Trickery at the Car Wash

[Ginevra]

Firmly under the heading of Things That Are Not A Big Deal, But Are Nevertheless Scummy, we have the automatic car wash I went through today. Let me start by saying, I used to go to this car wash every couple months, when my car was newer, but I have not been in several years. There used to be an attendant, who would brush-wash parts of the car and who operated the vending unit, but he is either gone or wasn't there today.

 

So I pull up to the vending unit. There are four choices; at the top is the "Express Wash", the cheapest at $7.00. No drying or undercarriage wash with that one so I think I will pick "Super Wash", the next choice at $8.00. There are also two more deluxe choices, but I ignore those. i insert my credit card. The choices reverse order! I notice this and still correctly push the button for "Super Wash," now in the third position. I find this slick reversal very sneaky and dishonoest, though I was not snared in this trap. a person planning to pick the top one that was first listed as the cheapest could definitely push the top button and "accidentally" buy the most expensove choice! I find this super devious and vow to never come here again, but in any case, I am about to enter the bay. The vending unit, though, is saying, "You have purchased the Express Wash." No I freakin did not!

 

The unit apparently did run the Express Wash, because the air dryers did not activate and I do not think it sprayed the undercarriage. Additionally, it is a poor job and parts of my car are not clean, though I didn't have high hopes because the car was covered in road grime.

 

I am interested to see if my card is charged $7 or $8. I'm not really a person dying to make a stink over a one-dollar charge error, but 1) I think it intentional, and 2) If they do this all day long, they are scamming a lot of $1s. Not to mention I am just super annoyed that they do this dastardly price scramble after you have inserted your card. Would you call the place if the credit card was charged for $8, when you got the $7 service? Would you call based on the sneaky price scramble? Or is this way too stupid a thing to care about?

[JustEm]

Way to stupid to cars about after the fact. I would have complained while still there and my car was not cleaned properly

[Debbi in Texas]

I would at the very least find another place to get the car washed.

 

But, there is nothing wrong with calling and voicing a complaint. It could be that a disgruntled employee has hacked the machine.

[Heatherwith4]

I would definitely find another car wash.

 

You might consider writing a review on their Fb page, if they have one.

[fraidycat]

Yelp review them. Make sure other people are aware.

[Guest]

I wouldn't do anything except make a mental note to be sure to write a novel and name it Trickery at the Car Wash.

 

It's a romance novel.

[TammyS]

I think I'd call the local TV station.  Bet they'd like to do a little consumer reports type story on it.

[mathnerd]

Yelp - go write a review with the details you mentioned - it carries a lot of weight in my area at least.

[Guest]

I wouldn't do anything except make a mental note to be sure to write a novel and name it Trickery at the Car Wash.

 

It's a romance novel.

You earned a snort for this one :D

[gardenmom5]

I'd report the price scramble to the bbb AND your local news station.  they love those types of scam the consumer stories . . . .

 

I'd also call the vendor, and complain.  if they do this intentionally (and I agree, it sounds intentional), they need to know not everyone is oblivious.  I also took mine through the car wash - and they used to have someone with a brush, and didn't . . .  I need to find a nearby carwash that does a good job for a reasonable price.

 

the reason dishonest vendors do this is most people wont' complain over $1 - but those $1 add up and they make quite the profit.