The Valeter wrote:

chicken george wrote:

yes he doesnt give a toss, just watches the fivers roll in, still most of his customers dont care as long as their car looks cleaner as they leave.
people like you wont be put out of business by the cheapo car washes I guess.

100% correct only that those sort of places have and are having a damaging effect on mobile valeters - simply from the cost (of the wash) point of view.
I have often thought that if you can't beat them join them but I can't lower the tone or most importantly work out how they seem to be able to spring up anywhere when all of us would likely be rejected by the council

I have witnessed many of the following points & also gone to valet many customers cars & seen strange marks scratches etc & asked them where they have had their car washed previously (I knew the answer) & about 95% of them confirm what I knew.
My main point when I speak to customers about these places is what they use to wash your car as in truck wash (not proper shampoo) & how they wash it as in when you pull in they go round with the large spray container spraying all over a dry car = this is truckwash & will ruin/bleach window rubbers etc as most of them use caustic products which strip all wax etc off.Depending on what products they use on the wheels some will use acid wheel clean = definate no no on hot wheels or any wheel other than standard alloy. I have seen warped discs on a BMW X5 too due to one of these places (cold pressure wash on hot wheels) and so on. Then often the mitt used to wash your car gets tossed from hand to bucket or trough unless it misses & lands on the floor then gets used on your bonnet - I valeted a Range Rover Vogue last year & said to the owners employees I bet I know what caused all the scratches on the bonnet then to open the drivers door & find a hand car wash leaftet in the door pocket

A friend of mine has witnessed more than one place shampooing the interior of a car with (no not a wet vac or similar) but with a pressure washer - I rest my case!

I am not saying they are all like it as I am aware they are not but the majority are & I have heard cases of people complaing & being threateaned...........

hopefully quality will show through and people who have the money and enjoy their cars will turn to professionals rather than a quick cheapo option.

but then more often than not their wives will run the pride and joy thru a cheapo car wash, because great aunt flo is coming to stay and the car looks embarrassing, sod the scratches on the valuable car its important that great aunt blah blah doesnt see the car dirty  At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

chicken george wrote:

hopefully quality will show through and people who have the money and enjoy their cars will turn to professionals rather than a quick cheapo option.

but then more often than not their wives will run the pride and joy thru a cheapo car wash, because great aunt flo is coming to stay and the car looks embarrassing, sod the scratches on the valuable car its important that great aunt blah blah doesnt see the car dirty

must be hell when you've got to wash all the chickens when she comes to visit  2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

chicken george wrote:

hopefully quality will show through and people who have the money and enjoy their cars will turn to professionals rather than a quick cheapo option.