Carwash damage?

Oh yeah...very common. One of the many reason automatic carwashes are bad for your car...

 

Now I have to go check mine.. just went through the car wash last night!

 

When I used to use Car Washes I found them to be fairly responsive to complaints, but time is of the essence. You have to get them while they are fresh. Otherwise, you have much more to prove...not only that their equipment could have caused the damage, but that some intervening cause was not involved.

 

Assuming one of their employees drove it onto the track (and not you), you're not necessarily out of luck.

I would go back, ask to speak to the manager, drive the car to the entrance to the track, and examine with him if the track is high enough to have done the damage. If so, they should step up and pay for the repair--if not, ask to speak to the owner.

I had a wheel damaged at a car wash a few years ago., which I noticed as I was entering the car at the car wash. The manager said it was impossible, the track has a protective vinyl liner, blah, blah, blah. The owner happened to be on site, and when he saw the damage, he immediately apologized. He tried to convince me to have it repaired at their expense, but I refused and he finally agreed to replace the wheel (cost them $700 w/ labor).

 

Everything can be fixed...not to worry...

 

I assume that you mean "If so, they should step up, and if the manager refuses, ask for the owner, and if not, then the damage could have happened elsewhere."

 

Here's the reality.

I just came from owning a 1993 automobile.

I suppose a nice "benefit" was that the finish was old enough ( I bought it used ) that I had little hesitation about using an automatic car wash. A drive-through car wash cleaned it, and it already had swirl marks and scratches from 17 years of use.

On my new vehicle? There is no way I'm using a drive through car wash. I don't care how safe, touchless, brushless it reportedly is, I don't care if Scarlett Johansson hand dries the vehicle dressed in her Iron Man cat suit...if you care about your cars finish...tire rails or otherwise..it's too much of a risk.

However, I might buy back my used car if a car wash hires Scarlett...

 

You know what happens when you assume?

I meant exactly what I said--which part of it are you taking issue with?

 

I just found the statement that indicated that if the damage lined up to the machine, ask for the manager and make him pay it, if not, get the owner....

Sounds as though you are saying if the damage lined up to the machine ask for the manager (and make him pay), and if (the damage does not line up), then ask for the owner to pay for it.

I think you meant that if the damage was their, and manager did not pay ask for owner, instead of how I read it that if they are responsible they pay, and if not responsible, get the owner to pay.

Just semantics. Now that I've reread it several times, I guess it could be read either way. (I just must interact with a bunch of folks always seeking blame, so I read it to mean either way, get them to pay).

 

Comments in bold below

 

Ouch...

What do you pay for that carwash by the way? Call a mobile detailing outfit and see what they would charge you to come to your home or place of business and wash the car.

Here its not much more...

 

i just double checked mine and it's ok. sorry that yours got all fugged up.. hope it gets taken care of!

 

So close--it almost missed!

Since this is a multiple location car wash company, I'm sure they'll handle it.

 

I routinely use the self-wash with the high pressure hose, soap, rinse and non-streak spray.

Once I ran it through an auto wash with the rotating drums and when the overhead roller got to the rear ... it buffeted the spoiler so badly that I thought it would tear it off. Never again!!

 

Glad to hear they stepped up.