NO HAND WASHING ????

Am replaceing all signage in car wash, 6 bay SS .
What is the rational behind the NO HAND WASHING sign I see in all the SS car wash's with the little bucket with a line thru it.
Seems to me the clock would be ticking while the guy uses a sponge or rag on his car, thereby timing out and costing him extra to re-energize the system ??????
Am I missing something. ?????????????
Novice need basics SS Car Wash 101:)

The only time I have a problem with bucket washing is when I am 2 cars deep in all of my bays. I don't specifically have signage like that, but if I see a person doing it, I will ask them to be courteous of the other customers. I haven't had a problem with anyone yet that I have asked to stop.

On a different note, where are you getting your signage from?

The problem is the clock won't be ticking. Allow me to introduce you to Mr. Bucket Washer. Mr Bucket Washer will start the meter up, fill up his bucket, and when the time runs out will wash the car,by hand, at his leisure, often taking twenty minutes or more.. He will then start the meter back up to rinse the vehicle off. I have seen some customers bring their own water in a giant tupperware container so they have to pay only once. I have also seen bucket washers mooch water off other customers "hey, could you fill my bucket up, please?"

Many operators tolerate this on quiet days, problem is many Mr bucket washers don't care if it's the busiest day you've had in three months, they got there first and they think that entitles them to squatter's rights as long as they like. I have seen people occupy a bay well over an hour.

Personally, I leave them alone on quiet days. If busy, I ask them to come back on quiet days. If they give any static about how they were here first I usually smart off and give them the analogy that the next time they're at McDonalds they should park and try eating their meal at the drive through window and see how long it takes for the manager to run them off.

Instead of no bucket washing or hand washing signs, I prefer the all-inclusive sign "bay for use only while meter is running"

Let me warn you you're about to meet a whole bunch of inconsiderate people who don't give a crap about you, your place, or the fact you're trying to make a profit. Mr bucket washer is one of the best of the lot. You are also going to meet Mr trash dumper, Mr truck bed washer, Mr. "spend two dollars and make a mess that takes someone three hours to clean up", Mr. shadetree mechanic/oil changer, and many,many more. I guess it comes with territory.

This type of persona is not limited to the SS wash. Years ago when we had only full serve gas a guy has my dad check his oil. He is told he is a quart down. He opens his trunk and gets a quart of oil and asks my dad to put it in. My dad tells him it is a $1.00 service fee to put in oil purchased elsewhere. The guy says "I bought gas here and you are going to charge me to put in the oil?"

My dad says "Would you go to the diner, order a cup of coffeee and then hand them a couple of your eggs and ask that they cook them for you?"

The guy replies "So you sell eggs here now?"

Yup already met mister "dump trash" ,,"Mr Oil Change" and last night there was a local landscape truck lurking in the bay , he was just siten there not doing anything, I realized he was waiting for us to leave, I started to walk toward his truck and he took of like a bandit, drove over a landscape rock two feet tall almost wrecked his truck, I know he damaged a tire. He was looking to dump his load into the bay for sure . He probably came back later and I will find his mess today .
Since this wash has been closed down for a month, locals have used it as their garbage bin. All to change soon. I hope. My wife said I will have to develope a new attitude toward people or I will kill some body hehe. Good thing I dont own a gun :)

Allen, go to http://www.cwguy.com and scroll through the photopages of eric's adventure into the carwash business. I sold him those washes several years ago so I have dealt with the same issues he is over time. his website is a good primer for what to expect at an unattended wash in lower-middle income communities. My current wash is in a great neighborhood and I don't have to deal with most of this stuff very often. Although last week someone vacuumed up 1/2 gallon of white paintt in my vacuum- yecchhh.

Well Mr. Novice washer - it won't be long until you find
out what Mr. Self Serve customer is all about. Some are nice, will put the gun back and the brush, will pick up their trash and some will wash and go. This is ideal.
But some will feel entitlement to occupy the bay for as long as they wish, dump trash, leave mud and grass, paint their cars in your bay, do an oil change in your bay after letting oil drain in your pit, change their brakes and leave the old brakes, leave their mufflers, sofas, chairs,
old wood, straw, and some will piss in your bay and pershaps take a crap at night. They feel entitled since they gave you a few dollars. The other thing to remember is that you are volnerable since you are open 24 hours, so even if you get a little angry with a customer, you still
have to tuck your tail between your legs to a degree and "ask" the customer to understand your position. Some shit ass kids will come back at 2:00 in the morning and really do some damage.
I have signs up like everyone else - but few customers want to read the signs. I have had customers that would'nt
leave a bay with 4 or 5 deep cars waiting. They are just
plain ignorant.

Good luck

Joe
www.crowncarwashinc.com

For some of the more unruly customers, Officer Criminal Tresspass Warrant can be a very helpful fellow. I've had him help me a number of times when someone refused to leave a bay when they were towel drying while others were waiting, or playing music loud enough to make your ears bleed, or a few other things you just can't allow.

The biggest problem with self-serve washes is that people literally view them as "a public place," thinking they can do whatever they want, and I've been told that dozens of times. Setting them straight, that it's a privately owned business just like any other business, is important.

You'll do well to "develop a new attitude" as you said, never let your temper get the better of you, and don't get irritated at messes or nuicances, and you'll be both a happier and safer car wash operator.

I had a guy bucket washing last night with some of my weep water. I was cleaining up the lot and he approached me in a good manner apologizing for bucket washing. To make a long story short, he ended up purchasing a 100.00 dollars worth of tokens for his business.

It just proves that instead of blowing my top, we had a cordial conversation and it ended up being a good way to network with another business.

It's good to be cordial, but you also need to establish clear boundaries, even with customers you like.

Case in point: I befriended a guy, even hiring him for a week as my attendant then firing him because he wouldn't listen and follow my clear instructions.

He kept coming by, using my air hose, WD-40, towels, etc. He turned into a first-class mooch and I began feeling used. The second to the last straw was him installing a stereo in a bay with the doors down. I told him not to do that and explained why. The last straw was last week when he painted the roof of his car with spray bombs in the bay with the doors down. So I called the police for a no trespass notice.

The classic situation I ran into is when a customer
washed his car at home then came in, parked in one of my bays walked over to my tunnel picked up a towel and dried his car off. I told him this is like me eating at home and
coming into a restaurant just for the napkins.
Any fired employees (and I've fire alot of them)are treated like anyone else. They are not allowed back in any buildings

I am like the other guys though when not busy. If customer
want to stay and bucket wash then I let them.

Another good thing to do with a self serve to help your image and promote customer loyalty is to walk around once in awhile with a spray air freshener bottle. Ask your customers if they would like some air freshener. Alot of them will take it - some won't but it initiates some converation with the customer. This will help you separate
your wash from the competition. We do this perhaps three or four times a week. Customers love it.

Joe

www.crowncarwashinc.com