Wax on. Wax off.

elchrist · Posted: 05 Dec 2002 03:11 PM Post subject: Wax on. Wax off.

About a year ago I took my fairly new car to a local car wash, Calexico Car Wash (previously Ernie's Car Wash). I figured this establishment has been around for quite a while although with a few different owners and thought that they would do a great job, since it had been highly recommended by a few people I know as well. So I decided to take the car I care for so much for a wash.

So I get there and drop off my vehicle. I leave and come back maybe an hour or two later and it looks good, so I pay for the service. Well, as soon as I get in my car and turn towards the sun I almost shit my pants. What I notice is that there are tons of swirls on my windshield and I immediately stop.

I took a quick breather right before I inspect my windshield and then I continued. I thought, "OK, it's probably just window cleaner streaks.", so I attempt to rub them off. Nope.

My windshield is scratched and not just in one spot. It's all over the damn thing. Swirls and swirls that don't come off. I quickly check out my headlight lenses, since they're those clear ones, and find the same fuckin' thing. I am now super-pissed.

I go back and ask for the supervisor/manager and it ends up being that the guy I ask is him. I complain about my problem and he inspects it himself. He says that this couldn't have possibly happened here and it must have been caused by the "wind."* I immediately laughed in his face and I am now requesting remediation. He states there's nothing he can do, so I request the owner's contact information.**

OK, so I'm fuckin' super-pissed and I realize there's nothing I could probably do here and decide to get a hold of the owner. After thinking about it for some time, I decide that he's going to tell me the same thing, so I figure I'll get back at them some other way.

Well here I am. Explaining my horrible experience with Calexico Car Wash [(760) 357-2665, 23 W. 3rd St., Calexico, CA 92231] warning all consumers who visit this Web site to beware and take extreme caution if your taking your vehicle for a wash here. I didn't resort to violence, vandalism, etc. Although I probably could of had my windshield and headlight lenses replaced if I'd taken legal action, but I did some research on the Web and USENET and read other consumers' experiences and most were unrewarded.

So they may have gotten away with it this time, but they'll end up losing in the long term.

That is all. Wink

* I take excellent care of my car and always inspect it for scratches, bumps, etc.

** During this discussion, I've noticed some employees have locked the keys inside of a customer's car and are attempting to open the door with a wire hanger. They failed and the result was a scratched up window and detatched door/window trim.

spic-ole · Posted: 05 Dec 2002 07:36 PM Post subject:

I took my car once to the Texaco Oil Change place on Imperial Avenue once to have my oil changed. Well, while they were doing the job I went to the 7-Eleven to buy cigarrettes for the half an hour wait. I waited, and they finally finished and it looked like they had done an ok job, so I inspected the check sheet they use to make sure the 20 point inspection has been done and everything is checked off. I pay and go on my way.

I was on my way to mex and I got on Imperial to head there. When I was about to get to the border my car started heating up like crazy. I pulled to the side of the road to make sure that I had water in my radiator. It was full. I was like, "What the fuck?" I was like 20 ft from mex and couldn't turn back so I didn't know what to do. I said fuck it and I went to a mechanic in mex.

When I got to the mechanic's he asked me if I had been doing anything from under my car, and I commented that I had taken the car to get and oil change. So he told me that when I the guys had done the oil change they had disconnected my radiator fan. I was pissed.

The mechanic connected the radiator fan, I payed him, and I went back to Calexico. I went to the Texaco place and immediately asked to speak to the manager. I told him the situation and he acted like a dick. He practically called me a liar and told me that I had disconnected my own fan. I got even more pissed so I asked him for his supervisor's name and he immediately shut the fuck up and very politely gave me the number. I called his supervisor which turned out to be the owner.

The guy came down to Calexico from San Diego to personally inspect my car to make sure it was ok and gave me a refund for the oil change. I asked what was up with the manager and he told me that if the guy ever gave me trouble again to give him a call and he'd see what he could do (implying he would fire him).

The owner was pretty cool, but manager's get on these wierd power trips sometimes. I guess making a 4 figure income get's on some guys egoes.

bemisnorris · Posted: 06 Dec 2002 12:06 AM Post subject:

Mars · Posted: 06 Dec 2002 09:06 AM Post subject:

Well, if you want a pretty good mechanic that won't rip you off, i've gone to Raul's on Grant st. that dude seem pretty honest.

As for car washes i recommend this place in Mexicali, sometimes the wait is long but they only charge like 60 pesos for a good job, inside and out. It's conviently located right next to Jugos Bamoa, so save you appetite so you can kick back eat some tacos, there not acatlan, but there good, they also have tortas and shit, Then get your clean ass car

elchrist · Posted: 06 Dec 2002 09:27 AM Post subject:

watts · Posted: 06 Dec 2002 10:52 AM Post subject:

All you lazy bastards should wash your own cars and do it with a nice cold beer!!

elchrist · Posted: 06 Dec 2002 11:14 AM Post subject:

watts · Posted: 06 Dec 2002 12:55 PM Post subject:

I don't have my own driveway either but if I did I would definitely do it. My parents used to make me wash their cars all the time and I hated doing it. As time passed I got to a point where I would ask my parents if they wanted me to wash their cars. They usually never refused and I would go outside and blast some music.

The garage I park in at home has a sign that prohibits people from washing or working on their cars so I have to take my car to one of those touchelss car washes which are really good but aren't cheap. When you drive through the car wash machine about a dozen Latino's rush to your car and dry it off for you and clean the inside as well. They do an excellent job but like I said it is about 19 bucks for the job.

Mars · Posted: 06 Dec 2002 01:03 PM Post subject:

19 bucks, think god i live next to the border! you could get a blow job for that much. Any how, My parents use to MAKE me wash their cars, i always thought of it as slave labor. that is why i can't wait for my kids to be old enough to make them wash my car! Wink

watts · Posted: 06 Dec 2002 01:10 PM Post subject:

I remember there was an elite crew of students in jr. high that had Ernie's Carwash jackets. Supposedly it was the shit. Does anyone remember who these people were?