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Can I leave my valuables in the vehicle What happens to the green inspection cards that are put in my car?
Why are cars taken out of order?
There are many possible reasons for cars being processed out of order, but the reason we do this is to provide an efficient way to service everyone's vehicle quickly when it is ready to go on the conveyor. Remember, we have to get every car clean no matter how long it takes. Some take longer than others and are taken out of sequence. If your car happens to be behind one of these, you will be delayed. We wish there was a way to service cars as they arrive, but we know from experience that service would be a lot slower for everyone. What does the writing mean on the windshield?
These are codes that enable our drive-on personnel to program the computer for the services you've requested.
What should I do if I have a special request?
Please inform our Customer Service Advisor if you have areas of your vehicle that need special attention or areas we haven't done to your satisfaction in the past. He will put a Special Request Card inside your vehicle to alert our inspector of your request.
What do you vacuum?
We concentrate on the areas that are prone to be dirtiest: The carpets, mats, seats and, upon request, ashtrays. Seats get a quick once over, but getting into every pleat and crease is impossible - although we do try. We also try to get underneath the seat, but to do it properly the seat would have to be moved and we feel most people would not want this done. Our vacuum tools do not fit easily between seats and consoles, but we do try to reach these areas as best we can. We do not vacuum beyond the back seat. Hatchback areas and trunks are, to most of our customers most of the time, considered private space and they don't want our staff moving things around in order to vacuum. Over time we decided to drop the cost of the vacuuming service by one dollar and leave these areas out. If you'd like to have your trunk or hatchback area vacuumed, let us know and we'll throw that extra dollar's worth of service back in. Dog hair is almost impossible to vacuum. For our dog-owner customers we recommend a shampoo several times a year, because a wet vacuum extractor is the only way to remove the hair. If there is an area that is a particular concern to you, inform our Customer Service Advisor who will put a Special Request Card in your vehicle alerting our Inspector of your concern. We have vacuums at the exit to handle special problem areas. You can help us do a good job by putting loose items and things you don't want thrown away inside glove boxes, consoles, hatchback areas or trunks. Then we don't have to vacuum around your valuables. We have free vacuums at our Citadel and Nevada locations on the side of the building, if you would like to add your own special touches to our vacuum service.
Do you vacuum ashtrays?
Yes. However, a growing number of drivers use their ashtrays as change trays, so we no longer open ashtrays unless the driver requests us to. You're also welcome to open the ashtrays yourself. If we see an open ashtray we will vacuum it.
Do you vacuum hatchback areas and trunks?
Most drivers do not want us touching things stored in these areas. There is a small charge for vacuuming the hatchback and truck area.
Why do windows smear sometimes?
Some windows are easy to clean and others are very difficult. The film on a window is hard to see unless you're looking through it directly into the sun. The causes of the film build-up are many, but as it rule it's produced by materials in the vehicle oxidizing, causing them to emit sticky vapors. Film can also be caused by smoking, perfumes and even the body oils of the vehicle's occupants. We use special towels for inside the windows that are kept separate from other towels and are even washed in machines dedicated exclusively to these towels. We are always searching for better window cleaning solutions to improve our service. If your windows were left in an unsatisfactory condition after your last visit, please alert our Customer Service Advisor and he will put a Special Request Card in your vehicle to alert our Inspector so special attention can be given to your windows.
Do you clean top edges of windows?
It would be very time-consuming to roll all the windows down on every single car, but we will be happy to do it for anyone who requests it. Just mention your request to our Customer Service Advisor and he will put a Special Request Card in your vehicle to alert our Inspector.
Is your window cleaner safe for tinted windows?
Yes it is, and that's a very good question. The cleaner we use is alcohol based. Cleaners that contain an alkaline base can spot and stain tinted windows.
Why doesn't my car come clean the first time, every time?
Every car has different kinds of dirt on it depending upon where you live or where the car has traveled since your last wash. The way the dirt adheres to the car's surface also varies because of different weather and exposure to the elements. Sometimes the dirt is very sticky and it takes more than one pass through our system to break down the electrical bond that holds the dirt to the vehicle's surface. We continually adjust our cleaning agents to overcome these factors, but the adjustments are for 99% of the cars. The other 1% we have to process more than once. If you would like a scientific explanation of why dirt adheres to a vehicle, ask our manager. He can give you literature that will explain the reasons.
What are the drips that dry on my car after it is washed?
It is leftover residue from areas behind the moldings. We rinse every car with 100% pure de-ionized water to try to eliminate these drips. There is no way to blow all this residue out from behind the moldings. Gravity takes care of most of it, but unfortunately it doesn't all drain out until you leave the wash. These drips aren't harmful but they sure don't look good. A damp towel will remove them. Stop by and we'll do it! How are white letter tires and wheels cleaned?
Special cleaners are used for wheels and white letter tires in the tunnel then we do all of them by hand because we haven't yet found a piece of equipment that does a good job without damaging the wheels. Besides, we get them cleaner by hand. Some wheels require extra attention to remove brake dust, tar and spotting. Our detail center has special services to clean wheels that are extra dirty.
Why don't you wash excessively muddy vehicles?
Mud has to be removed by hand at the beginning of the wash process. It takes a long time to do a good job (at least 10 to 20 minutes) and we feel it is unfair to hold up other customers to take care of one muddy vehicle. We will run the vehicle through the wash several times to remove the mud, but it is not an effective way to do the job. We will be happy to spend the extra time to do the job correctly, if you can come in just before opening or at closing.
Should pick-up truck beds be free of debris and loose items?
Yes. Loose items and debris are very dangerous to other vehicles and employees because our high pressure blowers and wash nozzles can blow debris out of the truck bed during the wash process. Please remove any loose items in the pick-up bed before the wash. A few years ago in Springfield, Missouri, a propane tank was blown out of a truck and the explosion leveled the building killing several people.
Do I need to remove my bike or ski rack?
We can't be held responsible for damage done to or by these racks, but 99.9% of the time there are no problems. We have nothing that touches the vehicles. If it fits within our equipment parameters, it should go through safely. Problems occur when racks are not affixed securely. The racks must be locked so they don't pop up.
Why are seat adjustments sometimes made?
We try not to move seats, but sometimes it is dangerous for our drivers to drive vehicles with a seat that hinders full control of the vehicle. This is especially true with seats that are set too far forward. Sometimes our people just won't fit in the car. We feel it is better to be safe than sorry. Sometimes seats are also moved to assure a good vacuuming job under the seats.
Why are instrument adjustments sometimes made?
Our inside people try to get the dust off all the little dials without moving them, but it is inevitable that a setting might be changed periodically. We are just trying to do a thorough job. We appreciate your patience.
How can I be sure I received the services I paid for?
If the extras are applied on the line such as Blue Foam, Poly Crème, Rust-ite, Poly Glaze or Tire Fire, just look for the extra service lights to come on while your car is in the arch dispensing the service. Sometimes the drive-on person does not program the computer properly - mistakes do happen. If this happens to you, mention the problem to the cashier and we will re-run the vehicle or give you a credit. If you want to make sure you receive extras applied at the end of the line, simply show your receipt to the Inspector and ask if the extras have been applied.
How will I know when my car is finished?
The inspector will raise his hand or wave a towel while standing by your vehicle. Be sure to give your cash register receipt to our Inspector to claim your vehicle.
What should I do if I have an alarm system or a special starting procedure?
Please inform our Customer Service Advisor. You will be given an Alarm Procedure Note to complete. This enables our drivers to start your vehicle safely and not lock us out of the vehicle.
Can I leave my valuables in the vehicle?
We would suggest you take them with you or lock them in the trunk, if possible. We go out of our way to hire honest people and keep their work under very tight security, but sometimes things are found missing. This is especially true of coins. If you notice anything missing, please inform our Manager IMMEDIATELY. We don't want dishonest employees working for us.
What happens to the green inspection cards that are put in my car?
They are taken very seriously. Every card that is returned is read by our company President and General Manager. They are entered into a computer and a detailed statistical analysis is compiled. The analysis is used by our Managers to train and monitor work by our Staff and Inspectors. These people are given raises, promoted and/or demoted based on customers' responses to their work. At Water Works we feel the customer is "The Boss," so you determine whether an employee is qualified to service your vehicle.
How do you remove Bugs?
We apply a special bug remover at the vacuum area then hit then the sticky little critters with a 1,000 psi power wash gun before going though the wash process. If there are any left at the end of the line we scrub them by hand with a special bug sponge. Obviously we hate bugs more than you do. Some of them never come off because they actually itch the paint creating a permanent bug that we will always try to get off in the future. We hate bugs. |
