3 Dollar Car Wash

Review: On 07/06/2013 at 4:39PM I took my 2012 [redacted] TSX though the $3 Car Wash on Main Street in Salem. I paid $8 for the more expensive Deluxe wash because it includes wheel cleaning. When the wheel cleaning portion of the wash started I could hear harsh vibration and scraping sounds on the driver's side of my car at the level of the tires. After exiting I went to [redacted] parking lot, got out of my car and inspected for damage. I immediately saw that there were gouges on my front and rear driver's side wheels and the finish was badly scratched and rubbed off. There was no damage to the passenger side wheels. I immediately returned to the car wash and spoke with the attendant, who I believe was the manager. I told him about the issue, and he was very professional and polite. He agreed that the damage was fresh. He wanted me to accept that I turned my wheels too early when exiting. That was not the case as I know how to exit a car wash and did not engage my transmission until the conveyer belt stopped running and I was clear of the building. I have used this car wash several times on this car, and on my 2006 Acura, at least once a month for the 6 years I owned it and had no issues. I filled out an incident report at the request of the attendant and was told that I would be contacted as the owner was out of town until Tuesday 07/0/8/2013. I also left a message for the owners to call me at the number on my receipt ###-###-####. As of today I have not been contacted. This is a brand new car that I purchased in December. I just hit 4000 miles and now I have damaged wheels, through no fault of my own. I do not want to see that damage each time I get in my car. I have 4 more years to pay of this car and always keep my vehicles in perfect shape. My car needs to be returned to the condition that it was in prior to the damage from the car wash.Desired Settlement: I want the wheels replaced at the company's expense as theres is no way to fix gouges and surface worn away on premium alloy wheels. I want the tires rotated and rebalanced as well.

Business

Response:

Subject: RE: Complaint from [redacted] - case id#[redacted]After speaking with the manager on duty at the time of service, I have determined that the damage on the wheels was a linear scratch. In the customers statement, his approximate where about in the car wash process puts him in the tire brushes. There is no way possible the tire brushes in the car wash would have caused this damage. These brushes are ten feet long and are rotating constantly so they have the ability to clean the entire wheel. Had the car wash caused the damage it would have been extensive and would have basically destroyed the entire wheel/s. In addition, the customers that came in after him would have had the same damage. Our equipment performs the same way on each carwash, and we have had no issues otherwise. Cary LipscombT.C. Squared, Inc dba The Lube Center##-###-#### Office

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.My car was perfect before entering the car wash. I immediately went back and brought the issue to the attendant and he agreed that it was fresh damage. My car did not damage itself. I find it amazing that the owner states that the because no one else reported an issue means that it did not happen to me. I am disappointed in the apathy and the unwillingness to accept responsibility for their defective equipment. No piece of equipment functions perfectly 100% of the time. To say that if the tire cleaner was defective it would have destroyed my wheels is admitting that it does have the capability to do that kind of damage. I have a written quote from [redacted] to replace the damaged wheels for $1384.96, which I realize sounds high, but this is a luxury vehicle. I have also been referred by [redacted] to an alloy wheel restoration company for a repair quote. I would be satisfied having the damage to the wheels being repaired and paid for by the $3 Car Wash instead of replacing the wheels. I can provide copies of all documents, receipts, photos of damage etc. if this does go to small claims court. I don't wish to go that route, however I will if no acceptable compensation is offered. I am also prepared to use whatever means necessary to ensure my experience with this business is well known. The internet is a very powerful tool and I will not hesitate to use it to warn others of my experience. There are numerous outlets for disgruntled, damaged consumers to share their experiences with the rest of the world. To date I have not gone public with my experience, but I am more than prepared to do so. I am not the type of person to just let things go when I have been damaged. Regards,[redacted]

Business

Response:

I would be happy to meet the customer and view the wheels in person. I would be happy to walk him through our car wash tunnel and let him touch the equipment and brushes himself. The damage apparent in the photos does not represent the type of damage our car wash would create as explained in my initial response. I would welcome the customer to come to our car wash and after looking at our equipment, explain what caused the damage and why other customers did not have similar if not exact replica of damage there is an attempt to blame us for. My contact info ###-###-#### and I am available to meet at the wash from 9:30am - 7:00pm. Thank you for your time, Cary Lipscomb

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.Meeting with the owner of the car wash so that he can attempt to convince me that the damage could not have possibly happened as a result of equipment malfunction is unacceptable. That does nothing to make make me whole again. As I stated before, I heard the sound of the scraping when it occurred, which immediately prompted me to check the wheels on my side. Denying that a machine could malfunction makes no sense. My car was perfect before entering that car wash. Would it not be possible that there was a piece of small chain or cable wrapped around the tire brush mechanism? I definitely heard and felt the damage happening. I have used that car wash dozens of times over the years and never heard that sound or felt those vibrations. It was distinctly on the drivers side. Because no other cars reported damage does not mean that it did not happen to my vehicle. Perhaps the issue that caused the damage was corrected after I returned to the car wash and spoke with attendant and filled out the incident report. I know there were no cars there at that time and it was less than 10 minutes since I had been through the wash. My car was still wet The attendant was standing out front talking to a young lady in an SUV that was parked out front, and she was obviously not a customer. She was the only person other than the attendant on the premisses and no cars came through while I filed the incident report. I have found an company that specializes in wheel restoration and the local service technician has quoted me $125 per wheel fill in the gouges, but out the abrasions and repaint the surface. This is more reasonable than what the [redacted] dealership wanted for replacement. For $250 I can get this repair done. However, it appears that the business owner does not wish to accept responsibility for the damage done to my vehicle. This is unfortunate, but not surprising due to the amount of time it took to him to respond. My initial call and email were never acknowledged. Now that I know the wheels can be restored, I would be willing to accept $250 in order to make me whole. If not, I guess that forces my hand to make my experience with this business well known. Regards,[redacted]

Review: On Jan 27, I went through the car wash at this location, the machinery malfunctioned, covered my car with soap, parts were moving against my car, there was no water, when I was moved out the car was still covered in soap. I had to reenter and the attendant said the car in front of me had messed it up and just needed to go back through. I got the eight dollar wash. I went through again and it washed an rinsed my car. My car now has scratches on the trunk that could only have come from the machinery scraping on my car with no water or malfunctioning. I have called, the business with either no answer or speaking with someone who just repeatedly said I was not here, I don't know, you gotta talk to the manager and he is not here. I am going to continue to try to contact them, but any assistance in this matter is appreciatiated.Desired Settlement: I would like to have the scratches in the paint repaired, this is a brand new car, and the scratches are not an acceptable outcome to getting a car wash. I want the repairs completed at [redacted] on [redacted] Salem, because I know their work and the repair would be acceptable.

Business

Response:

Manager ([redacted]) met with Mrs. [redacted] and resolved issue. Explained to her that it was not a machinery malfunction, the issue was pre-existing. Explained this to her and she acknowledged it was resolved