays during freezing weather, keep the dumb public out the wash.

I do the same. Whenever I need to close down for any reason I turn the power to the bay off in the equipment room. Customers will just move the cone out of the way and drive in anyway.

 

[cbchevy4x4]

We closed for 3 days in Jan when the temps went well below zero.

In front of each bay was a full sized traffic cone with a laminated sign on it that read " Closed Too Cold/Cerrado Demasiado Frio"

On the morning of the 4th day (where temps were finally going to rise into the teens) I arrived at the wash before my 9-5 to discover that a people were using a self serve bay. Upon reviewing the camera footage, earlier that morning around 6am, a customer had moved the cone, opened a bay, and began using it.

So unlike you, I had a customer open for me. Funny thing is, within minutes of opening, I had lines 3 deep.

When i close for several days like that, there are about 10 cones in the entrance with a rope put across the entrance as well. Then i have cones at each end of the bay. This last time i closed i even bought caution tape and ran it thru each bay to really make them have to work to be able to wash. I don't usually shut the power off to the bays but have definitely considered it. i have Out of service signs that i can slip in the coin slots too.

 

[Keno]

We closed for 3 days in Jan when the temps went well below zero.

In front of each bay was a full sized traffic cone with a laminated sign on it that read " Closed Too Cold/Cerrado Demasiado Frio"

On the morning of the 4th day (where temps were finally going to rise into the teens) I arrived at the wash before my 9-5 to discover that a people were using a self serve bay. Upon reviewing the camera footage, earlier that morning around 6am, a customer had moved the cone, opened a bay, and began using it.

So unlike you, I had a customer open for me. Funny thing is, within minutes of opening, I had lines 3 deep.

And this is why we cut power to bays to close or work on them. People will move cones like they aren't there for any reason and try to use the bay. We have had people move cones, try to put coins in a powered down bay and then have the gall to complain it won't work.

 

[Roz]

Welcome to customer strangeness 101

We have had customers who do not read the sign next to the credit card reader on how it works blame me or the Paystation when their cc does not work. One guy the. Took a cone and placed it front of the IBA. My helper assumed that I did the cone and never called me (we discussed that issue about assumptions). I moved all cones out of sight so someone needs to be told where they are located.

Another customer moved a cone I placed infront the automatic as I was servicing the system, paid for a wash and was surprised to see me on a ladder greasing my machine as they were entering the bay. I now keep the front door open whenever I am doing servicing and use two cones in different areas of the Paystation so the message is clear.

We have closed SS bays with cones when a part needs to be replaced, walked away to find the part, and then find a customer in the bay who turns to me to complain that the bay got him wet and is not working properly (yelling at me). I asked him why he ignored the cone in the front of the bay. He said well I entered from the other side (labeled exit side). I now use a cone on both the front and rear of a ss bay so the message is clearer.

Carwash owners have some amazing stories that you just cannot make up. The good part is that they make my wife laugh when recounted. I just need to laugh with her.

We will power down a bay in non winter months so people do not lose money but in winter that just triggers the weep system so not possible.

 

[cbchevy4x4]

Welcome to customer strangeness 101

We have had customers who do not read the sign next to the credit card reader on how it works blame me or the Paystation when their cc does not work. One guy the. Took a cone and placed it front of the IBA. My helper assumed that I did the cone and never called me (we discussed that issue about assumptions). I moved all cones out of sight so someone needs to be told where they are located.

Another customer moved a cone I placed infront the automatic as I was servicing the system, paid for a wash and was surprised to see me on a ladder greasing my machine as they were entering the bay. I now keep the front door open whenever I am doing servicing and use two cones in different areas of the Paystation so the message is clear.

We have closed SS bays with cones when a part needs to be replaced, walked away to find the part, and then find a customer in the bay who turns to me to complain that the bay got him wet and is not working properly (yelling at me). I asked him why he ignored the cone in the front of the bay. He said well I entered from the other side (labeled exit side). I now use a cone on both the front and rear of a ss bay so the message is clearer.

Carwash owners have some amazing stories that you just cannot make up. The good part is that they make my wife laugh when recounted. I just need to laugh with her.

We will power down a bay in non winter months so people do not lose money but in winter that just triggers the weep system so not possible.

Heck i was working on my auto the other day, was gonna be shut down for about an hour or so. So I put 3 cones around the pay station instead of 1, a sign up that said temporarily closed and had my truck parked sideways across the entrance so i could work off the tail gate as a work bench and an idiot still pulled up and paid, of course while im on the ladder in the bay and couldnt see the paystation. They proceeded to honk, shout etc. When i got down i asked if they were blind, could they not see the 3 big cones AND the sign that was over the paystation (that they had to move to pay) needless to say i fired a customer that day. Some people, SMDH!!!

 

[2Biz]

We will power down a bay in non winter months so people do not lose money but in winter that just triggers the weep system so not possible.

Just curious how powering the bay down in the winter triggers the weep system? I have individual switches on my LED 7's and a ball valve on each bay for the weep. That way I can close as many bays as I want without affecting the bays still in service....Keep in mind, I also have individual ball valves (hot and cold water) for each bay on the gravity tanks. And also ball valves on the SFR manifold (Kip Solenoid Block)...I had both bite me when I purged 2 bays with washer fluid and didn't valve off the gravity tanks and SFR for those bays....The slightest drip from either source will freeze a bay!

 

[Roz]

Each of our bays is a standalone system with its own breaker setup. Weep systems use normally open solenoids so in the event of a power outage in winter the lines cannot freeze. After the winter we shut off the weep water lines. Having a switch for the LED makes a lot of sense. Fortunately we rarely need to shutoff a bay.

 

[Waxman]

One thing I like about the razor is how easy it is to put the bay out of service using the Maintenance menu. I do that now whenever I want to do anything even if it's just scraping the mud off the drain cover. once it's put out of service from the PLC the cashier reads car wash closed. I did the same thing on the self-serve side. Just turn the power off inside the equipment room. I also put cones out. I also have some plastic coated chains that I have hanging on the side of the door opening. I will use the chain and a cone together.

 

[WashieCarWash]

My Cryptopay swipers / tap to pay send me a notification whenever there is no transaction on any device within 24 hours. You might want to see if you can setup notifications like this.