If I could give this car wash zero stars, I would.
I have been a paying member here for over three years, and until now I have never had an issue with how I use my membership barcode. I am particular about what gets placed on my vehicle, so for the past three years I have kept the barcode in my center console. When I arrive, I simply take it out and scan it. Not once during those three years has an employee told me this was a problem.
I choose not to permanently attach the sticker to my windshield for several reasons. If I ever cancel the membership, I don't want to deal with removing the sticker or adhesive residue. If my windshield needs to be replaced, I also don't want to deal with replacing the sticker. Most importantly, it is my personal vehicle, and I should have a reasonable say in what is permanently attached to it--especially when the barcode works perfectly fine without being stuck to the windshield.
On September 2, 2026, I pulled into the car wash as usual and took my barcode out to scan it. An employee approached me and told me that the barcode had to be attached to my windshield. I explained that I did not want it attached to my vehicle. She responded that it was company policy and then informed me that if I refused to put the sticker on my windshield, my membership would be canceled.
After being a customer for more than three years, I found the way this situation was handled extremely disappointing. There is a significant difference between politely explaining a company policy and approaching a longtime customer with an ultimatum: put this sticker on your vehicle or lose your membership.
If this has truly been company policy all along, why was I allowed to use my membership this way for more than three years without a single employee mentioning it? More importantly, why couldn't the situation have been handled with some basic customer service and professionalism?
Whether you're running a car wash, gas station, grocery store, or any other business, customer service matters. Policies can be explained respectfully. There was no reason for an interaction with a longtime paying customer to immediately turn into a threat to cancel the membership.
I was ultimately fine with the outcome and will be taking my business to Tidal Wave instead. There are too many other car washes available for me to continue paying a company that believes enforcing a windshield-sticker policy is more important than how it treats a customer who has been paying them for over three years.
Very disappointing way to lose a longtime customer. read more
